Boxing
ANTHONY JOSHUA UNVEILS RETIREMENT PLANS
Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has outlined his plan to ‘make a transition’ into retirement ‘over the next eight years’.
He is reported by UK’s daily Mail as saying: ‘When boxing departs I’m not going to crumble – I always have plans to develop as a businessman’
Joshua who turned professional one year after winning gold at the London 2012 Olympics, and he is already preparing life after boxing.
The 30-year-old aspires to take part in philanthropic work and become a ‘well respected businessman’ when he hangs up the gloves.
In the meantime, Joshua insists he is fully focused on unifying the heavyweight division by defeating rival Tyson Fury.
‘I am a normal person that happens to box so what I always said to myself is I’m never gonna make boxing all of who I am,’ he told the Sun.
‘So even though it’s a very significant part of my life, when boxing departs one day, I’m not going to crumble with it and I’m gonna be relevant. I always have plans to develop myself as a businessman.
‘Over the next eight years I’m gonna make a transition, not only as a boxer, but a well respected individual, well respected businessman and also someone who’s like a philanthropist where you’re talking about giving back, about different causes.
‘I will have my point where I’ll stand for more than just boxing because at the minute, nobody really cares if I do give back to certain communities.
‘All they wanna know is when am I knocking out Tyson Fury, so I understand that.
‘I have to start thinking of making these last years of transition as well as staying on the top of my game.’
Joshua regained his IBO, IBF, WBA and WBO belts in December by beating Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia, six months after suffering his first career defeat to the Mexican in New York.
He was scheduled to take on Kubrat Pulev in the summer before the coronavirus crisis brought sporting action to a halt, and that fight has yet to be rescheduled.
Meanwhile, Fury is set to do battle with Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight after the Bronze Bomber triggered a rematch clause in his contract.
Fury became WBC champion in February when he stopped Wilder inside seven rounds at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Former heavyweight king Mike Tyson recently revealed he hopes to return to the ring in an exhibition match, but Joshua says he has no intention of facing the 53-year-old.
‘With all due respect I wouldn’t,’ he told the Sun.
‘Even if I fought Iron Mike and beat him, I think I’d be the only one cheering. People would boo. He is a legend. He is the greatest boxer of the modern era.
‘There are only two recognised champions the world knows of, Ali and Mike Tyson — the most recognised faces in the world when it comes to boxing.’
-Daily Mail
The Nigerian boxing landscape has been thrown into uncertainty following reports that the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) is considering steps to regulate professional boxing—an area traditionally overseen by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC).
Reacting swiftly, the NBBofC has dismissed the reports as misleading, warning that any such move could destabilise the established structure of the sport in the country.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Board reaffirmed its statutory authority as the sole body responsible for the regulation, control, and sanctioning of professional boxing in Nigeria.
“The attention of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control has been drawn to insinuations that another body intends to assume regulatory authority over professional boxing in Nigeria. We wish to categorically state that such claims are unfounded and should be disregarded,” the statement read.
The Board stressed that the NBF’s mandate is confined strictly to amateur boxing, in line with global sports governance frameworks, and does not extend to the professional ranks.
NBBofC President, Rafiu Ladipo, warned that any attempt by another organisation to assume control of professional boxing could trigger administrative conflicts, weaken regulatory standards, and expose athletes to unnecessary risks.
The Board also cautioned promoters, managers, and boxers against engaging with unauthorised bodies claiming regulatory powers.
“We advise all promoters, managers, and boxers to remain vigilant and not be misled by such insinuations. The NBBofC remains fully committed to its responsibility of regulating and sanctioning professional boxing in Nigeria in accordance with established rules and international best practices,” the statement added.
Observers within the boxing community note that clarity in regulatory authority is critical—not only for safeguarding athletes but also for ensuring fair competition and maintaining Nigeria’s credibility within the global boxing ecosystem.
For now, the NBBofC has reiterated its resolve to continue overseeing professional boxing in the country, even as stakeholders await further clarification on the reported position of the NBF.
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Oleksandr Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight title belt on the line against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Ring Magazine announced on Friday.
The Ukrainian three-times undisputed champion holds the IBF, WBA and WBC titles after vacating the WBO belt.
The 39-year-old has not boxed since beating Britain’s Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last July.
“I respect his (Verhoeven’s) journey – he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings,” said Usyk, who has a 24-0 record.
“I’m ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
The ‘Glory in Giza’ fight will be streamed live on DAZN.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven, 36, told The Ring.
“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger; it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”
Verhoeven has sparred in the past with former champion Tyson Fury and had one professional bout in 2014, which he won by a knockout.
-Reuters
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will face off in a professional rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming globally on Netflix, the fighters and promoters announced on Monday.
The fight marks Mayweather’s return from retirement and will be the first professional boxing match held at the Sphere.
Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, defeated Pacquiao in their 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century.”
That bout generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” Mayweather said in a statement.
Pacquiao, whose record stands at 62-8-3 with 39 knockouts, expressed confidence he would hand Mayweather his first professional loss.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” the Filipino fighter said.
The rematch will stream to Netflix’s more than 325 million subscribers worldwide, continuing the platform’s push into live boxing.
The streaming platform has recently broadcast several high-profile fights, including Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, which the company said drew 108 million live global viewers
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