UK Boxing
“I was nervous” – Tony Yoka reacts to Lawrence Okolie’s failed test
Tony Yoka has broken his silence on Lawrence Okolie’s failed test that canceled their scheduled heavyweight fight.
On Saturday in Paris, Yoka was scheduled to face Okolie in a fierce heavyweight fight.
But on Tuesday, the Briton failed a VADA test, reportedly for GHRP 2 and its metabolite M8, a synthetic substance that stimulates the body to release human growth hormone.
Promoter Frank Warren tried to find a slow replacement, but later canceled the entire show.
Yoka (33) admits that he was bitterly disappointed with the situation.
“I was disappointed because I wanted to fight,” said the 33-year-old talkSPORT.
“Of course I was ready.
“It’s not like it happened a few months before, it was three, four days before the fight.
“It was a great opportunity.
“It would have put me in a really good position, so it really worried me.
“What was more disappointing to me was that they just canceled the entire show, but I understand it’s a business.”
The Frenchman says he won’t wait too long and has been told he will either fight on the card Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois May 9 in Manchester or on the bill Dave Allen vs Filip Hrgovic on May 16 in Doncaster.
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Okolie, the WBC’s number one contender for Oleksandr Usyk’s title, promised in a statement to clear his name.
“Before anyone starts imagining the worst, after last year’s bicep injury, I suffered an elbow injury on the same shoulder during this camp.
“I underwent treatment and now we are here.
“I hope common sense will prevail.
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“I will of course cooperate fully with all relevant authorities and I am confident that any investigation will clear my name.
“I will not be making any further comments at this time.
“Thank you for all your support and see you soon.”
The post “I Was Nervous” – Tony Yoka’s Reaction to Lawrence Okolie’s Failed Test appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
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.
Devin Haney responds after Keyshawn Davis moves to No. 1 in the WBO welterweight rankings
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