Boxing

Wilder and Joshua were unable to agree terms for an undisputed showdown when they held all four major world heavyweight titles between them, but speculation has been building recently that the two former champions could finally square-off in 2024.

Joshua intimated last weekend the highly-anticipated bout could be part of a blockbuster card topped by Tyson Fury taking on Oleksandr Usyk next spring.

Even though he has not competed since knocking out Robert Helenius inside one round 12 months ago – his first fight since losing a trilogy bout against Fury in October 2021 – Wilder is primed to face Joshua.

 “(It is) a fight everyone is looking forward to and hopefully it happens and I’m doing everything in my power to make it happen, and I’m referring to the Anthony Joshua fight,” Wilder said on Instagram.

“Anthony, you’re getting it from the horse’s mouth himself: I’m here, I’m ready to go.

“I heard some things your promoter (Eddie Hearn) said that my last fight only lasted a short period of time and I haven’t fought in a year and he doesn’t know if I want to fight or not.

“But I’m letting you know I’m ready to fight – let’s make this the best time of our lives. This would be a major disaster if we were never able to get in the ring and put our stamp down in history.”

Despite his recent inactivity, Wilder, who turned 38 on Sunday, is renowned for his ferocious punch power, with 42 of his 43 victories in 46 professional contests have been inside the distance.

Joshua has rebounded from a pair of losses to Usyk, who snatched the Briton’s WBA, IBF and WBO titles, with underwhelming performances in wins over Jermaine Franklin and Helenius this year.

Joshua (26-3, 23KOs) is planning another tune-up in December before taking on former WBC champion Wilder, who rubbished suggestions his British rival might be biting off more than he can chew.

“When people think about classics and great fights, I want them to think about us as well,” the American added. “Being able to do that, we’ve got to get in the ring.

“The silliest thing I’ve heard is people saying you’re not ready and that’s the silliest thing because I don’t believe that – I hope you’re ready, I think you’re ready. Let’s make this happen.”

Joshua and Helenius took part in an intense staredown at Westfields in Shepherds Bush after they both tipped the scales just shy of 18 stone ahead of Saturday’s fight at the O2 Arena in London.

Helenius was only drafted in at the 11th hour when original opponent Dillian Whyte failed a drugs test with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Assocation (VADA) and while the Finnish boxer ensured the show would still go on, his aim now is to throw a spanner in the works for the home favourite.

The talk surrounding Joshua, like for many of his recent fights, is about what next and talks between his camp and Wilder’s team continue over a proposed clash at the end of this year or at the start of 2024.

An eagerly-anticipated future bout between two former world heavyweight champions will only happen if Joshua shuts out comparisons with Wilder to do the business against Helenius, who suffered a first-round knock-out to the American in October.

“I have to ignore it. It is one step at a time,” Joshua insisted when asked about ex-WBC belt holder Wilder.

“When I fought Jason Gavern, I knocked him out, Wilder took longer. When I fought Eric Molina, I knocked him out in three and Wilder took nine rounds.

“There will always be comparisons. This is my own fight with Helenius, no-one else’s. I can’t fail.”

Joshua has carried that win-at-all-costs mentality for a number of years, but it failed to prevent a shock loss in 2019 to Andy Ruiz Jr – who was also a late replacement for Jarrell Miller following a failed drugs test – and consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

A laboured display on his way to a unanimous points victory against Jermaine Franklin in April got the Finchley boxer back on the comeback trail, but his preparation for this 29th contest of his career has been far from ideal.

Last weekend, Joshua trained knowing it could all be for nothing after he discovered on Saturday morning that Whyte had been pulled from the show but Friday’s fiery exchange with Helenius showed he is locked in.

Joshua tipped the scales at 17st and 12lbs, while Helenius was a pound lighter, before the duo exchanged words – with the British heavyweight inviting his veteran opponent to fight there and then instead of 24 hours later if he wished.

Even though Joshua will no longer being going head-to-head with old rival Whyte, he is adamant no stone has been left unturned during this second camp with trainer Derrick James.

He admitted: “There was one session where I was like, ‘what are we training for?’ We trained on Saturday and maybe then I felt what am I training for, but we just had to flip the coin.

“I could spend more time complaining about it, due to this late replacement whoever it might be, but I couldn’t put my energy into complaining. I had to change the script, change the screensaver on my phone.

“It’s me and (Wladimir) Klitschko now. Before it was me and Dillian at the weigh-in. I just wanted to visualise what my life’s focused on at the minute.”

Victory over Klitschko at a sold-out Wembley in 2017 helped Joshua reach the pinnacle of the sport and despite recent setbacks against Usyk, he is confident another shot at a world title will present itself.

Given Joshua turns 34 in October, it needs to be sooner rather than later, but he remains comfortable in his own skin after becoming only the ninth British heavyweight to become world champion – via a short spell in prison after a teenage life embroiled in drugs and crime in England’s capital.

“Can I be champion again? Yeah. Definitely. I don’t think it’s that hard to fight for one belt, but it’s challenging to unify that’s hard. The accumulation of belts takes years,” Joshua reflected.

“I was the champion. When you’re a champion, it’s deserved and I’m not the champion any more. It’s natural.

“It’s a building process. So, it’s back to the O2 and travelling around, hopefully fighting in different arenas, maybe Manchester (Arena) next.

“Once I fight the right people we could easily go back to a stadium. You know who these names are.

“Everyone loves a winner. Losers, especially in boxing, get no credibility. I never looked at it being about me. ‘Oh they love me’. No, they just loved the belt.

“I worked hard outside boxing to build my brand. I always believed it’s never just about boxing. You can’t let boxing define you. There has to be more to you.

“I thought I will always have my own identity as a person before I am identified as a champion.”

Joshua knocked the former UFC champion out in the second round leaving him requiring oxygen in the ring.

Ngannou, who performed well in losing narrowly on points to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in what had been his only previous fight, started brightly again in Riyadh, holding his own well for much of the first round.

He was put on the canvas by Joshua with about a minute to go in the round, and when he went down again in the second there appeared to be little chance of Ngannou continuing.

“On the road to the championship, you should always stay focused,” Joshua told broadcaster DAZN. “I thought this was something for the broadcasters to get behind.

“When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury, I thought I want some of that. (Ngannou) is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities. I told him not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he fought the best.”

For Joshua it is now four wins in a row as he put himself in prime position to meet the winner of the May 18 fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

“The Ben Davison performance centre, I appreciate them highly,” he said. “All of these guys that I worked with until this day. I’m just hungry. Stay hungry and all that good stuff.

“It only takes one shot in the heavyweight division. Joseph Parker is one of my favourite fighters, he had it tough and look at him now. I’m just doing it while I’m here and making the most of it. In five years I won’t be fighting.

“Eddie Hearn and my team will shape my future. I’m going back to my cage and when they let me out, I’ll fight again.

“The people of Cameroon, I appreciate you. Africa united, respect. Everyone here tonight, I appreciate you. Thank you to Francis Ngannou.”

Taylor suffered the first defeat of her professional career in her Irish homecoming at the 3Arena in May but gets another shot at the unbeaten English boxer this weekend at the same venue.

While Cameron scored an against-all-odds majority decision victory to retain her WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO light-welterweight belts six months ago, this time around the Northampton fighter has been installed as the favourite.

But Taylor told a press conference on Thursday: “I am very, very grateful for this opportunity again. I have a second chance here and I just can’t wait to fight.

“Whether I am seen as the underdog or favourite, whether I walk to the ring first or second, all that stuff is irrelevant. I am just excited and hungry for the rematch.

“I don’t really take too much notice of what people are saying to be honest. I am very much single-minded and the only people I really listen to are my team, my family and the people that I trust.

“I understand this is a huge fight, I understand this is a must-win fight for me and I can’t wait to step in there now at this stage.

“I know I will perform to the best of my ability on Saturday and it will be a completely different fight to last time. I am just excited to showcase that.”

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Taylor was pulled in every direction during the build-up to the May 20 bout, which marked a historic return to Ireland for the 2012 Olympic champion.

The Bray-born boxer has tried to keep her profile more low-key on this occasion and maintained a steely focus when sitting alongside her rival.

“There is nothing else to say really. I am just ready to fight,” Taylor insisted.

“I hate all the talk, I hate all these press conferences. There is nothing to say. I am just ready to fight at this stage. I am excited and very grateful to have this opportunity.

“I am ready for whatever comes my way. I am ready to dig deep when I have to. That is why I put my body through the trenches week in, week out throughout training camps to be ready for these situations.”

Cameron, sporting gold earrings, also remained respectful behind enemy lines, but warned Taylor would face an even better version of herself this weekend.

She added: “I am not complacent whatsoever. That is why I have put the work in, trained harder than ever and it is the best camp I’ve had because I knew I would be up against a Katie seeking revenge.

“I couldn’t take anything into my stride and think it would be a walk in the park, so I am the fittest I have ever been.”

The 32-year-old, who lost to her Irish foe in the amateur ranks, had originally wanted this rematch to be at 135lbs to enable her the chance to take Taylor’s lightweight titles but was happy to go again at 140lbs and has enjoyed the scrutiny this time.

“I do feel really comfortable,” she admitted. “I am just embracing the week, enjoying it for once. Usually I hate all this, but I am taking it all in my stride.”

The unbeaten 9-0-0 Azim looks to claim European gold when he faces off with the French Petitjean on Saturday after an impressive points victory over tough Ukrainian Aram Fanyan in September.

And the 21-year-old believes his powerful shot selection will be a nightmare for his opponent who “is in for a shock” when the pair meet in Wolverhampton.

“He’s in massive trouble, he’s either getting outscored or he’s going to sleep,” Azim told the PA News agency.

“In some of his interviews he said he’ll be a nightmare for me. He isn’t going to be no nightmare because when he wakes up all the nightmares will be real when I’m the one coming at him.

“He’s in for a shock.

“I’m going to be patient with my shots but I’m looking for the knockout, that’s what I’m after. I’m going to box his head off and let him walk into my shots.

“He’ll see what I’m made of.

“He’ll try and fight me on the inside but I can also fight inside and that’s something he does not know and once he feels my power and speed in the early rounds he definitely won’t come forward after that.”

The 35-year-old Petitjean reclaimed his European super-lightweight belt with a majority decision win over Samuel Molina in June.

And Azim talked up the importance of the bout, saying it is a must win and that he is going to make a massive statement to the rest of the division.

He said: “He has won the European title but I’m going to take it off him. I’ve been after that European title for a very long time and this is my opportunity to take it with both hands.

“The European title is a massive thing for me. I want it really bad.

“It’s a must win. I’m putting everything into this fight and I want to make a massive statement in the last fight of the year.”

Azim highlighted how European champion status could springboard his reputation to a world class level but insisted he has to take care of Petitjean first.

He said: “People see me as a high class fighter and I will get there at one stage. Hopefully that European title will set me at a world class level. I’ve got a job to do first.

“I could say that I’m up there (with the division’s best) but I have got to win the European title first and then hopefully next year I’ll be there.”

Azim takes on Petitjean on November 18, live on Sky Sports.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Holder explained the rationale behind his decision: "By no means is this me turning my back on Test cricket. It's not curtains for me in Test cricket by any means. It's my first time going through something like this, and I felt that it was necessary to be as honest and as open with CWI as I possibly can. It was a very difficult decision: I just feel as though this is the right cricketing decision for me at this time."

The West Indies team, already grappling with the absence of Shai Hope, now faces the challenge of incorporating seven untested players into the 15-member squad set to confront one of the world's best Test teams in Australia.

Holder highlighted the opportunity presented by participating in the IPL T20 league in the UAE in January, emphasizing the need to give himself the best chance of playing in the T20 World Cup. "I will probably sleep a little bit better knowing that I've given myself the best opportunity to do that," Holder added.

The decision also comes as a consequence of Cricket West Indies' directive, requiring players to make themselves available for both the ongoing series against England and February's T20Is in Australia to be considered for World Cup selection. This compromised Holder's availability for the Big Bash League, and he will miss the end of the ILT20.

Expressing his desire to feature in the T20 World Cup, Holder said, "I've never played a World Cup at home: I really, really want to be a part of it because I love playing in front of the fans in the Caribbean."

As Holder navigates the evolving landscape of international cricket, he acknowledges the increasing prevalence of players prioritizing franchise cricket, stating, "It all depends on what a player wants in terms of his career. It's a profession, and there's a massive window in terms of franchise cricket early in the year."

 Holder's decision reflects a calculated move to align with the changing dynamics of the cricketing world, balancing professional considerations and personal aspirations as he sets his sights on the T20 World Cup and maximizes his earnings in the upcoming IPL T20 league.

SLBA President David “Shakes” Christopher said the new batch of equipment will enhance the SLBA’s boxing programmes as the association continues to build awareness and attract new boxers to the globally popular sport.

“It will also help us immensely as we continue to decentralize our progammes,” Christopher said. “Right now, we can focus on programmes for the Bordelais Correctional Facility (BCF), Boys Training Centre (BTC), our school programmes, and our chapters in Soufriere, Vieux Fort, Laborie, and Dennery.”

The equipment follows a commitment made by AIBA’s president, Umar Kremlev, a year ago to support the local boxing association by way of providing much-needed equipment. Christopher said this week’s receipt of the new equipment proves that building relationships among associations is essential.

“We’re very grateful to AIBA, especially president Umar Kremlev, for keeping to a promise he made last year in Panama,” said Christopher. “We intend to manage this equipment in the best way as we continue to create more champions and better citizens through boxing.”

Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the International Boxing Association, or AIBA (originally the Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur), is a sports organization that sanctions amateur (Olympic-style) boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships. 

Christopher said one of the major challenges the Association now faces relates to the heavy workload being carried by its National Head Coach, Conrad Fredericks. He noted that it’s a daunting task for Fredericks, who desperately needs extra hands to undertake the Association’s many programmes.

“We appeal to past boxers to give back to the programme. We’ve noticed that in other fields of sport, athletes would pay it forward by becoming coaches and administrative representatives. However, for boxing, that seems to be lacking,” the SLBA president explained.

Meanwhile, Coach Conrad Fredericks noted that the new batch of equipment came at the right time as the Association plans to open other boxing gyms across the island. He also added his voice to the president’s appeal for more coaches to come on board.

Since the pandemic began, the boxing gym at Vigie has had to be closed at various times as the COVID-19 protocols were adjusted. However, Coach Fredericks emphasized that during the periods the gym does open, the necessary safety precautions are enforced.

“We’re pleased to share that since the pandemic began, no case of COVID-19 has ever been recorded at the gym,” he said. “We try our utmost to follow all the relevant COVID-19 protocols. However, we find that as the number of cases increases nationally, many boxers are staying away from the gym. After all, boxing is a contact sport, so we do understand their concern.”

But a crushing fifth-round uppercut sent him on a diversion that few would have envisaged, packing his bags for a small British overseas territory and a rematch with huge ramifications for his career.

A win on Saturday would silence the doubters and put Whyte firmly back on track, but the fall that a repeat performance would bring is likely to be more precipitous than the drop from the famous Rock of Gibraltar, which stands proudly just a few short miles from where the fight will take place.

Whyte was left to nurse his wounds, both physical and emotional, after a second career loss when the first fight had seemed to be going his way.

Not once but twice he put Povetkin down in the fourth round, only for the Russian to climb to his feet and seal the deal in the next thanks to a colossal uppercut.

And now 'The Body Snatcher' knows he is laying it all on the line this weekend, describing a bout nominally for the WBC 'interim' title as "the most important fight of my career".

The unexpected location is the result of some creative thinking from promoter Eddie Hearn amid the coronavirus pandemic, with the Europa Point Sports Complex able to host 500 spectators for the 'Rumble on the Rock'.

Whyte is the bookmakers' firm favourite, as he was in the first meeting, but painting Povetkin as an underdog who produced a lucky shot would be a long way wide of the mark.

The experienced campaigner will expect to have to soak up some pressure and wait for his moment, but he showed in brutal fashion last time out that he is capable of doing just that.

RECENT HISTORY

It was a thrilling heavyweight clash between the pair in the Matchroom bubble seven months ago, when Anthony Joshua was watching on as a pundit.

Whyte had lost almost a stone and a half since his previous bout with Mariusz Wach, looking sharp in the early stages as he landed the jab frequently.

He refused to let up and had Povetkin downed with a brilliant punch early in round four, yet the veteran fighter was quickly back to his feet.

The assault continued and Povetkin was dropped again in the closing stages of the same round by a venomous left uppercut.

Yet, in a stunning turnaround, the fight was ended by one huge Povetkin blow moments into the fifth.

TALE OF THE TAPE 

DILLIAN WHYTE
Age: 32
Height: 6ft 4ins (193cm) 
Weight: 247.2 lbs
Reach: 78ins  
Professional record: 27-2-0 (18 KOs) 

ALEXANDER POVETKIN
Age: 41
Height: 6ft 2ins (188cm) 
Weight: 228 ¼ lbs
Reach: 75ins  
Professional record: 36-2-1 (25 KOs) 

THE UNDERCARD

Ted Cheeseman takes on JJ Metcalf for the British super-welterweight belt, while Fabio Wardley and Eric Molina meet in an intriguing heavyweight clash.

Ricky Hatton's son Campbell makes his professional debut, the 19-year-old taking on Jesus Ruiz in a super-featherweight contest.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY

Whyte is in no doubt as to the quality of his opponent but he is ready to go all-out in pursuit of glory: "I'm constantly improving, he's a good fighter – top amateur, [Olympic] gold medal winner, world champion, all that. But I'm still improving and getting better every day. On Saturday, I'm coming to leave it all on the line once again."

It was a slightly more relaxed tone adopted by Povetkin, who reflected on the location: "I'm very happy to be in this unusual place. I'm relaxed and confident."

The belt, won by the legendary boxer after he stopped his rival with an eighth round knockout in Zaire, was purchased by Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.

The 63-year-old has already purchased a large assortment of pop culture memorabilia, the Isray Collection, which he intends to tour across the nation.

"Proud to be the steward!" Isray tweeted, while revealing the belt would be on display next month in Chicago and then in Indianapolis in September.

Ali's belt falls short of becoming the most expensive piece of sporting memorabilia to be sold at auction.

Diego Maradona's iconic Hand of God shirt - worn during Argentina's quarter-final victory over England at the 1986 FIFA World Cup - fetched just over £7.1m ($8.9m) in May.

Canelo etched his name in the history books courtesy of his brutal 11th-round knockout of previously unbeaten IBF champion Plant in their blockbuster unification showdown in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The aggressor, Canelo sniffed blood in the penultimate round after flooring Plant (21-1) and the Mexican superstar hunted down his opponent before landing the killer blow to sweep the division with his WBA, WBC and WBO belts, plus the IBF crown.

Canelo, 31, is the first Mexican to achieve the feat and sixth fighter since the WBO began sanctioning world title bouts in 1988 to hold all four boxing belts.

"It signifies so much in the history of Mexico to be an undisputed champion," Canelo said post-fight after improving his professional record to 57-1-2.

"There's only six. It keeps me happy, very motivated to be one of six undisputed champions of the world."

"It hasn't been easy to get to this point, but with your support, my family, my team, we've gotten really far," Canelo said.

"This is for everybody, especially for Mexico."

Canelo added: "He was making things a little difficult, but [trainer] Eddy [Reynoso] told me, 'Let's keep with the game plan in the last two rounds here.

"And in the end, I got him. That's the way it had to finish. He was already hurt, and I went in for the kill."

There was plenty of tension heading into the highly anticipated clash at MGM Grand after the pair were involved in a physical altercation during September's news conference.

Canelo and Plant were more civil in the week leading up to the fight, and the duo shared a warm embrace at the conclusion of their contest.

"My respect to Caleb Plant," said Canelo. "He's a very difficult fighter with a lot of ability. I do respect the fighter.

"We're men at the end. He wanted to continue. I said, 'There's no shame. We had a great fight today'."

After a draw in their first matchup – which most fight fans feel should have been a win for Golovkin – and another controversial majority decision win for Alvarez in the rematch, this was a decisive end to the rivalry even if the scorecards ended up close.

Two of the three judges scored the bout 115-113 for Alvarez, meaning they had him winning seven rounds to five, although there was a strong argument that Alvarez comfortably won the first eight rounds of the fight before coasting to the finish.

It was a disappointing showing for the 40-year-old Golovkin, who was once one of the most feared power punchers in the sport and arguably the better boxer for the first two fights of the trilogy, but he failed to ever threaten the 32-year-old Alvarez, who was noticeably faster with both his hands and his feet.

The loss moves Golovkin's record to 42-2-1 – with both of his losses and his draw coming against Alvarez – having entered the rivalry at a perfect 37-0.

For Alvarez, he is now 58-2-2, bouncing back from his second career loss in his last fight when he tried to jump up multiple weight classes and collect another world title, ultimately being outpointed by the much larger Dmitry Bivol.

Alvarez made a guaranteed $45million for Saturday's finale to the trilogy, and that will likely climb over $60m once his cut of the pay-per-views are factored in. Golovkin, on the 'B-side' of the draw, will pocket $20m guaranteed plus a smaller share of the pay-per-view buys.

Alvarez, returning to super-middleweight, was in control throughout at the Alamodome in San Antonio, handing Smith his first professional defeat.

Such was his dominance, the judges scored the fight 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111 in Alvarez's favour.

Smith (27-1) towered over Alvarez (54-1-2), but the Mexican walked him down throughout in an impressive performance.

While the first round was cagey, Alvarez took control as the more assertive fighter.

Alvarez was walking Smith down, and a big right seemed to hurt the Brit in the fourth round before an uppercut also landed.

Smith had started to slightly free up, but Alvarez was untroubled as he continued to dictate.

Alvarez remained in control and he had Smith on the ropes after a flurry of punches in the seventh round.

Smith finally started to make some inroads in the eighth, landing a big uppercut, but Alvarez responded in the ninth and a huge right hurt the Brit.

Alvarez's body shots appeared to hurt his opponent in the 10th and he was never in any real danger, Smith managing to go the distance.

Alvarez (53-1-2) returns to super-middleweight for the bout against WBA holder Smith in Texas on Saturday.

It will be the Mexican's first bout since November last year as he takes on the unbeaten Smith (27-0).

Alvarez, a four-division world champion, said he was taking a risk with the fight, but it is one he is embracing.

"I like risk, I like taking risk, taking this fight is a risk," he told DAZN on Thursday.

"I'm fighting the number one at 168 pounds so these are challenges for me and I continue to bring challenges forward and I like the risk of it. I like challenges to continue making history."

While he is the top-ranked super-middleweight in the world, Smith enters the fight at the Alamodome in San Antonio as the underdog.

But the Brit, whose last fight was also in November last year, said he was confident of an upset.

"For me obviously I like my chances in this fight, I wouldn't call for a fight that I believed I would lose. I've been asking for this fight because I believe I'll win it," he said.

"I understand I'm the underdog, you look at social media, a lot of people don't really give me a chance in this fight but I've been here before, I was the underdog in my world title fight. If anything, it gives me a little bit more motivation, a little bit of a point to prove to prove my worth.

"I believe I deserve to be in this fight. I'm the number one in the world, I worked very hard to be in the position I'm at and now I'm enjoying the luxury of being world champion and being involved in these big fights, which like I said before I dreamed of being in since I was a little boy."

Alvarez (54-1-2) inflicted a first career defeat on Smith (27-1) in Texas on Saturday to clinch the WBA and WBC super-middleweight titles by unanimous decision. 

Following the fight, which the judges scored 119-109, 119-109, 117-111 in favour of Alvarez, Smith refused to make any excuses for the one-sided loss but pictures showed gruesome damage to his arm.

Asked about the injury to his opponent, Alvarez replied: "It was the fourth or fifth round that I obviously saw it was hurting, I have much faith in those type of punches.

"It was the 12th round I saw it was really hurt, we know he has a really good left punch that's what we worked on at the gym."

Matchroom promoter Hearn offered an update on Smith, who will undergo further examination to ascertain the extent of the injury.

"I saw it I think in the 11th round, Canelo looked at it and pointed at it, it was getting bigger and bigger," Hearn said. 

"It's not diagnosed yet, some people in the dressing room think he broke his arm, it makes sense he took a lot on it. 

"I think it looks like a detached bicep or triceps. He has a lump on the outside of his arm, the doctor said it's a torn bicep or triceps so he's going to need a scan. 

"I think it happened as early as the second or third round, but he didn't for one second say 'I couldn't do this or I couldn't do that' it just got progressively worse. 

"He's a very humble guy he just held his hands up and said Canelo was the better man."

Shortly after the bout, WBO super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders tweeted to call out Alvarez, a fight Hearn says that, in theory, is easy to put on.

"[I could make that fight] tonight," he added.

"I mean the big problem is when you talk about the revenue for any show is that gate. Tonight we were blessed with 12,000 people, it felt like my first ever show I went to as a kid. 

"We already had a deal for Billy Joe Saunders to fight Canelo Alvarez in May, he's tweeted tonight that he wants a shot. 

"Canelo walked past me after and said that's three who's next? We tried with Rocky Fielding, Daniel Jacobs - we've got two more in Billy Joe Saunders and Gennady Golovkin [who Alvarez has faced twice, drawing the first fight and winning the second]. 

"He loves the belts, he wants to face the champions."

Yildirim is the mandatory challenger for the belt, which was left vacant last week when David Benavidez failed to make weight ahead of his bout with Roamer Alexis Angulo.

The 29-year-old, who has a record of 21-2 with 12 knockouts, was considered Benavidez's next opponent but has not fought since February 2019.

He will now face Alvarez, the holder of the WBC 'franchise' title at middleweight, on a date yet to be decided.

WBA super-middleweight Callum Smith had been considered the most likely candidate to face Alvarez next but will now have to wait for his title shot.

Alvarez's last fight was November's win over Sergey Kovalev, with a couple of bouts – including one set for September against Billy Joe Saunders – falling through.

The 35-year-old former unified light-welterweight world champion, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics, detailed the incident in a tweet.

Khan said he was with his wife Faryal Makhdoom when they were approached by two men who demanded his watch. He noted that both he and his wife were unharmed.

"Just had my watch taken off me at gunpoint in east London, Leyton," Khan's tweet read.

"I crossed the road with Faryal, luckily she was [a] few steps behind me. [Two] men ran to me, he asked for my watch whilst having a gun pointed in my face. The main thing is we're both safe."

Khan returned to boxing after a long hiatus in February for a clash against rival Kell Brook, losing via sixth-round knockout in Manchester.

Olympic medallist Khan was defeated by Brook in the sixth round at Manchester Arena last February.

Khan subsequently retired in May, at the age of 35. He became one of the youngest champions in British boxing history when he won the WBA title aged 22, five years on from claiming silver at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

However, on April 6 of last year, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) notified Khan that the tests carried out following his loss to Brook returned an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for ostarine, a substance that is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

In July, Khan was charged with two offences: the presence of a prohibited substance and the use of a prohibited substance. 

Though Khan accepted the charges, he claimed his ingestion of ostarine had been unintentional, with his case referred to an independent panel.

That panel heard Khan's case in January and in February deemed that while the fighter had not intentionally ingested the substance, he must serve a two-year ban, as well as disqualifying his result against Brook.

Khan's ban commenced on April 6, 2022 and will expire on April 5 next year.

"This case serves as a reminder that UKAD will diligently pursue anti-doping rule violations in order to protect clean sport," said UKAD chief executive Jane Rumble.

"Strict liability means athletes are ultimately responsible for what they ingest and for the presence of any prohibited substances in a sample.

"It is important that all athletes and their support personnel, whatever level they are competing at, take their anti-doping responsibilities seriously. Not doing so risks damaging not only an Athlete's career, but also undermining public confidence in clean sport."

Former unified light-welterweight world champion Khan was stopped by 36-year-old Brook in the sixth round of their grudge match in Manchester back in February.

Brook subsequently called a day on his boxing career after the all-British bout, and Khan strongly hinted at retiring in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.

The unbeaten Albanian Florian Marku was floated as the next potential fight for Khan, but the 35-year-old has decided to hang up his gloves with a professional record of 34-6.

"It’s time to hang up my gloves. I feel blessed to have had such an amazing career that has spanned over 27 years," Khan posted on Twitter on Friday.

"I want to say a heartfelt thanks and to the incredible teams I have worked with and to my family, friends and fans for the love and support they have shown me."

He accompanied the post with pictures from his greatest nights in the ring, with images from victories over Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera, Argentina's Marcos Maidana and American Devon Alexander.

Khan remains one of the youngest world champions in British boxing history, having won the WBA title at the age of 22, while he is Britain's youngest boxing Olympic medalist after claiming lightweight silver in 2004, aged just 17.

Silva had told MMA Weekly he was knocked out twice in his training camp – comments that raised concerns to the Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission.

The 47-year-old's team said the Brazilian had misspoken in his second language, while Silva himself told ESPN he was "joking".

"When I'm talking about the knockout, it's just to help the [team-mates] who help me, to [lift] them up," he explained.

In a Twitter post, Silva said discussion of the knockouts were "rumours" that stemmed from "simply bad English".

The commission still had chairman Scott Fletcher attend Thursday's news conference, while Silva also had to take additional medical examinations.

Ara Feinstein, a commissioner who is also a surgeon and a ringside physician, assessed the results and cleared Silva to fight.

"When I look at all of those things together, I don't have any more concerns with Mr Silva fighting [on] Saturday than I would have any other fighter," he said, as quoted by ESPN.

Silva left the UFC in 2020 and has since won two fights to improve his professional boxing record to 3-1 ahead of facing Paul.

Entering the ring as the heavy pre-fight favourite, Andrade (29-0, 18 KOs) dropped his Irish opponent mere seconds into the opening round and was never troubled in Miami.

The 31-year-old American floored Keeler (17-3-1, 5 KOs) again with a hard left in the second and was awarded the stoppage victory before the 10th round.

Andrade used his post-fight interview to praise the outmatched Keeler and call for a bout with WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders.

"Luke Keeler is a warrior and a future champion one day," Andrade told DAZN.

"I'm willing to go up to 168 to fight Billy Joe Saunders in my next fight."

The undercard saw Joseph Diaz (31-1, 15 KOs) overcome a gruesome gash above his left eye to capture the IBF junior lightweight title from Tevin Farmer (30-5-1, 6 KOs) via unanimous decision.

"I'm very excited I have won this," Diaz said. "I have waited for this moment for a long time."

Murodjon Akhmadaliev also staged an upset, dethroning Daniel Roman (27-2-1, 10 KOs) via split decision.

Mandatory challenger Akhmadaliev, 25, outworked Roman across 12 rounds to take the American's unified junior featherweight title and move to 8-0 (6 KOs) in his career.