UK Boxing
Anthony Joshua’s offer from the head of the UFC and what the boxing star immediately told Dana White
Anthony Joshua was previously approached by UFC supremo Dana White (Photo: Getty)
According to his promoter Eddie Hearn, Dana White has sensationally approached Anthony Joshua about the prospect of joining the UFC supremo’s boxing stable. The former heavyweight champion is close to returning to the ring for the first time since his December knockout victory over Jake Paul. Just days later, he was involved in a sedate car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his closest friends.
The tragic incident has complicated Joshua’s return to boxing, but he is believed to be preparing for two gigantic fights before the end of the year. He is expected to have a warm-up fight in the summer, likely against Deontay Wilder, before finally facing Tyson Fury in the fall.
Joshua has worked with Hearn throughout his professional career, but White became his target in an attempt to lure him away from his longtime promoter.
White, best known for his role as UFC president, ventured into boxing with his Zuffa brand last year and immediately made a splash by poaching Conor Benn from Hearn on a one-fight deal.
He also tried to sign Joshua, but the former Olympic champion was not interested in doing business, instead showing loyalty to Hearn.
During the performance in Talking about cigars podcast, a Matchroom promoter recalls: “About two deals ago, the media published an article… ‘AJ talks to Dana White.’ And I said, ‘What the hell?’
“So it’s in the paper, right. So I go to AJ, we have a media scandal, and I say, ‘What the hell?’ And he says, ‘Yeah, he called me out of the blue.’
“And I said, ‘What?’ And he said, ‘I told him right away. I told him I was with Eddie, but we had a nice conversation. We talked for about half an hour.’
“Because AJ likes to listen, I’m like, ‘What?’ And then, funnily enough, about six months later I went to Dana’s office and we had a meeting.
The Whites failed to extort Joshua from Matchroom (Photo: Getty)
“And I said, ‘Oh, I heard you talked to AJ.’ And he said, ‘Yeah, and you know something, he told me within the first five seconds to let you know that I’m not leaving Eddie. He’s my guy, but let’s talk.’ I respected that. I was like, ‘Fuck, wow.'”
Hearn added that Joshua’s loyalty had been tested several times over the years but he had not wavered despite being offered lucrative offers.
“After our contract expired, he was offered deals that were much better short-term financial options for him,” Hearn added.
“And when you looked at it, fur again, no panties. When you looked at the beginning, you thought, Wow.” But then you thought, “Oh, you have to do this, and it’s a five-year deal,” and blah, blah, blah.
“But he never even [was like]: “Let me look at it.” It was like, “No, no. I’m with Eddie, so whatever, but Eddie can look at it.”
“I have a lot of respect for him because… there are a few players, probably a few players, that I feel the same way about as AJ.
“Like in an empty room with one or two people, they will support you in conversation, you know what I mean? And in life, you know, there are not many people like that, that’s true, especially in a game like boxing.
“So I will always be grateful to him. Not only as a company because he helped us and is now a shareholder in my company, but also because of what he did for me and the company.”
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Ed Pereira described how through IVisitBoxing he hopes to aid change the sport for the future.
Pereira is promoting IVisitBoxing’s next appearance on July 11 in San Francisco.
The promoter spoke to proboxing-fans.com about his journey to the boxing world after great success with his other ventures, including IVisit Media.
Pereira truly introduced himself to the boxing world last May when he, along with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season, promoted an event in the middle of Times Square.
The event featured some of the sport’s biggest names, including Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Rolando Romero, with a world title fight topping the bill.
Pereira reflected on the event and spoke honestly about how it all happened.
“Times Square was an incredible experience because of how tough it was to create.
“People were disconnected from the experience, and that’s what I felt: I want people to be engaged.”
He also revealed what message he carries in his company and what is most essential to him when promoting events throughout the United States.
“Make something and then show it to as many people as possible. And I’m still doing it, 30 years later.”
He talked about how he believes boxing impacts the lives of individuals, from the fighters themselves to the audience, and why accessibility in sport is so essential.
“Boxing doesn’t just change people’s lives – it changes the way the world sees people.
“That’s the power of boxing.”
IVB and Pereira’s next appearance will be on July 11, with the main event being Anthony Olascuaga’s fight against Andy Dominguez Velasquez.
The fight card will be on display at the Civic Center and a wide range of tickets will be available, including a free section allowing anyone to watch the fights. Pereira hopes to break the boxing attendance record of 135, 132 set in 1941 by Tony Zale vs. Billy Pryor.
“For me, San Francisco is the story of every single person on that card.
“Boxing is not broken.
“We need to make boxing more open to everyone.
“It’s about affordability. It’s about accessibility.
“That’s why we stick with YouTube. That’s why we stick with TikTok.”
The post “Boxing Isn’t Broken” – Ed Pereira Reveals Vision for the Future of the Sport appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Eddie Hearn believes Tyson Fury lacks confidence ahead of his clash with Anthony Joshua later this year.
Joshua and Fury have signed a deal to face each other in the highly anticipated all-British blockbuster, which is expected to be staged in November.
“AJ” will be there will face the unknown Albanian Kristian Prenga during warm-ups in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 25.
Fury, who retired to beat Arslanbek Makhmudov on points in April, is also keen to fight again before facing his long-time rival, with an August 1 date being discussed.
Joshua’s promoter Hearn questions the Morecambe fighter’s decision to fight another fight in the meantime, believing it could signal a lack of faith.
“He’s going to do what he’s going to do,” the 46-year-old said Sky Sports Boxing.
“And if he feels like he needs a good fight, I like that because it tells me he’s not completely confident.
“He shot 12 good rounds with Makhmudov to the point where you really need more rounds?
“He told us, ‘You don’t need another fight.’
“In two years of boxing, we had four rounds with Jake Paul.
“You had 12 rounds with Makhmudov at Tottenham but you still feel you need more rounds to prepare for Anthony Joshua.
“More rounds won’t assist you, because I can see it.
“When Makhmudov came into that fight, I knew what AJ was going to do.”
“AJ” came face to face with Prenga at their stadium first press conference on Monday in London.
The 36-year-old will fight for the first time since he knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round in December in Miami.
10 days after Paul was arrested, the Watford man suffered minor injuries in a fatal car crash that killed two of his close friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, while on holiday in Nigeria.
Joshua has already returned to the training camp in Valencia along with former rival Oleksandr Usyk.
The post ‘I’m not confident’ – Eddie Hearn QUESTIONS Tyson Fury warm-up fight appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Chris Billam-Smith is the bookmaker’s favorite to defeat Ryan Rozicki in Saturday’s cruiserweight clash in Bournemouth.
Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KO) fight with Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KO) at Bournemouth International Center live Heavenly sports in the UK and Paramount+ in the US.
The former WBO cruiserweight world champion will enter the fight as a 3/10 favorite Bet365.
The 35-year-old bounced back from a loss to Zurdo Ramirez in their unification clash by defeating Brandon Glanton in April last year. “The Gentleman” is expected to win by the same method on October 11.
The Bournemouth player has not recorded a victory over the distance since he forced Mateusz Masternak to retire in 2023, and a break victory is valued at 11/4.
Rozicki, the number one contender in the WBC, is a 12/5 underdog Bet365 beat Billam-Smith in his hometown.
The Canadian has recorded 20 stoppages in his 21 victories, and his best route to victory is the distance of 5/1.
In 2022, “The Bruiser” scored points only once in his career, and another success over the distance is estimated at 13/2.
Full Bet365 odds
The result of the fight
- Chris Billam-Smith will win the fight: 3/10
- Chris Billam-Smith by KO/TKO/DQ: 11/4
- Chris Billam-Smith by decision or technical decision: 11/10
- Ryan Rozicki will win the fight: 12/5
- Ryan Rozicki by KO/TKO/DQ: 5/1
- Ryan Rozicki by decision or technical decision: 13/2
- Draw or technical draw: 16/1
Round bets
Chris Billam-Smith
- Win in round 1: 50/1
- Win in round 2: 40/1
- To win in round 3: 33/1
- To win in round 4: 25/1
- To win in round 5: 22/1
- To win in round 6: 20/1
- To win in round 7: 20/1
- To win in round 8: 20/1
- To win in round 9: 22/1
- To win in round 10: 25/1
- Win by Decision or Technical Decision: 11/10
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Ryan Różicki
- To win round 1: 80/1
- Win in round 2: 66/1
- Win in round 3: 50/1
- To win in round 4: 40/1
- To win in round 5: 33/1
- To win in round 6: 33/1
- To win in round 7: 33/1
- To win in round 8: 33/1
- To win in round 9: 33/1
- To win in round 10: 40/1
- Win by Decision or Technical Decision: 13/2
The post Chris Billam-Smith vs. Ryan Rozicki – Odds and Betting Guide appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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