Oleksandr Usyk has received a stern caution from the father of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. The outspoken John Fury recently voiced his opinion vehemently regarding the ongoing negotiations between his son and Usyk, the Ukrainian heavyweight champion who holds the titles of the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO, claiming that Usyk does not deserve to be compensated equitably. “Again, treat Tyson like a great champion he is,” John Fury told iD Boxing. “Stop being, trying to be the A-side. Usyk is not Tyson’s equal. Fall in line, you’ll get the fight done. Do not respect Tyson, you won’t get the fight. Simple as that.” Recently, Alexander Krassyuk, Usyk's promoter, maintained that his team would not accept a financial offer that was not a 50-50 split. Both Bob Arum's Top Rank and Frank Warren's Queensberry are promoting Fury in the US. Even though it doesn't seem like John Fury is actively involved in negotiations, he insisted that Usyk's alleged implacability could end the mega fight. “Tyson’s the A-side,” he continued. “Usyk is not worthy of 50-50. He couldn’t sell the [20,000-seat] O2 [arena] out. So, fall in line and you might get the fight.” The two fighters have been engaged in negotiations for several months, but recently encountered a stumbling block when it became obvious that the Middle East would no longer serve as the venue for their undisputed heavyweight matchup. Instead, the officials have changed their focus to the United Kingdom, with London's Wembley Stadium being the front-runner. For the fighters, the financial dynamics have also shifted, and not necessarily for the better. The fighters now have to "share the pot" made from the gate, pay-per-view sales, and ancillary income sources, as opposed to being paid top dollar through separate agreements from investors had the fight taken place in Saudi Arabia.

Despite the knockdown, it wasn’t enough for Paul to secure the win. The judges’ decision was split, with two of them awarding it to Fury, 77-75 and 79-73, and one giving it to Paul, 77-75. After the fight, Paul admitted he wasn’t at his best, stating: “I felt flat. I got sick last night and didn’t have my legs under me.” He also claimed that Fury had hit him with low blows, which had affected his performance. Despite these setbacks, Paul remains determined to prove himself in the ring and has already announced his intention to exercise his rematch clause. In a statement, he said: “Tommy Fury knows deep down that he lost that fight. I’m a man of my word, and I’m going to run it back. This time, I’m going to be 100% healthy and 100% ready.” Fury, on the other hand, welcomed the prospect of a second fight, stating: “Bring it on! I’ll fight Jake Paul any day of the week. He hit me with a good shot, but I got up and won the fight. If he wants to go again, I’m ready.” The rematch is sure to generate a lot of interest, given the intense rivalry between the two fighters. Paul has been making waves in the boxing world since his debut in 2020, with many fans and pundits questioning his legitimacy as a fighter. However, he has consistently proven his detractors wrong, racking up wins against opponents from different combat sports backgrounds. Fury, on the other hand, comes from a boxing family, with his older brother, Tyson Fury, being a former heavyweight champion of the world. Tommy has yet to reach the same heights as his brother, but he is seen as a rising star in the sport and has an impressive record of 7-0. The rematch between Paul and Fury is expected to take place later this year, with many fans eager to see if Paul can redeem himself after his loss. Whatever the outcome, it’s sure to be a highly entertaining and hard-fought battle, as both fighters look to prove themselves as legitimate contenders in the world of boxing.

The UFC has seen many great matches over the years, but there are a few that stand out above the rest. Here are the top five UFC matches of all time. 1. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar – The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale, April 9, 2005 The first season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show was a make or break for the UFC, and it all came down to the finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar. The two fighters put on an incredible show, throwing everything they had at each other for three rounds. In the end, Griffin was awarded the unanimous decision victory, but both fighters were declared winners for their gutsy performances. This match is widely credited with launching the UFC into the mainstream. 2. Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua – UFC 139, November 19, 2011 Dan Henderson and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua put on an absolute war in this five-round battle. Both fighters landed big shots throughout the match, and somehow managed to keep fighting despite taking a tremendous amount of punishment. In the end, Henderson was awarded the unanimous decision victory, but both fighters earned the respect and admiration of fans around the world. 3. Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson – UFC 165, September 21, 2013 Jon Jones had been dominating the light heavyweight division for years, but Alexander Gustafsson gave him the toughest challenge of his career in this five-round battle. Gustafsson used his size and reach to keep Jones at bay, landing shots that had never before been landed on the champion. Jones rallied in the later rounds, however, and was ultimately awarded the unanimous decision victory in one of the greatest light heavyweight matches of all time. 4. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz – UFC 196, March 5, 2016 Conor McGregor was on top of the world heading into this match, but Nate Diaz proved to be a difficult challenge for the brash Irishman. Diaz weathered an early storm from McGregor and then took over in the second round, locking in a rear-naked choke for the submission victory. The upset stunned the MMA world and set the stage for a highly-anticipated rematch between the two fighters. 5. Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen – UFC 117, August 7, 2010 Anderson Silva had been the middleweight champion for years, but Chael Sonnen gave him everything he could handle in this five-round battle. Sonnen dominated the match with his wrestling, taking Silva down at will and punishing him on the ground. Silva somehow managed to survive until the fifth round, when he caught Sonnen in a triangle choke for the submission victory. The win solidified Silva's place as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Honorable Mentions: · Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald II - UFC 189 · Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III - UFC 136 · Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier II - UFC 214 · Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva - UFC 79 · Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Hughes II - UFC 65 · Connor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov UFC 229

Upon his release from prison, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez was reportedly spotted returning at the American Kickboxing Academy. Velasquez, who is recognised as one of the greatest athletes to have ever competed in his weight class, spent the bulk of 2022 in prison after being detained and accused of attempting to murder. The 40-year-old Californian is charged with following and firing at a car that was purportedly carrying a person who had allegedly assaulted the four-year-old son of Velasquez at a daycare. After allegedly firing shots and hitting the man's stepfather, who was also in the car, Velasquez was detained. In addition to the nine additional counts stemming from the alleged chase in February, Velasquez still faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the attempted murder charge. Velasquez can be seen returning to the MMA gym in San Jose in a recent video that instructor and Founder of the American Kickboxing Academy Javier Mendez posted on YouTube. As the former UFC champion enters the building, Mendez makes jokes about his prolonged absence. “Hey, you just can’t walk past me without saying anything,” Mendez said. “Who are you? What are you doing here? I don’t recognize you.” Velasquez responded by noting he’s right where he needs to be. Later on, Velasquez can be seen sparring and grappling on the mats before passing on his skills to the next generation of MMA fighters. Usman Nurmagomedov, the current Bellator Lightweight Champion, is pictured receiving one-on-one instruction from the legendary heavyweight. The Dagestani, a distant relative of Khabib Nurmagomedov, defeated Patricky Pitbull to win the gold medal in November.

On Sunday evening, Badou Jack achieved the history he set out to make from the moment he accepted the fight against Ilunga ‘Junior’ Makabu. With precision power punching that went a long way, Jack became a three-division titlist after stopping Makabu in the 12th round. Makabu was down in rounds four and eleven, before a final flurry by Jack forced referee Mark Lyson to halt the contest at 54 seconds of round twelve. Jack, a 39-year-old boxer from Sweden who relocated to Las Vegas and now lives in Dubai, ended the three-year WBC cruiserweight title reign of Makabu with an incredible performance, becoming the first Muslim boxer to win a major title in Saudi Arabia. This historic moment was a testament to Jack’s determination and dedication to his craft. Having previously won the WBC super middleweight and WBA light heavyweight titles on U.S. soil, Jack added another major title to his already impressive resume. “It feels amazing,” Jack said during the in-ring post-fight interview. “Alhamdulillah.” He also learned that he was the oldest cruiserweight champion of all time, adding another milestone to his incredible career. The fight was slow in the first three minutes, but things picked up in a hurry in round two. Jack found success with his jab and left hook to the body. Makabu, who was already at a height and reach disadvantage, struggled to work his way inside. Despite fighting in a tiny 18-foot ring, Jack managed to find his desired spacing, using subtle lateral movement to disallow Makabu from ever setting his feet. In round three, Makabu found greater success closing the gap. He landed several left hands to the body, then later came back with a right hook over the top. Jack took the shot well, but his offense was stunted as he was forced to play defense for most of the round. However, Jack added to his early lead in a big way with the bout’s first knockdown. Much of round four was fought on even terms before Jack sent Makabu to the canvas. A right hand knocked Makabu off balance, and the rest of his fall appeared to be aided by a tangling of the feet as he rolled on his back. The official knockdown ruling was met without protest, though Makabu was able to beat the count and appeared to be clear-headed once action resumed. Momentum remained in favor of the challenger, as Jack’s superior footwork and skill set controlled the action and the pace throughout rounds five and six. Makabu was back to square one, unable to work past Jack’s jab. Head trainer and former title challenger Johnathon Banks encouraged Jack to stick to boxing and not get caught in a bruising fight that would favor Makabu. Jack was able to have his cake and eat it, too. A straight right hand by the 39-year-old challenger briefly froze Makabu in place in the latter half of round seven. Jack confidently boxed in the final minute of the frame. Jack presented a different look in round eight, spending the first half of the round fighting out of a southpaw stance. He reverted to orthodox once Makabu clocked him with a right hook, responding with two straight right hands along of his own inside the final minute. Jack also connected with an overhand right, followed by a left hook and right uppercut while Makabu was unable to offer anything in return. Makabu attempted to pick up the pace in round nine while Jack reserved his strength for the back half of the frame. The more telling blows were landed by the challenger, including a right hand upstairs just before the bell. Jack cemented his victory with a second knockdown early

KSI, the popular YouTuber and rapper, had a lot to say in response to Jake Paul’s recent defeat to Tommy Fury. KSI, who had previously fought and defeated Jake’s older brother, Logan Paul, in a highly publicized boxing match, took to social media to revel in his rival’s loss. During the fight, KSI was highly critical of the referee, claiming that the ref was ruining the fight. He also took issue with what seemed to be Jake Paul copying KSI’s signature “bounce” style in the ring, tweeting “Jake Paul tryna copy my bounce lmao. Funny thing is, he has no idea what he’s doing with it.” After the fight, KSI continued to mock Jake Paul on Twitter, saying “Honestly I would destroy both Jake Paul and Tommy Fury.” Both Tommy Fury and Jake Paul responded to KSI’s comments, with Jake stating that “KSI is yet to fight a real opponent, so we don’t know his skill level, but that is still a massive fight,” while Tommy Fury said “At the end of the day KSI can sit back in his chair in London and say what he wants.” Despite the trash talk, KSI has indicated that he would be willing to fight either Jake Paul or Tommy Fury. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, KSI confirmed that he would take the fight, with his father John agreeing that the match would be a good idea. While there is no official confirmation that a KSI vs Jake Paul or KSI vs Tommy Fury fight will happen, the possibility of such a match is sure to generate a lot of excitement among fans of the sport. With KSI having previously shown that he has what it takes to succeed in the boxing ring, it would certainly be interesting to see how he would fare against either Jake or Tommy. It remains to be seen whether or not KSI will actually face off against one of his rivals, but one thing is for sure: his comments on social media have certainly stirred up a lot of buzz and generated a lot of interest in the world of boxing. Only time will tell if we will see KSI back in the ring again, but one thing is certain: he will have plenty of supporters cheering him on if and when he does.

The highly anticipated boxing match between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia ended in a split decision after eight thrilling rounds. Despite being knocked down in the final round, Fury picked up the crucial win. The fight was filled with controversial moments, with both fighters having points deducted for various infractions. In the fifth round, Paul lost a point for rabbit punches, and in the sixth round, Fury lost a point for holding. The final round saw Paul land a left hook that almost caught Fury off balance, but the Englishman recovered quickly. However, he was later clipped and went down, although he claimed it was a slip. The judges scored the fight 75-74 in favor of Paul, and 76-73 and 76-73 in favor of Fury. The split decision was not without controversy, and some viewers felt that Paul deserved the win. Despite the animosity between the two fighters leading up to the fight, the post-fight reactions were surprisingly respectful. Fury broke down in tears, telling Paul that he had nothing but love and respect for him. He praised Paul for being a true warrior and said that he was a better man than he expected. Paul, on the other hand, said that he respected Fury and that he deserved the win. He also expressed a desire for a rematch and said that he would be back in the gym to train for it. The fight may not have lived up to the hype in terms of skill and technique, but it certainly provided plenty of drama and excitement for fans of both fighters. Whether or not a rematch is in the cards remains to be seen, but it’s clear that both Paul and Fury have earned each other’s respect.

Dave Allen Wins in Malta Comeback Fight After a two-year hiatus from the boxing ring, British heavyweight Dave Allen returned to the sport with a victory against Dorian Darch in Malta on February 19, 2022. Allen won the fight via a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the bout 80-73 in his favor. Allen, who had previously retired from the sport twice, announced that he was returning to boxing in January 2022. The 29-year-old fighter had taken a break from the sport due to mental health issues and a lack of motivation, but he appeared to be in good form in his comeback fight. Following his victory, Allen expressed his desire to fight regularly and make a run for the British heavyweight title. He also mentioned that he was open to fighting other top contenders in the division, including Fabio Wardley. Wardley, who is also a British heavyweight, is currently undefeated in his professional career, with a record of 12 wins and 0 losses. The 26-year-old fighter has been rising through the ranks and is considered one of the top prospects in the division. Many boxing fans are excited about the prospect of a fight between Allen and Wardley, with some predicting that it could take place in July or August or later in the year in December. Wardley has stated that he wants to win the British title outright and a fight against Allen could be a stepping stone towards achieving that goal. However, some fans and experts are skeptical about Allen’s chances against Wardley. Allen has been relatively inactive over the past few years and has been training himself. In contrast, Wardley is known for his athleticism and good punch variety. Moreover, Allen’s power may not be enough to hurt Wardley, who has shown resilience in his fights. Some experts have predicted that Wardley could win the fight on points or even stop Allen with relative ease. Despite the challenges that Allen may face in a potential fight against Wardley, some fans believe that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. They argue that Allen should first test himself against a good fighter in a 10-rounder before taking on Wardley. Whatever the outcome, it is clear that Dave Allen’s return to boxing has been well-received by fans of the sport. Many are hoping to see him back in the ring and fighting regularly, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for this talented fighter.

Floyd Mayweather’s long-awaited UK debut fails to attract interest with the O2 Arena left virtually empty for the boxing legend’s exhibition against Aaron Chalmers. Despite the anticipation around Mayweather’s appearance in a UK ring, the fight failed to generate much interest or attention, as reflected by the attendance on the night. Mayweather, a 50-0 former champion of the world, appeared to take the occasion very casually as he toyed with his opponent for much of the eight-round fight. The unbeaten American has engaged in a series of extremely lucrative exhibition fights since his retirement in 2017, which have largely taken place in the Middle East. The ‘Royal Pain’ event was painfully delayed after a poor attendance at the start of proceedings, combined with reports of thousands of unsold tickets at the O2 Arena. The farcical feeling to the event was only enhanced further by the fact that the broadcasters did not appear to know that the fight was eight rounds, not six. The lack of interest in the fight is part of a broader trend in boxing, as the sport faces a crossroads in terms of the number of exhibition fights taking place and the money on offer for such. Jake Paul, notable for his YouTube exploits, is set to fight Tommy Fury, a professional boxer, in Saudi Arabia on Sunday night. The promoters tried to save face amid a distinct lack of appetite among the British boxing public for the fight, with a website called ShowFilmFirst, a known seat-filler site, attempting to flog tickets for as little as £4.95 just hours out from the bout. The broadcaster, Zeus TV, appeared to focus solely on the fighters during the ring walk, refusing to pan across to the crowd. It is not clear if this was in fear of showing the relatively empty arena. Both fighters did not acknowledge the swathes of empty seats after the fight, with Mayweather himself in fact calling UK fans ‘unbelievable’. Chalmers, meanwhile, said that his experience would be one to tell the ‘grandkids.’ In conclusion, the long-awaited UK debut of Floyd Mayweather failed to drum up much interest among fans, with the O2 Arena left virtually empty for the exhibition bout against Aaron Chalmers. The poor attendance at the event reflects a broader trend in boxing, with the number of exhibition fights taking place and the money on offer for such being called into question. While the fighters put on a show for those who were in attendance, it is clear that the event was not the blockbuster many had hoped for.

After a 1,258-day absence from competition, Tatiana Suarez shone on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 220 when she defeated Montana De La Rosa. Suarez (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who had not fought in nearly four years, returned to the cage and earned a decisive victory by applying a guillotine choke to De La Rosa (12-8-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC) in the second round of their women's flyweight match at the UFC Apex. Suarez regained her form in the second round after De La Rosa displayed some resilience in the first round. She seized control of the scuffle before navigating her way into the choke to complete her comeback in emphatic fashion. Due to her extended absence from the octagon, Suarez fought at 125 pounds for this match; however, she made it clear that she will be moving back down to strawweight for the following match and plans to continue her championship campaign there. “I’m coming for the belt,” Suarez said. “115 here I come. Im going to come back down. I’m going to do what I know I can be, and be the world champion.

Jalin Turner, a promising UFC lightweight contender, recently made headlines by praising his upcoming opponent Mateusz Gamrot for stepping up to fight him on a pay-per-view event. The two fighters are set to face off at UFC 285, which is scheduled to take place later this year. Dan Hooker, who was supposed to be Turner's challenger for the UFC 285 event on March 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, pulled because of a broken hand. Turner, who seemed to be determined to remain on the board, received a possibly much great fit in higher-ranked lightweight Gamrot, who according to Turner is the only opponent that accepted the challenge. “I’m just happy he stepped up, somebody stepped up,” Turner told MMA Junkie. “I wanted to stay on the card. I could have sat back and waited for somebody else on another card, but I was like – I just wanted to stay on 285 so, they made it happen.” He continued, “He’s the only one that stepped up. Nobody else wanted to fight me on this card. They didn’t want that three-week notice fight, so I took the challenge.” The matchup between Turner and Gamrot is expected to be a closely contested affair, with both fighters possessing the ability to finish the fight with strikes or submissions. The fight is also important for both men in terms of their rankings and prospects in the division. “He’s a good opponent,” Turner said. “He’s going to come in, try to shoot, try to wrestle. I already kind of expected that from Dan (Hooker) a little bit, so I was a little bit prepared. It’s just another fight. I’m ready to take on whoever wants to step up and I always showcase it every time.” For Turner, a win over Gamrot would be a significant boost to his career and could potentially lead to bigger and better opportunities in the UFC. For Gamrot, a victory over Turner would solidify his status as a rising star in the division and potentially set him up for a top-five matchup. Overall, the matchup between Turner and Gamrot is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing fights on the UFC 285 card. With both fighters possessing elite skills and a hunger to win, fans can expect a thrilling contest that could potentially produce a future title contender in the lightweight division.

In a thrilling battle for the ONE Championship bantamweight title in Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, Fabricio Andrade emerged victorious over John Lineker after Lineker's corner stopped the fight due to eye damage in the late rounds. In October 2022, when the two initially faced off for the crown, terrible things happened to each of them. Lineker first forfeited the championship by failing to weigh in, however after Andrade unintentionally struck Lineker in the third round with a cheap shot, the event was declared a no-contest. Andrade, a Brazilian mixed martial artist with a record of 8-2-1, put on a masterful performance against the heavy-handed Lineker, who came into the fight with a 35-9-1 record. Andrade was able to use his superior striking skills to take Lineker down and control him throughout the fight, while also landing several significant strikes with the feet. However, Lineker remained dangerous throughout the fight, constantly looking for opportunities to land his devastating punches. And in the later rounds, he appeared to be gaining momentum, throwing heavy shots, and landing some clean strikes on Andrade. But then, disaster struck Lineker as he suffered a serious eye injury. His corner quickly realized the severity of the situation and made the difficult decision to stop the fight after the 4th round of the main event, handing the victory and the ONE Championship belt to Andrade. “I have no words to explain what this means to me,” an emotional Andrade said through tears. “It’s been just such a long journey, so many hard things that I’ve been through in my life, with the dream to get here and become the world champion — and to be able to change my life and my family’s life, it’s unbelievable.” Lineker suffers his first loss while competing in the ONE Championship. The UFC veteran prevailed in his previous four fights with the organization, stopping Bibiano Fernandes to claim the belt last March. It was a disappointing end for Lineker, who had put on a valiant effort and showed his trademark toughness throughout the fight. But ultimately, the safety of the fighters must come first, and Lineker's corner made the right call in stopping the fight. “Man, he came to fight,” Andrade said of Lineker. “The first fight, he was scared. But this fight, he came to fight. You could see, I’ve got a lot of damage [on my face].” For Andrade, the victory was a culmination of years of hard work and dedication to his craft. The 25-year-old fighter has been steadily rising through the ranks of the bantamweight division and has now cemented himself as one of the top fighters in the ONE Championship organization. Andrade suggested that his first championship defense take place versus Stephen Loman, the 27-year-old who defeated former champion Bibiano Fernandes last November, during his post-fight interview.