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Tim Bradley Has No Doubt Who Wins Terence Crawford-Floyd Mayweather: “I’m Telling You!”

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Terence Crawford and Floyd Mayweaher

Hall of Famer Tim Bradley has an extremely confident pick for a prime versus prime fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Terence Crawford.

‘Bud’ Crawford became two-time undisputed last year with an impressive stoppage of previously undefeated Errol Spence Jr. He will now make the move to 154 to challenge for two belts against Israil Madrimov on August 3.

Mayweather won 15 world title in four different weight classes. Almost defensively flawless, ‘Money’ changed the landscape of boxing and was the most successful pay-per-view star the sport has ever seen.

Since the pair crossed over weight classes, there’s no doubt that a fantasy fight is high on the lists of fans who like to play cross-generational matchmaking.

Speaking to FightHype, Bradley backed Crawford and gave his reasons.

After Crawford looks for success in a fourth weight class – a fight Bradley of course backs him to win – he’s expected to continue calling out a former Mayweather opponent in Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez.

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BOXING

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk final drugs test results released after Gyspy King’s defeat

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Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk both had their drug tests come back clean after WADA conducted their usual tests following their heavyweight bout.

The duo went at it in Saudi Arabia recently with the Ukrainian coming out on top to unify the heavyweight division. WADA came in afterwards as is standard practice and both fighters have delivered clear results – not that it was ever doubted.

Usyk completed his sensational journey after stepping up from cruiserweight to heavyweight. He had twice seen off Anthony Joshua previously and upset the odds to deal Fury his first defeat as a professional, winning on points.

Already the pair have had their rematch confirmed with Turki Alalshikh stating he would take place on December 21. “The world will watch another historical fight again,” he said on social media. “Our commitment to boxing fans continues. We hope you enjoy it.”

Alashikh did not name a venue or destination for the rematch but claimed it would take place “during Riyadh Season”. Riyadh Season is an entertainment festival which takes place every winter following its launch in 2019 – it has hosted a number of high profile boxing events.

Usyk said after his victory: “Thank you so much for my team. It’s a big opportunity for my family, for my country. I’m very happy. My people will be very happy I think, it’s a big win, not only for me, it’s a big win for my country, for soldiers who now defend my country. I think my father now is watching over me and is very happy. Dad, I love you. I can, you told me I can.”

Fury though felt that the decision from the judge should have gone his way. He claimed: “I believe I won that fight. I believe he won a few rounds but I won more of them.

He went on to say: “Make no mistake I won that fight and I’ll be back. We go back to our families and we run it back in October. I’m not going to sit here and cry and make excuses.”

Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk was already entertaining talk of a rematch after the landmark victory. “Yeah of course. I am ready for rematch,” he said.

He also added: “I’m exhausted, I was backing Usyk the whole fight. No disrespect to the referee, I think he stopped the KO in the ninth. It was a tremendous performance, something unbelievable. I hope to see more in the rematch.”

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BOXING

Fury & Usyk should ‘speak out’ on Saudi human rights

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Tyson Olek

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have been encouraged to “speak out” about the “urgent need for human rights reform” in Saudi Arabia.

The rival champions fight in Riyadh on Saturday in the first undisputed heavyweight contest for nearly 25 years.

Saudi Arabia has paid huge sums to host the bout, which is the latest in a string of boxing events in the Kingdom.

But the country continues to face sportswashing and human rights violation claims and Amnesty International has said Fury and Usyk should “acknowledge the way that this fight fits into a pattern of Saudi sportswashing”.

“Boxing is very much part of the Saudi sportswashing strategy under Mohammed bin Salman, dating back to at least Anthony Joshua’s fight with Andy Ruiz in 2019,” said Peter Frankental, Amnesty International UK’s economic affairs director.

“Glitzy events like Fury v Usyk are designed to rebrand Saudi Arabia as a ‘sporting hub’ while deflecting attention from the country’s jailing of women’s rights activists, suppression of free speech and rampant use of the death penalty.

“At the very same time that the Saudi sportswashing machine has cranked into high gear there’s been a widening crackdown on human rights defenders, including the recent 11-year jail sentence handed down against the fitness instructor Manahel al-Otaibi.

“The Leeds University student Salma al-Shehab has been jailed for 27 years for tweeting about women’s rights, while the retired teacher Mohammad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi faces execution for his peaceful remarks on Twitter and YouTube.”

Englishman Fury, 35, is the WBC champion and is undefeated in 35 fights with one draw.

Ukraine’s Usyk holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring magazine titles and the 37-year-old has 21 wins and zero losses on his record.

Boxing is not the only sport Saudi Arabia has invested in heavily, with golf, tennis and F1 also staging massive events in the country.

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BOXING

Anthony Joshua nicknames himself ‘Quadzilla’ in workout pictures that show bulging muscle Jordan Ellis

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua is clearly staying in shape during his time in Saudi Arabia.

‘AJ’ recently arrived in Riyadh ahead of Tyson Fury’s undisputed heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk at the Kingdom Arena on Saturday night, but is also using the opportunity to stay in excellent shape.

The former two-time heavyweight champion will be sitting in the front row when two of his major rivals battle it out for the WBO, WBA, WBC, and IBF belts.

Joshua could potentially face the winner later this year or find himself competing for the IBF title if the pair choose to exercise the rematch clause in the contracts.

So, he’s been ticking over at the Mike Tyson Boxing Club in Riyadh.

On Tuesday, Joshua shared two pictures of him running on a treadmill to his social media channels.

The 34-year-old used the caption to give himself a new nickname.

“Quadzilla,” he wrote referencing the bulging muscles in his upper legs.

Joshua’s comment section was full of fans praising his impressive physique and relentless work ethic.

One person said: “Looking incredible go for it AJ.”

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BOXING

Fury Says Joshua’s Saudi Trip Is In Vain Because Of Usyk Rematch Clause

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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony

RIYADH – Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua is wasting his time being in Riyadh for the fight on Saturday between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

At the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, Fury and Usyk will finally battle for the undisputed heavyweight title, and do so with a rematch clause already in place for them to fight again later in 2024.

Joshua is already in Riyadh for what could prove the most significant fight of the year – his recent victory over Francis Ngannou means he is on course to challenge the winner – but Fury has reminded him of how futile his presence is when he first expects to fight Usyk again.

If a mutual respect exists between Fury and the 37-year-old Usyk, the “Gypsy King” and Joshua have often had a considerably more strained relationship. Joshua is regardless expected to fight an alternative opponent before Fury and Usyk potentially fight again.

“There’s not much he can build because we have a two-fight deal, so if he builds what he wants to do he has to wait until it’s all over,” Fury said. “Then we can negotiate. Now the Saudis are involved and His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] is controlling everything, he can make these fights like that because money is not a problem.

“And it’s always about money in these deals and why they don’t get made. All fights are easy to make in any weight division. Turki will make them.”

The 35-year-old Fury’s confidence in victory on Saturday is such that he was asked if a rematch would prove pointless, and he responded: “Double-bubble, innit?

“What are we in this for? Money. If I can get double-bubble for one job there’s not much more to be said.”

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BOXING

‘Take the Bomb Apart’: Atlas Wants to See Lomachenko-Davis

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Gervonta Davis

The discussion over who Vasiliy Lomachenko should fight next after his revival knockout of former lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr. is rich.

For veteran trainer Teddy Atlas, it should also be short.

Atlas said on Monday’s episode of “Deep Waters” on ProBox TV that the timing is right now for new IBF lightweight champion Lomachenko, 36, to seek out a unification date against WBA champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis by year’s end.

While Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) has a Prime Video pay-per-view title defense to make on June 15 in Las Vegas against unbeaten Frank Martin, “Tank” posted on X Saturday night that he intends to get to Lomachenko after his planned victory over Martin.

Of course, unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson and three-division champion Emanuel Navarrete, who’s fighting for the WBO lightweight strap Saturday would likely also crave that bout.

Like Stevenson, Navarrete is promoted by Lomachenko promoter Top Rank.

But Atlas urged the parties to rush, likening Davis-Lomachenko to Canelo Alvarez versus David Benavidez: “If this fight is going to happen, it has to happen soon. (For) Lomachenko, the clock is ticking.”

Atlas said his fascination with the matchup is how “The Matrix” Lomachenko can maneuver and dissect Davis, comparing his task observing “a guy go in to disarm a bomb.

“He has to take the red wire out and the green wire out without touching the blue wire – or it’s going to blow everything up,” Atlas said. “That is what [Lomachenko] has done in the past: he’s disarmed really terrific punchers, champions of years ago. But now he’s got to do it against a guy with nitroglycerine in his gloves, a pound-for-pound fighter who can do it all.”

Fellow “Deep Waters” analyst Paulie Malignaggi argued Lomachenko’s not obligated now that he’s older to fight a foe in Premier Boxing Champions’ Davis.

Malignaggi claimed Davis “ducked him years ago … Lomachenko has been brought up to ‘Tank’ since he’s been 130 pounds and he’s never even acknowledged him. ‘Tank’ is a great fighter. He picks his opponents a little too much for my liking, but I still enjoy watching him.”

Atlas says there’s no sense in lamenting the past when the bout seems ripe now.

“I still want to see it because Lomachenko has a chance to do something that would be fun to watch: Go in and take the bomb apart,” the trainer said.

Stevenson may opt to return to the Top Rank stable following the expiration of his current deal with the promoter after his July 6 title defense simply for the sake of fighting Lomachenko.

“I like Shakur against everybody, ‘Tank’ included,” “Deep Waters” analyst Chris Algieri said. “Shakur said [fighting Lomachenko] would be the highest IQ boxing match, two boxing chess players. My concern is it wouldn’t be the most entertaining, scintillating fight. Shakur is very good at diffusing interactions.

“Lomachenko will have to close the distance and make a fight of it. You’re looking at a 36-year-old guy fighting guys at their absolute primes. It’s a tough fight for Lomachenko.”

While Malignaggi said Stevenson doesn’t deserve criticism for his attention to defense when teams in the NBA and NHL have avoided such chiding, he admits there would not be “the buzz” of Lomachenko-Davis.

And perhaps three-division champion Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) and his father-trainer, Anatoli, will decide to retire on top.

Top Rank President Todd DuBoef told BoxingScene Monday that Lomachenko will “sit at the head of the table” and select whom he prefers to fight next after these three lightweight title bouts over the next six weeks.

“If he decides to fight, [Stevenson] is the easier fight to make,” Malignaggi said.

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Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk – Mike Tyson makes his prediction

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The big fight takes place this weekend.

Mike Tyson is fully aware of what it takes to step into the ring and partake in huge heavyweight clashes with so much on the line.

The former world champion will be watching this weekend when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk meet with all four world titles up for grabs.

The fight, which takes place on May 18 in Saudi Arabia, will see the winner join an elite list of names as undisputed champion.

Tyson, who has his own contest against Jake Paul to prepare for this summer, has had his say on how this Saturday’s fight might play out.

“I’m going towards Tyson Fury because I think he’s just going to overpower him,” said Tyson when speaking to Fight Hub TV.

“He’s going to catch up with him and overpower him. I got to go with Fury. I think he’s the best fighter in the world, especially in the heavyweight division.”

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BOXING

Anthony Joshua arrives in Saudi Arabia to be ringside for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua has touched down in Saudi Arabia ahead of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk.

The Watford powerhouse will be ringside at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on May 18 as Fury and Usyk bid to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era

Joshua will be watching on with intrigue as the fight also holds massive implications for him.

Saudi boxing chief, His Excellency Turki Alalshik, recently confirmed to ESPN that he is eyeing up the long-awaited all-British showdown between Fury and Joshua for March next year.

Fury and Usyk have a two-way rematch clause signed into their contracts with the second fight pencilled in for October 12/13.

After which, Joshua is expected to enter the fray.

Whether their fight will be for the heavyweight titles or not rests on Fury emerging victorious from the four-belt shootout.

It seems unlikely Joshua will be given the opportunity to fight Usyk for a third time after convincingly losing both of their bouts back in September 2021 and August 2022.

So despite picking Usyk to win, Joshua will surely be secretly rooting for Fury.

While Joshua waits patiently for his outing against Fury next year he is choosing to remain active.

The former unified heavyweight champion, recently told talkSPORT that he will be back out on either September 20 or 21 at Wembley Stadium and has four names on the shortlist to be his next opponent.

Discussing his next opponent, he told talkSPORT’s Jon Jackson last month: “On June 1 in Saudi Arabia they’ve got the 5 vs 5 card.

“You’ve got Filip Hrgovic vs Daniel Dubois, and you’ve got Zhilei Zhang vs Deontay Wilder.

“So providing one of those looks good – the one who looks the best, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh said to me, ‘I want you to fight [him].’

“What he says is, ‘In the future I want people to look back at your record and say that you took on the best.’

“I said, ‘Now you’re speaking my language.’

“So out of that pool, I believe that’s who I’m gonna be fighting, one of those.

“We’re on the same page and he’s on the same page as the fans as well.

“He’s trying to deliver what the fans want, I know they want that big fight with Tyson Fury and he’s working on it.

“But Fury’s got his obligations with Oleksandr Usyk so I’ve gotta make sure I stay focused and disciplined, keep steamrolling through opponents so I can get closer and closer to having the opportunity of me vs Tyson Fury.”

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BOXING

Fury vs Usyk Odds: Who is the favorite to win the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk fight?

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Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed heavyweight champion next Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in one of the most anticipated fights of recent years, which promises to become an all-time heavyweight classic.

The style of both fighters means it will be a fight with a lot of adrenaline and constant action, after a delay of three months, due to a sparring incident for Fury.

The original date was February 17, but Fury suffered a cut on his eyebrow due to a blow from one of his sparring partners, which led to the postponement of the fight, which only increased the tension between the two fighters.

Fury comes into the fight with a record of 34-0-1 and 24 KOs, while the Ukrainian Usyk boasts a record of 21-0 and 14 knockouts.

The winner of the fight will make history as he would become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era, making a long-awaited bout even more appealing.

Fury is the current WBC champion, while Usyk holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.

Who is the betting favorite between Fury and Usyk?

A week before the fight Fury comes in as the favorite over Usyk according to several bookmakers.

At Draft Kings, Fury has a line of -120 for a +100 for Usyk, that is, it is a very close line in favor of the Briton, while the draw gives a +1,400.

For other bookmakers such as bet365, Fury has a betting line of -125 for +100 for Usyk.

In the same tenor are other sites like Bet MGM, Caesars Sportsbook and Bet Rivers, all viewing Fury as the favorite to defeat Usyk.

At Draft Kings they give +175 on Fury winning by decision and +380 if the Brit wins by KO.

The odds for Usyk is +180 on a decision win, and +500 winning by knockout.

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Eddie Hearn reveals why Canelo Alvarez wants to dodge Terence Crawford

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Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez

Legendary boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has said that Canelo Alvarez will duck Terence Crawford and the British businessman revealed why the Mexican doesn’t want the scrap with the 36-year-old American.

Alvarez is hunting for his next opponent after soundly battering Jaime Munguia at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, winning via unanimous decision after flooring the 27-year-old.

So obviously all attention turns to the highest-calibre opponents in boxing as Canelo is currently the biggest name and draw in the sport, meaning fans and sponsors are vying for some super-fights.

One such name is Crawford, who is 40-0-0 with 31 knockouts. Fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska, he is praised for his tactical knowhow and his ability to adapt to opponents including swapping between southpaw and orthodox.

He is also the WBO, WBA, WBC, IBF and The Ring welterweight champion after knocking out Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023, but Hearn believes he is no good for the Mexican’s legacy despite being an undisputed champ.

“Not speaking on Canelo’s behalf because I don’t represent him,” Hearn said, as per boxingnews24.com. “I don’t think he’s overly interested in the Terence Crawford fight, because I’m thinking he’ll be thinking, ‘I’m not going to get any credit for beating Terence Crawford.'”

“He’s a 147-pounder, who just moved to 154. You’re asking him to move to 168 and fight a guy [Canelo] that’s massively outsized him.

“Also, at this stage of Canelo Alvarez’s career, stylistically, I’m not sure he wants to fight a mover [Crawford] that he’s going to have to chase around the ring.”

Canelo concurs as legacy question frustrates him

Canelo’s CV is one of the finest of any living or deceased boxer. He has 65 fights to his name with 61 wins and 49 knockouts, with just two losses and two draws. He is also the undisputed super-middleweight champion and has previously been a champion in the light-heavyweight division, middleweight class and light-middleweight league.

But obviously each fighter has some haters and now Canelo appears to be tiring of them as he declares Crawford isn’t worth it because if he wins, he beat a small guy and if he loses, he was beaten by a small guy.

“No,” Canelo told Box Azteca back in February. “So now if you imagine Crawford as a welterweight. 168lbs.

“I have everything to lose and nothing to gain because if I win, they’ll say, ‘Oh, he was too small,’ and everything!”

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