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Anthony Joshua at a Crossroads as Jake Paul Fight Talks Continue

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Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua is at a key moment in his boxing career, as serious talks continue about a possible fight with YouTuber Jake Paul. But promoter Frank Warren has warned that taking on the 28-year-old internet star could hurt Joshua’s reputation, especially when fans are still hoping for a big fight with Tyson Fury.

Joshua, 35, from Watford, won a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics and became world champion twice. However, he hasn’t had a major win since he beat Andy Ruiz Jr in their 2019 rematch.

He lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk and was knocked out by Daniel Dubois last September. Now, instead of a top-level opponent, talks are moving fast for a fight with Jake Paul – a match many are calling a “circus.”

Frank Warren, the 73-year-old legendary boxing promoter, said Joshua’s career deserves better.

“He’s done brilliantly,” Warren told SunSport. “He should’ve won the amateur world championships, and he brought a lot of attention to boxing after winning gold at the Olympics. He’s had some great fights.”

Warren says the fight fans really want is an all-British heavyweight clash between Joshua and Tyson Fury – a fight that has been talked about for nearly 10 years.

“It’s the fight everyone’s wanted for years,” Warren said. “But who knows if it will ever happen.”

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has admitted that Joshua’s final fight could depend on whether Fury, 37, agrees to it. Fury has retired several times, made a Netflix series, and even renewed his wedding vows again.

Warren said Fury is still training regularly but the choice to return is entirely up to him.

“When I’ve spoken to him recently, he has mentioned fighting,” Warren said. “But I’m not going to push him – it’s his decision.”

“He goes to the gym often. It keeps him fit and helps his mental health, which is great.”

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What are the obstacles that could hinder the fight between

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Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul

What are the obstacles that could hinder the fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua?

One of the possible 2026 fights that has caught the eye is the one that could be presented between the former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, who has been sought by YouTuber Jake Paul, who in 12 fights has attracted attention in the world of boxing. However, this fight faces some uncertainties despite “advanced” negotiations between both sides.

The long-awaited showdown between the Briton and the American has caught the attention of Turki Alalkashik, who has become the top boxing promoter today and is willing to support the holding of this fight. Eddie Hearn, representative and promoter of Anthony Joshua, and Nakisa Bidarian in the same way with Jake Paul have found significant obstacles, even when negotiations are going well.

The barriers that could prevent a fight between Joshua vs Paul

Eddie Hearn recently commented on the state of negotiations. “I would say we are very advanced in terms of money. It’s probably the word that those looking for positive news would use. I never expected this fight to take place, but honestly, the more conversations I have, the more I think there is a good chance it will happen,” said the boxing promoter.

Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua

However, one of the key problems for the possible fight is sanctioning. According to Sky Sports News, there is no guarantee that the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) will approve the fight, especially if it is held in England or some of its territories. Wembley Stadium has been mooted as a possible venue for the eagerly awaited bout. But with the BBBofC refusing to sanction the fight, this episode of boxing will have to be postponed.

Eddie Hearn explained that for the fight to take place in the UK, they would need to apply for a special exemption from the Board, which adds uncertainty to the venue and logistics of the event. He therefore suggested that it is more likely that the fight will be held in the United States, where Jake Paul is a big draw. Paul has filled major stadiums such as the Honda Center in Anaheim and the Amalie Arena in Tampa. His previous fight with Mike Tyson attracted more than 72,000 spectators to AT&T Stadium.

Holding the fight in the United States would circumvent the regulatory hurdles imposed by the BBBofC, but could complicate logistics for Joshua and his team. However, this would be solved with the increase in purses and even in Las Vegas, Nevada, there would be a greater cash flow which will allow Joshua’s team to cover the travel, logistics and preparation expenses of the British boxer.

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Lamont Roach Drops Devastating Update On Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis Rematch

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Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach 

Lamont Roach Jr. delivered disappointing news about the Gervonta “Tank” Davis rematch.

While there wasn’t that big of an appetite for Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ WBA lightweight title defense against Lamont Roach Jr. on March 1, that fight ended up being the talking point of the boxing world for weeks and months afterward.

This is because Roach gave Davis the fight of his life. While the bout ended up as a majority draw, many believe that Roach outboxed Davis and ultimately deserved to get his hand raised.

What’s for sure is that Davis made several controversial decisions during the fight (such as taking a knee in the middle of the ninth round) that would have gotten him disqualified and should have at least cost him a point, which would have resulted in Roach winning.

Regardless, that first fight is now in the rearview mirror. And after months of rematch negotiations, it began getting reported that Roach and Davis would be fighting for a second time on August 16.

Of course, August 16 is today. And Davis and Roach are not fighting.

Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr

Lamont Roach Gets Brutally Honest About Gervonta Davis Rematch

Gervonta Davis has been in the news of late, and the headlines haven’t been good. In addition to claims that he’s retiring from boxing, Davis was also arrested for charges of assault after an alleged domestic violence dispute with his ex-girlfriend. However, while those charges have ultimately been dropped, it shows that Davis has other things going on outside of boxing.

And this has made the rematch seem unlikely, which Lamont Roach revealed in an August 15 interview with BoxingScene.

“It don’t look like it’s happening,” Roach said of the Davis rematch in the interview. “That’s just to put it out there and be transparent with everyone… So that’s what it is, and that’s what it’s looking like.

“Again, we still haven’t heard from his camp specifically, when it comes to the business. So it is what it is. As far as my future, man, we’re moving on. We can’t just sit around and drag our feet,” Roach added.

When asked about his next moves, Roach said, “We’re not going to sit and wait. I think [Davis’ team’s] best bet is to try and structure something. If not, we’re gonna move forward.”

When Roach was asked whether he believes Davis wants to fight him, he said, “Honestly, no.”

It sounds like fans shouldn’t be getting their hopes up that these two will settle their score in the ring.

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Lamont Roach Jnr doubts ‘Tank’ rematch happens, eyeing Shakur Stevenson

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Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr

Lamont Roach Jnr has put further doubt over his expected rematch with Gervonta “Tank” Davis in a recent interview on BoxingScene Today.

Roach fought to a controversial draw with Davis back in March with the WBA lightweight title on the line. Many believed Roach had done enough to win. This impression was underlined by Davis’ decision to take a knee midway through Round 9 and then walk to his corner, complaining that chemicals from his hair were flowing into his eyes. The referee Steve Willis belatedly decided not to rule a knockdown, which angered fans and Roach’s corner and sparked suggestions of bias towards Davis, the bigger star.

A rematch was called for almost instantly and negotiations were underway for the pair to square off again. An official announcement seemed imminent for Davis to rematch Roach on August 16 in Las Vegas, but it never came. Davis’ legal troubles, a charge for domestic violence that has since been dropped, put doubt over Davis’ presence in the ring anytime soon. Roach, like most fans, has been growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of communication from Davis’ side and told hosts Paulie Malignaggi and Jimmy Smith that he is now looking at other options.

“Well first off, the rematch don’t look like it’s happening,” said Roach on BoxingScene Today. “That’s just to put it out there and be transparent with everyone because that’s the only question I get 10 times a day, maybe even more. That’s what it is and that’s what it’s looking like, again, we haven’t heard from [Davis’] camp specifically when it comes to the business. It is what it is, as far as my future, we are moving on, we can’t afford to sit around and drag our feet, but there has been some recent news that his charges got dismissed in Florida.

“Like I said, we are not going to sit around and wait, their best bet is to try to structure something. If not we are going to move forward, it’s not like we are the ‘cash cow.’” Roach is doubtful Davis wants to fight him – “but we’ll see,” he added.

Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach

Roach has held the WBA junior lightweight title since defeating Hector Luis Garcia back in November 2023, but has not defended his belt in over a year. James “Jazza” Dickens recently won the WBA interim title at 130lbs, and it looks as though Roach has no plans to return to the division.

“My body feels great at 135lbs, [with] that extra five pounds that I don’t have to lose,” he said. “I honestly feel like I’m growing into it. There has got to be a lot of money for me to come back and defend my belt at 130, or a very high profile fight, Right now it’s a miniscule possibility. We are going to fight before the year is over with. We’ve been doing our job in terms of the business thing. We are going to fight this year, whether it’s to stay busy or if it’s a big fight. The stay busy can be at home or it can be abroad.”

There are options for Roach according to his manager ProBox TV boss Garry Jonas, with both the PBC and Riyadh Season showing an interest in bringing Roach to their platform. WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson is one of the fights currently being discussed for Roach, but it is unlikely that would be his next contest. BoxingScene understands that Roach could feature on the undercard of the reported Sebastian Fundora vs. Keith Thurman PPV on October 25 in Las Vegas, with featherweight contender Luis Nunez also featuring on the card.

“I think apart from the rematch [with Davis] the best fight for me and the best fight for the division is me versus Shakur Stevenson,” said Roach. “And to be pretty honest, [Stevenson] said he would take the fight between me and him. We talk, and we definitely sat down and said, ‘We’ll do it, for sure’. He’s a competitor and he wants to show that he’s the best. He really doesn’t have any picks, like me, like for real, we will fight each other.”

And when would a fight with Stevenson likely be?

“Before the end of the year, no. If we lock in, it’s going to be for next year,” said Roach.

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Andy Lee: Canelo vs. Crawford Will Be One Of ‘Best Fights We Can Remember’

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Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez 
One knowledgeable observer is sure that the next fight of the century will live up to the hype.
Canelo Alvarez will defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against Terence Crawford on Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Netflix, a captivating — perhaps historic — matchup that could give a significant boost to the legacy of the winner.
Andy Lee, former middleweight champion and one of boxing’s best trainers, believes that the fighters’ skill sets will allow for the matchup to meet fans’ expectations.
“What a fight,” Lee told The Ring’s Louis Hart. “It’s very hard to pick a winner. No one really knows the skill and competitiveness and ringcraft of Crawford. You can say the same things about Canelo, but he has the size [advantage].
“I saw Crawford in New York when Hamzah [Sheeraz] fought [Edgar] Berlanga, and he doesn’t look too small anymore. He’s filled out a lot [and] looked quite big. It’s a great fight. They’re equally matched in skill.
“When you see how skillful both fighters are, the tricks they have and how they fight, it should be up there with the best fights we can remember.”
Crawford (40-0, 30 KOs), a two-division undisputed champion, had fought his previoius eight fights at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds before moving up to 154 pounds and defeating Israil Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs) by unanimous decision in August of last year to become the WBA junior middleweight titleholder.
The 37-year-old from Nebraska had stopped 11 straight opponents before winning a close decision over Madrimov.
Arguably, the biggest question mark heading into Sept. 13 is how Crawford will handle jumping two more divisions to face a full-fledged 168-pounder in Alvarez. Lee believes that the weight will not hinder Crawford, who is a four-division beltholder.
“You’ll be stronger,” Lee said, referring to the effect of moving up in weight. “You’ll have more of everything. I don’t think it’s going to affect Crawford.”
Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs), who has also won titles in four divisions, is 11-0 with four knockouts at super middleweight. The 35-year-old from Mexico is coming off a unanimous decision victory over William Scull on May 3 in a less-than-compelling affair to become the undisputed super middleweight champion for a second time.
While Alvarez has shown signs of slowing down in his recent fights, Lee believes the challenge that Crawford presents will bring out the best in him.
“[Alvarez has a] great jab [and is] a skillful body puncher [and] counter puncher,” Lee said. “People are not giving him respect because of his last performance. Trust me, he’ll turn up and he’s a competitor, too.
“That’s the great thing about these guys, they’re winners. And I can’t wait to see that fight.”
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on Anthony Joshua’s Next Fight Options

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Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, beating Roberto Cammarelle on countback. He subsequently turned professional with Matchroom Boxing, and a boxing phenomenon was born. AJ captivated the British public, who supported him from his debut win over Emanuele Leo through to beating Charles Martin to win the IBF heavyweight title. Many more memorable nights followed, but many are asking what’s left for Joshua in 2025 and beyond. Eddie Hearn has spoken to The Stomping Ground, revealing who is the favourite to fight AJ next.

Eddie Hearn Reveals Favourite for Anthony Joshua’s Next Fight

What’s Next for Anthony Joshua?

Joshua’s career quickly entered a new stratosphere, recording many eye-catching wins before winning his first world title. The do-or-die victory over Wladimir Klitschko will forever be remembered as one of the greatest nights in British Boxing.

On June 1, 2019, AJ, while riding high in the heavyweight division, suffered a stunning stoppage defeat against Andy Ruiz in Madison Square Garden. Following that defeat, AJ was written off by the masses before he gained revenge against Ruiz with a disciplined, unanimous decision win.

Talking to The Stomping Ground about Joshua’s future, Hearn said: “To be honest, the focus is still very much on the Jake Paul fight. Those talks continue in an amicable and exciting fashion with MVP, and I think that’s definitely the favourite to happen next, I really do.

Hearn Counts Out Yoka and Ward

“If not, we’d also love to do the event in Ghana. So yeah, Tony Yoka wise, I don’t know where all the momentum’s come from. I’m not ruling it out, but, you know, it’s definitely not anywhere near being done. Josh Dubin called me the other day, he’s like, ‘Dre (Andre Ward) wants to fight.’ I’m like, who? Which one do you mean? Yeah, I don’t know. I think Andre Ward called out Jake Paul a couple of years ago as well, so it’s great that everyone’s still calling AJ out. Yeah, I can’t see that being a fight, no,” Said Hearn discussing potential AJ opponents.
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Joshua eyes first African bout in Ghana

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Anthony Joshua 

Anthony Joshua is exploring the possibility of staging his first professional fight in Africa, with Ghana emerging as a leading candidate, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Nigeria-British heavyweight’s representatives travelled to Accra this week to inspect venues, including the 40,000-capacity Accra Sports Stadium, and to hold talks about hosting a bout there, according to the Daily Star.

While a fight in Ghana is only one of several options under consideration, the Daily Star reports Joshua is also in discussions over a potential showdown with social media personality Jake Paul.

“Anthony Joshua is considering a fight in Africa as he mulls over his next boxing opponent – which could be against social media star Jake Paul,” the British tabloid reported.

“Joshua’s reps flew out to Accra this week to take a look at venues and hold talks about staging a fight there. But it is only one of a number of options on the table for the Watford warrior.”

Joshua, whose parents are Nigerian, has long expressed a desire to bring big-time boxing to Africa. The London 2012 Olympic gold medallist is rebuilding his career after a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois last September.

The Daily Star also confirmed that His management team, led by Matchroom Boxing chief executive Frank Smith and long-time adviser Freddie Cunningham, “held meetings in Ghana earlier this week as part of an exploratory visit”.

Potential opponents for an African bout include Frenchman Tony Yoka, who controversially beat Joe Joyce to win gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and Democratic Republic of Congo-born heavyweight Martin Bakole, who is based in Scotland.

Yoka, who has recently joined Queensberry Promotions, is reportedly eager to face Joshua and could be available late in 2025 or in 2026.

The reports add that a clash with Paul would be financially lucrative but “would offer little or no test” to the two-time world champion.

Another unexpected call-out came from retired former super-middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Andre Ward, although his lack of heavyweight experience makes such a bout improbable.

Joshua, 35, is targeting a return to the ring in early 2026 after undergoing elbow surgery in May.

While he had initially hoped to fight in December, recovery has pushed back those plans. He still harbours hopes of facing Tyson Fury next year, but that will depend on whether the WBC champion decides to end his retirement.

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Manny Pacquiao would put an important condition on Gervonta Davis to fight him

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Manny Pacquiao and Gervonta Davis

At 46 years of age, an age at which most boxers would have already retired, Manny Pacquiao continues to surprise the world by proving that age is just a number if you stay focused.

He is now ready to return to the ring after his fight against Mario Barrios which ended in a majority draw, a controversial decision, but one that made it clear that Pacquiao still has gas in the tank so there is already talk of his next fight.Manny Pacquiao is not ready to say goodbye to the ring, and now he is aiming for a fight with Gervonta Davis. However, the fight would only happen if the American accepts one key demand.

Who will be Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent?

Manny showed that he still has the speed, pace and stamina to compete at the highest level

The result was a majority draw, which prevented him from breaking his own record as the longest reigning welterweight champion, but did not stop his ambitions to continue making history.

Although Barrios said he was open to a rematch, Pacquiao sees no point in repeating the fight and is already thinking about his next target, which would be none other than Gervonta “Tank” Davis, one of the most explosive fighters today.

The challenge to Gervonta Davis comes with a weight condition

Although Gervonta Davis has been surrounded by retirement rumors, his team denied such claims and, according to recent reports, Pacquiao is ready to face him in December, as long as one clear condition is met: the fight must be at a weight between 145 and 147 pounds.

This is what Pacquiao said in an interview prior to his fight with Barrios: “If he wants, then let him go up to 147 and we can fight… 145 maybe.”

And he confidently added: “That’s not a problem for me, because I’m an experienced fighter.”

This condition is no small one, as Gervonta Davis has never fought in that weight class. He is known for his devastating skills in lower divisions, so moving up to welterweight would represent a significant physical challenge for the American.

Plan B for Manny Pacquiao

If Gervonta Davis does not agree to move up in weight, Manny Pacquiao has another option on the table: Rolly Romero, the current WBA welterweight champion. Romero has shown interest in facing the Filipino, and his aggressive style could generate an attractive fight for fans. However, Pacquiao’s experience could be key to neutralizing the American’s youth.

Despite not having won since 2019, Pacquiao was recently ranked as the number one welterweight contender by the WBC, a decision that has generated debate. His draw against Barrios was enough to position him at the top of the rankings, which further fuels expectations about his next fight.

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Rick Ross Has A Strong Message For Laila Ali After Claressa Shields’ $15 Million

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Claressa Shields and Laila Ali

Rick Ross Has A Strong Message For Laila Ali After Claressa Shields’ $15 Million Boxing Challenge

Laila Ali hasn’t confirmed if she will return to the ring just yet, but if she does, Rick Ross and Claressa Shields will be right there.

Rick Ross recently walked Claressa Shields out last month for her Lani Daniels fight, and he will seemingly continue to support Shields no matter what her next bout is. What’s more is that, following her challenge to Laila Ali to come back and meet her in the boxing ring for $15 million, Rozay is leading the public campaign to make it happen.

As caught by AllHipHop, he took to his Instagram Story on Wednesday (August 13) to repost coverage of Ali speaking on the possibility of boxing the Flint native. “@claressashields @papoose Let’s make it happen,” the Maybach Music Group mogul expressed on social media. “@thereallailaali is scared Boss!!!” Shields responded in an IG Story of her own.

Amid Claressa Shields’ other conflicts and confrontations, this one seems to be a little bit more amicable at the moment. After all, Laila Ali still needs to decide whether or not she will actually make her comeback in the ring. Everyone continues to field offers and possible avenues, so we’ll see if – or when – this locks in. For now, we just have to wait.

Claressa Shields Laila Ali Fight

Laila Ali, no stranger to controversy herself, did not elaborate much on Claressa Shields’ challenge during a recent appearance on Good Day DC. “She inserted herself into the conversation,” she said concerning Shields, claiming she didn’t start this fire. Elsewhere, Muhammad Ali’s daughter said it would take between $15 million to $20 million to get her back and said that Shields is “not [her] focus right now.”

Instead, Laila Ali is considering “multiple offers” in her desired payout range and still hasn’t decided on facing Papoose’s boo. “I’m thinking about it,” she reportedly remarked. “Very soon, the world will know my answer to that in detail. […] I call the shots. I do what I want to do, how I want to do it.”

Meanwhile, Rick Ross’ drama has more to do with romantic gossip than specific conflict. At least, that’s what his headlines reflect these days, but that could change quick. We’ll see if Ross’ efforts successfully place Claressa Shields and Laila Ali in a ring for $15 million or more.

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Claressa Shields Tells Rick Ross That Laila Ali Is “Scared” To Fight Her

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Claressa Shields

Claressa Shields is continuing to egg on Laila Ali until she finally picks a date and time to square up. Rick Ross is even ready to see these ladies in the ring, as he reposted an article about Ali updating fans on the proposition and asked Shields to “make it happen.”

The 30-year-old fired back, “[She’s] scared, Boss!!!”

Meanwhile, this fight is the furthest thing from Ali’s mind. During a recent interview with Good Day D.C., the retired fighter clarified her comments about wanting to fight Shields.

“I was asked an impromptu question by one of the boxing blogs like ‘Would you come back?’ And I said for $15-20 million, I’d have to think about it. Not that I want to. I’m not over here thinking about it. You see I’m hosting shows. I got my Laila Ali lifestyle brand, my spice blends. You know, my family. All these things going on and all of a sudden, I start getting all these offers,” she explained.

Ali is admittedly “flattered” by the interest and confirmed that she’s gotten “multiple” $15 million offers. However, it’s something she’s still “thinking about.”

She continued, “My main purpose right now is to promote [‘Chef Grudge Match’]. That’s my main focus and very soon, the world will know my answer to that in detail because I haven’t answered the question. There’ve been some lies that I responded and I actually haven’t responded purposely […] I call the shots. I do what I wanna do how I wanna do it, but I understand the excitement.”

Ali trolled fans on Instagram earlier this month when she “addressed” Shields’ request to fight. “Nobody calls shots on me. I do things when, and how, and where I like to do them!,” she teased.

When Ali named her price to potentially come out of retirement, Shields came forth with the demanded amount.

“That’s what I’m talking about. That’s what I like. Laila, I’m here with my team. I got some great news for you. We got the $15 million!,” Shields declared. “Let’s make a fight between me and you. The best versus the best. The greats versus the greats. The GWOAT versus Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali. Let’s make it happen […] We got the venue, and we got the dates. Now all we need is Laila Ali. Is you gonna make the fight happen or what? You asked for $15 million and we delivered.”

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