Boxing

The 26-year-old returned to the ring for the first time since April 2022 after his provisional doping suspension was lifted.

Benn, who had been out of the ring for 525 days, extended his undefeated run to 22 fights after the judges scored 99-91, 99-91 and 96-94 all in favour of the Englishman.

Benn did not show any signs of early ring rust on his return and dropped the Mexican in the third round before getting other rounds under his belt and a seemingly easy beat down over Orozco.

‘The Destroyer’ was happy to get valuable time in the ring after such a long lay-off and targeted a home fight next time out.

After the fight, he said: “We didn’t want a walk in the park. I needed the rounds after 18 months out.

“He’s a true Mexican, my first Mexican I’ve fought, and we knew he was durable. Credit to him, he’s never been stopped before and he’s one tough man and I hope he progresses.

“They are stronger and take shots more. I don’t think there was ring rust, I was going through the gears after going through hell.

“Britain is my home and it’s only right I fight back there, sooner rather than later.”

Benn’s career was thrown into turmoil in October 2022 after he twice tested positive for the banned drug clomifene in the lead-up to a bout against Chris Eubank Jr that was subsequently shelved in fight week.

His provisional suspension was lifted by the independent National Anti-Doping Panel, although the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping have lodged an appeal against that decision.

The 27-year-old was hoping to face Eubank Jr in a rearranged clash following the collapse of the initial fight until talks fell through and is now instead preparing for his second fight since returning to the ring, against Peter Dobson on February 3 in Las Vegas.

Benn emotionally explained his struggles to stay motivated in the aftermath of the failed tests.

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He said: “I’m willing to spend every last penny I have to fight my innocence, that’s how much this means to me.

“I know how hard it is to drag myself to the gym, fall out of love with boxing and still have to stay disciplined.

“I’ve been so demotivated for the past year-and-a-half. It wasn’t motivation that got me through, it was discipline and determination to do what’s right.

“I will continue to shout it from the rooftops for my innocence because I am.”

Benn made a first high-profile public appearance since the episode when Anthony Joshua fought Jermaine Franklin in April 2023 at the O2 Arena and was overwhelmed with the attention he received.

The son of former two-division world champion Nigel Benn felt his family’s name had been tarnished and has spoken about how the news of the failed tests left him feeling suicidal.

“That (affecting family reputation) was the worst thing to deal with, the shame. You get so emotional talking about it. My dad still loves me, I still love him,” he said.

“I went to AJ v Franklin in April. When I talk about anxiety, I thought I’m not ready to front this and had security with me and I thought I’d have it there for different reasons. I got mobbed, I couldn’t walk.

“I didn’t leave the house – when I walked to Sainsbury’s, I had to walk back and forget the shop because I couldn’t handle it. I’m one hell of a fighter, I’m bold, fearless, but I’m still human. I care about my name.

“It has been taxing, testing, like I’ve been through hell and back. Some days I’ve not been motivated and down in the dumps, some days I have been suicidal. I’ve learned a lot in the process and it’s made me a better man.”

Benn now switches his attention to the fight with American Dobson, his second consecutive fight outside the UK.

Benn is looking forward to coming back and fighting in the UK in the future but knows he has a job to do before he starts thinking about bigger fights.

He added: “I treat him (Dobson) as the world title fight, the big fight because without him there is no big fight.

“Fighting in Orlando and now Vegas is not under the best conditions, but it’s a big chapter and I like the way my book’s coming along.

“I just can’t wait for the homecoming. I’m excited to fight in America because that’s where all the world titles are. It’s every fighter’s dream to show in America, let alone Vegas, the home of boxing over there.”

:: Conor Benn and Peter Dobson will put their unbeaten records on the line live on DAZN

The 28-year-old, who last year put up a valiant effort in a losing battle for Sergey Kovalev's WBO light heavyweight title, announced the news via an Instragram story.

Yarde said his father had no underlying health problems and warned people to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously.

"I'm a very private person and tbh I'm still in shock but maybe this can help people stay home," he wrote.

"My dad passed away from this virus yesterday and he was fit with no health issues.

"The more people go out and mingle the longer this isolation will last and the more it will spread.

"I'm not a doctor but I do know if you stay home you are less likely to catch it or pass it on. It's seriously not worth the risk."

Yarde, who has a 19-1 record, is slated to face Lyndon Arthur at the O2 Arena on July 11.

There have been 17,089 confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK, with 1,019 people having died.

IBF and WBC light-heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev is one of those fighters affected, as he had been due to go up against Meng Fanlong in Quebec on March 28.

That show, along with others in Las Vegas on April 11 and Tulsa six days later, have been shelved over health concerns amid the global pandemic.

Naoya Inoue – who signed a multi-year deal with Top Rank at the end of 2019 – will have to wait to make his debut under new promoters too, with his unification fight with fellow bantamweight world champion John Riel Casimero no longer happening on April 25.

"The health and safety of our fighters, staff and ESPN's incredible production team is the most important thing as we plan our next steps," Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said in a statement.

"We look forward to the day when we can bring our loyal fans world-class boxing once again, but exercising caution is the most prudent thing to do at this moment."

Meanwhile, the clash between former super-lightweight world champions Regis Prograis and Maurice Hooker will not take place at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill on April 17 as planned.

Matchroom issued an update on their website to confirm the news, though they are "exploring alternative options" for the fight, including the possibility of rescheduling for another date later in the year.

Like virtually all sports, boxing has been on a hiatus while the world tries to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

However, as some restrictions begin to be lifted across the globe, Arum has confirmed plans are afoot to bring boxing events back soon.

Arum, who represents fighters such as world champions Tyson Fury, Terence Crawford and Vasyl Lomachenko, expects undefeated light-welterweight Jose Ramirez to be among the first to return to the ring.

"We are coming back in June," Arum told ESPN.

"They will take place during the week and on weekends.

"They'll all be top fighters, really top fights. Will there be a Fury-[Deontay] Wilder? No. But they'll be some of our top fighters, like Jose Ramirez, he'll be in the mix, various others, Teofimo [Lopez], Shakur [Stevenson], all of them."

However, Arum is realistic enough to acknowledge that fans will not be at fights for the foreseeable future.

"Don't kid yourself. For the rest of the summer, there won't be a crowd," he added.

"I don't anticipate – now, I don't know – being able to do fights with any kind of crowd 'til the fourth quarter [of 2020]."

Arum also revealed the first initial bouts to return will all be in Las Vegas due to logistics.

"That's what we're planning because it makes it easier for us. Our gym can be used for training," he said.

"We have hotels that we [can] be opening up, and there won't be, initially, a big market of customers for rooms. They will have plenty of rooms available.

"These hotels have big ballrooms, which we could use to stage an event, and these ballrooms we could take for a two-month period, June and July, to put on events, maybe with an option to take them in August or September."

Joshua is due to put his world heavyweight titles on the line against IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20.

Hearn, the Brit's promoter, knows that is unlikely to go ahead due to the coronavirus pandemic, given there is no knowing when sport will resume and Spurs still have a Premier League season to finish.

Fury and Wilder were due to do battle for a third time in July, but the WBC champion's co-promoter, Bob Arum, said the trilogy fight could be put back to October.

Hearn does not feel Joshua would have an issue stepping straight into a titanic showdown in search of a sweep of the titles at the end of the year if there is a drastic change of plan.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Right now our plan is to fight Pulev in June or July then fight Fury or whoever holds the WBC belt at the time.

"If the Pulev fight can't take place we may end up seeing that fight [against Fury] happen later this year.

"It wouldn't be ideal for AJ boxing in December to have been out for a whole year going into a fight like that but I don't think he would have a problem with it."

Joshua won a rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr. in Saudi Arabia last December to regain his WBA, IBF and WBO straps.

The promoter wants to host shows at Matchroom's 15-acre headquarters in Brentwood, Essex, as a way to tackle the issues faced by boxing during the coronavirus pandemic.

It is reported Hearn wants to put on bouts taking place across four straight Saturdays across July and August, costing around £1million to do so.

"Financially this will be painful for us but after the momentum we have worked so hard to build over the past 10 years, I'm not going to let boxing just dribble back. While other guys go with arenas and empty studios, ours will look very different," Hearn told Sportsmail, who report the plan is to begin with the all-British fight between Terri Harper and Natasha Jonas, and finish with Dillian Whyte's WBC interim heavyweight title fight against Alexander Povetkin.

"Just imagine it. It is summer, the house is all lit up, you can see Canary Wharf in the distance and fireworks are going off. Then over the hill walk Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin for a massive tear up on my lawn.

"World championship boxing in my garden? Oh, go on then.

"We cannot just bring boxing back with a dark studio. We have built our product on the razzmatazz, the sexiness and the drama. It has all been about building that moment for a fight, so we cannot afford to just bring people out like a gameshow.

"We want to create a gladiatorial environment that will not only ensure compelling viewing but will also ensure fighters can perform at the highest level."

Hearn still has several complex issues to resolve, particularly around testing and isolation, but he remains in talks with the British Boxing Board of Control, Brentwood council and the WBC.

"It is a huge mission. We are going to turn our headquarters here into an outdoor venue for live boxing, with a full canopy in the middle of the garden and the ring overlooking London," he added.

"We are building changing rooms for the fighters, setting up a space for a ring walk, and figuring out how we can do everything you need for this kind of production with as few people as possible.

"We are in talks with a nearby hotel about taking control of it for each of the weeks. The way it will work is everyone involved - the fighters, their teams, the broadcasters - will go into the hotel on Tuesday and the fighter and their team will go to a testing facility at the hotel.

"You will go in, get tested, be handed a room key and go straight to your room, where you will wait until you get the result of the test.

"The tests are comprehensive and they take 24 hours, so the fighter will stay in their room until they get a call from our doctors, likely on the Wednesday, with their results.

"If they are positive, they will leave the hotel immediately. If they are not, they are able to leave their room and take part in the obligations of fight week, all with social distancing.

"Everyone involved in the show, from top to bottom, will have to go through that process before they are allowed on to our premises.

"In terms of fight-week promotion, that is the other side of the challenge. How do you do the media around it? Obviously we cannot have dozens of journalists turning up and sitting shoulder to shoulder for a presser and a weigh-in like normal.

"So we need to decide how it will go - it is likely that Zoom interviews and social media live streams with the fighters and journalists will be the new norm, and pumping out clips of the fighters around the clock, building up to the weigh-ins on the grounds on Fridays and the fights on Saturdays."

Wilder took up the option of completing a trilogy with Fury after losing his WBC belt to the Brit in Las Vegas last month.

July 18 had been stated as a potential date for a third battle between the two at the MGM Grand, but Fury's co-promoter ruled out any possibility of that going ahead amid the COVID-19 crisis

Asked if the fight could be staged in fourth months' time, Arum told ESPN: "Clearly not. We don't even know if the MGM will even be open by then.

"You could not guarantee the fighters that the event would take place on that date. We couldn't convince them or ourselves.

"Where were they going to train for it? It just made no sense. You just have to take a step back. How are you going to sell tickets?

"It's absolutely ridiculous to say the fight is on when the Brits can't even get there.

"So everybody has to take a step back. Boxing is not isolated. It's part of what's happening in the world. So possibly the fight will be in early October."

A media event was held on Friday with the two men poised to fight at The O2 Arena on May 23, a bout promoter Hearn is hoping can still take place.

"At the moment it's business as usual," Hearn said to Sky Sports. "Everything is completely out of our hands and we are led by the government.

"I do stress to fans don't panic. Anything you've got a ticket for that is cancelled or anything you buy a ticket for that is cancelled you will receive a refund in full.

"I think it's the short term stuff that is going to be under most threat. The Premier League and EFL stuff is encouraging in a sense where we have a date where things are supposed to go back to normal."

Hearn is not a fan of the prospect of holding fights behind closed doors for a television-only audience, but would not rule out the possibility.

"I don't like it," he added. "Two problems with that. Number one is boxing is a sport built on that energy, those great moments when the crowd goes crazy and everyone's in the stands singing Sweet Caroline.

"Also, the bigger shows are gate dependent in terms of the money for the shows - to pay the fighters, to make sure everything is taken care of, for the undercard. 

"So, when you start talking about Anthony Joshua, Usyk, Dillian Whyte, yeah the crowd is very dependent to the success of that event.

"If we have to stage events behind closed doors to ensure we can provide content for our TV partners and more importantly provide fights and opportunities for our fighters, it's something we'll definitely look at."

With global confirmed cases now at over 142,000, Hearn also acknowledged the situation could become different swiftly, adding: "We understand that things can change at any moment. In an hour, tomorrow, next week.

"We hope a lot of the deeper stuff into the summer will be good to go. Joshua - 16 weeks, May 2 - Dillian Whyte against Povetkin, here Usyk against Chisora, that's 11 weeks away nearly, just over 10 weeks.

"We're hoping, everybody's hoping, not just for the sake of the sport and these events, that by then, we're over the worst of it, but the truth is no one really knows."

WBA, WBO and IBF world champion Joshua is due to take on Bulgarian Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20.

Complications caused by COVID-19 could mean that date is changed to July 25, though much will depend on when the Premier League restarts.

Football in England’s top flight is now postponed until April 30 at the earliest and Spurs may not be able to provide their venue if the halted 2019-20 season runs until later this year.

Hearn is focusing on finding a solution to the Pulev dilemma, but also sees another option where a blockbuster bout with undefeated WBC champion Fury takes place next.

Fury is contractually obliged to take a third bout with American Deontay Wilder, but Hearn thinks everything is fluid in the current climate.

"Well I think, all of a sudden, does the Joshua-Fury fight start taking priority, maybe over a Pulev fight, if the Pulev fight extends beyond the summer, " Joshua’s manager Hearn said to Sky Sports.

"There's so much that could happen right now. Anything is possible.

"But contractually Deontay Wilder is going to want his fight next, whether that's in July or whether there's a force majeure that takes that to October, November wherever.

"Right now, for us, we are fighting Kubrat Pulev, June 20, and it could be July 25, but everything is uncertain at the moment, whilst the country and the world tries to contain this pandemic."

All fights for Hearn’s Matchroom stable for the month of April are postponed.

But, as things stand, the Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin and Dereck Chisora v Oleksandr Usyk fights, scheduled for May 2 and May 23 respectively, have not been moved.

Hearn added: "May is going ahead, but we also understand that we have contingencies in place.

"[We could] move Dillian Whyte to the middle of June, to move Derek Chisora-Usyk back into the end of June, early July, and of course Anthony Joshua, who was due to go June 20, at Tottenham Hotspur football club.

"Really relies on the run of the Premier League now, because if the Premier League extend their season, Spurs will need their stadium.

"We already have a reserve date that we're discussing with Spurs of July 25 for Anthony Joshua against Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium."

Over the weekend, Hearn revealed work is being done to stage shows at the mansion in Brentwood, Essex, where he grew up and was converted into offices for the promotion company.

It was reported it could cost around £1million to do so, with fight nights taking place on four consecutive weekends across July and August.

UFC has returned amid the global health crisis, while the Bundesliga also resumed on Saturday as the world of sport continues to take tentative steps towards moving forward without spectators.

Hearn anticipates events taking place behind closed doors for the foreseeable future, hence the reasoning behind planned bouts on the grounds of Matchroom.

"I think every sport right now has to be creative, be innovative and be safe and try and get their head around staging events behind closed doors for the foreseeable future," he told talkSPORT.

"Trying to make sure the players are safe, officials are safe and everyone is safe. Ultimately produce a compelling product for fans and broadcasters at home.

"Broadcasters are important because, don't forget, we aren't competing against other boxing promoters, we are competing against other sports because when we come back, Sky particularly, are going to be inundated from rights holders and organisations.

"You have to be compelling and innovative and come up with ideas, like the Matchroom fight camp, where broadcasters are going to say, 'Wow, we love that.'

"It's going to be difficult and there are going to be a lot of sports we see disappear off the commercial radar over the next few months."

Hearn expanded on the plans and the complications that still need to be overcome in terms of testing.

"It's our headquarters now in Brentwood. We've got a nice bit of land out there and it's been very lucky for us as a family," he added. "My dad moved there from Dagenham originally when he made a few quid and it's been very lucky to us.

"Our project restart is about staging live boxing from the garden there with a canopy. You've heard of Madison Square Garden and this is the new garden.

"We talked about doing boxing in studios and there's a lot of people doing it. I just feel like when you are talking about a gladiatorial sport, like boxing, you need to create that moment, that energy, not just for the viewer at home but the fighter as well.

"We've got big plans. It looks fantastic. There's still a long way to go. I think it's 90 per cent for us. Anything could happen at any time.

"There's a hotel at the bottom of the road that we will take over. On the Wednesday, before the Saturday, everybody will turn up. Fighters, Sky team, corners, our team will all be tested at a facility.

"You don't enter the hotel specifically, you enter a side building and you get tested and then you get your key, go into your room and don't leave until you get the results.

"Once you get a negative result, you are allowed into Matchroom fight camps. We create a sterile environment. No one is allowed to interact with anyone from outside fight camp during that period.

"The problem with this virus is people are still learning. We are having a dozen calls a day with doctors and testing facilities. It's such a mountain to climb.

"We are going to be having around 90 people on site and everyone will be tested before they go into the facility."

The unified world heavyweight champion posted a video message of support and condolences to those suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday.

"To the people who are suffering with coronavirus, I wish you a speedy recovery because it is no joke," he said via his official Twitter account.

"To the ones who have lost loved ones, I want to say keep your head up. You've got my love, blessings to you and your family and condolences.

"I've lost no one immediate to me but I've lost close ones from my boxing gym, a close friend, friends of friends. It gets serious when it starts coming closer to home. I want to send you my condolences and my love."

Joshua also expressed thanks to NHS workers and implored people to abide by social distancing and lockdown measures as stipulated by the UK government.

"I would love to be out there right now doing the most – on my dirt bikes, meeting up with my boys, sparring, going down the boxing gym," he said.

"But even a rebel like me is trying to follow some guidelines, trying to do the right thing.

"Really, it's just a message to say you've got my support. I'm with you through this. We're all doing the right thing."

Joshua is scheduled to defend his IBF, WBA and WBO titles against Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20, although the bout increasingly appears vulnerable to postponement.

On Monday, the British Boxing Board of Control suspended all boxing events in the UK until the end of May, meaning the slated Dillian Whyte v Alexander Povetkin and Oleksandr Usyk v Dereck Chisora fights were among those to be shelved.

David Higgins, who manages former WBO heavyweight champion Parker, is working to remove any obstacles to ensure a fight against Australian Browne can be finalised.

Browne is seen as the highest-profile fighter close to New Zealand at a time where global travel restrictions remain in place.

The event would be scaled down with as few as 100 people in attendance and some of the funds generated from what Higgins hopes will be a huge television audience would go to charity.

A decision is expected inside the next week, with Parker looking to get back into world title contention and avenge defeats he suffered to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.

"Team Parker together with Matchroom and our broadcast partners, we'd like to make history, and run a safe, credible boxing promotion, coming out of the pandemic," Higgins said to Sky Sports.

"In a small New Zealand bubble, but on worldwide TV, hopefully to a couple of billion viewers and raise money for charity at the same time.

"Provide entertainment, hope, supplies, and show that we can get the economy going again. That's our goal, we're working on it, and we'll do our best.

"Right now in partnership with Matchroom we're doing due diligence on a possible Joseph Parker fight in August in New Zealand.

"Location is sort of a bit further down the track. In the check list, safety first.

"Got to make sure that everyone is safe and that we fit with government regulations, then it's a matter of, is it economically viable?"

Parker confirmed on Twitter that his team was "working behind the scenes" to arrange a fight, adding a pray emoji to express his hopes a solution could be found.

Higgins explained his client's preferred opponent, adding: "In our part of the world, the most experienced heavyweight possibility for Joe is probably Lucas Browne.

"If you read his record, his losses have been to very good fighters and he's a guy that probably deserves a shot.

"You've got other guys like Junior Fa, guys in Australia, but they haven't fought nearly as good opponents as Lucas and they're not as experienced. I think there might be a deal there [with Browne]."

IBF, WBA and WBO champion Joshua was due to fight Bulgarian Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20.

But the proliferation of COVID-19 has led to a decision to postpone the bout.

Joshua's promoters Matchroom confirmed the news on Friday and have begun working on a new date, with the prospect of hosting it at Spurs' ground still open.

Pulev and Joshua had previously been due to fight in 2017 but the challenger had to withdraw due to injury. After this delay, they now hope it will prove third time lucky.

"A new date for the event promoted by Matchroom Boxing and 258 Management in association with Top Rank and Epic Sports Entertainment is currently being worked on," read a statement from Matchroom.

"We will announce any updates in due course and continue to explore the possibility of hosting this fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium."

Earlier this week, the heavyweight fight between Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin was called off, as was the clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Dereck Chisora.

The winners of those two bouts, which were both scheduled for May, would have been in the mix for world title fights against either the winner of Joshua's clash against Pulev, or the scheduled third meeting between WBC champion Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

Joshua regained his titles by winning his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on points.

That December victory came six months after the Briton had suffered shock stoppage defeat to Ruiz in New York.

Just three days of action were possible at the Copper Box Arena before the competition was brought to a premature halt on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Turkish Boxing Federation accused the IOC Boxing Task Force of being irresponsible for allowing the European qualifier to go ahead in the circumstances, with reports saying two of their fighters and a coach have tested positive.

While expressing sympathy for those who have been taken ill, the task force feels there is nothing to suggest they were infected during the competition.

An IOC Boxing Task Force statement said: "Yesterday, the IOC Boxing Task Force (BTF) received news reports regarding participants of the Boxing Road to Tokyo European qualifier held in London from 14 to 16 March 2020, who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 following a return to their country.

"Most importantly, the BTF wants to express its sympathy for the affected athletes and officials and wishes them a very speedy and full recovery, and the BTF is in close contact with their respective National Olympic Committees. 

"Some news reports appeared to draw a connection between the affected participants and the Boxing Road to Tokyo European qualifier held in London. The London event was suspended 10 days ago, on 16 March 2020, and the BTF is not aware of any link between the competition and the infection.

"Many participants were in independently organised training camps in Italy, Great Britain and in their home countries before the competition started on 14 March 2020 and have returned home a while ago so it is not possible to know the source of infection.

"The BTF notes, that at the time of the European qualifier in London there were many sports and other events going on in Great Britain because there were no governmental restrictions or advice on public events in place.

"Nevertheless, in cooperation between the BTF and the Local Organising Committee, precautionary measures before, during and in the follow-up phase of the event were implemented and the event was suspended when the COVID-19 situation developed further.

"Safeguarding the well-being of the athletes, officials and all other participants has always been a top priority for the BTF."

Duran's son Robin said he was taken to hospital after experiencing cold-like symptoms and because "he has a lung that doesn't work 100 per cent due to an accident in Argentina a few years ago".

It was soon confirmed the 69-year-old Panamanian boxing legend had contracted COVID-19.

"My dad's tests have just arrived and confirm that he is positive for COVID-19. Thank God that for now he has no symptoms other than those of a cold," Robin Duran wrote on Instagram.

"He is not in intensive care or on a ventilator, he is still under observation.

"We just talked to the doctor and he tells us that the lungs are fine and there is no indication of seriousness.

"Let's continue to have faith that everything will turn out well."

Duran is considered one of the all-time greats, having made his name as a lightweight champion before claiming world titles at welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight.

He earned the nickname 'Manos de Piedra' – Hands of Stone – due to his ferocious punching power and enjoyed a great rivalry with Sugar Ray Leonard.

Duran handed Leonard his first professional defeat in June 1980 but lost the WBC welterweight title rematch in New Orleans, remembered as the famous 'No Mas' fight, five months later.

Duran ended his 31-year career in 2001 with a 103-16 record.

Promoter Top Rank initially said the card – and another on Tuesday – would go ahead behind closed doors at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

However, it later announced the events would be postponed amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has impacted numerous sports around the world.

The undefeated Stevenson was due to defend his WBO featherweight title against Marriaga on Saturday, while Tuesday's headline event was set to be Irishman Michael Conlan's bout against Belmar Preciado.

"After close consultation with the New York State Athletic Commission, it has been determined that Saturday's and Tuesday's events cannot proceed in light of the ongoing coronavirus crisis," a Top Rank statement read.

"Top Rank will work with the commission to reschedule the events as soon as it is safe for all involved.

"The health and safety of the fighters and their teams, and everyone involved in the promotion of these events, necessitated taking this step.

"We thank everyone for their understanding, and we will continue to work with our broadcast/venue partners and state and local officials to decide when the time is right to return."

The coronavirus outbreak has seen a number of sporting events postponed around the world - the NBA, MLS and NHL seasons halted with immediate effect - but boxing will go ahead in New York, albeit without fans present.

Undefeated featherweight Shakur Stevenson will defend the WBO title for the first time when he faces Miguel Marriaga in the main event on Friday's show.

The second card takes place at the same venue next Tuesday, as Irishman Michael Conlan headlines in a 10-round bout against Belmar Preciado on St Patrick's Day.

"Due to the coronavirus pandemic, and to ensure the health and safety of boxing fans, Top Rank announced today the March 14 and March 17 events at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden will proceed without spectators," a statement from Top Rank read.

"The only individuals granted access to the events will be essential production and support staff, in addition to fighters and necessary team members. Both events will be shown live on their respective ESPN platforms.

"As for future events, Top Rank is consulting with its venue partners and will make a determination in due course."

The WBO welterweight world champion revealed he has not been telling his family to stay indoors after astonishingly claiming the effects of COVID-19 were being overplayed.

Over 1.8million people have had a confirmed case worldwide including over 535,000 alone in the United States, where over 20,000 people who have tested positive for the disease have died.

Crawford, who says a friend of his had contracted the illness, is still training during the pandemic.

"It ain't no different to any other day. I'm not locked up in the house. I'm not locking my kids up in the house, I'm telling you," he told Sports Illustrated.

"I don't feel like these people that they say are dying and sick from it is actually true. I think they're using fear to try to control us right now, for something else.

"I don't know what it is but me personally, I just can't agree with a whole bunch of things that they're saying now.

"The media runs the world. You put anything on then everybody's gonna run with it and you'll have people scared.

"They said it really don't affect healthy individuals, only the elderly or those with problems like asthma or breathing disorders – but that's like any cold or flu.

"You've got to protect the ones with body issues like overweight or obesity.

"One of our friends said she had it but she said she's doing better now so that was the only person.

"I'm enjoying time with my family, at home, laid back and chilled. I'm not anxious. I have my own boxing gym and I've got everything: treadmill, bikes, Jacob ladders, whatever you need I've got it."

Crawford, who has a 36-0 record, said he questioned why some professions are still allowed to work.

"If it's so bad then why are people still picking up trash, why are people working but you can only do take out?" He added.

"I have a load of questions I need answers to. What about all the police officers that are still working?

"Me, if I was a cop, if it was that bad, then I wouldn't be working. I don't agree with what they're saying."

WBC heavyweight champion Fury feels the time spent at home due to the proliferation of COVID-19 has helped him to focus on what matters most.

The unbeaten fighter hopes the experience will make a permanent change to his outlook after he previously got restless when he was not out seeking new accomplishments.

"It is like something off one of those horror movies," he said to talkSPORT.

"It is real and we have to face up to it and listen to the government. The more people stay in, the more the virus will go away.

"You can take positives out of every negative, and the positive I can take out of this one is that I get to spend a lot more time with my family. People are really realising now what's important in life.

"Sometimes we get lost in the ride of life, thinking about our ambitions and everything – and we forget about the really important things – families, friends, loved-ones, health.

"It has awoken me because I was one of those people who fell victim to that, always chasing stuff and always wanting to do big things, I was never happy sitting at home and I wanted to go out and be active.

"In the couple of weeks I've been locked down I've had time to focus on the things that really matter in my life. I think I'll come back a different person and I think I'll have a different mindset."

Fury's third fight against Deontay Wilder, originally expected to take place in July, has been delayed until October at the earliest due to coronavirus.

"The world is in a very uncertain way at the moment and the last thing people are focusing on is boxing or sport – I'm not really thinking about boxing or Wilder or anybody," added Wilder.

"It seems a lifetime ago that I did my job and went out with the fans, to come back and have 10 days at home and then the whole world stopped."