Boxing Archives - Page 30 of 183

Richard Riakporhe has sparred Anthony Joshua and Chris Eubank Jr, but one fighter hit him much harder.

The ‘Midnight Train’ will touch gloves with domestic cruiserweight rival Chris Billam-Smith in a rematch for the WBO world title at Selhurst Park, the home of Premier League club Crystal Palace.

During his career, the British star has touched gloves with AJ in training back in October 2022 when he was expected to face Tyson Fury.

He also sparred former middleweight world champion Eubank Jr in 2021, but was on the receiving end of a tough session.

But Riakporhe insisted in an interview with talkSPORT.com, that it is actually Dillian Whyte who rocked him severely when the pair touched gloves in 2018.

“I would say Dillian Whyte hit me the hardest,” Riakporhe said.

“He hit me with a big shot with the lead hand, it was a type of uppercut.

“He has a lot of power in his lead hand, and I got hit with that and everything slowed down.

“My entire life slowed down, it was a weird feeling to say the last.

“AJ can bang as well I have taken a shot from him.”

Footage emerged of his sparring session with Eubank Jr, who was urged to stop by his father having dominated the session from the opening klaxon.

Whyte was preparing for an active year beating Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora and Lucas Browne in 2018, and Riakporhe was seen as a perfect partner to help the former world title challenger prepare.

BOXING

“He Is Looking Jacked”: Gervonta Davis’ Reputation Tarnished as Calvin Ford Accuses Ryan Garcia of Being “On Sauce” in Resurfaced Video

The Ryan Garcia storyline has more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. Within a mere twenty-four hours of Garcia’s positive drug test in the fight against Devin Haney last month, Gervonta Davis seems to have lost all credibility. Why? Well, because of his own trainer, Calvin Ford! To understand it better, let’s travel a handful of hours in the past!

Mike Coppinger from ESPN breaks the news on X! Garcia comes running to address the situation by denying he had used performance-enhancing drugs. Here’s where Davis’ downfall starts. Learning about this, ‘Tank’ Davis supports his former foe against the allegations. And now, get this! An old clip of coach Ford resurfaces on X, where he accused Garcia of using “Sauce” before the fight against Davis.

Hypocrisy at its best!

In the clip, a reporter can be heard asking Ford about the allegations Gervonta Davis had made against Garcia about performance-enhancing substances. Without a shred of doubt in his mind, the Baltimore coach said, “[I looked at] old pictures. I am looking at him now [he is looking jacked]…”

He further elaborates on how he would never send out Davis unless he knows for sure that Davis’ opponent is not doing something shady. “I don’t do that unless I am sure. We know [when a guy] is on sauce, we know. We have guys we be sparing with, you know it,” said Ford. He goes as far as to ask the reporters to compare Garcia’s pictures in other fights and pictures of him in 2023.

However, now that Devin Haney is in the equation, who Davis can’t seem to stand because of their past, the Baltimore native took Garcia’s side regardless of whether Garcia had actually used drugs. Now let’s look at some of the things Gervonta Davis had said after the test results were revealed.

Is Gervonta Davis ashamed of supporting Ryan Garcia?

Reacting to the update about Garcia, Davis’ first tweet read, “They [are] doing anything to take away the win from Ryan..if that’s the case BANNED EDDIE HEARN SILVER POON A**!” Not just this, in a later tweet, Davis wrote intensively how Eddie Hearn is the one behind all this mess. Davis wrote, “The whole boxing world is straight d**k s***ers..”

“And every boxer on my tl that claiming Ryan cheated.. tf he got to cheat for, we fought nothin[g] came back positive.. he fight on the side (DAZN) w the promoter CLEARY want his fighter to win and got PUT! Eddie know for doin[g] dirtys**t,” Davis added. Interestingly, Davis quickly deleted these tweets, for reasons yet to be known—perhaps a bit of shame.

Not to forget, it’s the same guy whose coach claimed Bernard Hopkins rubbed testosterone cream on Davis’ back to ruin the drug test during Garcia-Davis face off last year.

If there’s a lesson to be learnt here, that would be no one is anyone’s friend. If something helps their cause, they will rally behind it. As far as Garcia’s situation is concerned, further investigation is the only way to determine whether Garcia did something wrong. What did you think about Calvin Ford and Davis’ contrasting comments?

BOXING

Gervonta Davis Voices Support for Ryan Garcia by Accusing Eddie Hearn of “Doin[g] Dirtysh*t”

It’s a crazy world! Ryan Garcia tests positive for a banned substance. His opponent’s corner condemns it, but his older opponent supports him. In a recent pinch, the Victorville native came under fire for testing positive for a banned substance before and during the fight against Devin Haney last month. However, that’s not the twist in the story! The real twist reared its head when Gervonta Davis tweeted about it.

Earlier today, Mike Coppinger from ESPN broke the news on X, revealing Garcia has tested positive for “the PED Ostarine.” While Garcia has ten days to request testing of his B-Sample, most people, including ‘The Dream’ Haney, have already branded the 25-year-old a cheater. However, ‘Tank’ Davis isn’t one of them, who accused Eddie Hearn, Haney’s promoter, of concocting the whole thing on social media.

Gervonta Davis brands boxing world “dk s*ers”

Hours after the news broke, Davis hopped on X with a scathing message for the people accusing Garcia of cheating. In a now deleted tweet, the Baltimore native wrote, “They [are] doing anything to take away the win from Ryan..if that’s the case BANNED EDDIE HEARN SILVER POON A**!” However, Davis quickly realized one tweet wasn’t enough to express his disdain!

So, he took another shot at it! In a following tweet [also deleted], he bashed the entire boxing world, backing Garcia while accusing Eddie Hearn of some serious stuff. “The whole boxing world is straight d**k s***ers.. and every boxer on my tl that claiming Ryan cheated.. tf he got to cheat for, we fought nothin[g] came back positive.. he fight on the side (DAZN) w the promoter CLEARY want his fighter to win and got PUT! Eddie know for doin[g] dirtys**t,” wrote Davis.

However, there’s always two sides to a story, so here’s how Devin Haney reacted to the new revelation about Ryan Garcia’s drug tests.

Devin Haney calls out Ryan Garcia for dirty tactics and lack of remorse

According to a tweet from Coppinger, Devin Haney has issued a statement to ESPN following the groundbreaking update. “Ryan cheated and disrespected both the fans and the sport of boxing by fighting dirty and breaking positive not once, but twice,” Haney’s statement read. Claiming he has always advocated for clean fights, Haney suggests Garcia has no remorse.

“Ryan owes the fans an apology, and by his recent tweet he still thinks this is a joke,” wrote Haney. Highlighting boxers put their lives on the line to entertain the masses, Haney feels his fight against Garcia can be seen from a whole new perspective. In addition, to make his stance even clearer, Haney wrote, “People die in this sport. This isn’t a joking matter.”

That being said, it’s yet to be seen whether Ryan Garcia will be able to clear his name amid the controversy. However, it’s worth mentioning that ‘The Flash’ had missed weight before the fight, so he doesn’t have to worry about losing the belt. Who do you think is on the right here? Gervonta Davis, who fought Garcia in the past or Devin Haney, who was embarrassed after Garcia exposed his lack of skills.

BOXING

Gervonta Davis speaks out on Ryan Garcia’s positive PED test after Haney fight

In response to the unfolding controversy surrounding Ryan Garcia’s alleged doping violation, fellow boxer Gervonta Davis has come out swinging, expressing his support for Garcia and calling for repercussions against promoter Eddie Hearn.

Davis took to social media to voice his outrage at the attempts to discredit Garcia’s recent victory over Devin Haney, bluntly stating, “They doing anything to take away the win from Ryan.” In a show of solidarity with his fellow boxer, Davis condemned what he perceives as a concerted effort to undermine Garcia’s achievements in the ring.

However, Davis didn’t stop there. In a scathing rebuke directed at promoter Eddie Hearn, Davis minced no words, calling for drastic action in response to the controversy. “if that’s the case BANNED EDDIE HEARN SILVER POON A**!” Davis exclaimed, suggesting that Hearn should face consequences if the allegations against Garcia are indeed proven false.

Davis’s impassioned response reflects the intense emotions running high within the boxing community as the fallout from Garcia’s failed drug test reverberates throughout the sport. With accusations flying and reputations on the line, Davis’s outspoken support for Garcia underscores the sense of solidarity among fighters in the face of adversity.

As the controversy continues to unfold, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on Ryan Garcia and the integrity of the sport. With voices like Gervonta Davis adding to the chorus of support, the boxing world braces for further developments in this unfolding saga.

BOXING

Filip Hrgovic Vows to Repeat Croatia vs. England Euro 2008 History With Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua

Filip Hrgovic, the Croatian heavyweight titan, has been scheduled to fight Daniel Dubois on June 1st in Saudi Arabia for the 5 vs. 5 matchup between Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom and Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions. The timings of the event are yet to be announced, however, the venue has been confirmed to be the Kingdom Arena. Besides this, Hrgovic is already planning to take the fight against Anthony Joshua after his victory against Dubois and is hellbent on doing it on AJ’s home turf at Wembley.

In a bold challenge to Anthony Joshua, undefeated heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic has expressed his desire to secure a fight on British soil. Referencing Croatia’s unexpected 3-2 victory over England at Wembley Stadium in a Euro 2008 qualifier, Hrgovic seeks a similar upset, aiming to silence the home crowd and claim a decisive win over AJ. This statement signifies Hrgovic’s confidence and his intention to make a significant statement in the heavyweight division. So, what did he say?

Filip Hrgovic is looking to upset an entire British crowd

Heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic isn’t mincing words about his plans. Fresh off his next fight announcement, Hrgovic has set his sights on a massive showdown with Anthony Joshua. “Look, I’ll smash Dubois,” Hrgovic declared confidently. Dubois is his immediate opponent, but Hrgovic is already looking toward a potential blockbuster fight in September. “And then in September, I am coming to Wembley to fight Joshua,” said Hrgovic menacingly.

BOXING

‘Only speaking on what I know’ – Anthony Joshua gives verdict on Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk ahead of May 18 Saudi bout

ANTHONY JOSHUA has waded in on Tyson Fury’s undisputed super-fight against Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury and Usyk meet in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout on May 18 in Saudi Arabia.

AJ dedicated his career to becoming undisputed but his shot was ripped away by double defeat to Usyk.

So Joshua, 34, is backing his old rival to walk away with all the titles and bragging rights come judgement day.

He told talkSPORT: “I’ve fought Usyk so I can only speak on what I’ve experienced with him – phenomenal fighter, I would say he’s gonna do a really good job.

“I’ve never fought Fury, so I can’t speak on what it’s like to face him. Only speaking on what I know, I have to say Usyk will be victorious.”

Joshua has won four on the spin since losing his rematch to Usyk, 37, in August 2022.

He most recently knocked out ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37, in two rounds in March.

And Joshua is pencilled in to return in September at Wembley – but his opponent remains up in the air.

Filip Hrgovic, 31, and Daniel Dubois, 26, fight on the 5v5 Eddie Hearn vs Frank Warren bill on June 1 in Saudi Arabia.

And it could be for the IBF title should the winner between Fury, 35, and Usyk be stripped of it after their unification.

So Joshua is eyeing up the chance to fight for the belt in his bid to become a three-time champ.

But Deontay Wilder, 38, also returns against Zhilei Zhang,40, in Saudi and those two also remain possible opponents for AJ.

Joshua revealed: “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.

BOXING

UFC and boxing family join Francis Ngannou in mourning the loss of his son Kobe

Francis Ngannou is going through one of the worst moments of his life fortunately, he is not alone. After announcing the death of his 15-month-old son, Kobe, Ngannou has received countless signs of support from his fellow fighters, starting with one of his most recent rivals, Anthony Joshua.

Just on Monday, April 29, the former UFC heavyweight champion announced the death of little Kobe. In a long, emotional message on his Instagram account, the fighter lamented, “My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe, was full of life and joy. Now, he’s lying without life.”

The message attracted support from all fronts for Ngannou. So far, the post has received almost 700,000 reactions and nearly 70,000 responses, and one of the first was that of Anthony Joshua, whom Francis faced this past March 8.

Joshua, a father of one, offered his condolences to his colleague saying “May the memories you shared bring you comfort.” Joshua was followed by many others, such as Connor McGregor, Manny Pacquiao, Cain Velasquez, and Mike Bisping.

Shows of support for Ngannou

“Absolutely gutted reading this, Francis!” said McGregor in his response, adding, “I can only imagine the pain you are in right now. I am so sorry hearing this news. I pray God has the best and safest place in heaven for him until you meet again.”

Pacquiao also tried to comfort the fighter: “I’m sorry, brother. Can’t imagine the pain and struggle you are going through. Praying for you and your family right now!” While Velasquez responded, “Bro, I have no words, but I am here. Praying for you and your family. Sending you a hug.”

Henry Cejudo was one of the most eloquent when he said, “I’m so sorry for your loss, Francis. Losing family is the hardest thing a human can go through in life. We don’t have the answer, but one day you’ll meet again. We love you, my brother.”

Other athletes offered their support

Among the fighting community, Tony Bellew, David Adeleye, Derek Brunson, Tyrone Woodley, Roy Nelson, Dillon Danis, and Mark Hunt, among others, also expressed their solidarity with Ngannou through brief but sincere messages.

The displays of affection also extended beyond the world of boxing and MMA, with messages from NBA Milwaukee Bucks forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo and NHL Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane.

The causes of Kobe Ngannou’s death have not been revealed.

BOXING

Gervonta Davis continues to escalate his rivalry with Floyd Mayweather Jr: “Sit still before I f*ck you up”

Gervonta Davis added a new chapter to his growing rivalry with Floyd Mayweather Jr. “Tank” Davis continues to escalate his feud with his former manager, this time taking to his social media to air the legal problems that Mayweather is facing in Dubai.

There has yet to be an official confirmation from Mayweather’s corner. Nevertheless, international media revealed Dubai authorities detained the former world champion on unspecified charges.

Boxing Hall of Fame elector Rick Glase later confirmed the news via his X, formerly Twitter, account, saying, “Just got off the phone with my guy in Dubai, he told me that Floyd Mayweather is definitely being held by the Government court system there as he owes a substantial amount of money in Dubai.”

In the absence of any news from Mayweather himself, fans of the former welterweight champion were quick to question “Tank’s” claims. However, the boxer immediately responded, “He gotta pay them people that money back… if I’m lying, tell him to go live rn (right now).”

Davis’s new blow

Far from leaving the matter alone, Davis recently published a post on his Instagram Stories, showing a screenshot of a medium called Gossip of The City. In the image, you can read that “Floyd is being held by government officials in Dubai. He’s trying to work out something with them to be able to return home.”

True to form, Davis captioned the pic: “He (Mayweather) tried to leave today..they said ‘Nope, sit still before I f*ck you up.'”

In a second story, “Tank” shared a clip from the movie “Above the Rim,” with a not-so-veiled message for the former champion: “You ain’t no the motherf*cking man no more. I’m the one.”

Mayweather’s response

Amid this coming and going of social media posts, Mayweather took the time to respond to Davis. After the first revelations from his former protégé, “Money” posted a video on his social media, showing “Tank” dancing.

The former boxer captioned the video saying, “We always knew he had sugar in his Tank,” in an allusion to Davis’ sexuality.

As the feud between the two fighters continues, only time will reveal the truth about Mayweather’s arrest in Dubai.

BOXING

Desperate to Escape Dubai, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gets Unexpected offer for Help After Gervonta Davis’ Claims on Hostage Situation

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is being held in Dubai over money issues, according to ‘Money’s former protégé, Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. ‘Tank’, who fought for Mayweather-owned boxing promotion for most of his career, parted ways in 2022 after accusing the promotion of ‘mismanaging’ his career. The two men have been feuding ever since, taking shots at each other and even making threats of physical violence.

And the latest chapter of their ongoing beef saw verbose UFC legend Chael Sonnen offer his help in ‘rescuing’ Floyd Mayweather.

Chael Sonnen offers his services to ‘free’ Floyd Mayweather

Gervonta Davis left the Mayweather Promotions two years ago and has been managing his career since. While the beef between them seemed to have died down, a recent video by Mayweather Jr. reignited it. Without naming anyone, the undefeated fighter took shots at an unnamed group of fighters, presenting himself as the point of reference to these fighters whom he accused of not working hard enough, as he did as a young man, and concentrating more on their appearances.

‘Tank’ took this as a shot at himself and came out with a fiery response. The boxer posted his former mentor’s rant on his Instagram and gave his thoughts on the topic, claiming that the GOAT contender was being held against his will in Dubai for not fulfilling his obligations despite getting paid for it.

However, the attacks didn’t stop there as the WBA lightweight champion took to Twitter and reiterated his attack. “They got Floyd ass for real..tell him I’ll send him a wire..LET MY FUCKING FAMILY GO 🗣️,” he tweeted. And verbose UFC commentator and Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s critic, Chael Sonnen, jumped in to ask, tongue in cheek, “How can I help?”

This response, of course, is perfectly in line with Sonnen’s sardonic style of commentary and fans should not expect ‘Uncle Chael’ to mount a Mission Impossible-style rescue mission to free Floyd from his alleged captivity. It should be noted that while Davis has claimed repeatedly that Mayweather is not being allowed to leave Dubai freely, there is no evidence for it except for his and rapper 50 Cent’s claims.

While ‘Tank’ may have scored a ‘W’ on Mayweather, one of his older wins is coming under question recently after Ryan Garcia‘s wildly entertaining bout against Devin Haney.

Fans want to see ‘Tank’ fight Ryan Garcia again

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis fought superstar boxer Ryan Garcia in April last year in a catchweight title bout. And while Davis managed to win after Garcia quit following a bad liver shot in the seventh round, questions are being raised around ‘Tank’s win after Garcia’s recent domination over Devin Haney earlier this month.

For their boxing match, Davis had stipulated that Garcia make 136 lbs and had a clause that prevented Garcia from rehydrating more than 10 lbs. This decision has come under criticism from many analysts and fans. After Garcia dominated Haney, many feel that the rehydration clause was the reason ‘King’ fell so meekly to Davis. Going into a fight severely dehydrated (which is mostly what weight cutting involves), does severely affect a fighter’s abilities and chin.

Many feel that Davis’s victory over Garcia is not legitimate since the now 25-year-old was not fighting at his best and that the result might be quite different if Garcia fights ‘Tank’ without the rehydration clause. But, the WBA champion is yet to respond to these calls, despite him sparing no opportunity to diss his opponents and critics, as he has been doing to Mayweather and featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson recently.

BOXING

Hearn talks up Joshua, Wilder fight

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has outlined Anthony Joshua’s next options as he eyes up a heavyweight world title or a potential shot against one of the biggest names in the division, following on from his impressive performances under Ben Davison.

Joshua teamed up with Davison ahead of his showdown with Otto Wallin in December off of the back of disappointing displays against both Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius. However, their partnership saw Joshua rediscover his killer instinct and knock out the tricky Swedish southpaw in a one-sided beatdown.

However, in an interview with Boxing Social, Hearn admitted that the allure of a potential battle with Deontay Wilder could delay Joshua’s title challenge.

“Anything can happen, honestly. There has been a lot of conversations obviously, we know that the Riyadh season card has been locked in for Los Angeles on August 3rd and also there is the possibility of that London card at Wembley in September.