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Anthony Joshua returns to first ever gym and coach as he…

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua returns to first ever gym and coach as he steps up training after horror car crash

ANTHONY JOSHUA has returned to his first ever coach and the gym that led him to superstardom after the horror car crash that caused the death of two of his closest friends.

Anthony Joshua, boxer who defeated Jake Paul, injured in car crash that killed 2 in Nigeria

Joshua, 36, was involved in a fatal accident in Nigeria on December 29 — just ten days after beating controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami.

AJ survived the wreck but the tragedy claimed the lives of two very close friends in personal trainer Kevin “Latz” Ayodele and long-time therapist Sina Ghami.

The British heavyweight star has been undergoing physical therapy in the past few months, which has included intensive treatment on his ribs.

And it seems like Joshua has gone back to his roots as he returned to Finchley Amateur Boxing Club where he reunited with the coach that taught him how to box, Sean Murphy.

The boxing superstar shared pics and videos on his Instagram story of him training with Murphy after all these years.

Joshua added the following caption: “Quality time with [Sean Murphy].”

The orthodox fighter first walked into the Finchley Amateur Boxing Club aged 18 in a bid to get himself out of trouble on the streets of London.

Murphy guided Joshua to elite national championships before setting up an Olympic gold victory.

The Watford bruiser then won Olympic gold under Team GB head coach Rob McCracken and also the unified heavyweight titles as a professional.

But they parted ways after defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 when he hired American Robert Garcia for the rematch.

After again losing on points to Usyk, AJ linked up with Texan Derrick James in Dallas for victories over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.

British coach Ben Davison cornered Anthony Joshua in his last three bouts – his victories over Francis Ngannou and Paul, as well as his loss to Daniel Dubois

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Former world champion says Floyd Mayweather was…

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Floyd Mayweather

Former world champion says Floyd Mayweather was lucky they didn’t fight: “His record might be different”

Floyd Mayweather retired with a record of 50-0 and lived a lavish life outside of the ring, but there is one former world champion who believes that he could have had an impact on both of those things, if he was presented with the opportunity to fight ‘TBE’.

Former world champion says Floyd Mayweather was lucky they didn't fight: "His record might be different" | Boxing News

Mayweather claimed world titles at super-featherweight, super-welterweight, and every division in-between, becoming the fourth fighter in history to have ruled in five different weight divisions – a feat matched by two additional boxers since.

In 2017, Mayweather hung up the gloves off the back of a lucrative night’s work against UFC superstar Conor McGregor, knocking the Irishman out to extend his perfect record to 50 unbeaten professional contests.

That was one of many events that saw Mayweather break financial records, having taken part in four of the five highest grossing boxing events of all time.

Speaking to Radio Rahim, former featherweight king ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed heaped praise onto the American, labelling him as the ‘cleverest’ fighter in boxing history.

“In my eyes, the cleverest person to ever come into the boxing game is Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, ‘The Money Team’ baby. While everybody is hating him, don’t hate the brother, just enjoy watching the guy enjoy his fruits.

“When I watch Floyd getting out of planes, in Bugatti’s, living the life, I believe and I think that he deserves more. Why? Because nobody has seen all of them hours of blood and sweat, well not blood, but sweat, that he has put into the gym.”

However, despite the plaudits, Hamed warned that things could have been different for Mayweather if they had crossed paths.

“It’s a good job that he didn’t fight me, though, because he might not have had the career that he did.

“I will always rate him. He is not the most entertaining fighter, that I love to watch, but from a business sense in the sport, to execute something the way that he did [is impressive],

“For me, nobody will ever be as clever as Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather.”

In a shocking twist, Mayweather is now set to end a nine-year run of professional inactivity as he rematches Manny Pacquiao in September at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

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Joshua wishes Mbata luck for Commonwealth…

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Anthony Joshua

Joshua wishes Mbata luck for Commonwealth Games

Former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has sent a goodwill message to British-Nigerian boxer Patricia Mbata ahead of her bid to secure a place on Team Nigeria for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Anthony Joshua: Case against driver in fatal crash adjourned until March - BBC Sport

Joshua, in a video shared by Mbata on Instagram, joined Finchley and District Amateur Boxing Club coach Sean Murphy in wishing the middleweight boxer well at the trials in Lagos this week.

“Good luck, make sure you win,” Murphy kept his message simple and direct.

Joshua then echoed the coach’s demand, saying, “Well, as he said then, make sure you win, but good luck.

“We are all rooting for you.

Sean was telling me that it’s a big one for you, and I wanted to wish you well, sending you love from London.”

Mbata, who was visibly moved by the gesture, shared the video and thanked the club that shaped her career.

“Thank you so much for your love and support. This isn’t just a boxing club, you’re not just coaches, you’re not only teammates — you are family. I’m boxing this week to secure a spot for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2026. May God lead and guide the way,” she wrote.

Both Mbata and Joshua share strong ties to Finchley ABC, the north London club where the former heavyweight champion began his amateur career.

Mbata, who is of Nigerian descent, has long credited Joshua as an inspiration, noting that they share a similar philosophy and background.

Mbata won gold at the 2023 African Games in Accra, defeating IBA world champion Marbrouk Molka of Tunisia in the women’s 75kg final.

And Joshua publicly celebrated that achievement on his Instagram story at the time.

He is now targeting a place at the Glasgow Games, which are scheduled for July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre.

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Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions Signs Long-Term Partnership To…

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Jake paul

Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions Signs Long-Term Partnership To Bring Women’s Boxing To ESPN

Jake Pau’s boxing promotion signed a major TV deal.

Turki Alalshikh: Jake Paul 'accepted' fight against Anthony Joshua, plans to speak to Joshua next | MMA Fighting

On Friday, Paul’s MVP promotions announced they signed a long-term deal with ESPN to bring women’s bpxing to the platform.

Today at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) officially launched MVPW, a new global platform for women’s boxing, alongside a landmark multi-year agreement with ESPN as the U.S. home of MVPW events through 2028.

The announcement, which also marks the beginning of a strategic relationship between MVP and Madison Square Garden Entertainment, with the organizations’ shared goal of staging annual MVPW events at the iconic venue over the next three years, cements MVP’s position as the global home of women’s boxing. MVPW will showcase the sport’s most elite fighter

The first card on ESPN will feature Alycia Baumgardner vs vs. Bo Mi Re Shin, and the second will see former UFC champion Holly Holm headline.

MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian spoke about the partnership with ESPN.

When we set up MVP, we said to our network partner that we wanted to put women’s boxing on as the co-main event. Everyone paused, took a step back, and didn’t seem to understand why. And honestly, a lot of it was that conviction of what I saw with Ronda Rousey and the belief that we could find an Amanda Serrano that could show the world what this sport is all about. Now, to be here four years later with the best sports platform in the US on linear television for all these incredible athletes is the most important day of my career.

I think it’s a testament to these athletes and, of course, our team at MVP, but also the rise of women’s sports.

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The one fight that eluded Gabe Rosado in…

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Gabe Rosado

The one fight that eluded Gabe Rosado in his career

Gabe Rosado has fought a who’s who of stars through his career, but there is one boxer he believes he missed out on facing.

Canelo Has No Chance Against Me,” Claims American fighter - Ready To Fight

Rosado boxed, among others, Gennadiy Golovkin, Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, Martin Murray, Danny Jacobs, Jermell Charlo, David Lemieux and countless other leading names.

On Saturday, he will face Ty Mitchell on a Misfits bill in Derby.

It has been 14 years since Rosado said he hit the best run of his career, when he scalped Jesus Soto Karass, Sechew Powell and Charles Whitaker in back-to-back fights.

They were all at 154lbs, and the lure of money to face Golovkin at 160lbs proved too much to resist next.

That is something he regrets today.

“And I had a conversation with Canelo about it and he was just laughing, having a drink,” the 40-year-old Philadelphian recalled.

“And he’s like, ‘Your problem is that you fought so many tough fights back-to-back.’ He’s like, ‘You never gave yourself a break, that’s not how you do it.’

He said, ‘You fight a tough fight and you get back into the mix with a fight that keeps you in a groove and then you get it back into a big fight.’  Gabe Rosado said, ‘You fought the big guys back-to-back-to-back-to-back, dude.’ He said, ‘You fucking wore yourself out.’

“We’re laughing about it, but he was right. But it was just who I was, man. I ain’t turn nothing down.”

“Obviously there’s a lot of big wins in there, it was my run at 154 when I clicked in the division and I ranked number one in the division and I knocked out Soto Karass. I knocked out Sechew Powell and then I knocked out Charles Whitaker and that was on NBC Sports.

And when I went on that run, man, I felt unstoppable at ’54. I was like a machine. And unfortunately, I moved up and fought Golovkin after. But that run at 54, man. That was like a hell of a run. I felt really great in that time.”

And it is actually Canelo who, if he had been able to face anyone in his career, that Rosado would have loved the opportunity of fighting.

“We were supposed to fight Canelo when he ended up fighting Amir Khan,” Rosado said.

“Okay. So I had just beat Joshua Clottey and me and Canelo were going to fight at ‘54. And Golden Boy was like, ‘We’re like 90 per cent there. We just got to get the paperwork and whatever, whatever.’ And I’m like, ‘Okay, great.’

“And then next thing you know, Amir Khan comes out of nowhere and he chooses to move up in weight to fight Canelo.

“So yeah, the Canelo fight didn’t happen because of Amir Khan. I feel like ‘54, I feel like it would have been a good fight. Canelo was a different kind of fighter at that time, too.”

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Amir Khan predicts Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2:

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Khan-Mayweather-Pacquiao

Amir Khan predicts Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2: “He’s winning this one”

Amir Khan targeted blockbuster fights with both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao during his career, and has now offered a prediction for their rematch on September 19.

Manny Pacquiao in talks over mega-money Floyd Mayweather rematch and Amir Khan bout - The Mirror

Netflix announced last week that the two pound-for-pound legends will square off at the Sphere, Las Vegas, with their professional contest being streamed live on Netflix.

Their first encounter, back in 2015, saw Mayweather claim a convincing points victory, coming away with the WBC, WBO and WBA world welterweight titles.

Since then, though, the Hall of Famer has amassed just two professional wins – against Andre Berto and Conor McGregor – while also being involved in several exhibition matches.

Pacquiao, too, has kept himself ticking over with the odd exhibition, but also fought professionally when he tied with Mario Barrios, the then-WBC welterweight champion, in July.

This came after a near four-year hiatus from the professional ring, with his previous title fight resulting in a unanimous points defeat to Yordenis Ugas.

It is the 47-year-old’s apparent lifestyle choices, though, that have largely inspired Khan to give him the edge over Mayweather in their rematch.

Sharing his opinion on Facebook, the former world champion highlighted Pacquiao’s consistency in the gym as a significant factor against his 49-year-old opponent.

“I like Manny Pacquiao in the second one, because I think Mayweather’s slowing down a little bit.

“Age catches up on you, and I think with Manny always looking in good shape – obviously he’s not partying, not drinking; Mayweather’s always partying, chilling, enjoying himself – I think there’s a different way of living for both fighters.

“Mayweather’s still like a 20-year-old kid, whereas Manny Pacquiao’s very intelligent and he’s on the right path.

“I’ve got Manny Pacquiao winning that fight. But who knows? Mayweather always ends up pulling it off. But I feel that Manny Pacquiao [is] the favourite.”

While Mayweather was always known for his tremendous discipline and work ethic, the lack of a professional contest since 2017 could have a bearing on his overall performance against Pacquiao.

Many would argue, too, that his 10th-round stoppage victory over McGregor hardly merited the status of a professional bout.

 

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Claressa Shields never expected to become…

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Claressa Shield

Claressa Shields never expected to become heavyweight champion but it has secured her place ‘amongst the greats’

Even Claressa Shields never expected it of herself, but she became the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in women’s boxing last year to establish herself as the sport’s ultimate trailblazer; She defends against familiar rival Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Detroit on Sunday

Boxing gives Claressa Shields the confidence to also conquer life - Los Angeles Times

Claressa Shields has secured her place in boxing history.

A decade ago she became the first American boxer to win consecutive Olympic gold medals.

As a professional she became an undisputed world champion at super-welter and middleweight (twice).

Last year Shields established herself as the ultimate trailblazer when she became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in women’s boxing.

In that regard she has even surprised herself. “Heavyweight was never in my plans,” Shields told Sky Sports.

“Being at that weight class, I just have to keep showing my skill, keep showing my speed, keep showing my power.

“I feel like it’s my job to show that all the weight classes of women’s boxing are entertaining. That we all got skills, from heavyweight to flyweight, strawweight, we all got hands, we all can fight, we all have skill.”

Her status as the undisputed heavyweight champion is a statement in itself.

“Adding undisputed heavyweight world champion to Claressa Shields’ name has definitely broadened my brand. I can say I’m an American heavyweight champion and when you think of American heavyweight champion you think of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Evander Holyfield amongst those greats. Just to have my name added to that on the women’s side it’s still just really big and really great,” she said.

“And to be the first heavyweight undisputed women’s champion in boxing history. I think that I was already Black history enough. Now I’m just history all over, with that. I’m with the likes of Jack Johnson now, who was the first Black heavyweight champion

“So I’m the first Black women’s heavyweight champion in boxing. I really embrace that and I want to keep defending my titles and I’m just wearing it strong, you know how I should.”

Shields beat her great rival from the amateurs, Savannah Marshall in an undisputed middleweight title fight. At heavyweight she handed first defeats to the previously unbeaten Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, Danielle Perkins and Lani Daniels.

On Sunday in Detroit she’ll rematch Franchon Crews-Dezurn, whom Shields beat when they were both making their professional debuts in 2016.

“She’s top at her weight class, at 168lbs. She beat the heavy hitter Shadasia Green, who everybody said is the queen of that division,” Shields said.

“I know she’s going to come, she’s going to bring it, she’s more familiar with me than anybody else.

“She’s a top contender and she continues to get better and she always wants to win. You know that when you fight against Franchon, you’re going to get bumps, you’re going to get bruises. You may get thrown on the ground. Franchon is a rough and rugged fighter and she’s very experienced.

“She’s still a top contender.”

But Shields added: “I’m the cream of the crop. I haven’t had any close fights so I can’t say how this fight will be.

“If I am too good for own good, I’m only going to get better. So there’s nothing I can do about that. I like winning unanimously. I like knocking girls out. I like dominating. I think it looks great on my resume. I don’t like having close fights.”

 

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Terence Crawford selected BWAA….

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Terence Crawford

Terence Crawford selected BWAA 2025 Fighter of the Year

Terence Crawford, who moved up two weight classes to defeat then-undisputed super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in last September’s mega-fight, was named the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) 2025 Fighter of the Year.

Pro Boxer Spotlight - Terence Crawford - Lions of Judah

The voting marked the second time Crawford has won the BWAA’s Fighter of the Year award, with more than a decade having passed since he was named 2014 FOTY.

The other 2025 Fighter of the Year nominees in the male category were Dmitry Bivol, Naoya Inoue, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Rene Santiago.

Crawford fought just once in 2025, but the magnitude of the win over Alvarez – still considered by many to be the proverbial “face of boxing” – superseded the collective efforts of all other fighters. “Bud” didn’t merely beat Alvarez – he achieved history while outclassing a future Hall of Famer over 12 rounds on a Mexican Independence Day weekend that for years has been a featured slot for Canelo. The win made Crawford, of Omaha, Nebraska, a five-division world titleholder and the first male boxer in the four-belt era to hold undisputed titles in three different weight classes. With no lands left to conquer, Crawford, 42-0 (31 KOs), retired last December at age 38.

 

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Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn Clashing, crashing…

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claressa Shield

Claressa Shields and Franchon Crews-Dezurn Clashing, crashing and dashing for Heavyweight Supremacy

Detroit, Michigan, prepares to host an epic, historic showdown between two of the most dominant figures in women’s boxing.

Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Claressa Shields don't see reason rivalry can't grow to Ali-Frazier level | DAZN News US

The multi-champion and local heroine, Claressa “G.W.O.A.T.” Shields, will face and try to ace the experienced and powerful Franchon Crews-Dezurn in a voluntary defense of the Heavyweight World Championship.

The bout, which will take place in Detroit, tips a pivotal moment for the division, bringing together two rivals who share a history of respect and fierce competition dating back to their amateur boxing days.

Claressa Shields, the only boxer in history (male or female) to hold all four major belts in two weight divisions simultaneously, returns home. After conquering practically every challenge, Shields seeks to consolidate her legacy in the heavyweight class, facing a rival she knows perfectly and who possesses one of the most respected punches on the circuit.

For her part, Franchon Crews-Dezurn enters this fight with the intention of deafening and silencing Detroit. The former undisputed super middleweight champion has proven time and again that her strength and aggressive style can trouble any opponent. For Crews-Dezurn, this is a golden opportunity to claim the heavyweight throne against the woman many consider supreme.

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Tyson Fury targets one fight if he can’t land…

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tyson-fury

Tyson Fury targets one fight if he can’t land Anthony Joshua or Usyk this year

Tyson Fury is set to make his comeback in seven weeks’ time.

Anthony Joshua 'won't sleep' until he beats the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch winner | Boxing News | Sky Sports

He had made it clear that showdowns with both Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua were at the top of his wish-list, although, should he not be able to secure those fights, Fury has named his next best option.

Fury retired from boxing following consecutive defeats to Usyk during 2024, whilst a clash with Joshua has been touted for almost a decade, but is still yet to take place.

Now, ‘The Gypsy King’ hopes to finally deliver that elusive domestic dust-up and also potentially avenge his Usyk losses in a trilogy affair with Ukraine’s unified heavyweight world champion.

However, with Usyk linked to Deontay Wilder and Agit Kabayel, and details regarding Joshua’s return still unknown, Fury may have to look elsewhere for another opponent.

Speaking to BoxNation, Fury explained that he will not allow himself to look past Arslanbek Makhmudov, but admitted that a clash against the victor of Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois’ May meeting could be the bout that comes next.

“Without looking past my man here [Makhmudov], who is as dangerous as both of those guys [Wardley and Dubois], that is one fight that would definitely be interesting to me and we definitely can make it because we are all in the same stable.

“We are all under one banner, so them fights can be made quite easily, I would say.”

Should Fury overcome Makhmudov, a fight against the winner of Wardley-Dubois would provide him with the opportunity to become heavyweight boxing’s fifth three-time champion; joining Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko and Evander Holyfield in that elite club.

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