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Imane Khelif wins Olympic gold as boxing gender controversy rages in the background

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Imane Khelif secured Olympic glory with a points victory over Yang Liu of China in the women’s 66kg gold medal match. The Algerian, who was at the centre of a gender controversy at the Games, put in a dominant performance to claim the spoils in emphatic fashion.

Khelif was shouted into the ring by hundreds of Algerian fans at Roland Garros, who were in high spirits throughout the competition. Her opponent was loudly booed, with only a handful of Chinese fans waving flags in a compact corner of the arena.

The fight started off balmy, with Khelif using her reach to keep Yang tranquil in the opening exchanges. Yang managed to find a few openings to land some well-placed punches, showing no signs of being scared of the opportunity, while Khelif bided her time behind her jab.

Khelifa’s powerful right hook rocked Yang in the final minute of the first round, drawing a huge cheer from fans at ringside and in the stands. She was the first to score, and the judges were convinced she had the better start.

Khelif flew out of her corner in the second round, landing another powerful right hook before Yang responded with a well-placed punch. The Chinese boxer was in no mood to go down quietly and threw everything at Khelif to tip the scales in her favor.

The second round was much more even than the first, with both fighters landing a lot of punches, but it was Khelif who took it upon himself and came out on top. Yang had to pull off a miracle in the last round, but Khelif held forceful to finish neat and secure the gold medal.

Both fighters embraced sportively at the final bell, Khelif celebrating with her coaches, and Yang struggling back to her corner, knowing she hadn’t done enough. Khelif began a victory dance after the decision was announced, basking in her well-deserved Olympic triumph.

Former boxing world champion Carl Frampton told Eurosport: “When she stepped into the ring tonight I thought the roof was going to fall in. It was absolutely sensational. She was so determined today, she dealt with so much pressure and she was always confident she was going to win that gold medal.”

Khelif’s participation in the Olympics has sparked controversy, given that she failed a gender test imposed by the International Boxing Association last year. The organization is no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee, which does not subject its athletes to the same tests.

Umar Kremlev, the president of the IBA, allegedly claimed that Khelif’s test showed XY chromosomes, but the body never produced any evidence. The 25-year-old was born a woman, and her father stepped in to dispel rumors that she had not followed the spread of misinformation on the internet.

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UK Boxing

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson officially suspended after controversial fight

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Jake Paul and Mike Tyson have been suspended by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) following their highly anticipated fight. Following the Arlington fight, the pair received a mandatory minimum suspension period, which in this case is 24 days.

TDLR rules state that each fighter must rest for at least three days in each round fought. Because the YouTuber-turned-boxer and former undisputed heavyweight champion only fought for eight rounds, he will be suspended for 24 days, according to the website MMA enthusiast.

Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor also face bans. Their fight was very close and Taylor won by unanimous decision, as a result of which both stars were sidelined for over a month with a 45-day suspension.

Even though the Serrano-Taylor fight showed incredible determination and strength, the Paul-Tyson main event seemed to lack the same intensity. After the first attack, the 58-year-old Tyson appeared to tire quickly, allowing Paul to take advantage of his opponent’s waning stamina.

After eight rounds of uninspiring boxing, the 27-year-old was declared the winner by unanimous decision, with Paul paying tribute to Tyson in the closing moments of the final round. In a speech to fans after the fight, Paul apologized for not knocking out Tyson, even though he had previously promised to do so.

“I’m sorry I didn’t knock him out,” Paul said as his entourage nodded in agreement that he chose the honorable route by not beating the 58-year-old icon. He admitted to holding back his punches when he noticed Tyson weakening as the fight progressed.

“After I saw he was tired, I didn’t want to hurt him too much, but I wanted the fans to experience a good experience,” he added. Paul also mentioned that the Tyson fight felt “different” from his previous fights, emphasizing that a more composed attitude allowed him to anticipate Tyson’s moves and prepare more effectively.

“Fighting in the stadium is less personal and less deafening, so it’s less stressful on the nerves,” he noted. “Arenas are harder to fight in. Come out, I was serene, serene and collected.

“In the first round I timed his speed and managed to get his time quite quickly and saw how I could mark him and touch him. The rest was history, I just boxed him and had fun.”

With Paul’s status as a boxing headliner at one point confirmed by over 100 million viewers, the teenage fighter feels he has earned the right to fight some of the biggest names in the sport. As such, Paul is confident that with his victory over Tyson, he can become a champion within the next few years.

“I think it could happen in the next 24 months. I really, really believe in my skills, abilities and power. And the cruiserweight division is apparently open to admission on this date,” he stated.

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UK Boxing

Jake Paul was unaware of Mike Tyson’s sedate health problems before the fight

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Jake Paul and his team reportedly had no idea about Mike Tyson’s health concerns ahead of his boxing fight, even though the heavyweight icon revealed he feared for his life.

Last Friday, Tyson, 58, returned to the professional ring for the first time since 2005 to face social media star-turned-boxer Jake Paul. In the fight in Texas, “The Problem Child” won by unanimous decision, although he failed to land any knockout blows during the fight.

CompuBox post-fight statistics showed that Tyson landed just 18 punches over eight rounds, landing only four of 13 robust body punches and missing none of his five jabs.

After his defeat, Tyson, a former world heavyweight champion, confessed on X that he “almost died” before the fight.

“It’s one of those situations where you lost but you still won. I’m grateful for last night. I don’t regret stepping into the ring for the last time. I almost died in June. I had 8 blood transfusions. I lost half my blood and 25 pounds in my body to the hospital and had to fight to get well to fight, so my kids saw me go head to head and finish 8 rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy Stadium, that’s an experience that no man has ever experienced. the thank you.”

Paul’s business associate, Nakisa Bidarian, revealed on “The Ariel Helwani Show” that he was unaware of Tyson’s health issues prior to the fight, stating: “That sentiment he expressed in that post was never shared with us. We have a doctor’s opinion reports that we talked to doctors, we never thought about it… he was close to losing his life, or whatever it was that he said in the post.

“I appreciate that there was a lot of emotion leading up to this event and I appreciate how he reflected the next day on what he had been through, but I can say unequivocally that every report we received from his team, every conversation we had, was his doctor’s opinion. “there was nothing other than to say he would be 100 percent fit to compete starting in tardy August and early September.”

Tyson’s fight with Paul was initially scheduled for July, but was delayed due to Tyson’s health problems on the plane. Tyson spoke about the terrifying experience ahead of the postponed match, revealing: “I was in the bathroom vomiting blood. I asked the doctor: “Will I die?” He said, “We have options.” Options? I couldn’t believe it. I had about eight blood transfusions.

“The doctor said I had lost half of my blood. I almost died. I lost 25 pounds in 11 days. I couldn’t eat. Only fluids. Every time I went to the bathroom it smelled of tar. It didn’t even smell… — It was disgusting.

“It threw me off [when I continued training]. All my coordination, stamina, everything was hectic on the way back. I was already at the top. I could fight him that day. Now I have to start from scratch. I just don’t give up. Sometimes I’m an asshole. I am advertising***. If I haven’t outlived my enemies, I’ve turned them into friends.”

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UK Boxing

Eddie Hearn names four potential future opponents for Callum Smith

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Smith has not fought since his defeat to Beterbiev in Quebec City (Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

It looks like Smith has big fights on the horizon (Photo: Ed Mulholland Matchroom Boxing)
It looks like Smith has substantial fights on the horizon (Photo: Ed Mulholland Matchroom Boxing)

Eddie Hearn has mentioned four names as Callum Smith’s potential big-money fights in 2025, ahead of his return to the ring next weekend.

Smith hasn’t boxed since his seventh-round defeat of Artur Beterbiev in their unified airy heavyweight world title fight in January, and many – including Hearn – had doubts whether the Liverpudlian would fight again.

However, this week it was announced that “Mundo” would return for round eight on the undercard Sunny Edwards vs Gal Yafai November 30, and an opponent has not yet been announced.

Hearn stated that once the cobwebs are cleared next week, the former super middleweight world champion will go straight into the substantial fight in 2025.

I speak at Matchroom Boxing YouTube channelSmith’s longtime promoter teased domestic feuds with Joshua Buatsi, Anthony Yard and Lyndon Arthur, as well as a clash with Dmitry Bivol.

Smith hasn't fought since losing to Beterbiev in Quebec City (photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Smith hasn’t fought since losing to Beterbiev in Quebec City (photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)

“He will come back after an eight-round fight, get rid of the cobwebs after the Beterbiev fight and then he will jump straight into action!

“Joshua Buatsi, Anthony Yarde, Lyndon Arthur, even Dmitry Bivol.

“Any of these great opportunities at 175 pounds.

“Just one little run next week and then whoever wants.

Bivol was one of the names mentioned by Hearn (Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Bivol was one of the names mentioned by Hearn (Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

“I’m excited. Sometimes I feel like I’ve rejoined the stable.

“We have been with Callum since his professional debut, so I am looking forward to his performance in Birmingham and then he will have a substantial fight in 2025.”

Smith looked like a disruptive force in the airy heavyweight division before losing to Beterbiev, following two previous fights that saw victories over Lenin Castillo and Mathieu Bauderlique.

His only other loss was against a pound-for-pound star Canelo Alvarez in 2020and the 34-year-old will no doubt still feel he has enough energy to pull off a substantial win next year.

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