Boxing
TYSON FURY TIPS ‘LITTLE FAT PIG’ ANDY RUIZ JR TO BEAT ANTHONY JOSHUA AGAIN
Tyson Fury has been quoted by the Global Audo partner of the Premier League, Talksport, as predicting another defeat of Anthony Joshua by Andy Ruiz Jr.
Tyson Luke Fury, a British professional boxer who in 2015 won the unified WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO titles believes Andy Ruiz Jr will knock out Anthony Joshua once again in their world heavyweight title rematch in Saudi Arabia.
Despite the bookmakers dismissing the Mexican-American’s chances in New York six months ago, Ruiz shocked the world to stop Joshua and hand Joshua his first professional defeat.
The pair are set to put the WBA, WBO and IBF titles on the line on December 7 in Riyadh as Joshua aims to correct the wrongs he felt he committed in the June 1 fight.
But Fury, who watched the contest with a keen interest, believes the belts will be going back to the States.
“I see it going pretty much similar to the first fight,” Fury said on the True Geordie podcast. “Now, I know they’ve both lost some weight and whatever and they’ve had more time to prepare and they’ve changed a few things in the training team and the training camp.
“And they will have different game plans and different approaches, but Mike Tyson said it and it is very true; ‘Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.’
“And it is so true because you can be working on something for ages and then you work on it, work on it, work on it and then you get tagged.
“And that’s it; you go back to how you once was and you want to fight and that’s exactly what I see happening.”
Much was made in the build-up to the fight about Ruiz’s rather rotund stature, particularly in comparison to Joshua’s physique.
But Fury, who admits he is not exactly an Adonis himself, does not believe looks matter at all in this heavyweight division.
In fact, he claims to have asked his nutritionist to let him indulge in more treats after watching Ruiz shock the world.
“There’s three rules to boxing; train hard, eat well and get your rest,” Fury added.
“Especially for heavyweights, there’s nothing else. Because when you want to start implementing all these different technologies into your game – improvements, 1% here and there – it’s a load of s***e to be honest with you.
“Andy Ruiz, let’s just use him because he’s a great example, little fat pig who comes in on three weeks notice. Murdered every doughnut and taco in California and then goes in with a man who’s had a 12-week training camp with every sports scientist in the United Kingdom.
“And whatever else he has done, he’s broken every heart monitor in sight, he’s done every cross-fit machine, he’s done everything totally correct and he’s had the best nutrition and the best diet you can get.
“But the little fat fella goes in there and bowls him over in seven rounds. How do all those scientist look at me then and say ‘this is better, this is how you should do it’? Because they can’t.
“Because it is still one-on-one combat and anything can happen.
When asked if Joshua was ‘wasting his money’, Fury replied: “It’s all mental, it’s all in the mind.
“I believe if you get all those people and if you think, and if you believe, that they are going to improve you then they probably will.
“But I believe there is no substitute for hard work and dedication for the job and that is it.
“And now when my nutritionist says ‘we want you to eat this or that’ I say ‘No, I’m’ going to have a Mars bar, a chocolate biscuit and a cup of coffee with ten sugars.’
“Because it’s not going to alter my performance because I am a heavyweight and if you’ve got anything to say about it, go and watch the Andy Ruiz vs Anthony Joshua fight.”
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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