Boxing
BOUT IN US IS TO ‘TAKE –OVER, NOT TAKE PART’, SAYS ANTHONY JOSHUA
Anthony Joshua is confident of winning Saturday’s bout in the US, saying he was in the US ‘to take over, not take part’.
Those were his words ahead of Andy Ruiz Jnr fight
Anthony Joshua insisted that he was not in the United States “to take part, but to take over” as he towered six inches over Andy Ruiz Jnr, the Mexican-American.
Joshua said he wanted “to make a statement” in the style of Deontay Wilder, the World Boxing Council champion, who continued his unbeaten reign in dramatic fashion last weekend when he knocked out Dominic Breazeale.
Nothing less than an emphatic knockout will suffice for Joshua at the Madison Square venue.
“I do want to have a great night. Even though Andy Ruiz is not Wilder or Tyson Fury, he is a fighter who will give me a great contest,” said Joshua, undefeated in 22 contests and holder of the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation belts.
“As long as Ruiz puts up a good fight, it doesn’t matter that he is a late replacement. It’s all about the fight night. You could be the greatest fighter on earth, but if you go in there and don’t perform then everyone will be booing. I’m looking forward to going in there and doing what I do best: putting my name alongside those great heavyweights. This will be a night to remember.”
The 29-year-old’s American debut comes six years into his professional career, after his rise to prominence with the super-heavyweight gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
“We’ve built ourselves to a position where we’re able to fight at Madison Square Garden. It takes a long time, but we’re here now. Now it’s about defining fights going into the second phase of my career. Ruiz is the first step of coming to America, to US turf and to take over. I’m not here to take part, I’m here to take over. You’ve got to be thick skinned and tough-minded in boxing. It’s a tough sport, an unforgiving one. I prepare well and I’m going to go out there and do my best.”
Ruiz had a message of his own, all the way to President Donald Trump, as he seeks to become the first heavyweight of Mexican blood to hold the world heavyweight title.
“Hopefully the President comes down on June 1,” said the 29-year-old, recalling that Trump had visited his home town of Imperial on the border with Mexico recently.
“Donald Trump went over to my hometown to talk about the border wall. It’s hard for everybody in the world who is struggling, and there are people on the United States who are not letting Mexicans come over to the United States. We are part of the backbone of this country. It’s hard for the Mexican people coming over here to make a living. This is where you make more money. As Mexicans we have a lot of family and kids to support. But, God willing I win this fight and I’ll be here to help my Mexican people.”
“And when I become the first Mexican heavyweight champion of the world, I’m going to be helping out my people. But you know what, if I win the world title, I’d rather go to the Mexico White House. I’d rather be over there then get an invite to Trump’s White House.”
Ruiz, though, intends to bring Mexico in his fighting style, too, intent on attacking the reigning champion. “It won’t go the distance. I feel good, feel blessed with this opportunity. I’ll go in there fast and throw combinations. As long as I stick to the game plan, we’re here to shock the people. I feel there’s a little pressure because I don’t want to let my family down or my Mexican people down. I want to come out victorious. I’m going to die trying. I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”
Ruiz, with 32 victories from 33 contests, added: “I have respect for him right now, but inside the ring it’s a whole different ball game. I don’t have respect for nobody. Outside of the ring, it’s a whole different show.”
Joshua added: “It is a big night, but I won’t be overawed. I want to have a great night at Madison Square Garden and this is now all about legacy fights in my career.”
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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