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Olympic bosses issue sturdy statement after Imane Khelif’s boxing victory sparks controversy

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The International Olympic Committee has defended its decision to allow two boxers who had previously failed a gender test to compete in the Paris Summer Olympics. Thursday’s boxing action was overshadowed by controversy after Algeria’s Imane Khelif, disqualified from last year’s world championships after being deemed “biologically male”, defeated Angela Carini in just 46 seconds.

The Italian took a powerful punch in the first exchange before returning to her corner to adjust her helmet.

But a moment later she decided to give up and with tears in her eyes refused to shake Khalif’s hand.

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Like Kelif, Algerian boxer Yu-ting, who was also disqualified from competing in Recent Delhi last year, is also allowed to fight and begins her campaign on Friday. However, the IOC has called the decisions “discriminatory” and responded to criticism of the eligibility criteria.

“Every person has the right to practice sports without discrimination,” they said. “All athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Boxing Tournament comply with the rules on eligibility and participation in competitions, as well as all applicable medical regulations established by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit (PBU).

The authorities added that “the gender and age of the athletes are based on their passports” and explained that both athletes previously competed in Tokyo. “We have seen misleading information in reports about two athletes competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” they added.

“Both athletes have competed in international boxing competitions in the women’s category for many years, including at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championships and IBA sanctioned tournaments.”

Referring to the IBA ban and the “aggression” against the athletes, the IOC said: “These two athletes were victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA. At the end of the 2023 IBA World Championships, they were suddenly disqualified without due process.”

Khelif, a former African champion, competed in the lightweight division in Japan three years ago. But she was defeated by Irish Kellie Harrington in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Lin Yiu-Ting lost in the featherweight round of 16 to Filipino boxer Nesthy Petecio.

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UK Boxing

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 – substantial fight preview and predictions

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Usyk put in a sublime performance to beat Fury in their first fight Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

On Saturday in Riyad, Oleksandr Usyk will face Tyson Fury in a rematch for the world heavyweight title. Photo: Top Rank
On Saturday in Riyad, Oleksandr Usyk will face Tyson Fury in a rematch for the world heavyweight title. Photo: Top Rank

Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBC, WBA “super”, WBO and IBO heavyweight crowns against Tyson Fury in a long-awaited rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyad on Saturday.

Usyk vs Fury 2 is available on pay-per-view in the UK on Sky Sports, TNT Sports and DAZN, and on DAZN pay-per-view in the US.

This is a repeat of May’s meeting between two of the world’s top heavyweights, and many were skeptical of Usyk (22-0, 14 KO) as the smaller fighter in the original fight.

The Ukrainian implemented a fantastic game plan in Riyad, taking the best of Fury before devastating his fighter, defeating the ‘Gypsy King’ in the ninth round to win the title split decision become the undisputed champion.

After winning the same cruiserweight accolade, the 36-year-old rose to the occasion against Anthony Joshua in September 2021, earning well-deserved points in Tottenham to become the unified heavyweight king.

Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

The split decision rematch victory came before Usyk knocked out Daniel Dubois, and that victory led to undisputed greatness against Fury.

“The Cat” gave up his IBF crown to arrange a second fight with Fury, and the aforementioned Dubois became the IBF champion.

Fury (34-1-1, 24 KO) won the unified heavyweight title in 2015, dethroning the great Wladimir Klitschko, but his life spiraled and he embarked on a monumental comeback that took him back to the top, winning the WBC belt after stoppage of Deontay Wilder’s seventh-round rematch in February 2020.

The 36-year-old repeated the trick in the trilogy match, defending against Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora, who both had success on stoppages.

The Briton then had to embarrassingly leave the ring before delivering a very razor-sharp verdict on boxing newcomer Francis Ngannou before he faced Usyk last October.

Bohachuk fights Davis

The next 12-rounder on the card will see super welterweight contender Serhiy Bohachuk in action against Leeds’ Ishmael Davis, who replaces Israil Madrimov, who withdrew due to illness.

Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KO) lost a majority decision to Vergil Ortiz Jr in August for the WBC interim title, where he scored two knockdowns, while Davis (13-1, 6 KO) sent Josh Kelly into a frenzy in a losing effort. his own majority verdict in September, another fight he took up belatedly.

In August, Bohachuk was eliminated by Ortiz Jr. Photo: Golden Boy/Cris Esqueda
In August, Bohachuk was eliminated by Ortiz Jr. Photo: Golden Boy/Cris Esqueda
Itauma meets McKean

Moses Itauma (10-0, 8 KO) continues his rapid rise to the top and should have a chance to defeat Australian Demsey McKean (22-1, 14 KO) on the schedule, with McKean having not been seen since a last-round stoppage in his meeting with Filip Hrgovic in August last year.

Fisher argues with Allen

Johnny Fisher continues his education against the experienced and popular Dave Allen.

Fisher (12-0, 11 KO) scored an impressive first-round stoppage over Alen Babic in July, while Allen (23-6-2, 18 KO) has recorded two wins since suffering a retirement loss to Frazer last September Clark in the sixth round.

McGrail comes face to face with Edwards

Peter McGrail was scheduled to face Dennis McCann in an intriguing match, but McCann was pulled out after unfavorable pre-fight VADA test results.

Rhys Edwards (16-0, 4 KO) has been preparing to fight Lyon Woodstock and is entering the fray in no time.

(10-1, 6 KOs)

Undercard remaining

Andrii Novytskyi (13-0, 10 KO) should defend his WBC International title, defeating Edgar Ramirez (10-1-1, 4 KO) first.

In the delicate heavyweight division, Daniel Lapin (10-0, 4 KO) can achieve his fifth victory in the initial phase of the fight against undefeated Frenchman Dylan Colin (14-0, 4 KO).

In a breakthrough featherweight fight, I’m banking on Lee McGregor (14-1-1, 11 KO) to defeat Isaac Lowe (25-2-3, 8 KO) and put victory on the scorecards.

Mohammed Alakel (1-0) should score points in the fight against Joshua Ocampo (8-33-5, 6 KO).

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Oleksandr Usyk shares the incredible moment Tyson Fury fight result was shared on the front line

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As brave soldiers fought on the front lines, radios roared with unchanging on the battlefield. These brave units, defending Ukraine against the invading Russian forces, on the night of May 18 this year. they were waiting for further instructions or warnings about incoming missiles.

They are hailed as national heroes who risk their lives to protect their borders from Vladimir Putin’s troops. Oleksandr Usyk understands this perfectly, he has friends on the front line and has witnessed the horrors himself.

But life also goes on beyond the grim reality of war, and they were also eager to hear about their hero Usyk’s other fight against Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia. “Let me tell you one story,” Usyk, 37, said when asked if he had spoken to the fighters since the victory over Furia.

“This is the front line where the fighting takes place. And the people on the second line have special communications connecting them to the front lines on the battlefield. They have nicknames like: “Rocket, Rocket, can you hear me?” intonation, when they first picked up the phone, they said, “Yes, yes, what’s going on?” What do we have to do? [thinking it was an emergency]but then they got the news that Usyk was the undisputed champion and they started cheering: “Oh yes! All right!'”

In what must have been an incredibly moving time for those who longed for a glimmer of hope in the trenches, the brutal truth remains that Usyk was able to return to his loved ones after his victories, but he cannot take them back to his Ukrainian home. His partner Yekaterina and their children Mykhailo, Kyrylo and Yelizaveta had to leave Ukraine in featherlight of the current crisis, and Usyk kept their whereabouts a secret for security reasons.

Ringside, Ekaterina witnessed Usyk’s best Fury, recording his first defeat and allowing Usyk to win the undisputed heavyweight title – a moment they celebrated away from the public eye with their children, who were nervously watching TV in their short-lived apartment. “They were very scared and nervous, my two boys and my daughter,” Usyk commented.

However, when they saw their father again, the children’s spirits improved. “They said I was a real legend now,” recalls the humble former cruiserweight champion, although he modestly disagrees. “I said, ‘Mm, no.’ They said ‘yes, yes’.

The humility with which Usyk views his achievements was evident when boxing icon Lennox Lewis, the last before Usyk to become undisputed heavyweight champion in 1999, visited Usyk’s training camp in Spain ahead of his long-awaited rematch with Fury in Riyad. Despite winning the heavyweight crown after defeating Fury in early May, the reigning champion was honored and clearly impressed in the presence of his esteemed predecessor.

“It was great,” Usyk said. “I once watched him fight on TV. Now Lennox Lewis is in my camp watching my sparring. I said, ‘Wow, hey, Lennox. Do you miss boxing, do you miss preparations?». – Yes of course.

“Listen, it was great. I made a poster. I said, “Hey, Master, please sign for both of my sons.” My wife’s father said, ‘Oh my God, Lennox Lewis, please sign and take a picture.’

Perhaps Lewis should have asked Usyk for his autograph. “Just my shirt,” he joked with a smile. It is an extreme display of humility on Usyk’s part that he does not consider himself a legend despite being an Olympic gold medalist, world and European amateur champion, and the undisputed king of both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions, undefeated in 22 professional fights. And he clearly serves as an inspiration to those in his homeland who are trying to stand up to Russia. “Legend,” he said. “It’s very high class. I don’t like it. I just like being a plain guy. I don’t want others to think of me as an icon. I don’t need it.”

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UK Boxing

Tyson Fury announced that he would end Oleksandr Usyk’s career in a rematch

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Fury and Usyk will square off again on December 21 Photo Credit: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions

Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Tyson Fury announced such a decisive victory over Oleksandr Usyk that the Ukrainian will never step into a boxing ring again.

Fury wants to take revenge for the first defeat of his career when he faces Usyk for the second time on Saturday in Riyad.

“The Gypsy King” suffered, among others, loss of split decision in May, and Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Fury will have no chance of winning the undisputed title on Saturday after Usyk relinquished the IBF belt, currently held by Daniel Dubois.

Fury insists he wants to end the 37-year-old’s career when they fight for the WBC, WBA and WBO titles.

Fury and Usyk will face each other again on December 21. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
Fury and Usyk will face each other again on December 21. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions

“I will definitely make him feel 37 years aged,” Fury said Queensberry Promotions.

– He’ll be there with the Gypsy King, not whoever I was last time.

“I had a very good camp.

“I sparred more than I had in years and was able to do the things I’ve always been able to do, which is push myself.

“I would be first if I wasn’t able to fight and all that, I wouldn’t want to go in there and risk getting beaten up for a few extra pounds that I wouldn’t be able to do anything with anyway.

“So if I didn’t feel like I wasn’t the same person, I would be the first to say, ‘You know what, I’ve had enough.’

“But I don’t. I’m very far from that.

Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“I feel very good and I can’t wait for Saturday’s fight.

“I’m going to end him, end his career.

“You will never hear from Oleksandr Usyk again after this.”

The Briton had a disastrous ninth round, in which, after falling into the rope several times, he counted standing, which turned out to be decisive for the result.

Saudi Arabia’s boxing boss, Turki Alalshikh he supported the 36-year-old in winning the rematch and was already planning to create a trilogy between this pair.

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