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Deontay Wilder’s father called ‘crazy’ and boxing career hangs in the balance – EXCLUSIVE

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Richard Riakporhe has mocked Deontay Wilder’s father Gary for suggesting the Bronze Bomber still has a “few good years” left in the sport. Wilder has recently suffered a dramatic decline, most recently hitting a novel low when he was defeated by Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia.

The hard-hitting American was knocked out in the fifth round, with Zhang unleashing two right hooks, sending his opponent to the canvas. The manner in which he lost led to calls for Wilder to retire, including: from his own mother’s side, but his father still believes that he should continue to fight.

In a speech earlier this month, the elder Wilder pointed the finger at his son’s coach Malik Scott and said: “You don’t need a buddy to coach you. It’s not too delayed for [Deontay]. I believe he still has a few good years ahead of him.

“Deontay has always been dull. Now Malik is trying to train him to be a boxer, and if you look at it, you can see that Deontay is not comfortable where he is.”

Riakporhe, who faced Chris Billam-Smith for the WBO cruiserweight title on Saturday night, believes there is still hope for Wilder but disagrees with his father’s hopeful view.

“I don’t know what it is, but something is missing,” Riakporhe told Express Sport. “If he can fix this, he can definitely do something. I think I read somewhere that his dad said he might spend another few years in the sport. I think this is crazy. He’s almost turning 40!

“But I would say he can definitely have a few more fights and he can end it all. Something is wrong, something is missing. In the heavyweight division, all it takes is one good win and that’s it, he’s there.

“There are so many fighters in the heavyweight division who have lost so many times and are still at the top. “I think if he can fix it, then fine, but if he can’t fix it, he shouldn’t get in the ring again.”

Wilder suggested before the fight with Zhang that he would retire if he did not win, but the 38-year-old has not yet confirmed any plans to hang up his gloves. He has lost four of his last five appearances, with two of those defeats coming at the hands of Tyson Fury.

He was also defeated on points by Joseph Parker before losing to Zhang.

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UK Boxing

In a six-word statement, Frank Warren makes his feelings clear on the Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois case

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Boxing promoter Frank Warren has already commented on Daniel Dubois’ chances in the match with Anthony Joshua after the official clash between both fighters. That could spell bad news for two-time world champion Joshua (28-3) in his next fight in the UK – as he claimed AJ was “made for” Dubois.

The battle between vintage school and modern school was made official on Wednesday when it was confirmed that the duo would face each other on September 21 at Wembley. The IBF heavyweight title will be at stake in London in three months, when Dubois (21-2) will look to limit Joshua’s recent resurgence and improve his chances of fighting division king Oleksandr Usyk.

The ink on the contracts is barely desiccated, but Chief Queensberry Warren’s opinion on direct negotiations has been known for some time. It’s clear that the 72-year-old mogul has long believed his fighter was a promising opponent for “AJ.”

“I imagine him against anyone. He’s a great, great boxer. He can also box, he has a great punch,” he said iFL Television in June 2022. “I honestly think he and Joshua… I think he – Joshua – is made for [Dubois]. My personal comment on this is that I think it was made for him.

“But Joshua has to survive [Oleksandr] First, Usyk. It’ll be great if it goes through, “AJ.” We will be delighted to have him.”

Dubois and Joshua’s most recent defeats came against Usyk, who recently gave up his IBF crown so he could fight for it at Wembley. Joshua suffered back-to-back defeats to the Ukrainian in 2021 and 2022, while Dubois had Usyk on the ropes before a controversial knockout defeat last year.

It is possible that the winner of this fight will face the winner of Usyk’s rematch with Tyson Fury on December 21. However, a trilogy between the pair seems more likely if Fury levels the scores after losing the first meeting in May.

The 26-year-old Dubois took the biggest shot of his boxing career so far after upsetting Filip Hrgovic on June 1 in Riyad. “Dynamite” delivered the best performance of his career to dominate the Croatian before scoring a stoppage goal in the eighth round, extending his record to 20 knockouts out of 21 career wins.

This triumph earned him the interim IBF belt, but he will have the real opportunity later this year. Warren firmly believes he can improve on his recent run of results when he faces Joshua, who will be less than a month away from his 35th birthday at the time of the collision.

Olympic gold medal winner AJ said he “feels motivated” to fight again shortly before Dubois’ official announcement. This will be his first fight against a British opponent since defeating Dillian Whyte in 2015. Both he and Dubois hope he can put on a show under the Wembley lights.

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UK Boxing

Tony Bellew dismisses Tyson Fury conqueror Oleksandr Usyk as the most talented fighter he has ever faced

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Tony Bellew has revealed the most talented boxer he has ever faced – and it’s not as high-profile a name as you might think. Bellew has faced some of boxing’s biggest names, including Oleksandr Usyk, but the Ukrainian is not at the top of Bellew’s rankings.

The 41-year-old admitted that his friend and colleague, boxer James DeGale, was the fighter who had the fastest fighting hands – even though he had never faced him in the ring.

Speaking to DAZN, Bellew said: “Usyk was up there, but I have to say my antique mate James DeGale. Me and “Chunky” were close throughout our career and I sparred with him when we were both amateurs and also when I needed a robust southpaw spar.

He added: “He could do anything in the ring and was as tough as anything. He has shown it in his career, look what he has achieved. A real quality player.”

Bellew, who held the WBC cruiserweight title from 2016 to 2017, retired from boxing in 2018 after a painful eighth-round knockout loss to Usyk.

He has fought some impressive names, including Usyk, David Haye and Nathan Cleverly, and the Ukrainian is currently recognized as one of the most prolific fighters in the industry.

Speaking about his fight with Usyk, Bellew said: “He solves the problem by being at work. That’s what’s so impressive. When I fought him, he never expected me to box him. He 100 per cent thought I was going in for a kill and I was going to try to take him out. And me boxing him set him back a bit and he didn’t know what to do then.

” But he figured it out after seven rounds. I had the advantage in the cards (68-65, 67-66 and 67-67) and in the seventh round he had me figured out. OK, it took him seven rounds, but he did it. And then he turned the screw. Fury he can’t change what he does.

“It’s not like he’s creating a completely different style. When I fought Usyk, I created a completely different counter-punching style. I have a good boxing brain and he’s the only dick who works me out.”

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UK Boxing

Floyd Mayweather reveals who is the best fighter in boxing

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Mayweather worked with

Mayweather expressed his opinion (photo: skysports.com)
Mayweather expressed his opinion (photo: skysports.com)

The topic of who is the best fighter in all of boxing is always a hotly debated one, and the great Floyd Mayweather is in a better position than most to put in his two cents.

Mayweather was widely considered the best fighter in the world in the tardy 2000s and early 2010s, remaining undefeated in 50 fights and winning world titles in five different weight classes.

Although fans and pundits have always considered Mayweather a formidable figure, few would deny that he was the greatest fighter of his generation and one of the best to ever step into the ring.

In an interview with BoxingMane, Mayweather is convinced that the man who took his position is American Terence Crawford.

However, “TBE” also lent support to both his former protégé Gervonta Davis and the man he once shared the ring with, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Mayweather worked with
Mayweather worked with “Tank” early in his career (Photo: Sean Michael Ham/Mayweather Promotions)

“We can put [Gervonta] ‘Tank’ [Davis] in the top ten pound-for-pound, it has to be somewhere in the pound-for-pound rankings.

“And ‘Canelo’ did something amazing when ‘Canelo’ was able to move up to featherlight heavyweight and become the featherlight heavyweight champion, which I didn’t even see him climb that high and do that.

“I would put Terence Crawford number one right now.”

Crawford dumped Spence Jr. three times last summer.  (Photo: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)
Crawford dumped Spence Jr. three times last summer. (Photo: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)

Crawford hasn’t returned to the ring since defeating Errol Spence Jr. last July. This victory crowned him the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.

Next time it will be like that intends to test his luck in the welterweight division, and his first fight in the new weight was against Israil Madrimov August 3 in Los Angeles.

If he manages to defeat Madrjmov, many observers are calling for a fight between him and Canelo‘. While this fight would require “Bud” to jump up another two full weight classes, it would undoubtedly go a long way to cementing his status as the best fighter of his generation.

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