Boxing
Dillian Whyte bars Anthony Joshua from his fight with Tyson Fury
Dillian Whyte has told Anthony Joshua he is not welcome at Saturday’s dust-up with Tyson Fury.
The Body Snatcher wants Joshua to snub a ringside seat at Wembley to focus on saving his own career in his July rematch with Ukraine’s Olesksandr Usyk.
Whyte, who battles Fury for his WBC heavyweight crown, said: “I don’t want AJ at my fight. He needs to fight Usyk and focus on that.
“In the build-up to the last Usyk fight he was too worried about re-matching me and telling people he wanted to beat me up.
“I wanted to shout out ‘bro, leave me alone and focus on Usyk’. And then look what happened, he got in the fight and looked spaced out, clueless.
“He needs to focus on what he has to do, he needs to forget becoming undisputed and worry about Usyk, because if he doesn’t beat Usyk then where does he go?
“Now is the best time to face Usyk, who knows where the poor guy’s head is at. If you can’t beat Usyk now – with what he has been through – then you never will.
“I don’t want Anthony Joshua to retire because I want to fight him again.”
Whyte beat Joshua in 2009 during their amateur days before losing to him in their pro fight in 2015.
Joshua, 32, has backed Whyte to win but only because he “hates” his fellow Londoner and wants to “smash him”.
Whyte is far kinder to Joshua – who is set to challenge Usyk for his old WBA, IBF and WBO belts in Saudi Arabia on July 23 – in the hope of getting the chance to settle scores.
If Whyte can upset Fury in front of 94,000 fans will be able to pick any opponent he wants and spark a bidding war in England and America.
He added: “If I wake up on Sunday morning as the heavyweight champion of the world, AJ won’t be my first thought.
“I will be running around the whole hotel and streets with nothing but my belt on, naked… doing the helicopter!”
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp:https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0Hadpo
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- World Cup2 days ago
EXCLUSIVE! Late Filing, Unpaid Fee Doom Nigeria’s Protest Against DR Congo
- DIPLOMACY1 week ago
Trump calls on Australia to give asylum to Iranian women’s soccer players
- OBITUARY1 week ago
Nigeria’s Sports Community Mourns Adegboye Onigbinde, A Life Devoted to Football
- World Cup4 days ago
FIFA Disciplinary Hammer Falls on Nigeria and DR Congo
- OBITUARY1 week ago
Breaking! Former Super Eagles Coach Adegboye Onigbinde Dies Four Days After Clocking 88
- World Cup6 days ago
Iran’s World Cup uncertainty: Could Nigeria benefit from a rare FIFA wildcard?
- OBITUARY5 days ago
BREAKING: Another Blow for Nigerian Sports as Henry Nwosu Dies at 62
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Nigeria’s First Modern Stadium Turns 68, But Lies in Neglect