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Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk look on as Olympic gold

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk look on as Olympic gold medalist Oleksandr Khyzhniak delivers a first-round knockout in his pro debut

Anthony Joshua: The well-schooled Ukrainian enjoyed a decorated amateur career, culminating in gold medals at the World Championships, European Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

His credentials were on full display as he blew away Colombian journeyman Wilmer Baron (8-14-1) inside the opening stanza of a light heavyweight bout scheduled for six rounds in Lesniki, Ukraine.

Khyzhniak established his lead hand early and sent Baron tumbling to the canvas with a ram-rodding jab halfway through the round.

Baron made his way back to his feet, but Khyzhniak was all over him like a rash.

With 15 seconds left in the round, Khyzhniak landed a chopping right hand to close the show as Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk watched on with delight from ringside.

It was a successful night for Usyk, who staged his first professional boxing show since the Russian invasion of his homeland.

READ MORE :Anthony Joshua Plots July Return on the Horizon But No

His training partner, Daniel Lapin, also got a first-round finish in the main event against Latvia’s Kristaps Bulmeistars.

Joshua accompanied Usyk to the event after touching down in Ukraine earlier this week to start camp for his looming comeback fight.

At the back end of last year, AJ left Ben Davison to work with Iegor Golub and Team Usyk for his crossover clash with Jake Paul.

Joshua knocked out Paul in the sixth round and was expected to return to the ring in February.

Anthony Joshua

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Terence Crawford’s shock retirement leaves Canelo Alvarez facing

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Terence Crawford

Terence Crawford’s shock retirement leaves Canelo Alvarez facing a tough career crossroads

Canelo Alvarez was set to face Terence Crawford in September; however, the American’s retirement may force the Mexican boxer into a decision he didn’t expect at all

Last year, Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision. They were scheduled for a rematch in September, yet the American unexpectedly announced his retirement, leaving Saul without an opponent.

With Crawford out of the picture, Canelo must now find a new challenger. Three options are on the table, each representing a completely different type of challenge.

With Terence Crawford hanging up the gloves, Canelo Alvarez’s team has been searching for a suitable rival for the Mexican star. Three names are under consideration, and each offers a distinct test.

The first option is David Benavidez. He has repeatedly called out Alvarez for a bout, though the Mexican has not yet shown significant interest in facing him.

The second option is Christian Mbilli, who was upgraded to full WBC champion after retaining his title following a draw against Lester Martinez in their high-stakes 2025 clash.

The final option is Lester Martinez himself. Many believe Martinez’s performance in the draw against Mbilli proved he is a rightful contender, and the Guatemalan fighter has expressed his readiness to challenge the Mexican star at any time.

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BOXING

£28,000: In an emotional surge of support, the former

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Anthony Joshua

£28,000: In an emotional surge of support, the former heavyweight champion’s autographed fight-worn shorts raised a staggering £28,000 for a homeless charity in Oxford, turning a piece of boxing history into a lifeline for those in desperate need.

Signed boxing shorts from former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua reportedly helped raise nearly £28,000 for a homeless charity in Oxford during a dedicated gala event.

Dorchester Living, the housebuilder behind Heyford Park near Bicester, raised £28,000 in support of Homeless Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire businesses, partners and supporters of Dorchester Living gathered for an evening focused on community engagement, entertainment and charitable giving.

Among the standout auction items were Joshua’s signed fight shorts, a brewery tour experience with Fuller’s Brewery and Reformer Pilates classes, alongside several other sought-after prizes.

Paul Silver, chief executive of Dorchester Living, highlighted the broader social objective behind the initiative.

“At Dorchester Living, we believe everyone deserves a safe, supportive place to call home,” he said.

READ MORE : Coach Speaks: He’s fighting who I want him to, Gervonta

“Supporting Homeless Oxfordshire’s ‘Her Way Home’ campaign is about more than raising funds; it is about helping to create spaces where women can feel secure, rebuild their confidence and shape a more positive future.

“The generosity shown at our charity gala reflects our commitment to making a lasting difference in the communities where we build.”

Gervonta Davis

 

Tim Wraith, Partnerships Fundraising Manager at Homeless Oxfordshire, also expressed appreciation for the support.

“We are extremely grateful to Dorchester Living and everyone who contributed on the night,” he said.

“The funds raised will make a meaningful difference to women supported through the ‘Her Way Home’ campaign, helping us provide safe accommodation and specialist support at a critical time in their lives.”

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BOXING

‘WITH FULL RESPECT’ Anthony Joshua’s family make feelings

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Anthony Joshua

‘WITH FULL RESPECT’ Anthony Joshua’s family make feelings clear on potential July boxing return as Brit continues recovery from tragic crash

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s family will “fully” support him if he chooses to return to the ring. AJ’s fighting future has been up in the air since the fatal car crash which killed his two close friends and team members, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, in Nigeria last December.

Joshua, 36, miraculously escaped the horror smash with minor injuries by swapping seats moments before the ill-fated journey took place.

The former two-time unified heavyweight champion has yet to speak on his fighting future, although he has been training and spoken of plans to honour his late friends.

And according to his uncle Ademola, the entire Joshua family will throw their weight behind him should he choose to lace up his gloves again.

Ademola told Nigerian newspaper The Punch: “We are proud of him, very proud of him.

“The way we, the elderly, think is very different from theirs, but it is all at his discretion.

“He makes the full decision, and we have full respect for him, whatever he decides.

READ MORE :Anthony Joshua Plots July Return on the Horizon But No

“Whatever he has decided within himself, we will support him fully.”

Watching his nephew – who last fought in December against Jake Paul – trade yet more blows with some of the hardest-hitting humans on the planet won’t be easy for Ademola.

He said: “Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest.

“All these emotional feelings whenever he’s fighting, it’s too much trauma for us also.”

Ademola’s comments on AJ potentially fighting again come on the back of promoter Eddie Hearn revealing he’s tentatively targeting a July return for the Watford warrior.

Anthony Joshua

He told Boxing Scene: “[He was] due to fight in March, then fight Tyson Fury in August.

“That’s not happening anymore. He won’t be fighting Tyson Fury next.

“He’s going to come back late summer but physically he’s not in a position to return to camp.

“So I’m planning, but he’s just resting and preparing.

“We’ve really not had any solid plans to announce what’s next. I’m looking at options to get him in the ring in July time.

“But we’ll only know if that’s a real possibility when he returns to camp, which will hopefully be in the next couple of weeks.

“I think there’s nothing more that he wants at the moment than to return to training camp because it’s where he loves to be.”

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BOXING

Coach Speaks: He’s fighting who I want him to, Gervonta

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Gervonta Davis

Coach Speaks: He’s fighting who I want him to, Gervonta Davis coach confirms comeback plan

A big update has been given on the fighting future of Gervonta Davis. Davis hasn’t fought since his controversial draw with Lamont Roach Jr back in March 2025, having been involved in some serious legal issues since then.

He had been scheduled to take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in November, but those problems outside of the ring led to that bout being cancelled, and ‘Tank’ has subsequently been stripped of his WBA lightweight title.

Many boxing fans have wondered whether or not Davis may ever compete again, but his coach Calvin Ford has insisted to The Rize Podcast that ‘Tank’ will indeed return, and that he has a good idea who he will face.

“He will be back in the mix.

Tank has been doing this sh*t since he was seven-years-old. Sometimes you need that reset because that reset means a lot.

“I can’t wait. I already know who I would like to see for a comeback. The person I want to see him in the ring with is the one we’re going to fight. That’s why I can’t say yet. I’m campaigning for it.

“At the end of the day he has to make the decision on who he wants to fight, but I know it has to be the right opponent, especially for his fans so they can really say I support him. It has to be a fight where they can be like ‘yeah!’”

Davis remains one of the biggest names in the sport, and if he was to return, he is at the top of the hit list for one reigning world champion.

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BOXING

“£6M Deal” Claressa Shields: From Olympic Trials Dream to a

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Claressa Shields

“£6M Deal” Claressa Shields: From Olympic Trials Dream to a Shocking £6M Deal — The Full-Circle Moment No One Saw Coming

Six months before the 2012 Olympics, American Claressa Shields took her first step on the path to greatness.

Aged only 16, Shields beat national champion Franchon Crews-Dezurn, who was eight years her senior, at the US Olympic trials.

Claressa Shields would go on to win gold at the Games in London and earn a further two victories over Crews-Dezurn in the amateur ranks.

A fourth successive win followed when they met on their professional debuts in 2016 – and the pair are set to reignite their rivalry on Saturday when Shields defends her undisputed heavyweight status.

“Me and Franchon have always said that for some reason we are always intertwined in each other’s lives,” Shields told BBC Sport.

“If you take it back to when I was 16, she was ranked number one in the country and I was ranked number seven and the people who were ranked lower had to pull out a ball and it would tell you who we were fighting against – I pulled out number one.

READ MORE : “Everything Is Different Now” – Claressa Shields Drops

“Now we meet again on the first fight of my major deal.”

The major multi-fight deal that Shields speaks of was signed with Wynn Records and Salita Promotions in November.

It is worth a staggering $8m (£6.1m) and also came with an additional $3m (£2.2m) signing-on bonus.

Claressa Shields

Those figures are unheard of in women’s boxing but Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, five-weight world champion and three-weight undisputed champion, is no stranger to raising the bar.

“I have never heard of a man getting that kind of signing bonus. I’ve heard of men getting a $1m (£739,000) signing bonus but never $3m,” Shields said.

“I would love to ask ChatGPT, ‘Has a man ever got a $3m signing bonus for a boxing contract?’

“My contract now is big overall and I’m getting back paid. When I came out of the Olympics with two gold medals, I should have got a $1m signing bonus for whoever I went with but that didn’t happen.

“Now it’s years later but I’m getting it all back. I’ve been able to make millions over the past few years.”

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BOXING

“Everything Is Different Now” – Claressa Shields Drops

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Claressa Shields

“Everything Is Different Now” – Claressa Shields Drops Warning Ahead of Explosive Rematch With Franchón Crews-Dezurn

Heading into a highly anticipated rematch with one of her fiercest rivals, Claressa Shields says “everything is different” this time around.

On February 22, the undefeated champion (17-0, 3 KOs) will face Franchón Crews-Dezurn for the Undisputed Heavyweight World Championship, streaming live on DAZN. Nearly a decade ago, the two made their professional debuts against each other in Las Vegas — a fight Shields won by unanimous decision.

At the time, Shields was a 21-year-old Olympic star fresh off gold medal triumphs at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2016 Summer Olympics. Now 30, the self-proclaimed “GWOAT” (Greatest Woman of All Time) believes she has evolved in every aspect of her game.

“I’ve changed in every area,” Shields told Mirror U.S. Sports. “I’ve gotten better with my skills. I’m stronger, faster, smarter — and bigger. Everything is different in this fight compared to 10 years ago. Now I’ve got a whole list of accolades behind me, and I’m making way more money.”

READ MORE : “I’ll Gladly Welcome It” – Claressa Shields Opens the Door to a

Over the past decade, Shields has built a perfect 17-0 professional record against 17 different opponents. She made boxing history as the first woman to become undisputed champion in three weight classes — light middleweight, middleweight, and heavyweight — and currently holds all four major heavyweight world titles.

Her evolution hasn’t just been technical — it’s been strategic. Shields says her preparation today is far more advanced than it was in 2016.

“Stuff I’m doing now, I didn’t even know about when I was 21,” she explained. “We’ve got recovery, ice baths, isolation during camp, different locations for training, and a completely different trainer.”

Claressa Shields

Her daily routine has intensified as well. “I used to train once a day for two or three hours. Now I train twice a day — boxing, strength and conditioning, and running — all within that same timeframe.”

Outside the ring, Shields has also built one of the strongest personal brands in women’s boxing. The Flint, Michigan native commands a massive social media following and continues to expand her influence beyond the sport.

That momentum translated into a landmark deal last November, when she signed a four-fight agreement with Wynn Records and Salita Promotions. The contract guarantees a minimum of $8 million and could exceed $15 million, including a reported $3 million signing bonus.

“The opportunity came from my hard work and how I’ve built my brand,” Shields said. “A lot of people were interested when I became a free agent. The deals were OK — but I know my worth. When Salita and Wynn Records came together, that’s when it became an $8 million minimum deal. That’s what I wanted — and I got it.”

Now, with legacy, money, and undisputed gold on the line, Shields insists this rematch isn’t just a repeat — it’s a completely different fight.

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War of Words Erupts: Eddie Hearn Fires Back After Dana

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Eddie Hearn

War of Words Erupts: Eddie Hearn Fires Back After Dana White’s Blistering Criticism — And This Feud Is Just Getting Started

Eddie Hearn has hit back at Dana White’s most recent dig as the war of words between the two men continues.

Matchroom chief Hearn and UFC CEO White had been on good terms prior to White’s entry into boxing, but the pair have gone back and forth in recent weeks after Zuffa began staging their own events.

During a press conference on Sunday following his third fight night, White claimed the Matchroom chairman has no vision and was simply just working for his father, Barry Hearn, who started the company back in 1982.

Whilst speaking to The Stomping Ground, Eddie has now had his say, first responding to White’s suggestion that he lacks foresight.

“It’s very strange because I’ve got to be honest with you, I wouldn’t say up my ar**, but Dana has always been so complimentary about us a company and me as a promoter, but to say I don’t have any vision is really quite strange.

“Right now when you talk about Zuffa or whatever it’s called, when you talk about their vision, what’s their vision? Getting Max Kellerman to tell everyone that Callum Walsh is the next Roy Jones or putting Charles Martin on a headline show on a Sunday night in front of 126 people in your garage on a ring that looks like you’ve just got it out of a local club show. I mean, what sort of f**king vision is that?

READ MORE : Anthony Joshua Makes Emotional Tribute – Tattoos Names

“Or better still, here’s a belt and it’s Zuffa, look at the vision. That’s not vision, that’s control. The reality is, when he says we can’t compete, they can’t compete in this cut throat world of boxing because it’s a horrible world and they don’t want to compete. They want to create their own world.”

Hearn then compared his own events to that of Zuffa’s, delivering a damning verdict on what White has produced so far.

“At the moment, when you compare Matchroom shows to Zuffa show, quite frankly, Zuffa shows are absolute complete dogs**t. They’re going to get better and they’re going to sign some big fighters and spunk some money and waste some money.

Anthony Joshua

“I’ve said it before, they’re clever people, but right now they’re trying to manipulate fight fans and they don’t understand how intelligent fight fans are when it comes to boxing. You can’t create these cards and tell everyone it’s the best vs the best because quite frankly it’s not.”

The British promoter, who promoted his first major card in 2011, finished by addressing the comments made by White earlier in the week about Eddie just working for his father, Barry.

“The reality is yes, I do work for my dad. But guess what? Dana White has worked for his daddy for a long time, the Fertitta Brothers. That’s who he worked for, and right now, Dana White has got a new daddy, and his name is Turki Alalshikh. He is Dana White’s papi.

“It took him a nanosecond to get personal, and that’s because right now he’s at the bottom of the pile in terms of quality as a boxing promoter but as I keep saying, they’re a good operation and they will get better.”

It certainly appears that any hopes of seeing the two men reconcile are quickly fading, and it shouldn’t take White long to respond to the latest comments from Hearn.

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Unbeaten Ex-Champion Vows to Become the First Man to

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Gervonta Davis

Unbeaten Ex-Champion Vows to Become the First Man to Knock Out Gervonta Davis

It remains unclear when Gervonta Davis will return to the ring, but one unbeaten star has already vowed to knock ‘Tank’ out if given the chance.

Davis has not won a professional boxing contest since June 2024, with a draw against Lamont Roach Jr. being his only outing within the last 20 months, followed by the cancellation of his planned November exhibition bout with Jake Paul.

After being arrested for an alleged domestic incident, the 31-year-old was stripped of his WBA lightweight world title. Davis has since hinted at a move up in weight, stating his plans to rematch Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, though it appears he has plenty to deal with outside of the ropes before that becomes realistic.

On the ‘Come and Talk 2 Me’ podcast, former WBO lightweight world champion Keyshawn Davis shared his willingness to fight Davis should he return, promising he would hand the 31-year-old a first career defeat and do so without the aid of the judges.

READ MORE :Career in Chaos: Gervonta Davis Set to Return to

“I was cool with you, until you said a mental health joke about me. I don’t really respect you, for real.

“You can fight, bro. You can fight. But, you know, since I was 16 and you was like 27 when we sparred, you already knew what type of timeline I was on.

Gervonta Davis

“Now that I am in this position and I am all grown up now, if you ever would give me a chance to fight you, just be ready, bro, because I am not one of those people like you have been picking on and bullying that you know you can beat.

“If you ever do want to fight me, which I think you’re not going to fight me because you know, just be ready. I am not playing with you and you are getting stopped.”

Despite the call out, it is believed that Keyshawn is not planning on sticking around at super-lightweight for long, having also demanded a showdown with WBO welterweight world champion Devin Haney during the aftermath of his latest win. Haney has said he is open to the challenge, and fans certainly are too.

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Terence Crawford Faces Ultimate Challenge: UFC Fighter Dares

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Terence Crawford

Terence Crawford Faces Ultimate Challenge: UFC Fighter Dares Him to Spar — Picks Date and Location to Settle Their Explosive Feud!

Terence Crawford thought his fighting days were behind him after retiring in 2025.

Terence Crawford : The 42-0 boxing superstar retired on top after beating Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion in September.

Now, ‘Bud’ has found himself locked in an unlikely feud with UFC welterweight Joaquin Buckley.

It all started when ‘New Mansa’ took exception to Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson talking down about MMA during a recent livestream with Adin Ross.

Now, the 170lb UFC contender has challenged Crawford to spar him at the UFC APEX next month.

“Bud is talking crazy, acting like he would do something in the streets, saying he is going to flip the switch, he is going to need the switch if he is playing with me,” Buckley said during a nine-minute video he shared on Instagram.

We aren’t going to do this in the streets. That was some good deflection. He didn’t want to answer what I asked him, and that is to get that work. We can keep it out of the streets, we ain’t going to be playing like that.

READ MORE : The Making of a Legend: Terence Crawford Reflects on the

“Let’s get in the ring, let’s spar. You are out in Vegas a lot, you spar at the Apex, you work at the Apex. I think it would be fun. The whole world would like to watch. I know you still train for the lifestyle, I know you still spar.

“I see Shakur thinks something is funny, but at the end of the day, let’s find out because I am dead serious about that… Somebody said you want a payday, this ain’t got nothing to do with a payday, I’m willing to do this for free.

“This is an open invitation to Bud Crawford. Let’s do it at the Apex. I’m going to try to make my way down to Vegas on March 7.”

Joaquin Buckley hasn’t fought since getting outpointed by Kamaru Usman at UFC Atlanta last June.

Terence Crawford

The defeat snapped a six-fight winning streak that had Buckley on the verge of a welterweight title shot.

Now, the 31-year-old is impatiently waiting to find out who and when he’ll fight next for the UFC.

Former 170lb champion Jack Della Maddalena is who Buckley hopes to be matched up against next.

It seems unlikely that the UFC will book their number one contender against a man propping up the top 10.

Buckley may be more realistic with his next call out after recently challenging ‘JDM’ and Terence Crawford.

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