Chris Eubank Jr wore a rainbow armband as he weighed in for Saturday's fight with Liam Smith, following his rival's use of homophobic taunts during a press conference.

With Eubank Jr and Smith set to meet in a middleweight contest in Manchester, both fighters launched personal attacks at a contentious media gathering on Thursday, with Smith repeatedly questioning his opponent's sexuality.

In return, Eubank Jr taunted Smith about his social class.

Smith admitted he had "crossed the line" after being heavily criticised for asking Eubank: "Nobody in this room has ever seen you with a woman. Do you have something you want to tell us?"

Having responded by wearing a rainbow armband throughout Friday's weigh-in, Eubank Jr posted an image of his face-off with Smith on Twitter, alongside the caption: "We don’t discriminate…

"We don't alienate. We want boxing, and sport as a whole, to be all inclusive."

Eubank Jr, who has recorded 32 wins and two defeats in his professional career, had earlier said the duo's exchange made him more motivated to win the bout by knockout.

"Everybody reacts in different ways to getting ready to fight another man," Eubank Jr said. 

"He's so hell-bent on trying to prove he's not rattled that he just went off the rails and I had to put him in line.

"We both went there, it got personal, that's okay. Boxing is personal, fighting another man is one of the most personal things you can do. So, I get it.

"But I've always wanted to win this fight by knockout. The fact that Liam is being a child up here, it gives me a bit of extra incentive to embarrass him."

Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean claimed he could "retire" Anthony Joshua after confirming talks with the "biggest name in boxing".

Joshua has not triumphed in the ring since June 2020 when he defeated Kubrat Pulev, having since lost back-to-back world title fights with Oleksandr Usyk.

Tyson Fury looked set to be the opponent for Joshua before negotiations broke down, with the WBC champion turning his attention to a potential 2023 bout with Usyk.

Southpaw McKean has 14 knockouts on his unblemished 22-0 record and he fancies his chances against Brit Joshua, who is aiming to bounce back from the Usyk setbacks.

"We are one of the frontrunners for a possible opponent for Anthony Joshua," 32-year-old McKean told Sky Sports.

"I could be the man to retire Joshua and I am very confident I can do that. But don't get me wrong, there are still more fights for AJ. If he loses to me, a top-10 heavyweight as well, that shouldn't be the end.

"People probably don't give him the credit he deserves, what he has done for the heavyweight game. He has brought a lot of eyes and money into the heavyweight division.

"He is probably the biggest name in boxing, everyone is after him, including me. It is the name to have on your resume.

"There are still fights to be made and people are still going to pay to watch those fights. But three losses in a row, does he need to keep doing this, he is well set up now?

"He probably still has his doubts, he still doubts himself a lot, I know that. But who wouldn't when they are at the top, in the limelight and cop a lot of criticism.

"There are a lot of factors but I have the skills to do that [retire him] for sure."

McKean and Joshua are no strangers after the pair sparred in the build-up to the latter's first bout with Usyk, which saw him lose his WBA, IBF and WBO belts.

Queenslander McKean delivered a brutal third-round knockout of Patrick Korte in his last outing on October 15 and thinks he deserves a shot at a big-name fighter.

"I feel confident if that fight goes through," he said. "The only doubt I have is that he doesn't want to fight a southpaw.

"It would be a shame. I have been on the brink of some very big fights myself. I have come close to fighting Dillian Whyte as well. I think it is sad that some of the elite boxers in the world pick and choose who they fight. We would not have had this back in the old days.

"The world has gone mad, and all these so-called champion boxers don't want to fight a southpaw. Let's hope he [Joshua mans up] and fights this time.

"I have been sparing with him for years, I have been in his camp twice. He knows it is going to be a hard fight, by the rounds I give these guys.

"He is a smooth operator, there aren't too many who move like him. His size is an advantage and disadvantage for him."

Eddie Hearn expects to see a "reinvigorated" Anthony Joshua this year after taking on a new trainer.

The former heavyweight champion has not fought since suffering defeat in a rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in August, which left the 2012 Olympic gold medallist with three defeats in his past five bouts.

With a clash against Tyson Fury not materialising, Joshua is on the hunt for an opponent for a targeted date of April 1 and will partner with a new trainer for the next stage in his career.

The 33-year-old parted ways with long-term trainer Rob McCracken following the first defeat to Usyk, taking on Robert Garcia for the rematch, and will now undergo a training camp in the United States ahead of his return to the ring.

Though still yet to be announced, Derrick James is reported to be the man Joshua has taken on as trainer, and Hearn believes a change from his usual surroundings in England is the right move.

"April 1 is our targeted date in London. I'll go through the final list of opponents. We're almost ready. He's excited," Hearn told DAZN.

"I'm happy with the trainer. I'm happy with anyone who makes AJ feel comfortable, motivated, and excited. I think this is going to be a nice break.

"The problem is being in the UK, he can't breathe. When he goes to America, people know who he is, but it's like a different world.

"I think it's going to be really good for him. I think you're going to see a reinvigorated Anthony Joshua."

Tyson Fury's camp have sent a draft contract to Oleksandr Usyk and his team to sign, with co-promoter Frank Warren reaffirming plans for a March bout.

The Briton and the Ukrainian look set to hold an undisputed world heavyweight title fight in two months, with apparent progress between both parties on an agreement.

Usyk defended his WBA-Super heavyweight, IBF, and WBO belts against Anthony Joshua in August last year, while Fury completed a trilogy bout with Derek Chisora in December.

Now, Warren reveals the papers are in the hands of Usyk and his entourage, with the promoter hopeful a deal can be struck soon.

"We've sent them a draft contract, that's where we're at," he told talkSPORT Fight Night. "It's got to be sorted out very quickly because time is against us."

No location has been agreed on yet for any fight, with Fury able to command huge audiences in his native United Kingdom and Usyk having enjoyed a major Saudi Arabia payday.

Warren stressed no call had been made, simply adding: "[It will be] wherever the most money comes from.

"Nothing is in place from anywhere outside the UK. We know what it can generate in the UK, but if it goes elsewhere, then that depends on what the numbers are.

"I know a lot of people complain about it, and I agree it should be at Wembley. I'd love to see it there.

"But Muhammad Ali and George Foreman went and fought in Zaire, then you had the Thrilla in Manila, you had the big fights in Jamaica.

"They went where the money was, and these guys will do the same thing."

Jake Paul is making a move to mixed martial arts after signing a potentially highly lucrative deal with the Professional Fighters League.

Social media influencer Paul is 6-0, with four knockouts, in his professional boxing career, having beaten former UFC champions such as Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.

However, he is making a switch to mixed martial arts with the PFL, which describes itself as a 'fighters-first' organisation.

Paul has been an outspoken critic of the UFC and its president Dana White over fighters' pay, and the PFL's new 'Super Fight' division will allow fighters to take 50 per cent of the pay-per-view revenue.

The American has also been given a role with the company as head of fighter advocacy, promoting the league and attracting new talent.

In a statement, Paul said: "I've proven myself in and out of the boxing ring and now I am going to do the same in MMA, and there is no limit to the positive impact I can make on the sport.

"I plan to enter the PFL SmartCage and once again show the world that anything is possible with hard work and dedication."

It is unclear when Paul's first PFL fight will be, but one possible opponent is Nate Diaz, with the UFC great a free agent after his contract with White's company expired.

Paul hopes to face Diaz twice, first in a boxing match and then in a mixed martial arts bout.

"I've already disrupted boxing, and now it's time to disrupt MMA," Paul said.

"I'm so dedicated to this that I offered Nate Diaz a two-fight deal: first, we box, then six months later we fight MMA in the PFL SmartCage and lay it all on the line. Let's make it happen."

It is common knowledge that the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) is fulfilling one its primary mandates of expanding and deepening Jamaica’s vault in competitive sport while enriching what some describe as “smaller sports” a term which does not exist in the developmental  vocabulary of Jamaica’s  apex body in sport. 

Jerone Ennis, the 2022 American Light Heavyweight Boxing Confederation/Caribbean gold medalist and Commonwealth Youth Welterweight Bronze medalist is on board: “I am a proud representative of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control and my goal is to represent Jamaica at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and thanks to the JOA which made it possible for me to represent Jamaica at the international level and for developing the ‘smaller’ sporting syndicates.”

Olympian Ricardo Brown, the 2019 Pan American bronze medalist in the men’s super heavyweight (91+kg) class who in 2021 turned professional, puts it in the context of transitioning to the big stage which all athletes envision. “Attending the Tokyo Olympic Games is a memory and an experience  for a lifetime and the JOA was supportive in starting me in the right direction which has expanded more opportunities  for me in my professional career.”

While Brown articulates the dream of athletes,  JOA Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Foster, gives the perspective of his colleague Directors. “For the JOA family two is not better than too many; and while success in sport development is understandably  qualitative, there is a numerical component that materially defines progress and validates the principle “sport for all, all for sport” which is our theme for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.” 

Foster’s comment strikes a chord with Weightlifting Federation President,  Dr. Mark Broomfield whose sport has been creating history. “There is a parallel between educational professions and sporting disciplines. For years many thought that to have a meaningful career one had to be either a Lawyer or a Doctor, no other profession was respected or encouraged until reality proved otherwise. The same is true for sport in the Jamaican landscape. Many only saw football, cricket,  track and field and netball, the female sport, as the only sport worth developing and promoting but “out of many one people” is a platform that promotes diversity and the belief that Jamaicans can represent their country in other sporting disciplines outside of the chosen three or four. Pioneers are known for their ability to pave new path ways and it’s time for new pioneers in sports.” 

Fencing Federation President, James McBean, is also on the same page regarding the JOA’s “no sport being left behind” policy as he says “this really speaks to the effort that the JOA is making in terms of encouraging, honing and in many ways revolutionizing the sporting landscape of Jamaica and what’s also quite poignant is the way in which JOA seems to be going about this is very much in line with the spirit of the IOC in that all these new so called ‘smaller sports’ or new ‘family members’ to the sporting family are treated equally, given a voice, and being encouraged. Nurturing the so-called ‘smaller sports’ is so important because this is a wise investment in Jamaica’s sport and a brilliant use of resources and time.” 

Many Olympic sports are now coming into their own and international  representation across the board continues to be a driving force of the JOA. “Any governing body in sport or otherwise knows that the playing field must be level at all times for governance of members’ aspirations cannot be for some  a valley and others a mountain-top experience. Enshrined in the Olympic Charter is the equal right of all to self-actualisation and to transition to the Olympic stage”  JOA President, Christopher Samuda,  said. 

Olympian and the 2022 Commonwealth Games sliver medalist in the Women 70kg weight category, Ebony  knows the immense potential of her sport. "I want to get to another Olympics and, with that, help Jamaica to improve the awareness of judo as a sport and get more persons to participate. Judo has given so much to my life and I want other people to experience the same - especially the youth. Ultimately, the Jamaica Judo Association is really helping to build the interest in the country as we have a great potential for international success at every age group." 

2023 will witness two major games – the El Salvador Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and the Santiago Pan American Games -  the predecessors of which in 2019 were historic for the JOA in terms of the most sports represented, the most medal haul and the largest contingent. “Our goal is clearly to surpass those milestones and our commitment to those sports who they call minor, is not only major but is mature” Samuda emphasised. 

At the heart of sport  development and success in sport and central to KPIs of any growth strategy is an understanding that is akin to the thought process that goes into any viable investment and revenue strategy: “Diversify, pluralise, economise and then  monetise and don’t allow your eggs to be placed in one basket. The same applies to sport” Foster said. 

In the last decade there has been, noticeably, an emergence of new Olympic sports with well-defined technical cohorts, fan bases and financial backers who are taking some icing and slices from the sporting cake which must necessarily and creatively  be enlarged and enriched to accommodate new tastes and a widening diet of diverse ambitions.

Floyd Mayweather has revealed plans for an exhibition bout in the United Kingdom in February.

Mayweather retired from professional boxing in 2017, but has since taken part in exhibition fights in places such as Japan, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The 45-year-old has never fought in the UK, but that should change within the coming weeks.

"A bout is planned in the UK for 2023," Mayweather told the Sunday Telegraph. 

"In February we're looking forward to coming here and putting on an exhibition for the fans in the UK, because I've never had a chance to come over here and fight when I was actively boxing as a professional.

"So hopefully in February I'll come over and do an exhibition if it's possible."

Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather's long-time rival, also announced on Saturday he will be taking part in exhibitions in Japan in 2023.

"I have agreed with Rizin [promotional company] to fight next year," Pacquiao said during an in-ring presentation. 

"The date will soon be announced and also my opponent that Rizin will choose. I'm open to and excited to fight a Japanese fighter."

Oleksandr Usyk's promoter has revealed the Ukrainian's team are "on our way" to finalising a deal for a blockbuster heavyweight unification fight with Tyson Fury.

WBA-Super, IBF, WBO and IBO champion Usyk and Fury are expected to do battle early in 2023.

Bob Arum, who promotes WBC champion Fury, recently stated an agreement has been reached for the Brit to step into the ring with Usyk next year, with a date and a venue to be settled upon.

Usyk's promoter Alex Krassyuk does not envisage any stumbling blocks.

He told Sky Sports: "Probably yes [the contracts have been issued], but we have not received them yet,"

Krassyuk added: "Yes, we are on our way."

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman is relishing the prospect of seeing Fury and Usyk going toe-to-toe.

He told Sky Sports: "That's a fight that the WBC has promoted and has fought for since several years when [Deontay] Wilder was champion and [Anthony] Joshua was a champion.

"We put all the flexibility and possibility of the WBC to participate in doing so. Now if Usyk comes into place and Fury fights him that would be a tremendous happening for the world."

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have agreed to fight each other in early 2023 without either man taking any bouts in the interim, according to promoter Bob Arum.

There has been plenty of talk of a unification battle between WBC heavyweight champion Fury and Usyk – holder of the WBA-Super, IBF, WBO and IBO belts – since the latter beat Anthony Joshua for a second time in August.

Having made a U-turn on his decision to retire earlier this year, Fury beat Derek Chisora in a trilogy fight this month.

Plans for the 'Gypsy King' to meet Usyk next appeared to have been jeopardised when the Ukrainian was ordered to defend his WBA belt against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.

Frank Warren – who represents both Fury and Dubois – has insisted the huge unification bout will take place first and Arum claims there should not be long to wait for that fight.

"The two fighters have agreed to fight each other next," Arum told Sky Sports.

"With Fury and Usyk we're dealing with two adults, not a lot of back and forth. Usyk is a good friend of mine, he's very intelligent and Tyson is Superman, both as an athlete and as an intellect.

"So they want the fight. Both of them want the fight and so there'll be very little, if any, messing around. We'll be able to make that happen. I'm very, very confident. 

"As I said, the fighters have both agreed to fight each other next without any interim fights. We'll have it all sorted out, I hope maybe by the end of the year."

Arum remains uncertain over the likely venue for the fight, though he described the prospect of being held at Wembley as "wonderful".

"Now the question is what's the date, and what's the site?" Arum said. "But that fight is definitely going to happen and it will happen in the first four months of next year.

"We are balancing a couple of significant offers from the Middle East, and also there's the possibility of doing the fight in the UK at Wembley with a massive 95,000 crowd in attendance.

"Fighters have a relatively short life and money is important, so if the money which has been proposed to us is real, that has to be taken into consideration.

"To go back to Wembley and do a fight before 95,000 people for me really stirs up the blood. It would be crazy. It would just be wonderful."

The winner of a unification bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will face off against Daniel Dubois, promoter Frank Warren has said.

A long-awaited clash between the two men who hold the four divisional heavyweight belts is expected to take place in 2023, despite Usyk being ordered to take mandatory defences.

The WBA has ordered Usyk, its 'super' champion, to defend his belt against Dubois, the 'regular' champion, while the IBF has ordered the Ukrainian to face off against Filip Hrgovic.

Neither would stand in the way of a unification bout, Warren says, with the winner of that clash going on to face Dubois, as the WBA has priority over the IBF in the rotation system.

"They've ordered it, but a unification will come first. And that's what we're working on, which is obviously the fight with Tyson and Usyk," he told talkSPORT.

"So, the winner of that will have to fight our man Daniel. Tyson is our man as well, and he'd have to fight Daniel.

"All the governing bodies will basically go for a unification fight, it's the first time in 25 years we would have had a unification of all the belts in the heavyweight division. That will take priority.

"But what they are saying afterwards, all the fighters, including Joe Joyce, who are number one or interim champions or in Daniel's case heavyweight champions, they will have to make their mandatory defences.

"They've been sitting around for ages for these fights and they [the governing bodies] will order them.

"Once the unification fight has happened then the winner has to start taking care of the mandatories or vacating a particular title, which would be their choice.

"If we can't get the Usyk fight on, which I doubt very much because I think we will get it on, then Usyk will have to defend his title against Daniel. But I don't think that will be a problem with Tyson."

Oleksandr Usyk goaded Tyson Fury by calling him "Luke" and said their face-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was pre-planned.

The two heavyweights are expected to do battle at some point in 2023 in a huge unification bout and came face to face after Fury defeated Derek Chisora earlier this month.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Usyk called Fury by his middle name – a reference to a 2020 claim by Dillian Whyte, who said Fury had switched his first and middle names.

"When [the] cameras are off he's a different person," Usyk said.

"When cameras are on he's Tyson Fury, when they're off he's Luke Fury.

"Luke, I'm coming for you. I've been coming for him for a long time. I wish him a lot of health, happiness, love, patience and warm wind."

The unification bout is still fraught with complications, with the WBA ordering Usyk to defend his WBA Super belt against its regular champion Daniel Dubois.

But with Dubois and Fury both represented by Frank Warren that issue could still be resolved.

The anticipation of Fury-Usyk built after the former's win over Chisora when the latter came to the ring apron to get in his opponent's face.

"We negotiated it. If he agreed to fight, I would step onto the ring," Usyk said of the showdown.

"A lot of things were said since then, like he would slap me in my face. But apparently he changed his mind after having his buttocks burned."

Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to defend his WBA title against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, complicating a potential unification bout with Tyson Fury.

The Ukrainian, who currently holds the boxing association's 'super' belt, alongside the WBO and IBF titles, had been tipped for a clash with Fury, who holds the WBC crown.

But Dubois, who retained his WBA 'regular' belt this month against Kevin Lerena, has now been ordered to face Usyk next for his crown, in a move that would unify both of the federation's titles.

If there is a saving grace for an Usyk-Fury bout, it is that the latter is represented by Frank Warren, who also handles Dubois through Queensberry Promotions.

That could mean Dubois would wait for the winner of a potential unification showdown, and subsequently face them for a shot at all world titles.

Usyk was also ordered by the IBF last month to hold a mandatory defence against Croatia's Filip Hrgovic, who could be another potential opponent if the Fury bout does not come next.

After defeating Derek Chisora in London earlier this month, Fury talked up Usyk and fellow Briton Joe Joyce as his likely next opponents.

Joyce is currently the WBO's interim champion, and has professed his interest in a clash with his countryman in recent weeks.

Dubois has a 19-1 career record, with his only loss coming at the hands of Joyce.

Conor Benn believes his innocence is soon to be proven after losing his British Board of Control (BBBofC) boxing licence earlier this year because of failed drugs tests.

Benn, the son of former WBO middleweight and WBC super-middleweight champion Nigel Benn, was due to fight Chris Eubank Jr in October.

But just days before the fight, it emerged Benn had tested positive for banned substance clomifene, and the BBBofC subsequently prohibited the fight from taking place despite promoters from both sides attempting to force a U-turn.

Benn admitted afterwards that he had failed tests and relinquished his BBBofC licence, though the 26-year-old has always maintained his innocence.

In a social media post on Monday, Benn once again reiterated he is a clean boxer and believes his team have now finally proven that fact.

"My team and I have worked extremely hard over the past seven years to make me the fighter I am today," Benn said on Instagram. "We have never cut corners or cheated the grind in any way.

"It's been really hard for me to accept that people think that I would do what I was accused of but what I've come to realise is people rush to judgement, without knowing the facts.

"Tony Sims [Benn's trainer] has had a clean gym for 26 years, I respect the gym. No one is bigger than the gym! Hard work and dedication is what we stand for. We don't condone cheating or cutting corners.

"I've stayed in the gym and continued to work extremely hard, staying positive that my innocence will be proven and the truth will come out.

"My team has proven my innocence and the truth will soon come out.

"Until then, I won't be commenting further due to confidentiality.

"There were times I feared it never would but we all had faith. I'm thankful to everyone who has supported me through this tough time... tough times don't last, tough people do.

"See you all in 2023, the year I become world champion!"

Former England international Wayne Rooney will join Tyson Fury's camp for a month ahead of a possible bout with Oleksandr Usyk, the boxer has claimed.

The WBC champion saw off old rival Derek Chisora once again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this month, to set up a potential unification bout with the Ukrainian.

Following his win, ex-Manchester United forward Rooney professed his admiration for Fury, with the latter suggesting he should spar with the D.C. United boss.

Though those comments appeared to be in jest, Fury claimed on Monday his offer was serious, with Rooney set to link up with him in training.

"I spoke to Wayne last night and he’s well up for it," he told ITV. "He's a right-handed person, so he has to switch up to be a southpaw, left-handed. We're going to bring Wayne in for preparation for Usyk.

"[I’m being] very, very serious. He's agreed, so he's going to come into camp for about four weeks and help me. I'm a big fan of his as well."

Across a highly successful club career, Rooney enjoyed domestic and international success with United, before transitioning into management with Derby County.

He was previously the outright record goalscorer for England, until current Three Lions captain Harry Kane matched his haul during the nation's 2-1 defeat to France in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Fury is angling for a bout with Usyk, who defeated Anthony Joshua to take the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles before defending them against the Briton once again earlier this year.

Terence Crawford declined to commit to fighting Errol Spence Jr but is open to it after beating David Avanesyan with a sixth-round knockout shot to defend his WBO welterweight world title on Saturday.

Crawford was far too good for Avanesyan in Omaha, further enhancing the appetite for a unification showdown with IBF, WBA and WBC claimant Spence.

The 35-year-old southpaw reportedly agreed terms with Spence in September for a November fight which never materialised, while many expected Saturday's bout with WBO number six contender Avanesyan to be lopsided.

"Listen, I'm a free agent, this was a one-fight deal," Crawford said after Saturday's win when asked about the prospect of fighting Spence.

"Hopefully we can go [back] to the drawing board and these big fights come about in the near future."

Spence was involved in a two-vehicle accident on Saturday where he was not at fault but thankfully escaped relatively unscathed.

Crawford added about his rival: "I wish him well. I hope he’s alright - mentally, physically and emotionally. This is just a sport. We're all fighting for that number one spot, so it ain’t personal."

The American knocked Avanesyan out after a strong burst in the sixth round, landing a left-handed uppercut followed by a short left uppercut-right hook combination to seal victory.

The win meant the WBO world welterweight champion made his sixth straight defence and recorded his 10th straight knockout. It also improved his overall record to 39-0.