UK Boxing
Eddie Hearn Reveals Awkward First Meeting With Turki Alalshikh
Published
4 months agoon
Eddie Hearn has forged a forceful partnership with Saudi Arabia’s head of sport, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
Hearn and Alalshikh have had two fights with Anthony Joshua, a five-on-five bout pitting Hearn’s Matchroom against Frank Warren’s Queensberry, and Alalshikh’s first fight in the US, which was headlined by Terence Crawford’s victory over Israil Madrimov earlier this month.
As he himself admitted, the now fruitful cooperation was not so bad in the past, and Alalshikh even ignored messages from Hearn.
Alalshikh, head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, entered the world of boxing with the highly controversial fight between then-WBC champion Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in October, opening an significant season in Riyadh.
Hearn, like many observers, was openly critical of his rival ahead of the fight, in which Fury came off the bench to defeat the Cameroonian by split decision.
“I probably did one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done,” the 45-year-old said in Conversations about cigars.
“I really didn’t speak positively about the Fury-Ngannou match.
“So he’s organizing this event and there’s this massive promoter there who’s worked with these other guys [Skills Challenge] and now he criticizes Fury-Ngannou a bit, and I slowly move on to the ranking of the best songs of the month.
“When I realised that His Excellency wanted to stay here permanently, I contacted him on social media and said, ‘you are in London, let’s meet up’ and he felt that ‘we see’.
“I thought, ‘Oh no.’
“A few people told me, ‘he’s not joyful with everything you said about Fury-Ngannou.’
The Essex promoter met with the Saudi boss to discuss the terms of a deal that would see Joshua face Otto Wallin in December, and their first interaction was, unsurprisingly, a bit frosty.
“Luckily he’s not driven by ego or politics, and he wanted to fight Anthony Joshua, so he probably thought, ‘I’m going to meet Eddie Hearn.’
“I went to his apartment in London, sat down and he said to me, ‘I have to say I didn’t like what you said about Fury-Ngannou.’
“I thought to myself, ‘I didn’t like it, but it ended up being amazing, so well done.’
“He told me, ‘We’re a bullet train. Do you want to be on the train or on the platform waving at the train as it goes by?’
“And I just said, ‘Chuck, choo-choo!’
“We’ve built a great relationship since then.”
Their partnership grew stronger, with Alalshikh even supporting Matchroom-sponsored snooker events, and acting as a mediator between Hearn and Warren, once fierce rivals who now collaborate on a number of events.
The pair will reunite in September to support Joshua in his three-time heavyweight title fight, before he faces Daniel Dubois for the IBF title at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
If Joshua beats his compatriot and Tyson Fury gets revenge on Oleksandr Usyk in December, Alalshikh and Hearn could secure victory Fury vs Joshuaa struggle that has escaped the world’s attention for years.
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UK Boxing
While waiting for the talks, Tyson Fury sent a nine-word message to Anthony Joshua from Eddie Hearn
Published
6 hours agoon
December 22, 2024There have been calls for Tyson Fury to now arrange a British clash with Anthony Joshua.
The Gypsy King returned to the UK last night after suffering the second defeat of his career at the hands of heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyad.
After the heartbreaking defeat, 36-year-old Fury insisted he take some time off over Christmas to rest before considering his next move as he did not want to commit to another fight.
However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is ready to enter into talks with Fury’s entourage once the two-time world champion recovers from defeat.
Hearn stated: “Obviously Fury will need time to reflect and get over the disappointment of the defeat. The truth is, I felt it was a great performance and he’s still at the top of his game. It’s time for Joshua against Fury.”
Both Fury and Joshua missed out on opportunities to fight for the undisputed heavyweight crown when they held all four belts in 2020 and 2021. Nevertheless, Hearn remains sanguine that it will be a monumental fight if they can make it happen.
He added: “It’s not only the biggest fight in British boxing, but the biggest fight in sport. I believe we can have two fights in 2025. And when the time is right, we will have the appropriate discussions to see if we can achieve this.”
After his second defeat in 37 fights, Fury was asked about his future plans after the fight against Saudi Arabia, in which all three judges scored it 116-112 in favor of Usyk.
He said, “Go home and have a Merry Christmas. I was away for 12 weeks working on this fight. Now I’ll go home and enjoy it.
“Let’s go home now, let’s welcome the up-to-date year, let’s see what it brings. Will you see me fight next year? Perhaps so. You may not. We’ll talk about it next year.”
UK Boxing
Lennox Lewis interrupts the interview while Frank Warren fumes over Tyson Fury’s decision
Published
14 hours agoon
December 22, 2024Lennox Lewis interrupted Frank Warren mid-rant as Tyson Fury’s promoter became furious at the prospect of Oleksandr Usyk winning. The Gypsy King lost 116-112 on all three scorecards, and his attempt at revenge for the only defeat of his career ended with Usyk defending his WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
Both Fury and Warren strongly criticized the decision, which leaves huge doubts about the 36-year-old’s future. Fury said Usyk was given a “Christmas present” by the judges, while his longtime promoter was “stunned”, calling it “crazy”.
Fury said: “I was sure I won that fight again. I thought I won both fights, but on the other hand I came home with two defeats on my account. I will always believe, until the day I die, that I won this fight.
“I will always feel a little tired. Not a little, but actually a lot. When you don’t get a knockout, that’s what happens. You can’t guarantee victory.”
Warren complained about the result in various post-fight interviews, including one with the BBC. He said: “This is crazy. Everyone who sat where I sat, including neutrals [thought Fury won].
“Oscar De La Hoya, like me, was one round away. We both thought he won it, that’s a crazy result! It’s a split decision and I’m very disappointed. I know people will say I’m biased and I probably am, but I temper myself with bias.
Lewis then joined the conversation and Warren asked the heavyweight legend about the verdict. He replied: “I didn’t score, but it was close, definitely close.”
Warren then highlighted the fact that one of the judges didn’t give Fury a single round in the second half of the fight, fuming, “What kind of fight are they watching?”
Apparently not seeing the result the same way, Lewis simply added: “Yes, yes, should have given him a few rounds [in the second half of the fight]”
Lewis then shared his thoughts on the future of Usyk, who may decide to reunite the four heavyweight belts. A rematch with the holder of the second belt, Daniel Dubios, has already been suggested, although everything depends on his fight with Joseph Parker on February 22.
Lewis believes the 37-year-old could hang up the gloves and say: “He can do whatever he wants. He can retire if he wants, he can have a rematch, he can have another fight.
UK Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk’s various injuries after each fight with Tyson Fury say a lot
Published
18 hours agoon
December 22, 2024Oleksandr Usyk emerged from his latest fight with Tyson Fury without requiring hospitalization, allegedly a stark contrast to his experience after their first fight in May. On Saturday (December 21) in Saudi Arabia, the 37-year-old Ukrainian boxer secured his second victory over “The Gypsy King”, winning and retaining his undisputed heavyweight titles by unanimous decision.
Sporting significantly fewer battle scars than after his first triumph over Fury in May, Usyk had only minor bruises under his eyes this time. The judges were in agreement during the rematch, with all three unanimously scoring the fight 116-112 in favor of Usyk, who appeared to take less damage throughout the fight.
Despite Fury’s claims that Usyk was hospitalized with a suspected broken jaw after their first meeting, the reigning champion denied such suggestions, admitting he only felt pain in the area and not a broken bone.
However, he admitted to the physical effects of their intense first clash, stating: “Yes, I have a little problem, but I have problems with my fist, my back and my whole body because it’s a tough fight that lasts 47 minutes. “
Despite Fury’s exhaustive preparation, which included a three-month period in which he stated he had not spoken to his wife Paris, he ultimately failed to defeat Usyk again. The result leaves fans and pundits wondering whether this defeat will push the Gypsy King to hang up his gloves for good, reports. Mirror.
The 36-year-old Fury could not hide his irritation after his second defeat in a row to the boxer from Kiev, calling the judges’ unanimous decision a “Christmas gift”. “I feel like I won both fights,” he declared.
I know I had to knock him out, but it’s boxing and things like that happen. I have no doubt that I won this fight. Franc [Warren] I was three or four rounds ahead, and a lot of people were at least two rounds ahead of me.”
Echoing Fury’s frustration, promoter Frank Warren expressed his astonishment at the referee’s performance. “I’m amazed at how they do it [judges] I scored a goal,” said the head of Queensbury Promotions.
“His jab was phenomenal, his footwork was brilliant, he wasn’t tardy. He was very evasive.” In the aftermath, IBF heavyweight titleholder Daniel Dubois entered the ring shortly after Usyk’s victory and challenged him to a rematch following his own knockout loss to the Ukrainian last year.
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