Boxing
George Foreman: “Tyson Fury has met his opponent”
Published
6 months agoon
By
J. HumzaWhen George Foreman wondered who would win Saturday’s undisputed heavyweight championship fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, he went back 50 years to the renowned “Rumble in the Jungle” against Muhammad Ali.
“Years ago when I fought Muhammad Ali, I could have won every round, but I had it in my head: ‘I’m going to knock out a guy who’s never been knocked out before,’” Foreman told BoxingScene on Wednesday.
“That’s the problem: trying to knock out someone who’s never been knocked out before. But [Usyk] he has the temperament to win every round and that’s it. Go back to his corner, drink some water and have a quick pep talk. Just win rounds. He’s got it.”
So despite his fondness for Fury, when Foreman was asked who would win the fight in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, he replied, “Tyson Fury has met his opponent.”
That opinion is largely influenced by Foreman’s admiration for the peaceful determination and focus of Usyk (21-0, 14 KO), a former Olympic gold medalist and undisputed cruiserweight champion.
“First of all, I thought it was a solid match and great matchmaking,” Foreman said. “[Usyk] isn’t gigantic, and the greatest heavyweight champions we’ve had all this time have been guys under 6-3 like Joe Louis (6-foot), Joe Frazier (6-foot-2), even Muhammad (Ali, listed at 6-foot-3).
“He lied! He was never 6-3!”
“But for some reason, coordination and plan thinking work well for guys this size.”
Additionally, Foreman, who turned 75 in January, is concerned that the 35-year-old Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) was beaten badly in fights and left defenseless after being knocked down twice by Deontay Wilder in 2018, twice more in a trilogy fight in 2021 and again in October by former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
“Yes, please… Fury, he has been knocked down and suffered several brutal attacks to the point that he is now ready to attack,” Foreman said.
Foreman theorizes if Fury stays cautious, Usyk can shine with his boxing.
“All [Usyk] what he has to do is… if he is astute enough to win the first round and then the second. … OK, maybe you can give up the fourth round … but then come back and win another round,” Foreman said.
“He’s getting to the point where he doesn’t worry about anything other than winning on points. He’s a solid fighter. He can take a punch. Fury is in a tough situation. So if the judges are not the best judges that money can buy, [Usyk] should win.”
However, Fury has a reach advantage (85 to 78 inches), a height advantage (6-foot-9 to 6-foot-3), a weight advantage and his own impressive boxing skills that wear Usyk down by leaning on him.
Foreman was asked if he was downplaying all of this.
“It’s great that he has it. All those things you mentioned above are right,” he said. “He has the whole package to do it. But not with this guy.
“[Usyk’s] I was there with gigantic, elevated guys [beating former champion Anthony Joshua twice]and he’s not afraid.
“He is automatically built to be mentally powerful. It’s just a part of him. He has this ability. And this is its main advantage. Outside of that attitude, there’s nothing spectacular he can do to beat Fury.
Fury tried to verbally harass Usyk, repeatedly calling him a “sausage” and worse during a recent press conference.
“Some guys have never had anything but mental toughness. [Usyk’s] one of them. Go higher and score points,” Foreman said.
Foreman was asked if Usyk would become the undisputed heavyweight champion on top of everything he has achieved. Does that make him an all-time great if Foreman knows all his predecessors?
“No, it means a great rematch,” he said, knowing there was an agreement signed and planned to hold the second fight in Saudi Arabia in October. “First of all: rematch.”
But would the rematch be different?
“Sure, because then Fury will know that now he can lose. It’s a completely different fight – how you train, how you get in shape. Seriously. Get back on the road [Fury] fought [long-reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir] Klitschko [in 2015].
“He fought Klitschko until the very end. You have to fight anyway [Usyk].
“It’s an stimulating match. Of course I support Tyson Fury because he is exceptional in boxing. I’m a fan. But I won’t let that drive me here. I would like to see him stay and win a few more fights.”
As Foreman knows, after regaining the heavyweight title by knocking out Michael Moorer nearly 20 years after losing to Ali, nothing says more about the quality of a heavyweight champion than that he can lose the heavyweight title and then come back and win it again.
“Please,” Foreman said.
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Boxing
“Mike Tyson knocking out Jake Paul is an ‘all-time backfire’
Published
2 days agoon
November 14, 2024Mike Tyson may not win at all even if he knocks out Jake Paul on Friday.
Tyson is approaching a comeback fight that many believe will not end with anyone winning.
Tyson was told that winning at the age of 58 in boxing was an empty joke. Tyson can’t really win either way if he crushes Paul or gets knocked out himself.
The former UFC star turned analyst weighed in on the Tyson debate as Daniel Cormier offered his views on the controversial fight.
Tyson will wear his professional gloves on November 15, nineteen years and more since his last appearance. Despite “Iron” Mike losing his previous two contests by knockout, YouTuber Paul sees Tyson as a cash opportunity to gain some recognition.
However, Cormier joins many voices who believe that both men have no chance of winning this fight. The only advantage of the entire Netflix event is money, which is no reason to create such an antagonist, since both men are already millionaires.
On his “Funky and the Champ” show, Cormier discussed Tyson’s smokescreen training videos, saying, “I understand that [he looks good at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels great].
“I agree when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro. It looks like there’s still something left there. But then I see Jake Paul fighting 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 operate the backup tank to stay and compete with this juvenile kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.
“What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over,” Cormier added. “Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like this has ever happened in the history of sports.”
Paul has eight two-minute rounds to get the job done, while the consensus is that Tyson only has 30 seconds before he’s blowing tough and having difficulty keeping up.
The only comparison fight fans have made to the Paul vs. Tyson fight is when Evander Holyfield returned to action at the same age as Tyson in 2021. Facing Vitor Belfort, who was twenty years older than Paul at the time, Holyfield lasted only 109 seconds.
Mike is in deep crisis and must get out of the fight or destroy his opponent to gain any recognition. Senior Tyson would have beaten that opponent in a matter of seconds. Therefore, he must prove that money is not the only thing that counts.
In a recent workout, Tyson’s muscle mass remains off the charts for a man his age. The only problems will be its resistance to attacks and movement. If Mike can’t move around the ring, he’ll be chosen at his discretion by a guy three decades younger, with a much more significant engine.
Paul clearly doesn’t have skills comparable to Tyson. However, Mike has shown on numerous occasions, even in his thirties, that he is prone to impoverished performances and falling out of the game.
An audience of millions will watch to decide his ultimate legacy.
If Paul knocks Tyson out, it will be a disaster.
Boxing
Ardreal Holmes Jr. is the leader of Large Time Boxing on December 12 in Flint, Michigan
Published
3 days agoon
November 13, 2024Salita Promotions returns to Flint, Michigan on Thursday, December 12 with another edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA, the leading talent development series in the sport, featuring a fight card packed with some of boxing’s top prospects, including Michigan Jr.’s Ardreal “Bossman” Holmes. , Joey Spencer, Da’Velle “Hitman 2.0” Smith and Leon Lawson III.
This will be the sixth BIG TIME BOXING USA card since the series premiered in February, and it is without a doubt the series’ strongest lineup yet, from top to bottom. All the action takes place at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, and the top four fights are broadcast live on DAZN, the undisputed home of boxing worldwide. Tickets for the event go on sale Wednesday at 11 a.m. EST and can be purchased online HERE or in person at the Dort Financial Center box office.
After successfully defending his USBA junior middleweight title in September, Flint native Holmes (16-0, 6 KO) returns to his hometown to once again put his title on the line in the main event against an experienced challenger, French veteran Ahmed El Mousaoui ( 35-6-1, 9 KOs).
Fan favorite Spencer (18-1, 11 KO), from nearby Fenton, Michigan, will fight in a 10-round 160-pound fight. Spencer has bounced back with two wins since his lone loss to undefeated, highly-rated Jesus Ramos in March 2023.
Spencer will fight as a professional for the second time in his home state of Michigan. “Fighting in front of fans and friends from all over the state was the best experience,” Spencer said. “I grew up fighting alongside Ardreal Holmes and Leon Lawson – training and traveling to tournaments together and even sparring with each other as we grew into the same weight class.
“Large Time Boxing is a very cold series and Dmitriy Salita does a lot for boxing in Michigan. I can’t wait for December 12th and I’ll be ready to put on a show.
“My team and I are proud to announce the strongest BIG TIME BOXING USA fight card to date,” Salita said. “Since the series launched in February, we have been building and evolving it to become the premier talent development platform for newborn fighters, and this fight card is the best yet. Thank you to DAZN for providing a global platform for these fighters to shine and earn a shot at a world title. We would also like to thank Flint fans for supporting their hometown heroes and the entire sport of boxing. We had a great performance at the Dort Financial Center in September and this fight card is even more packed with incredible talent.”
Smith, touted as Detroit’s best undefeated middleweight prospect since Tommy Hearns, scored an impressive victory over Gilberto Pereira dos Santos last month in Puerto Rico. Smith has a record of 10-0 and 8 knockouts, and his momentum will be even greater when he returns to the ring against William Townsel (8-1, 6 KO) from Virginia Beach. This matchup represents the first major test for Smith, who is considered the second coming of the legendary Hearns due to his combination of speed, power and physique. Townsel previously upset Nadim Salloum, who had a 12-1 record heading into the fight, during the March edition of BIG TIME BOXING USA.
Flint native Lawson (16-1, 9 KO), cousin of Anthony and Andre Dirrell, returns after an impressive performance in September when he dominated Argentine Luis Alberto Veron and scored his second straight TKO. Lawson’s super welterweight opponent will not be announced. Additionally, former world title contender Byron Rojas (28-4-3, 11 KO) will fight on the fight card.
Rising star Samantha Worthington (9-0, 7 KO) of Lexington, Kentucky, will compete for the third time in 2024, defending her undefeated record in women’s super lightweight fighting. Worthington is ranked No. 2 by the IBF, No. 4 by the WBO and No. 6 by the WBC and WBA at 140 pounds. Worthington is promoted by “GWOAT,” unified women’s world champion and Flint native Claressa Shields and T-Rex Promotions. Shields and Worthington were members of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
Shields added that Worthington is a player that Flint fans won’t want to miss. “Samantha will showcase the relentless work ethic and tremendous skill that first caught my eye and has seen her rise through the ranks,” Shields said. “Samantha is well on her way to challenging the top competitors in the sport, with future world title fights against the likes of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano well within her reach. Michigan fans, get ready to watch a rising women’s boxing star in your own backyard.
Boxing
Deontay Wilder returns, inspired by the work of Sylvester Stallone
Published
4 days agoon
November 13, 2024Deontay Wilder revealed his intentions to fight again in an address to his supporters, inspired by a quote from Rocky star Sylvester Stallone.
The “Brown Bomber” tries to leave behind two devastating defeats and the decline of personal relationships, starting a comeback with a novel attitude. Wilder has sought professional support for his mentality and intends to return to the ring to give himself one last chance.
In a video post on Instagram, Wilder said: “Listen, everyone is going to have an opinion about you, but those opinions don’t matter. Life will hit you and knock you down. It’s a mindset to keep moving forward.
“I experienced failures long before boxing. I faced challenges long before I stepped into the ring. I was punched and knocked down long before I even put on boxing gloves. I’m still here because my attitude is to get up and keep going…
“So over the last few months I have been building the protocol with mentality [strength]. I always say that we all have greatness within us, but greatness is only defined in service, so I wake up every day trying to serve. To teach other men how to move forward and support other men improve their mindset because mental health is my primary mission.
“The next critical mission is to get in the ring and do what I was supposed to do,” Wilder added.
Deontay Wilder is not finished yet.
🎥 @BronzeBomber #Bombzquad pic.twitter.com/OLiOB8RcsE
— Boxing News (@WorldBoxingNews) November 13, 2024
Responding to those who believe his career is over, Wilder stated: “If any of you have negative opinions, look at your mindset and step back from that negative bull****. How about this?
“To all my fans and supporters and those who have never left me, I love you all very much and thank you very much. Because no matter how many losses and how many challenges, no matter how many times life hits you and knocks you down, you better get up and keep going. That is the power of thinking.”
Wilder was inspired by Rocky’s original quote from the movie “Rocky Balboa.”
Stallone’s quote reads: “Let me tell you something you already know. The world is not all sunshine and rainbows. This is a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are. It will bring you to your knees and keep you there forever if you let it.
“You, me or no one will hit as tough as life. But it’s not about how tough you hit. It’s about how tough you can get hit and keep going.
“As much as you can take and keep going. That’s how you win!”
Whether Deontay Wilder can win again will depend on his choice of opponent.
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