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Oleksandr Usyk is playing well

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Author: Sean Crose

One of the most entertaining (or irritating, depending on how you look at it) elements of fighting games today is the TYSON FURY SHOW. Make no mistake, the powerful Englishman has a way of getting attention (just like his grumpy father). After all, it’s difficult to ignore a raucous, six-foot-tall person with obvious pride. However, on the eve of his fight against Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title of the world, Fury has a lot to prove, and in fact, so much to prove that he seems to have turned down the volume on his schtick a bit.

Let’s start with Fury’s disastrous performance last fall against UFC great Francis Ngannou. No one expected Fury to land on the mat during a fight with a mixed martial arts debutant, but that’s exactly what happened. Worse still, a few months later another Englishman, Anthony Joshua, made a brutally effortless job against Ngannou. Sure, Fury defeated Ngannou in a controversial split decision, but Joshua made Ngannou look like a tsunami victim – that’s how smitten Ngannou was. Fury once again has a lot to prove when he steps into the ring to face undefeated Usyk in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

However, it must be admitted that Fury looks really slim and mean before the weekend’s fight. The training video shows a man who, despite his impressive personality, takes things quite seriously. That certainly wasn’t the case when he fought Ngannou. In tiny, Fury, who calls himself the “Gypsy King,” looks ready for action. However, he is still Tyson Fury. “Good, bad, indifferent, fat, slender, whatever, drunk, I’m still going to show up and fight” has recently become venerable.

In pointed contrast to Fury is the grave Usyk. Not that the Ukrainian isn’t entertaining sometimes. It certainly can be. But to his opponents, Usyk is an extremely talented, very intense player. To understand how focused Usyk is on this weekend’s task, check out his final words: “I’ve been preparing for this fight for 22 years. This is a great event for Ukraine.” Given that Ukraine remains embroiled in a bloody war that began when Russian troops entered the country in 2022, it’s effortless to see why Saturday’s fight is so vital to Usyk.

Unlike Fury, Usyk is a constant presence in the sense that it is generally known how he will behave in any situation, and he does so in a confident and professional manner. However, the WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight champion has made it clear that he is not letting Fury get into his head. “I understand Fury,” he said, admitting that “it’s (a) bit challenging because of (his) British accent.” It’s difficult to verbally fight someone who simply won’t engage. Not that it would bother Fury. Still, it’s clear that the consummate professional Usyk doesn’t allow Fury to get close to him the way Fury has other fighters.

In tiny, Oleksandr Usyk plays relaxed.

But will this be enough in the fight against Fury? This is a challenging question because it is challenging to predict where this fight may go. Perhaps it will all come down to whether Usyk can take the same approach to Fury as he did against Anthony Joshua. Or maybe it will all come down to Fury being able to choke the smaller man (though I have a difficult time seeing that). No matter what, one thing is almost certain – performances, not out-of-the-ring games, will win the battle.

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Boxing

Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC

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Badou Jack Rozicki Mikaelian WBC

The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).

If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.

“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”

29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.

Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.

“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”

Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.

The next move is Badou Jack’s.

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Boxing

Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years

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Floyd Mayweather 50-0

Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.

This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.

In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.

“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.

“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.

Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.

Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.

Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.

However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.

In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.

It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.

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Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios

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Manny Pacquiao vs Barrios

WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.

Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”

WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.

Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.

As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.

However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.

Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.

Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.

Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.

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