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The heavyweight rival who defeated Tyson Fury, predicts Oleksandr Usyk

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David Price once beat Tyson Fury, but he’s backing his vintage foe to win over Oleksandr Usyk (Photo: Getty)

Tyson Fury’s former rival David Price, who once defeated the Gypsy King as an amateur, is backing his former heavyweight rival to weather the storm in a unified title fight against Oleksandr Usyk and emerge victorious. Price was effusive in his praise for his vintage foe, predicting the Briton would make history later this week.

Immortality awaits the winner of the contest, which will take place on May 18 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, and will be crowned only the second unified heavyweight champion of the world this century. Looking to follow in the footsteps of Lennox Lewis, who was the last fighter to earn this occasional distinction, the WBC, WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO champions are on the line in one of the most anticipated fights in decades.

Previously scheduled for February 17, the show at the Kingdom Arena was pushed back to May after Fury suffered a cut to his face during training ahead of the original date. But the Manchester-born colossus now has the opportunity to cement his legacy among the sport’s greats.

One unlikely supporter ahead of his clash with Usyk is former rival Price, who tipped off his vintage nemesis to send the Ukrainian. The Liverpudlian, who hung up his gloves in 2021, is in a unique position to assess Fury’s attributes as a occasional example of someone taking down the 35-year-old.

Fury is preparing for a fight that will decide his career

Tyson Fury is preparing for what will probably be the decisive fight of his brilliant career (Photo: Getty)

It happened while both were amateurs in 2006, when Price recovered from a knockdown in the second round of that contest to defeat Fury by points decision. During an exclusive interview with Express Sport (arranged by Grosvenor Sports) the former Olympian was convinced that his former opponent would want to prove he was right with Usyk this month.

The current WBC heavyweight titleholder suffered a scare in October against former UFC star Francis Ngannou after controversially winning by two-point decision. Now, Price predicted: “I think that after the Ngannou fight, his head will be in the right place, because I really think deep down, Tyson Fury will feel like a failure on some level. He got knocked down, he didn’t do it,” he didn’t perform and it looked like he just grabbed the win.

“Many people thought he had lost, which would have hurt his pride and hurt his confidence a bit. It might be a blessing in disguise that he got more time to prepare for it, but it might be better for him to go back, I don’t know, it all depends on the individual.

“I think they’re both on the wrong side of 35 now and will probably start to sluggish down a little bit, so neither of them has an advantage in that position,” he continued. “I just think Tyson Fury is an expert at being a large man and I think he’ll exploit his size, weight and reach. “I think he’ll probably fall behind in the fight, but he’ll eventually come back and find a way to win at the end, that’s how I see it, but in heavyweight boxing anything can happen.”

Thinking back 18 years to his fight with Fury, Price also detailed how he believed his former contemporary maximized his unconventional talents to establish himself as a true generational fighter. He explained: “He can do part of the textbook when he needs to, but what wins in fights is what cannot be learned and what is in him instinctively. I never would have predicted this.

“The biggest shock was when he beat Klitschko, then he just grew stronger, now it’s not a surprise because you’ve been at the top for almost ten years. Turns out that was one of his strengths honestly, how unconventional he was, how different he was, how loose he was and stuff like that. He’s not your typical boxer and over the years I’ve kind of come to respect that style of fighter more where they do it. things in their own way, it’s a little special.”

The pair have now put aside the differences that characterized their relationship early in their careers, building a respectful friendship outside the ring. Price even recalled several occasions since they met in 2006 when they enjoyed each other’s company.

He continued: “Yes, I bumped into him at the airport, I was coming home from Denmark after a fight and I think he was on a family holiday, we saw him and it was still bittersweet then, but not as much as it was. But we never crossed paths, and no, I never intended to face Tyson Fury at any point, at least not offensively.

“He was with his family and I just went up and talked to him like it was the last time I saw him when we were amateurs. I just asked how you were and got a picture and he got a picture like well and that was it. I didn’t see him then until he called me to go for a coffee when he had his comeback with Ben Davison.

Price spoke warmly about his interactions with Fury

David Price has spoken warmly about his interactions with former rival and now friend Tyson Fury (Photo: Getty)

“He said we were in Liverpool. Do you want to go for a coffee? Two days later I was fighting, I think a tiny fight in Brentwood, a comeback fight,” he recalled, before confirming that the duo enjoyed talking about their journeys together as fighters. “I went up to him and had a nice chat with him.”

As Fury prepares for the defining clash of his career with Usyk, Price has made it clear that he holds his vintage foe in the highest regard, even offering a hand of friendship in the form of a ceremonial drink when the ‘Gypsy King’ finally retires. He added: “There is mutual respect there, he knows I know boxing and he would always love to fight me because there was competition there.

“So we had respect and admiration from my side, I can’t speak for him. You probably know, I tried to be a standard guy, so you know you can only expect respect from people you respect. So yes, no phone calls or anything like that, but I’d love to have a beer with him when he hangs up the gloves and joins the ex-boxers’ association.

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UK Boxing

Bakhram Murtazaliev vs Tim Tszyu – large fight preview and predictions

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Tszyu receives an immediate world title shot after defeat to Fundora in March Photo Credit: Esther Lin/Premier Boxing Champions

Tim Tszyu fights Bakhram Murtazaliev for the IBF super welterweight world title in Orlando on Saturday live on Amazon Prime Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions
Tim Tszyu fights Bakhram Murtazaliev for the IBF super welterweight world title in Orlando on Saturday live on Amazon Prime Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions

The IBF super welterweight world title will be at stake this Saturday night at Caribe Royale in Orlando as Bakhram Murtazaliev defends his gold for the first time in a fight against former world champion Tim Tszyu.

Premier boxing champions promote Murtazalieva vs Tszyu i card is broadcast worldwide Prime Minister of Amazon.

Murtazaliev (22-0, 16 KO) has only been at the championship distance once, winning on the cards against Jorge Fortea back in 2019, and after two victories in 2022, the 31-year-old received an unexpected shot at the vacant IBF title in Germany in April this year , some 16 months after his last fight against Jack Culcay.

With the Russian losing in one card and only two points in the other, he scored a knockout which eliminated Culcay in the penultimate fragment and became the world champion.

Murtazaliev now puts this belt on the line in a fight against the threatening Tszyu (24-1, 17 KO), although the Australian has suffered the first defeat in his career.

Tszyu gets an immediate shot at the world title after losing to Fundora in March. Photo: Esther Lin/Premier Boxing Champions
Tszyu gets an immediate shot at the world title after losing to Fundora in March. Photo: Esther Lin/Premier Boxing Champions

After serving as the WBO interim champion, the 29-year-old was promoted and defeated Brian Mendoza in his first defense last October.

Then in March, “The Soul Taker” wanted to unite forces against WBC king Sebastian Fundora, sent his belt by split decisionbut he was admirable in defeat after Fundora’s horrific elbow injury in the second round, and somehow made it to the final bell.

Murtazaliev defends his IBF crown for the first time. Photo: Team Murtazaliev
Murtazaliev defends his IBF crown for the first time. Photo: Team Murtazaliev
Tapia, Tellez function

Undefeated Australian middleweight Cesar Mateo Tapia (17-0, 10 KO) should overtake Endry Saavedra (16-1, 13 KO) on the scorecards in ten rounds, and super welterweight star Yoenis Tellez (8- 0, 6 KO) could impress against Johan Gonzalez (35-3, 34 KO) on the schedule.

Tellez wants to continue his unbeaten streak. Photo: iRull Photos: Hosanna Rull
Tellez wants to continue his unbeaten streak. Photo: iRull Photos: Hosanna Rull
Undercard remaining

In an eight-round fight, the Cuban heavyweight hope Dainier Pero (8-0, 6 KO) should deal with Willie Jake Jr (11-5-2, 3 KO) at the beginning, and Justin Viloria (6-0 , 4 KO) may need a card to fight Diuhl Olguin (16-40-7, 10 KO) in a super featherweight fight.

In the super bantamweight division, Carlos Jackson (20-1, 13 KO) can win on points against Ryan Lee Allen (10-8-1, 5 KO), a man who has never been stopped, and Daniel Blancas (10-0, 5) KO) can remain undefeated by winning the super middleweight fight against Marco Delgado (7-5-1, 5 KO), also at the distance.

Gary Antonio Russell (19-1, 12 KO) will return to the six-round fight for the first time since October 2022 and can secure points in the fight against Jaden Burnias (6-2-2, 4 KO) in the super bantamweight division.

In the welterweight division, Jocksan Blanco (6-0, 4 KO) may defeat Angel Ilarraza (9-1, 4 KO) early.

Roberto Raul Rivera Gomez (4-0, 2 KO) can stop Jenn Gonzalez (9-25-1, 5 KO) in the fight for the super featherweight belt.

The only four-round fighter will be in the welterweight division, and Michael Garcia (4-1, 3 KO) can return to winning ways by defeating Carlos Aguilera Martinez (13-25, 6 KO).

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Jake Paul decided to change sports immediately after Mike Tyson’s boxing fight

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Jake Paul is ready to discuss a potential MMA debut following his highly anticipated boxing fight with Mike Tyson.

Internet sensation Paul is preparing to fight boxing titan Tyson next month in Texas in an event that has been met with significant delays and much controversy. With a 10-1 record in the ring, Paul suffered just one defeat last year at the hands of Tommy Fury, and yet when they meet on November 15, he will boast a significant 30-year age difference to Tyson.

However, Paul does not limit his horizons in combat sports to the ring, because he dreams of fame in the MMA octagon. Having signed a contract with leading MMA organization PFL in 2022, Paul has ambitions to make his mark in the world of MMA perhaps next year, taking a break from his pursuit of a world boxing title.

I’m talking to Mirror on Francis Ngannou’s return to Renan Ferreira, PFL CEO Peter Murray shared his thoughts on Paul’s future in MMA: “I’m not sure if this will be his next fight in combat sports, but he will make his debut in 2025,” the boss said.

“Look what Jake has proven in boxing; he is an amazing athlete, a professional boxer, he has faced several legal opponents and blazed his own trail. He’ll do it the same way in MMA; “His main goal is to be a supporter of athletes and blaze up-to-date trails, so he will definitely take up the MMA fight and be as focused and dedicated as he is to boxing.”

Paul has consistently expressed his determination to settle the score with Fury, who secured victory over the YouTuber in Saudi Arabia. Now there is speculation that their rematch could move from the ring to the octagon following Fury’s recent training sessions with UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall.

Murray sparked excitement for the potential clash, commenting: “I believe [they could fight in PFL]; We’ll see, the list is there and growing, that’s what’s stimulating about it. There are a lot of fighters who would like to take part in this debut, so we will talk to Jake after the Tyson fight.”

Further fueling the MMA rumors, Nate Diaz, a UFC pioneer who fell to Paul in a previous boxing fight, has been mentioned as a potential opponent in Paul’s mixed martial arts venture. Although he appears to have turned down a massive £7.7m offer amid talks to return to his ancient stomping ground.

Additionally, there is talk of Paul returning to the ring for a third confrontation with Tyron Woodley, whom he has already defeated twice, although he continues his war of words with Jorge Masvidal, another top-class fighter who is currently on a break from the UFC.

However, before any of these scenarios come to fruition, Paul will face Tyson, who has not taken part in a professional fight since he bowed to Kevin McBride in 2005. Nevertheless, Tyson laced up the gloves again for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, which ended in a disastrous stalemate after eight rounds.

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Jake Paul said he would be ‘swallowed alive’ by another boxer before the Mike Tyson fight

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Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew has issued a stern warning to YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul, saying he would be “eaten alive” in the boxing ring.

“The Problem Child” Jake Paul is preparing for an extremely invigorating meeting with Mike Tyson, whose fight will take place on November 15 at the AT&T Arena in Arlington, Texas in front of an audience of 90,000. Paul’s rise from internet sensation to professional boxer has seen him face the likes of Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz.

His only mistake, which boasts a 10-1 record, came at the hands of Tommy Fury last year in a points decision.

The fight between the internet phenomenon and the heavyweight legend was originally scheduled for July, but was postponed when Tyson stopped training due to a recurrence of his peptic ulcer. However, “Iron Mike” has renewed his fitness efforts and is adamant about getting back to the square footage soon.

Confirmation of the fight was met with criticism amid concerns for Tyson’s well-being after the former world heavyweight champion, 58, revealed he had trouble walking after sparring. Doubts persist as to whether Tyson will be forceful enough for the fight, prompting speculation that the fight could be canceled again.

Despite Tyson’s skepticism and experience over the years, Paul remains confident that Tyson is in good shape, stating that preparations for the boxing titan’s fight are going well. It’s Mike Tyson or nothing,” Paul declared, emphasizing the draw for the main event. “But most of all, he’s well, he feels amazing and he’s doing great in camp.”

Bellew has once again expressed his disdain for Paul’s boxing endeavors, suggesting that the YouTuber is avoiding real challenges in the ring. In candid remarks to Safest Casino Sites, he stated: “Listen, everyone has their price, but he [Jake Paul] he would never fight me, I would eat him alive.

“Just face a real boxer. I’ll tell you what, just come to England, get your license and try to get an English title. If you manage to get an English or British title, I’ll take my hat off to you. Or go and do it in the USA, do it where you are from.

“Win the United States cruiserweight title. As soon as he faces anyone with any reasonable boxing experience, he’s got it. They’re taking him to school.”

The former British boxing champion is clearly unimpressed with Paul’s upcoming fight against Tyson, a clear indication of his willingness to replace Tyson if the opportunity arises, albeit for the right amount of money.

Bellew stated in September: “I have no real hunger or desire to face Jake Paul, to be completely candid. Do I want to? No, probably not. But would I do it? Yes. Everyone has their price. yes, definitely, but do I want to? Not really, no.

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