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Deontay Wilder Makes Precise Prediction For Anthony Joshua-Otto Wallin

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Anthony Joshua

Deontay Wilder will have an eye on Anthony Joshua’s fight with Otto Wallin next month after his own against Joseph Parker.

The American returns to the ring following over a year of inactivity against the former WBO World Champion and Tyson Fury training partner, Joseph Parker.

Also on the bill is Joshua-Wallin, the Brit’s third fight this year since his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.

‘AJ’ remains a top attraction in the heavyweight division, but fans are tuning in now to see how he approaches fights rather than expecting big time knockouts. He has been branded tentative and gun-shy, but says himself that any new style is born from being a smarter fighter.

His boxing brain will be put to the test against Wallin. The Swedish southpaw took Tyson Fury the distance in 2019, losing but causing a massive gash that was close to changing the course of the fight.

He has built six wins since, and says he is confident of upsetting the odds against a ‘past-his-peak’ Joshua.

Speaking to ES News, Wilder disagreed. He backed his fellow former champion to get the knockout victory.

He has a vested interest of course – a Joshua win keeping hopes alive for a transatlantic clash between the pair that has been long awaited and over marinated.

2024 now looks like the year to do it assuming both men get victories in December, which is certainly not a foregone conclusion.

The card also features world championship defences from Dmitry Bivol and Jai Opetaia and a host of heavyweight action from the likes of Daniel Dubois, Filip Hrgovic and Frank Sanchez.

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BOXING

Ricky Hatton Names Who Anthony Joshua Should Fight Next – And It’s Not Wilder Or Fury

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Anthony Joshua

Two-division world champion, Ricky Hatton, has named the opponent he believes Anthony Joshua should be lining up after Otto Wallin – and it’s not Deontay Wilder.

Joshua is continuing his journey to reclaim a heavyweight title, after losing his belts to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. Since then, he has defeated both Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius and is now poised for a tougher test against Wallin on December 23.

Should he come through that test, the expectancy is that he will then finally face Wilder or alternatively challenge Filip Hrgovic for the IBF world title.

However, Hatton told Betting Sites that he should instead be eyeing up Francis Ngannou, who lost out to Tyson Fury via split-decision last month.

Eddie Hearn has said that he is open to making Joshua-Ngannou, in a bout billed as ‘Rumble in the Jungle 2’.

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BOXING

Jaron Ennis Dares Terence Crawford: “Come Get Your Belt Back!”

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Terence Crawford

The last thing Jaron Ennis wanted was to be gifted a world title. However, once the IBF stripped Terence Crawford of their belt, Ennis was gifted, or in other words, handed, their crown.

It was a bittersweet moment. On one end, Ennis achieved a lifelong dream of becoming an official champion. On the other hand, hearing his peers and fans call him a fraud and email champion has left a sour taste in his mouth.

There isn’t much Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) can do. He now finds himself in a position of power but he also feels somewhat helpless. No matter how many superlatives are thrown in his direction, he knows that he can’t force anyone to jump in the ring with him. There’s only one way that Ennis’ name can protrude toward the top of everyone’s hit list…actually, there’s two.

“I just gotta keep winning and keep making noise,” Ennis told YSM Sports Media during a recent interview. “Keep stepping on these guys. They gotta see me.”

Keith Thurman is a name that Ennis would love to get his hands on. The same goes for Mario Barrios and Errol Spence Jr. Ennis’ next move is an open-ended question but he’s already painted a red bullseye on the back of Crawford.

Since having his belt forcefully taken away from him, Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) has shrugged off the IBF’s ruling and continued to go about his business. Seeing that he already aggregated all of the major welterweight hardware back in July, he views their decision as annoying but innocuous.

Whether he’s an undisputed champion or not, Crawford believes that he’s the best fighter on the planet. Ennis though, with the IBF title draped over his shoulder, wants him to prove it.

“Come get your belt back if you think you’re the best in the world.”

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BOXING

“Who Da Fk I Was”: Terence Crawford Opens Up About Existential Crisis in Cryptic Post

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Terence Bud Crawford

Terence Crawford, celebrated pugilist and multi-weight world champion, recently bared his soul in a cryptic post, shedding light on an existential crisis that gripped him. The boxing superstar, known for his unparalleled skill in the ring, took to social media to share a snippet of his personal struggle.

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Many of Bud’s fans and followers woke up to a very startling and cryptic message on his Instagram stories. He wrote, declaring “I had to wake up and realize who da f*ck I was. I was sleep for some years.”

What did he mean?

Further elaborating on his statement, Crawford pondered about the path he had gone through and recognized that it was his mother’s negativity that pushed him upwards. Crawford himself has noted that although many things have changed, his unchanged state of being angry has remained with him and powered his success in boxing at large.

The story of how Terrence Crawford, from an arduous upbringing in Omaha, grew to be referred to as “the best boxer in the world”, is an angry one. More so, his great success in the ring combined with his checkered past involving gangs and episodes of violence at an early age.

Bud was once shot in the head

The adversities of Crawford’s childhood occurred in a violent neighborhood where he grew up. He spoke openly during an interview about his childhood experiences. He experienced endless fights with his mother, emotional as well as physical. Further, he explained how it was hard living in an environment that had normalized fighting and violence. After boxing began as a survival measure, he encountered various gangs until the birth of his professional boxing journey.

A near-death experience in 2008, when someone shot him in the head, changed Crawford’s story. Added layers of traumatic experiences then included witnessing his uncle’s death as well as the difficulties his aunt had faced after being attacked. Uncle and promoter Bob Arum were among the important people who helped redirect his focus and will back into boxing. Despite the absence of positive reinforcement, Crawford’s determination to be a present and supportive father to his children shows his commitment to breaking the cycle.

Terence Crawford’s narrative is not just a tale of sporting triumphs; it’s a testament to the spirit that can emerge from mental health struggles. In the ring, he found an outlet for his anger. Additionally, also a path to redemption, showcasing that the fight against inner demons can lead to extraordinary victories.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues or mental health struggles, contact the relevant resources below:

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BOXING

Crawford: ‘I See A lot of Spence Fans Mad at Me and Jumping on Boots Sack Now!’

By
Terence Crawford

Terence Crawford apparently still has a significant chip on his shoulder.

The now former undisputed welterweight champion from Omaha, Nebraska, couldn’t help but notice the attitude of some fans (or critics) toward him after the International Boxing Federation stripped him of his 147-pound title last week for his inability to comply with a mandatory defense against top-rated contender Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

The development means that Crawford is no longer the undisputed welterweight champion, which he achieved in July when he stopped Errol Spence Jr. in nine rounds to unify all four belts in the division. It is the second time Crawford has cleaned out an entire weight class, having done so at 140. Crawford is unable to fulfill the IBF’s mandate because he owes Spence a contractually mandated rematch. It is not clear when that fight will happen, however, as Premier Boxing Champions, the outfit that backs Spence and Crawford, will need a new broadcasting home by the end of the year after Showtime shuts down its sport department.

Crawford, who has never been shy about voicing his antipathy toward his critics, lambasted his detractors for suggesting he is “scared” to fight Ennis—a criticism that Crawford has long endured as it pertained to Spence.

“I see a lot of Spence fans mad at me and jumping on Boots sack now!” Crawford wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “I love it (three cry-laughing emojis) this the same sh!t I got and heard for 5 years I was scared this and that. It’s ok everyone just [accept] it I’m great and yall mad about it.”

Crawford, 36, still remains the welterweight titleholder of the WBO, WBA, and WBC.

A rematch between Crawford and Spence could take place at 154 pounds, which is the weight class that Spence desires. However, while Spence has the right to call for a rematch, the choice of the weight belongs to Crawford. For his part, Crawford suggested immediately after his stoppage win over Spence that he would be open to fighting at 154.

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BOXING

Claressa Shields agrees to go on date with Sunny Edwards

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Claressa Shield

Claressa Shields has agreed to go on a dinner date with Sunny Edwards, if he beats Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.

Britain’s IBF flyweight world champion has signed to fight the American WBO king in a unification later this year.

If he don’t do I get to take you out?👀 https://t.co/t1MUJn2E4C

— Not Sunny Edwards (@SunnyEdwards) April 9, 2023

The fight is expected to take place in November or December and has been much discussed in the boxing world in recent months.

Back in April, undisputed middleweight world champion Shields weighed in on the debate as she tweeted: “RODRIGUEZ STOPS HIM IN EIGHT.”

Edwards was far from offended by this prediction.

Instead he saw an opportunity and tweeted back: “If he don’t, do I get to take you out?”

Shields initially replied: “You ain’t got a chance Sunny boy.

Shields told iFL TV on Saturday: “I’m a woman of my word. Okay, if Sunny wins, sure, we can go on a date.

“I’ll sit across the table from him, eat some food, talk some s***.

Claressa Shields

“Why not? I’m a single woman now.

“On Twitter I don’t even know where it came from, I just started getting all these mentions.

“He tweeted and I’m like, ‘What the hell is going on here?’

“But sure, if he beats Bam, I guess that’ll be great motivation for him – to have the chance to take the GWOAT out to dinner.

“If he wins, I’ll go on a date with him, for sure.”

Asked if they will go to Nando’s, Shields answered: “Nando’s is the place to go, but if he knows anywhere better, tell him that the flight and everything is on him, he has to fly me over.

“Or he can come to America, we can go to one of my spots or whatever, it’d be cool.

“If he wins.

“But I’m a fan of Sunny Edwards, he’s pretty funny if anything, but sure, why not?”

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BOXING

‘Prime’ and Boxing’s Great Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson Announce Partnership

By
Shakur

Logan Paul and KSI‘s Prime Hydration are going places. They recently celebrated one billion sales by organizing intercontinental promotional events. Outside of the regular over-the-counter sales, the brand is making clear headway into the world of sports. Apart from the multi-year deal with the UFC, Prime Hydration has entered into a sponsorship deal with FC Barcelona. But individual athletes, too, have become a part of the Prime’s endorsement programs.

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Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya became the multinational brand’s ‘first official athletes’ this year. So how can boxing be left out? After all, it rained big matches this year. With such promising line-ups on the horizon, the coming year promises to be fruitful as well. Thus, when the iron is hot, Prime Hydration has reportedly partnered with two of the biggest names in boxing. Through its Instagram handle, the nutritional drink maker announced a tie-up with former undisputed champion Terence Crawford and former two-time world champion Shakur Stevenson.
Terence and Shakur

Nutritional succor to boxers

A few hours ago, through its Instagram account, @drinkprime shared, “PRIME is proud to partner with boxing’s greatest, @tbudcrawford (40-0) and @shakurstevenson (20-0), as we continue to elevate the best in the world!” The YouTubers-turned-boxers have, as many experts might perceive, pulled off a major coup. With his unblemished record and recent achievements, Terence Crawford, the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, has earned a spot on the coveted ‘face of boxing’ list.

Many tout his protege, Shakur Stevenson, as the next big thing in boxing. The 26-year-old Newark, New Jersey-born southpaw meets Dominican Edwin De Los Santos in a few hours. Like Crawford, he too remains unbeaten, besides bagging two world titles in his career thus far. Incidentally, for him, the Prime Hydration sponsorship follows the Reebok deal he signed two weeks ago.

Founded last January by the two former boxing rivals, Prime Hydration has been going places. Incidentally, stores selling the drink reported running out of supply at a surprising number of locations.

Logan Paul was in New York, while KSI was in London. Both had a Golden Prime bottle, reportedly worth $500,000 each. As scores of fans saw, it was a young kid in London who finally cracked the code needed to access the London Golden Prime bottle. Unfortunately, since no one could break through the code in the United States, per the conditions of the challenge, the piece in New York had to go through incineration. Surely, that was one heck of a way to celebrate a feat the brand achieved in barely two years of its existence.

Do you think De Los Santos would be able to stage a big upset against Stevenson today?

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BOXING

Crawford Trainer on ‘Boots’ Ennis: He Don’t Bring Nothin’ to the Table; Terence Can Pick and Choose What He Wants To Do

By
Terence Crawford

Trainer Brian “Bomac” McIntyre doesn’t feel that his ace client, Terence Crawford, is under any obligation to fight Jaron “Boots” Ennis.

Omaha, Nebraska’s Crawford was recently stripped of his IBF title, which he won in his high-profile undisputed welterweight title match against Errol Spence Jr. in July at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The move has now allowed Philadelphia’s Ennis to become the new welterweight belt holder under the IBF.

The IBF justified its decision based on the fact that Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) cannot comply with the sanctioning body’s order for him to make a mandatory title defense against top-rated Ennis. Crawford, 36, is contractually committed to give Spence a rematch; it will reportedly take place early next year.

As for a fight with the 26-year-old Ennis? According to McIntyre, Ennis simply does not make business sense for Crawford at this stage in their respective careers.

Terence Crawford

“Yeah, he don’t bring nothin’ to the table, man,” McIntyre said of Ennis in an interview with FightHype.com. “You know, Terence is at a stage now in his career to where he can pick and choose what he want to do. If he don’t want to fight Boots because Boots doesn’t bring anything to the table, hey, that’s what he chose to do. I’mma ride with him. And if anybody don’t ride with him, I wouldn’t give a damn and I’m sure he don’t either.”

McIntyre, who also trains Keshawn Davis and Troy Isley, also suggested that Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) may not be as good as advertised. The veteran coach said there may be some unheralded 147-pounders who could trouble Ennis.

“There’s some good welterweights out there that could probably give him a run for this money,” McIntyre said. “But they just haven’t been discovered yet.”

Ennis last fought in July, a dominant 10th-round stoppage of Roiman Villa at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

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BOXING

Tony Bellew Has ‘No Doubt’ What Started Anthony Joshua’s ‘Downfall’

By
Anthony Joshua

Tony Bellew has weighed in on a pivotal moment in Anthony Joshua’s career.

The Olympic Gold Medalist turned pro in 2013 and quickly went about collecting three of the four major heavyweight world titles.

As a bonafide British superstar, Joshua’s team looked to announce him formally on the American stage with a fight at Madison Square Garden of June in 2019.

The man in the opposite corner was to be Jarrell Miller, who sold the fight well with some slick trash talk and press conference antics that appeared to get under the skin of the champion.

Miller then tested positive for various performance enhancing drugs. Andy Ruiz Jr stepped in and shocked the world with a stoppage win.

Anthony Joshua

Joshua and Miller have recently reignited their feud due to being two parts of the same press conference to announce their next bouts – Otto Wallin for ‘AJ’ and Daniel Dubois for Miller.

Speaking on a DAZN broadcast and recapping the press conference, Barry Jones said that the bad blood between the brash American and Joshua won’t be going away anytime soon and that, in a roundabout way, the American was responsible for ‘AJ’s ‘downfall.’

Whilst Joshua won his unified world titles straight back in a rematch against Ruiz six months later, many fans and pundits believe the loss represented a style change for the Brit.

Once a wrecking ball searching for knockouts, his career post-2019 looks more tentative – something Joshua himself attributes to just being a smarter fighter.

He would lose twice to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 22 before building back with wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius. The Helenius knockout – albeit coming later than many predicted – was a confidence booster like no other.

With a fight either for another world title or against American knockout artist Deontay Wilder planned for 2024, Joshua must prove to fans against Wallin on December 23 that he’s on the up once more.

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BOXING

A Year After the $5 Million Fight, Rolando Romero Makes a Startling Confession on Why Fighting Gervonta Davis Was His Life’s “Biggest

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Gervonta Davis

In a surprising turn of events, Rolando Romero, the boxer who raked in a cool $5 million from his showdown with Gervonta Davis last year, has spilled the beans on why stepping into the ring with Davis was more than just a lucrative career move. In the early rounds of the fight, ‘Rolly’ appeared to be the superior fighter, showcasing his skills dominantly.

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Tank, however, shifted the momentum of the fight in the sixth round with a well-timed left hand that coincided with Rolly’s attempt at a right. In the end, the victory was in Tank’s name. The confession, delivered in a candid tweet, has now confused much of the boxing community, leaving fans and pundits alike scratching their heads to understand the deeper layers behind Romero’s unexpected revelation.

Rolando Romero thanks Gervonta Davis

The allure of a $5 million payday is undoubtedly a powerful motivator for any athlete, but for Romero, the significance of facing Gervonta Davis transcended mere financial gain. In an X (formerly Twitter) post that caught the attention of fans and critics alike, Romero declared, “Gervonta was one of my life’s biggest blessings, and I ain’t talking about money either.” He concluded the post by writing, “Some things are deeper than boxing.” This statement opens a window into a narrative that extends beyond the glitz and glamour of the boxing world.

For those closely following Romero’s journey, the apparent contradiction between the financial windfall and the spiritual blessing raises intriguing questions. What was it about facing Gervonta Davis that elevated the experience beyond the realm of a high-stakes prizefight? Certainly, one to only look at the bright side of things, the lightweight had to overcome a lot in his life to reach where he is currently. Romero, not too long ago, had revealed how he had to overcome a childhood speech impediment

Rolly overcomes adversity

Rolando Romero, who was given the chance to face Gervonta Davis a year ago, stood out not only for his unbeaten record and punching power but for his bold, brash attitude and promotional prowess. Despite being an exceptional trash talker and a draw for attention, Romero’s ability to speak confidently in public was hard-won. Struggling with a lisp and speech impediment until the age of 11, Romero faced teasing and harassment in his Nevada hometown.

Though the fights over his speech impediment didn’t directly lead him to boxing, they played a role in shaping his affinity for combat. While now bilingual and articulate in public, Romero admits to lingering insecurity about his speech, a stark contrast to his confident demeanor discussing his boxing skills. Romero often reflects on the transformative journey from a speech-impaired child to a fighter commanding attention in and out of the ring.

Romero’s words hint at a personal transformation, suggesting that his encounter with Davis went beyond the physical demands of a boxing match. Could it be that the challenges posed by Davis became a catalyst for self-discovery and growth for Romero?

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