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Imane Khelif sends critics bullish three-word message after securing final Olympic spot

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Algerian boxer Imane Khelif made it clear she was not concerned about the controversy surrounding her Olympic participation after stepping into the gold-medal fight in the women’s 66kg. Khelif comfortably won a unanimous points decision over Janjaem Suwannapheng on Tuesday night, securing at least a silver medal.

The 25-year-old found herself at the centre of a media storm at the Olympics after failing a gender test last year. She was cheered on by hundreds of flag-waving Algerian fans during her victory over Suwannapheng, and danced for joy when the judges’ decision was announced.

After the fight, Khelif gave critics an bullish message, emphasizing that she was not paying attention to outside reports about her place at the Olympics.

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“I don’t care,” she said. “I don’t care what anyone says about me because of the controversy. The only thing that matters to me is that I stay on my level and give my people the performance they deserve. I know that I am a talented person and that is a gift to all Algerians.”

Khelif will face Yang Liu in the gold medal match on Friday as she looks to end her Olympic campaign by winning the biggest prize of all. She will be strongly supported by her Algerian fans when she steps into the ring against Yang, who beat Chen Nien-chin of Thailand in the semi-finals.

Her participation in the Olympics has sparked controversy, given that she failed a gender test imposed by the International Boxing Association last year. The organization is no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee, which does not subject its athletes to the same tests.

Umar Kremlev, the president of the IBA, allegedly claimed that Khelifa’s test showed XY chromosomes, but evidence was never provided. The Algerian fighter was born a woman, and her father provided documents last week to prove it after misinformation spread online.

Khelif, who has lost nine fights in her career, believes she has been the victim of bullying and said last weekend: “I am sending a message to all people in the world to respect the Olympic rules and the Olympic Charter, to refrain from bullying all athletes because it has consequences, huge consequences.

“It can destroy people, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind. It can divide people. And that’s why I ask them to refrain from intimidation.”

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UK Boxing

Katie Taylor will be stripped of her world champion belt after Amanda Serrano’s controversial victory

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Katie Taylor may have to relinquish one of her WBC world title belts in the coming weeks after defeating Amanda Serrano.

Taylor currently holds both the WBC lightweight and super lightweight titles, but has not competed at 135 pounds since defeating Argentine Karen Elizabeth Carabajal at Wembley Arena more than two years ago.

Caroline Dubois, the WBC interim lightweight champion, lobbied for a chance to fight for the world championship. The WBC is expected to make a decision at its convention next month.

“A lot of time has passed since then [Taylor] defended the lightweight division Katie Taylor to be stripped of world title belt after controversial Amanda Serrano win
. Caroline Dubois is the interim champion,” Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, told Sky Sports.

“Caroline Dubois won the interim championship so she could make money, become a champion and look for something in the near future.

“I hope a solution will be made. We will give Katie Taylor a much-deserved rest for a week and then we will contact them and see exactly what the plans are.”

Eddie Hearn, Taylor’s promoter, says the Irishwoman still has a wish list to fulfill before retiring, and the top priority is to fight in Croke Park.

“How much have we talked about this over the years and if there was even a time… I’ve actually said it before to be fair,” Hearn told Off The Ball.

“But it’s November now, which gives ample preparation for the summer event in Croke Park. We just saw the biggest women’s fight of all time in front of the biggest crowd of all time.

“It’s definitely… and I’ll be sincere with you, I don’t think there’s a 100% guarantee that Katie Taylor will fight again. I’m sure it will, but it will require something truly special and unique.

“We had a long conversation with her last night with (her manager) Brian Peters and she was full (of enthusiasm).

In the training room after (the fight), I felt like if she turned around now and said, ‘That’s it,’ I would be really elated in a way that you could bow down during the evening like that.

“But then she said, ‘There are a few things I really want to do, though.’ I asked ‘what is it’ and she replied: ‘Of course I would like to fight in Croke Park and I’. I would like to fight in Las Vegas.

“Then you start thinking, wow. I know the guys at Madison Square Garden were very interested in Serrano’s first fight, to do something possibly at the Sphere in Las Vegas that would be so iconic for her career – and Croke Park.

“But I think if it’s Chantelle (Cameron) back at 3Arena, or Amanda Serrano back at MSG, I’m not sure that’s really going to excite her in the same way as doing something else.”

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Canelo Alvarez explains when he could fight Jake Paul after being drafted

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Canelo Alvarez says he would only consider fighting internet sensation Jake Paul once he was “done with boxing.” This comes after Paul, known as the “Problem Child”, repeatedly expressed his desire to date the Mexican.

Paul’s recent fight against Mike Tyson, which attracted 108 million viewers worldwide and was ranked the 10th most watched sporting event in history, was his most notable fight to date.

The Netflix-sponsored event sparked controversy, particularly due to the 30-year age difference between the competitors, and Paul won by unanimous decision.

Still, Canelo doesn’t seem interested at this point, pointing out on The Full Send Podcast that he might consider such a fight as a foil to his illustrious in-ring career.

Canelo currently holds multiple super middleweight titles and said: “When I’m done with boxing [at the highest level]why not? Yes, maybe.

“I think it’s good because it attracts fans who don’t normally watch boxing. They know Jake Paul, but they don’t know anything about boxing. Maybe [I’ll take the Paul fight]”

Looking ahead to his next fight, Paul has not been shy about his ambition to face Canelo.

He recently said on the Timbo Sugar Show: “Me vs. Canelo at 200 pounds for the world cruiserweight championship is the biggest fight, probably even bigger than me vs. Tyson.

“It makes a lot of sense. Canelo is already on his way out. He’s going to want a payday and I want to show the world that all this shit I was talking about, that beating Canelo is actually true and I’m going to have the biggest defeat in boxing history.

“The biggest criticism from everyone is fighting a professional, fighting someone your own age. So when I say ‘Canelo’ is that person, everyone hates it.”

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UK Boxing

“I was knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk – here’s how Tyson Fury can beat him” – EXCLUSIVE

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Tony Bellew has highlighted where Tyson Fury needs to improve to have a better chance of beating Oleksandr Usyk the second time around.

The Gypsy king suffered the first defeat in his career when he was defeated on points by Usyk earlier this year. He will have the opportunity to avenge his loss when both fighters resume their competition in Saudi Arabia next month.

Bellew is well placed to provide insight into where Fury needs to improve after being knocked out by Usyk in his last professional fight in 2018.

Asked how Fury should approach the rematch, Bellew told Express Sport: “He can’t afford to be bullied. It surprised me. I was one of the few analysts who picked Usyk before the fight.

“Everyone thought Fury would be too huge, too powerful and too massive. I told anyone who would listen that Usyk would win. I just couldn’t imagine him winning by tormenting Tyson Fury.

“It surprised Fury and everyone. He didn’t get away with it again. This time he will be much more pointed and aware.

“It’s crazy that a man six-foot-three and barely 100 kilograms was able to abuse this twenty-stone, six-foot-nine monster and did just that. He won’t have that element of surprise when he walks in. revenge.

“But ultimately he did [Usyk] this is the best natural heavyweight boxing I have ever seen. I never thought he would be huge enough to fight in the heavyweight division.

Do I think Fury is completely out? Absolutely not, but do I think he will win? NO. Again, I would lean towards Usyk. I think it’s going to be a really close fight and I think Usyk will win it on points.”

Bellew spoke to Express Sport as a brand ambassador Men on a mission campaign in conjunction with DRINKiQ AND Men’s shedsraising awareness of mental health and unhealthy drinking patterns among men over 50.

“We know that statistics tell us that one in four men aged 50 to 75 think almost nothing about their well-being and mental health,” he explained.

“It’s not really talked about. It’s like a taboo topic. They don’t really want to talk about it, they don’t feel the need to. They actually think it’s frail. These are the guests who turn to drink.

“Before you know it, the problem is upon you, it’s getting worse, and you have to do something about it. We need to be out there talking to men of this age and letting them know there are other things to do, because it is, it’s so strenuous.”

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