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Furious Liam Smith ready to punish ‘clever’ Josh Kelly – then Chris Eubank Jr.

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“They made a huge mistake,” Liam Smith says of Josh Kelly and Adam Booth ahead of his fight with Kelly at Wembley Stadium in London on September 21.

“Failure means the end for me. [But] losing is also terrible for Josh. Where will Josh go after losing to me? He lost to David Avanesyan. He beat a few cans of tomatoes on Channel 5. His best win was Troy Williamson. He loses to me, I just don’t see where he goes. He’s 30. So it’s a huge mistake they made.

“Screw me at your own risk. People are too fleet to do that. I’ve been a professional for a long time. Years ago I was “done” and then suddenly I beat [Anthony] Fowler, Beating [Jessie] Vargas, beating [Chris] Eubank. My last two fights, I won two Sky pay-per-views, sold out arenas. I’ve been written off many times before this and I’ll do the same this time.

If the injured Smith’s one-sided defeat in his September 2023 rematch with Eubank does not end his long career as a world-class fighter, there is no doubt that the talented Kelly is preparing for his toughest fight yet.

At 36, Smith sees parallels to his victory over a younger, fresher Anthony Fowler in 2021 – the same year his career was first deemed to be in jeopardy, and Kelly, when he fought David Avanesyan, was a tough opponent and lost for the first time.

When the Daniel Dubois-Anthony Joshua undercard was revealed, and Smith and Kelly were both on it, it was the only fight that initially carried some degree of uncertainty – whether they would fight at junior middleweight or middleweight. When it was confirmed they would fight at middleweight, a weight the 30-year-old Kelly had never fought at before but where Smith’s physique naturally developed, both the risk and reward seemed more significant to Kelly, which perhaps contributed to the feeling that he and his trainer had angered Smith.

“It reminds me a lot of [preparing for Fowler]”, he continued to BoxingScene. “Josh and probably Adam Booth think they’ll get me at the right time; the perfect time for them, after Eubank’s performance. I understand why, but I have to prove why – they didn’t look into it that much. Adam and Josh were at ringside for the Eubank fight and probably think they’ll get me at the right time because Adam Booth and Josh Kelly have never, ever mentioned my name.

“If I didn’t know the problems behind [Eubank] performance, I would have just pulled out of the ring. If I had a good camp and performed like that, I would have pulled out then and there. How can I go from Fowler, Vargas, Eubank and that to being finished? How can I go from being the number one middleweight in the UK to number three when I was injured and forced into that day? I’m vocal about it – that’s why I’m coming for Ben Shalom the way I’m coming for Ben Shalom. I was basically forced into that rematch that day. I wish I had called their bluff, but I didn’t; hindsight is great. I paid a higher price for that than anyone else.

“It was [a mistake to take the Eubank rematch]. I was forced to do the second date because I had already pulled out of June 17th. A rematch was arranged and announced for July. I don’t understand how I could pull out of June 17th with a back injury and then fight two weeks later. Boxxer did that to put pressure on me and when they announced on September 2nd if I didn’t fight on that date, “Eubank will walk”; my contract will go down; they can’t pay me; it’ll be a mess. Shit like that.

“But I thought, ‘If I make weight, I’ll beat him. I know I’m a better fighter with him. With gloves and adrenaline, I’ll beat him.’ It didn’t work out. Boxxer got the show anyway; Chris won; then Boxxer signed Chris. It’s another lesson for me, but once bitten, twice as shy. Whatever I do in my career, I’ll never make that mistake with the fighters I manage. To this day [I regret it]. This is eating me up. I’ll take half the money to fight Chris again.

Smith’s trainer Joe McNally has also spoken of the prospect of a third fight with Eubank, with both recognising that there is no risk in Smith’s fitness – he claims that the back that hampered his rematch with Eubank has fully recovered – and McNally is also frustrated by what he and his fighter see as Booth and Kelly trying to beat them on the way down.

If Smith has something to prove, so does his Liverpool coach. The middleweight insists he is not underestimating Kelly, but he speaks with the same passion, without prompting, about Eubank. It is the same passion that not only drove home his win over Fowler but also his rematch with Liam Williams in 2017; it is also a passion perhaps fuelled by Eubank fighting in another Riyadh season a month later, and therefore heightened by the potential for a rematch.

“I’ve never in my life [am I taking victory for granted]because I lose and I’m finished,” he said. “I’m crazy about them thinking they’re going to get me at the right time. I’m crazy about Adam Booth thinking he’s so intelligent at these games and what’s going on with this VADA thing. Like I told Adam, “This is your first rodeo with Josh. Don’t start being intelligent.” I told him, “I’ve always respected you until you started playing this game. Don’t do that or I’ll wipe the floor with you.” They picked the wrong person to be intelligent.

“It’s not like I got punished in the Eubank fight. I was bored out of my mind. People are probably surprised when I say that. He doesn’t hit difficult enough; I’ve got a really good chin; I’ve got a lot of stamina. It sounds crazy. ‘How can you be bored – you’re losing?’ I thought, ‘You’ve just drained your tank trying to finish me; you couldn’t; you’re on the defensive now,’ and I couldn’t put the punches together to wear him down. I just didn’t have it in me to do it. It was preparation; the back injury that was bothering me all camp. It had nothing to do with the ankle. If I had fought, the adrenaline would have gotten the better of the ankle, effortless. I was just bored, [and] thinking about a million things.

“[Kelly’s] very good. Very good. Very talented. Lots and lots of talent, [that] You’re lucky you were born with it. He’s got those fast-twitch fibers, that fluidity, that athleticism. How tough a fighter he is is another story. I don’t think he likes anything tough. I don’t think he has the biggest heart. He’s very, very insecure, which is why he needs Adam Booth and Richard Towers wrapped around him, telling him how good he is, how great he is. That’s what he’s missing.

“[A third fight with Eubank] could be closer now because this season in Riyadh – Eubank is on it and I’m on it, so we both win, it’s probably easier to do. But throw me out of the picture, it’s probably effortless to do Hamzah [Sheeraz] and now also Eubank.

“From my point of view, I beat Liam Williams the first time, controversially. I gave Liam Williams a rematch. I said to Frank Warren, ‘Get a rematch with Liam Williams to right a wrong’. Eubank should say the same thing.”

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George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory

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Lauren Price

Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.

Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.

Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.

Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.

Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.

Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.

There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.

Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.

McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.

English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.

Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.

Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.

After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.

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