Boxing

New Yorker Spence was seriously injured in October 2019 when he crashed his Ferrari in Dallas, less than two weeks after adding the WBC welterweight title to his IBF belt by beating Shawn Porter.

The unbeaten Spence (26-0) is now heading back into his boxing career with a major test against former world champion Garcia (36-2).

There could be few tougher fights for him to take on, with Spence deciding against choosing an easier return to action because he knew fighting Garcia would get his competitive juices flowing.

"Nobody forced me to fight Danny Garcia," Spence, 30, said in a news conference.

"I could have taken the tune-up, but I wanted somebody dangerous that was going to keep me focused and keep me in the gym and training hard.

"I had to make sure I was going to be 100 per cent on point. If I'd have taken a tune-up fight or somebody that I was supposed to beat, I feel like 100 per cent wouldn't have all the way been there.

"Of course, I'd have wanted the victory, but fighting someone with a great name like Danny Garcia and a great fighter like Danny Garcia has pushed me to another level and pushed me to a level that I'm supposed to be at."

Garcia, 32, has held world champion belts at welterweight and light welterweight, and the Philadelphia-raised fighter fancies the challenge in Arlington this weekend.

Garcia told Fox Sports: "It's a very great opportunity. There's no feeling in the world like winning, and winning a world title is the best feeling in the world.

"You can't take that for granted. I took that for granted a few times and it got the best of me.

"In this world you learn from your mistakes and you become a better person and become a better man, and that's why I'm here today."

 Light middleweight Kyghan Mortley, middleweight Arthur Langellier and super heavyweight Leran Regis were accompanied by National Head Boxing Coach, Conrad Fredericks.

The trio, from the Vigie Boxing Gym, are the most senior and experienced boxers and are set to compete at the Games to be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 – August 8.

Prior to their departure, the boxers and coach received a courtesy call at the gym by Minister for Youth Development and Sport, the Honourable Kenson Casimir, Resident British Commissioner Lesley M. Saunderson, Joyce Huxley, Chef de Mission for the 2022 Birmingham Games and Irwin Jean, Vice-President of the St. Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA).

Minister Casimir commended the boxers for their determination as they were able to continue their training through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also congratulated them for making the team to the Commonwealth Games, imploring them to make the most of the opportunity.

“I’m very proud of their level of preparation and where they are right now and, of course, Saint Lucia will be proud that they will give a good account of themselves,” the minister said.

“It really speaks volumes of their character and their love for country, so I just want to encourage them to do their best.”

The minister also praised the efforts of the St. Lucia Boxing Association in preparing the boxers for the Games, noting that not enough credit is given to administrators.

“We must really remedy it as a nation, not just as a Ministry. I think we need to continue to commend and encourage those who volunteer their time and energies. So hats off to the St. Lucia Boxing Association for getting them prepared,” he said.

Meanwhile, President of the St Lucia Boxing Association David Christopher said the boxers have been making good progress with their training in England.

“I think this is the best preparation any boxing team in the history of Saint Lucia has ever gotten,” Christopher said.

“They’re presently training at two gyms in England, including the Repton Gym, where they’re getting their required amount of sparring and strength and conditioning with a special coach. They’re getting pad work, working on their shape and balance, and nutrition.”

The boxers will leave their training camp on July 23 for Birmingham prior to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

Christopher thanked the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, National Lotteries Authority, and St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc. for supporting the boxers’ training camp.

The Filipino superstar tackles Cuban defector Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas in a title bout on Saturday night, gently teasing it might be his last fight.

That seems unlikely, given the 42-year-old expressed such an obvious hunger for more success in the pre-fight news conference.

But Pacquiao might have to think seriously about his future should Ugas spring a huge surprise after being called into the main event at late notice.

Pacquiao was meant to face Errol Spence Jr, but the American withdrew from the bout with a torn retina in his left eye.

Spence's stand-in Ugas was promoted to be recognised as the WBA's champion when Pacquiao was controversially stripped of his title in January, relegated to champion-in-recess status due to inactivity.

Now raring to go, two years since he last fought, with COVID-19 pandemic factors largely the cause of his absence, Pacquiao said he "felt bad" about Spence's setback.

"But it's a good thing that Ugas wanted to challenge me in the ring, and a good thing we can settle the dispute about the WBA belt. It will be good for us to talk in the ring, settle down in the ring on Saturday," Pacquiao told a news conference.

"I feel young. I'm just happy doing this. Boxing is my passion and I'm enjoying doing the training camp and excited to undergo the sacrifices and discipline especially to prepare for a fight like this.

"The coaching staff were trying to stop me, because I wanted to do more but they told me I might get over-trained."

Speaking at Friday's weigh-in, Pacquiao added: "I don't want to be taking this fight lightly. I don't want to be over-confident for this fight, but I want to make sure that tomorrow night we get a victory. I will do my best. I will give my best for my fans and of course the honour of my country."

Ugas, who won a bronze medal for Cuba at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, majorly troubled Shawn Porter in a WBC title fight in March 2019, and he wants to show there is merit in him owning the WBA belt.

Pacquiao feels disenchanted by the WBA's decision, saying it was "not good" that he had been stripped of that title out of the ring.

"Let's see if he will get the belt on Saturday. Both of us are champions," Pacquiao said this week. "It might be my last fight or there's more, one at a time. That's my answer to the question of whether it's my last fight."

Ahead of the tussle as the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Ugas said: "This has been a long road for me. It's a short-notice fight but I'm thankful for this opportunity and I'm ready.

"I have come to prepare for 12 hard rounds. If this is the final fight that the legend Manny Pacquiao has, [I want to show] that he fought against a guy who brought his best and who is a world-class fighter."

RECENT HISTORY

Pacquiao has had a busy time of it, but not so much in the boxing ring. The coronavirus crisis has kept him occupied in his day job as a senator in the Philippines, where some expect him to make a bid to become president next year, a move that would surely end his boxing career. Pacquiao has made allegations of corruption in government, which have been denied, as he pulls no punches in his second career.

'PacMan' last fought against Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand in July 2019, where Ugas won on the undercard. Ugas has since had a seventh-round stoppage win over Mike Dallas Jr and a split-decision victory against Abel Ramos.

TALE OF THE TAPE

MANNY PACQUIAO

Age: 42
Height: 5ft 5.5ins (166cm) 
Weight: 146 lbs
Reach: 67 ins
Professional record: 62-7-2 (39 KOs) 
Major career titles: Eight-division world champion

YORDENIS UGAS

Age: 35
Height: 5ft 9ins (175cm) 
Weight: 147 lbs
Reach: 69 ins
Professional record: 26-4 (12 KOs) 
Major career titles: Holder of WBA 'super' welterweight belt

Stevenson – the 2016 Olympic silver medallist – improved to 16-0 after the American claimed the WBO interim junior lightweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday.

A former WBO featherweight champion, Stevenson won 120-107 on all three judges' scorecards, though he acknowledged he was far from his best. 

"I apologise to all my fans I didn’t feel good tonight but I did what I had to do to win," Stevenson – who scored a knockdown of Nakathila (21-2) in the fourth round – tweeted after the bout. 

"Thank you for all da support I promise better for further fights to come."

The crowd in Las Vegas showered the fighters in boos in the 11th round as the 23-year-old Stevenson and his Namibian opponent Nakathila wrapped up an uninspiring affair.

"To be honest, I didn't really like my performance. I felt I could've performed a lot better," Stevenson said. "You had an awkward fighter throwing hard punches, and he knows how to grab and get away. He was a real awkward fighter.

"I tried to get him out of there a little bit, but I started getting hit with some solid shots. I ain't really like it, but next time I'm going to work on moving my head a little bit more and step it up a little more."

Stevenson is now set to face fellow WBO junior lightweight champion Jamel Herring (23-2) later this year. 

"If I had the choice, I'd take Oscar Valdez, but if I have to beat up Jamel to get to it, I'll do that, too," Stevenson said. "Jamel can't beat me. He knows what it is."

Stevenson jumped on Jamel Herring from the opening round and did not let up, winning the WBO junior lightweight title with a 10th-round TKO in Atlanta. 

The 24-year-old Stevenson (17-0) punished Herring (23-3) all night, leaving his 35-year-old opponent shaken by the middle of the scheduled 12-round bout. 

The 2016 Olympic silver medallist ensured this one would not go the distance, with referee Mark Nelson stopping the fight at 1:30 of the 10th round shortly after having the ring-side doctor examine the bleeding Herring. 

It was a dominant all-around performance for Stevenson, and a welcome one on the heels of his unanimous-decision victory over Jeremiah Nakathila in June. 

The Las Vegas crowd showered both men with boos near the end of that tepid contest, which was marked by a lack of action from either fighter. 

After taking down Herring, Stevenson referenced the criticism he received from ESPN announcers in June. 

"I wanted a fun fight and I wanted to perform," he said. "I wanted to show my skill, my boxing skill, my defence and my power. I thought I showed everything tonight."

WBO featherweight champion Stevenson will be moving up a division on Tuesday in the first show for promoters Top Rank since the coronavirus pandemic shut down the boxing schedule.

The unbeaten 22-year-old – who has won 13 straight since turning pro, following an impressive amateur career that included a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games – takes on Felix Caraballo in a 10-round main event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

However, there may not be too many more outings at 126 lbs for the American, who is planning a permanent move up in weight class.

"Honestly, I’m looking at Leo Santa Cruz a lot more," Stevenson told Stats Perform News.

“Leo is at 130, I’m already getting bigger and I don’t know how long I’m going to be at 126 lbs. We will see if I can get Leo in the ring.

"130 has got a lot of tough fighters there. I think it's a division that I could take over easily.

"I don't think it would be any problem making those fights there besides probably Leo, but I think if I say his name enough, he will end up wanting to fight me too."

Stevenson's grand plan may scupper the prospect of a meeting reigning IBF featherweight champion Warrington, though.

The duo have both talked up the prospect of facing each other but Stevenson revealed how he had dismissed an offer he considered unacceptable to travel to face the Englishman in Leeds, meaning the window may already be closed on a bout between two of the best in the division.

"I’ve called him out since I was like 8-0," Stevenson, who claimed the vacant WBO strap with a points triumph over Joet Gonzalez in October 2019, said.

"Even when I was getting ready for my title the first thing that he said was, ‘Go and win a title first, then I will fight you’.

"When I won a title, he can't fight until May, or something like that, and I wanted to fight earlier. I said forget it and was going to have a tune-up fight, instead of waiting all the way until May to fight.

"Then he tried to make it seem that I took another fight with someone else, and that he cannot wait for me when he was the one... we were the ones trying to get in the ring earlier. There's a lot of stuff going on with that.

"They sent contracts that were like nothing, like pennies to me to be honest. For me to be in a unification fight, going over to his home town with no problem at all about it, I think I should be paid that way.

"There's a lot going on with that fight. I don't know if it's going to happen."

The fight was judged 117-111 in the Croydon-born 27-year-old’s favour by all three judges in his first performance after signing with promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom.

Edwards came out bursting with confidence and controlled the opening stages of the 12-round fight, frustrating his previously-undefeated opponent by the midway point.

But Campos, seventh in the IBF rankings, began to close the gap down the stretch, forcing Edwards onto the ropes in round eight before the Briton replied with a flurry of shots.

Campos found another gear in the 12th and final round but it was too late as Edwards closed the contest with a body blow.

Edwards, who called for a unification fight with Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, told DAZN: “I’m 27 years old. I don’t even think I’m at the peak yet.

“I think I’m still going and going, but Bam makes perfect sense. I want to be a great, I want to be perceived as a great, I want to go down as a great in British boxing history.”

Earlier in the evening, fellow Brit Ellie Scotney defeated Kiwi Cherneka Johnson to become the new IBF world super bantamweight champion with a unanimous 98-92, 98-92, 97-93 decision.

And in an all-British bout, Nina Hughes defeated Katie Healy by unanimous decision over 10 rounds to retain her WBA bantamweight world title.

The 30-year-old middleweight boxer was in preparation for upcoming Olympic qualifiers when news of the postponement came. Reality hit him hard.

“I was in the process of qualifying. The qualifying tournament, which was in Argentina, was to run from March 26- April 8. It was postponed and a week later, cancelled. All the remaining Olympic boxing qualifying tournaments have also been suspended until who knows when,” he told Sportsmax.TV.

“This is a huge disappointment. Like myself, a lot of athletes have been preparing for the last three-to-four years only to be hit with this postponement. “For some it's simple, but for those that have sacrificed for the last three years it's different.”

The development, he said, has forced him to change strategies in order to adapt to the new paradigm. “Like most athletes, I had to go back to the drawing board and reassess my preparation with another year to go. However, this may be a great opportunity,” he said.

“This year I've had the privilege to be sponsored by Spartan Gym and Mark Miller from MonkFit. I also have partnered with a new boxing coach, Nathan Boothe, from England. This additional year will allow me the time to cement my preparation. If I wasn't prepared before with this new team behind me, I'll definitely be prepared by then.”

In the meantime, he is hopeful that the Jamaica Boxing Board can get some meaningful fights for him and other Jamaican boxers once the situation allows.

“I've beaten Panama's middleweight and light heavy boxers but, to be truly prepared for the world biggest sporting event, the entire Jamaican boxing team needs more exposure. The Panama event was great, however, we need more fights against different opponents to sharpen our skills,” he said.

Sharpening those skills have also become more challenging with the increasing restrictions being imposed by the government as it seeks to flatten the curve with regards to the spread of the virus. However, he is ready to overcome the challenges that lie before him.

“This pandemic has been a shot to the heart for all sporting events. It has crippled my training and preparation. With all gyms closed and the curfew, it has become hard if not nearly impossible to train,” he said.

“However, I'm extremely determined not to allow this pandemic to divert me from my goal. I still train six times a week because from every disappointment comes an opportunity and when that opportunity comes I won't be caught off guard.”

The Puerto Rican became undisputed featherweight champion with her triumph, paving the way for a second bout against Taylor in Dublin on May 20.

Taylor joined Serrano in the ring following the victory over Cruz to confirm the showdown, having beaten Serrano on points last April.

"This is more than a dream come true. My debut in Ireland against Amanda Serrano, 'The Real Deal' Amanda Serrano. This is incredible," Taylor said.

"The last fight was epic, and I expect nothing less for the next one."

The pair set history in their initial fight, which was the first women's clash to headline a boxing card at Madison Square Garden.

The rematch will take place at Dublin's 3Arena after negotiations to hold a bout at Croke Park broke down due to security costs.

Taylor, an Olympic gold medallist and a two-weight world champion who demanded a rematch against Persoon following a contentious win in 2019, made it 16 bouts unbeaten when she came out on top 98-93 96-94 96-94 on the judges' cards.

Keen to dispel any lingering doubts from the first fight, Taylor made a rapid start, landing two clean blows in the first round and leaving Persoon bloodied by the end of the second.

Persoon steadied herself in round three, though – unlike in their first meeting – Taylor refused to be drawn in by the Belgian, who did land an overhand right in the fifth.

Despite heavy swelling to her forehead, Taylor got the better of Persoon again in the seventh round, picking off her opponent with some sharp jabs.

Taylor was twice wrestled to the ground as Persoon's aggression continued, and the Irishwoman was subsequently hit with a slew of clean shots.

Persoon seemed to take the final rounds, with a brawl in the closing 15 seconds leaving both fighters exhausted, but it was ultimately Taylor who edged it.

"This time I respect the result," Persoon, who also revealed she broke her nose two rounds in, told Sky Sports after the fight.

"The weight was too much. I ate, ate, ate but didn't have the power to hurt her. I could not hurt her. And if you can't hurt her, she is technical and runs around. You have to hurt her.

"She deserves the win. I respect her. I've got no problem. My respect to her. She deserves the win today."

Taylor, the undisputed lightweight champion, was due to meet Amanda Serrano in a rematch on the same date, but the Puerto Rican pulled out due to injury.

Instead, Taylor accepted a bout with Cameron after the English fighter challenged her on social media.

Cameron offered to move up in weight and has now got her shot, which will be the first professional fight Taylor has contested in her homeland of Ireland.

"Once Serrano pulled out this was the natural fight to make," the Irish world champion said.

"It's two undefeated, reigning undisputed world champions going up against each other and I believe that's the first time that's ever happened in the modern era of the sport.

"People have been talking about this fight for a long time now, so I'm delighted it's happening and I'm looking forward to becoming a two-weight undisputed champion."

Cameron has been victorious in all 17 of her professional fights, becoming the UK's first undisputed female champion after defeating Jessica McCaskill in November.

Meanwhile, Taylor's record stands at 22-0 with six knockouts, 17 of those bouts coming in title matches.

The 36-year-old made history alongside Serrano in New York in May 2022, with theirs the first female fight to headline at Madison Square Garden as Taylor won on points.

It was the 32-year-old Scotsman’s first bout since his contentious win over Englishman Jack Catterall in February, 2022 and it was another struggle at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The Scot started well enough but Lopez grew in confidence and finished the fight strongly, landing some thumping shots, particularly in the second-half of the bout, which impressed the judges who declared a unanimous win for the 25-year-old Brooklyn boxer.

Steve Gray called it 115-113 as did Joe Pasquale with Benoit Roussel scoring it 117-111 for the new champion.

Afterwards Taylor, whose first loss came in his 20th fight, was magnanimous in defeat, telling Sky Sports: “No excuses. He was better on the night. It is what it is so congratulations to Teofimo.

“I would love to do it again. I know I am better than that and I know I can beat him.

“So yes, I would love to do it again but he’s the champ and the ball is in his court.”

Lopez said: “I just want to thank God first. It has been a long time coming.

“We just beat the number one champion, Josh Taylor, former undisputed champion.”

Taylor, who unified the division before vacating several titles, had started impressively.

Using his size and reach advantage, the Prestonpans southpaw delivered some accurate jabs and powerful body shots in the early rounds.

Lopez slipped to the canvas in the third and pushed Taylor to the ground in the fourth where he staggered the Scot in the final seconds of the round with a powerful shot.

Taylor came back in the next round with a clean left and right before Lopez landed a low blow in the sixth where he again finished the aggressor.

Lopez looked confident coming out for the seventh but had to absorb a couple of clean shots from the Scot before he rocked him with a right hand at the end of the round.

The home fighter indulged in some showboating in the eighth round as his confidence increased further.

Lopez’s hand speed was causing all sorts of problems for Taylor who was rocked again in the ninth round which the challenger dominated.

Taylor was clipped twice in the 11th round which ended with Lopez lifting his arms in a victory pose which the Scot replicated but less convincingly.

In the final round Taylor was again left unsteady on his feet after taking some shots with Lopez clearly believing he had won when the bell rang – the judges confirming that belief moments later.

American Crawford, who is the WBO welterweight champion and undefeated in 36 career bouts, ideally wishes to return when spectators are allowed back into venues once the coronavirus pandemic has eased sufficiently.

Pacquiao, 41, was previously a Top Rank fighter like Crawford but did not face him during that period.

His last fight was a split decision victory over Keith Thurman in July 2019, while Crawford, who is seeking a high-profile contest, stopped Egidijus Kavaliauskas in December.

The other options to fight Crawford are Kell Brook, Yordenis Ugas, Shawn Porter and Thurman.

"We're going to have Terence fight in September, or October, period," Arum said, per ESPN.

"We're looking to either match him with Pacquiao, Kell Brook, Ugas or Porter."

Of facing Pacquiao, Arum added to talkSPORT: "That's the opponent that I would most like Terence to fight, and I think he would.

"Now, that requires a lot of money and we've had proposals from the Mid-East. 

"I don't know whether the Mid-East venues will allow spectators this year, they may not allow it until there's a vaccine. That is the problem.

"We're hamstrung because none of these [venues] want to commit to a fight this year because of the coronavirus.

"Otherwise, we have to look for Terence Crawford to fight a major welterweight. There are a number that are possibilities. Thurman, Porter or this kid Ugas, the Cuban who is a good, good welterweight.

"They're with Al [Haymon's] company PBC, but we're working well together with that company, so I don't think that'll be a problem.

"And then finally there is Kell Brook, whose management contacts me on almost a weekly basis.

"So the first possibility is Pacquiao, if that's possible. Second possibility is a fight against one of Al's guys. And the third possibility is Kell Brook if we can get him in the United States."

Crawford unleashed a flurry of punches in round nine to a wobbly Spence who could not defend himself, forcing the referee to step in and stop the fight.

It took just two rounds for Crawford to land his first of three knockdowns, with the next two coming in round seven.

Spence was brave throughout the bout, hanging on in a fight he was significantly behind in, but eventually Crawford took it out of his hands.

Crawford showed his respect to his downed opponent after the fight and said he would be up for a rematch.

“It was a good stoppage. I was on the verge. The referee did what he was supposed to do to protect the fighter,” Crawford said.

“If the fight happens again I am pretty sure the support will come out again for both of us.”

Usyk outclassed the Briton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year, claiming the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.

The Ukrainian was challenged more in the rematch in Jeddah on Saturday, but produced a near-perfect display in the later rounds to defend his world heavyweight champion status with a split-decision victory.

One judge scored the fight 115-113 in Joshua's favour, while another had the same result for Usyk, with the third decisively awarding Usyk a 116-112 success.

An enraged Joshua picked up the belts after the fight before throwing them down, prior to returning to the ring to launch a bizarre yet impassioned rant on his background and Usyk's skills.

Joshua has now lost three of his past five fights, all of them for world titles, and could not hide his emotions at the post-fight press conference.

"It's really, really hard for me to say I'm proud of myself," he said. "I'm upset, really, deep down in my heart."

On his actions after the conclusion of the fight, Joshua added: "When you try and do things from your heart, not everyone is going to understand," Joshua explained.

"It was just from the heart. I knew I was mad at myself. Not at anyone, just myself. I was like 'I got to get out of here because I'm mad'.

"When you're angry you might do stupid things. Then I realised this is sport. I came back and did the right thing.

"I'm a fighter for life. That hunger never dies. Fighter for life."

Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Joshua, labelled his fighter an idol within world sport as he echoed the sentiments that the 32-year-old will not retire.

"This is someone who I want my kids to look up to," Hearn added. "If he's out in public, he gives everyone his time. He's one of the nicest guys. He's a competitor and winner.

"What you saw was raw emotion. A real person who wanted to win badly."

The 37-year-old is set to break a six-year layoff with an eight-round super lightweight bout this Saturday in Santa Marta, Colombia, against local fighter Luis Diaz Marmol.

In recent years, Walters had been visiting the boxing gym to keep in shape but admits he “wasn’t really serious about fighting” until experts around the gym encouraged him to come out of retirement.

“After sparring with other fighters here in Panama, my coach and other coaches asked me to come back to the sport,” Walters said.

“I was making it very difficult for the guys that I was sparring with, so everyone was saying I should make a comeback,” added Walters, who boasts a solid ring record of 26 wins (21 kos) against one loss and one draw.

The 29-year-old Marmol brings an aggressive style to this Walters bout and upset unbeaten Colombian prospect Diego Silva his last time out. Marmol has a ring record of 19 wins (11 kos) against 16 losses.

Originally from Montego Bay on Jamaica’s north coast, Walters became the first Jamaican ever to win a world boxing title at home when he defeated Daulis Prescott on December 8, 2012 in Kingston via a seventh round TKO. He will be fighting for the first time since 2016 but has been actively training for months.

Walters has also enlisted the services of well-respected manager Gabriel Barron as he returns in a weight class 14 pounds above his title-winning featherweight division. In his last bout on November 20, 2016, Walters quit against Vasiliy Lomachenko after being dominated by the outstanding Ukrainian for seven rounds in Nevada, USA.

Walters had turned pro in 2008 after an amateur career that included bronze at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games and two gold medals at the Caribbean Championships in 2005 and 2006. Within a few years he became one of the world’s most exciting fighters of the lower weight divisions after defeating big names like Nonito Donaire and Vic Darchinyan.

Despite years of talk, a bout between the British former world champions has yet to materialise.

The prospect of the pair facing off appeared to be over, with Khan absent from the ring since beating Billy Dib in July 2019.

However, the 34-year-old is motivated to make a return in 2021 and has set his sights on Brook, whose most recent fight was a stoppage loss to Terence Crawford five months ago.

Should the British showdown get the green light, Khan would love it to be hosted at the iconic Old Trafford, rather than in the Far East or the United States like his last two fights.

"I was on the phone to Eddie [Hearn]. I said, 'Let's get the fight made'. We're not getting a clear response from Kell's team, that they want to take the fight," he told Sky Sports.

"It has been a fight that we've been talking about and it obviously didn't happen because I was campaigning in America, fighting over there.

"When I came back to the UK, I had mandatories. I had to defend my titles.

"But I think now is the right time to make that fight happen with Kell. We have both been world champions. We're both British and in the north as well. 

"Imagine making a huge fight like that happen at the Old Trafford football stadium. It would be a massive fight."

Khan has won 34 of his 39 professional fights, 21 of those by knockout, while Brook has 39 wins and 27 knockouts from 42 bouts.

Bolton-born Khan is confident he can still challenge for titles, but first he wants the chance to finally settle an old score with Brook.

"Look, I'm still up there in the top 10 in the world," he said. "Getting a world title fight I don't think will be a problem.

"But what would be even bigger than a world title, because I've won a world title before, would be a British rivalry fight between myself and Kell Brook.

"That's something that would be big in Britain. I don't know how big it would be in America, but I know for a fact that us both being British, it would be a massive showcase here."

Twenty applicants had enrolled in the course that ran from October 13 to November 5. However, six men and seven women completed the course. It was the first time that this many women were being trained as boxing officials in Jamaica.

"We covered the duties and responsibilities of referees and judges.  We looked at things the referee should do before the bout, during the bout and after the bout,” said Kevin Stupart, AIBA certified instructor, who conducted the course.

“The reason we broke that down into three segments was for ease and simplicity in terms of teaching it and letting them understand the different fundamentals as it relates to boxing officiating."

Toniann Lindsay, one of the graduates expressed her satisfaction at being able to complete the intensive course.

 "I wanted to be one that passed. I didn't want to be come through and drop out because it wasn't just 13 of us that started the course but 13 of us finished strong,” she said.

“We learned a lot in this course.  We learned the roles and responsibilities of both being a judge and a referee.  It was a very interesting course and I am so elated to be here right now at this ceremony collecting my certificate.  (I) look forward to Friday as we will also be displaying what we have learnt.  I just want to thank everyone who made this possible."

Jamaica Boxing Board President Stephen 'Bomber' Jones and Chester McCarthy, Athletic Director at GC Foster College both welcomed the first cohort of trainees.

“This will first of all allow us to have more activity on the same evening or closer bouts, week to week as we are looking to have closer bouts now,” Jones remarked.

“It will open our minds, expand our thinking as we try and get into high school boxing where we could have officials at multiple venues. Now that we have 13 officials graduating, its huge.  The graduates are very excited.  They are young, enthusiastic and they are willing to work so starting from this Friday they will be in the ring.”

McCarthy, meanwhile, expressed similar sentiments.

"I am extremely elated for the primary reason that this is the first time in five or six years that we have been able to train a fresh set of officials for boxing here in Jamaica,” he said.

It’s an extremely good feeling to have partnered with the Jamaica Boxing Association to train these youngsters."

 Come Friday, there will be nine amateur fights and a professional fight between Jermaine 'Breezy' Richards and Mason 'Common Fowl' Brown.

WBC champion Fury is set to fight Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO title-holder Usyk on May 18 in Saudi Arabia in the first undisputed world heavyweight bout of the century.

Regarding his opponent, the former unified cruiserweight champion who made his heavyweight debut in 2020, Fury told a press conference on Wednesday: “It’s not personal, it’s strictly business for both fighters. There’s a lot of stuff on the line, but I don’t hate him, he don’t hate me.

“I respect him, as a man, as a fighter. Everyone has to respect the man’s achievements. Good fighter – I have a tough challenge in front of me. But I’m very confident in my ability and I’m very confident I’ll beat the guy.

“When the cruiserweights step up to the big boys, usually they get found wanting. You can beat the average big ones but you can’t beat the elite big ones, because size really matters. We have weight divisions for a reason and he’s going to be found wanting when he fights me on May 18.

“This is my time, my destiny, my era and my generation. Fact.”

Fury's camp want Anthony Joshua to step aside from his planned rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after the latter's triumph in September.

That would allow Fury to go up against the Ukrainian in a heavyweight unification bout.

The Telegraph reported on Sunday that Joshua had agreed to forego the rematch and receive a £15million payout in return.

However, Joshua denied the claims a deal had been struck. Should nothing be agreed by Wednesday, then purse bids with Dillian Whyte – the WBC mandatory challenger – will go ahead, with that lined up as Fury's next fight instead.

In a video posted to his official social media channels on Tuesday, Fury, who defeated Deontay Wilder last year in the final fight of their trilogy contest, made it clear that he had had enough of waiting.

"Another gym session done, Tuesday morning smashed," the 33-year-old said.

"Tick tick tick effing tick tock is the subject of today. Is Dillian Whyte going to fight me? Is Anthony Joshua going to step aside?

"Let me know. Because I am sick of looking at these bums, sick of listening to their excuses.

"Tick tick tock. The time has run out of the bottle. You're all getting a good hiding – cowards."

Usyk, who is two years older than Fury, has won all 19 of his professional fights, including 13 knockouts.

Fury's record stands at 33 victories and one draw – the contentious first fight against Wilder in 2018.