The boxing world is mourning the death of another fighter after Nigeria’s Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju passed away shortly after collapsing in the ring on Saturday.

Oluwasegun, 40, was competing against John Mbangu at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana when he was seriously hurt in the third round of their contest.

The light-heavyweight, a former a former national and West African light-heavyweight champion, lost consciousness and received first aid on the scene.

He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead 30 minutes after his arrival.

Oluwasegun fought 23 times as a professional, winning 13 of those bouts – 12 of those coming via knockout.

The vast majority of his fights were fought in homeland, making the trip to Russia on five occasions.

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) issued a statement addressing the incident.

‘Oluwasegun was declared medically fit by the Nigeria Boxing Board Control with his certification as a professional boxer before the GBA sanctioned and approved the international contest.

‘Oluwasegun, a few seconds before the end of round 3, stepped back during the fight and leaned on the ropes with his back without any punch whatsoever from his opponent.

‘The referee, Richard Amevi, sensing danger, waved his hand for the end of the fight and immediately invited the ringside physician with the support of paramedics from the national ambulance service to attend to the boxer to help resuscitate him.

‘The GBA President reported the incident to the Korle Bu Police Station.

‘The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, was formally informed by the GBA President of the unfortunate incident.’

The general secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Remi Aboderin, told BBC Sport Africa: ‘We are really devastated,’ describing Oluwasegun as a ‘fearless ring warrior’.

‘[This] is not something we envisaged. We will live up to our responsibility and make sure that we stand [by] the family.’

Local reports claim Olanrewaju is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest but no cause of death has been confirmed.

Former British and Commonwealth boxing champion Lennox Clarke has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison after going on the run to evade capture.

Clarke, 33, was jailed for supplying cocaine to a drug dealer in Cheltenham having fled the UK for Ireland, Thailand and Mexico.

Gloucestershire Police found Clarke had met another dealer, Ben Goff, at least a dozen times.

Following Goff’s arrest in November 2023, Clarke left the UK, returning in March this year when he was arrested by police at his home.

After going on the run, Clarke, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, stayed at local hotels before travelling through Wales and onto Ireland.

Detective Inspector Matt Phillips explained Gloucestershire Police initially started receiving information about suspicious drug activity in 2024, hopeful Clarke’s sentencing will ‘give confidence to the community’ in reporting drug concerns.

‘That investigation led us to Ben Goff, an individual who had just moved back to Gloucestershire, and through him we made the link to Lennox Clarke.

‘Just after Goff got arrested, Clarke decided to go on the run for a number of months, initially staying in local hotels for a couple of nights, we think, trying to understand whether the police were coming for him,’ Det Insp Phillips said.

‘Then, he went out through Wales to Ireland, and spent some time on the run in Thailand, Mexico and other places until he returned to the UK and was arrested.’

Clarke was previously promoted by boxing legend Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions, winning 20 of his 23 professional bouts.

After winning his first 15 fights, he suffered a setback after sharing a draw with Karel Horejek in Birmingham but bounced back by winning the IBO Continental title in his next fight.

After racking up three more wins, Clarke fought Lerrone Richards for the British and Commonwealth super-middleweight titles, losing a split decision as he suffered the first defeat of his career.

He then fought undefeated prospect Willy Hutchinson for the same British and Commonwealth titles in March 2021.

Coming in as the underdog, Clarke produced a blistering knockout against his highly-rated opponent to win the belts.

Clarke lost the titles five months later to Mark Heffron and has not fought since.

Amir Khan has blasted Anthony Joshua for considering a fight with Jake Paul, warning it could remove him from the heavyweight world title picture for good.

Both Joshua and Paul have teased the possibility of a fight in 2026 in recent weeks with the American claiming the two-time heavyweight champion ‘has no chin and no skill’ after his damaging defeat to Daniel Dubois last year.

While the prospect of Joshua taking on the influencer who has just 12 professional fights on his record – the majority of which coming against former MMA fighters – would once have seemed fanciful, Eddie Hearn has confirmed the two have been in direct talks to make it happen.

After coasting to victory over Mike Tyson, an opponent 31 years older than him in October, Paul is determined to secure a fight with one of boxing’s biggest names.

While Joshua would be expected to win a convincing manner as he did against another boxing novice in Francis Ngannou last year, former world champion Khan warns even Paul ‘holding his own for a couple of rounds’ would be a problem for the Briton.

‘I think Jake Paul has been running his mouth about everyone, and some people were linking my name to him as well,’ Khan told Metro courtesy of SpinBit.

‘Jake Paul is the same guy who fought and beat Mike Tyson. AJ and Jake would make a good fight.

‘We all expect Jake to get knocked out in the first round, but Jake could cause a massive surprise, not in beating him but holding his own for a couple of rounds at least. It’s a tough one to call.’

Paul’s record includes fights with only four legitimate boxers – losing one of those to Tommy Fury in 2023. Andre August and Ryan Bourland were relatively unknown names in the sport with Paul accused of ‘preying on older legends’ in his win over Tyson.

Joshua would represent a completely different challenge and a major swerve for the Briton.

Joshua has not fought since his knockout defeat to Dubois, still recovering from an injury with a long-awaited showdown against Tyson Fury still seemingly no closer to materialising.

Joshua is not currently in line for a world title shot with IBF champion Dubois and WBO, WBA and WBC king Usyk on collision course with Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora two mandatory challengers in the mix.

And Khan, who hung up his gloves last year, warns any detour involving Paul could be the final nail in the coffin in Joshua’s bid to become a three-time world champion.

Asked if pursing the Paul fight reflects badly on Joshua and Hearn, Khan said: ‘Definitely, it does. If AJ goes in and wants to fight Jake Paul then people will look at the resume and say “what the f**k’, that’s bull***t.

‘Automatically, if AJ makes his mind up that he wants to fight a YouTuber for money then he’s never at the front of the line of fighting for a world title again because you can see that his heart would not be in it.

‘Anything can happen this is boxing but then again, is Anthony Joshua going to put it on the line as a two-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist?

‘He’s got everything going for him so why would he risk his career against a guy like Jake Paul?

‘He’s got a good contract with the Saudis and is making good money so I can’t see Turki wanting to make that fight. Then again, maybe AJ does take that fight.’

Eddie Hearn has warned Jake Paul that his head would be ‘removed from his neck’ if he enters the ring with Anthony Joshua.

Paul, 28, cruised to a controversial victory over veteran heavyweight icon Mike Tyson by unanimous decision last November and the YouTuber-turned boxer has ramped up talk of a proposed fight with Joshua this week.

Joshua is looking to return to winning ways in the wake of a crushing knockout defeat at the hands of Daniel Dubois six months ago, but an injury has put the 35-year-old Brit’s comeback on hold.

Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has confirmed his fighter would be open to facing off against Joseph Parker as a ‘final roll of the dice’ when he does eventually work his way back to full fitness.

A rematch with Dubois or a blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury have also been mooted as potential match-ups, though the latter appears a long way off after the Gypsy King seemingly retired from the sport at the start of the year.

Sensing an opportunity and a hefty payday, Paul made clear his intentions on his BS w/ Jake Paul podcast last week, directly calling out Joshua as his next opponent.

‘I want to fight Anthony Joshua because I know that I will f***ing beat Anthony Joshua’s a**,’ Paul said.

‘He doesn’t have a chin, and he has no skill and he’s stiff.’

Paul added: ‘I love you, Anthony.

‘We’re friends, all this s***, but I want to fight you.’

Joshua did little to dampen the speculation shortly after the podcast was released, reposting a screenshot of his recent phone call with Paul, along with the caption ‘2026’ and a shushing emoji.

But Hearn has taken a dim view of Paul’s antics and believes the ‘mad’ American risks serious injury should he agree to take on the ‘obscene’ challenge.

‘Jake might be mad enough to do it,’ Hearn told talkSPORT.

‘Because all Jake thinks about is the money, right? The money he will get for fighting AJ is obscene.

‘But he doesn’t take into consideration the medical consequences that would come for a fight like that.

‘There is potential that you may never see his head again after that fight.

‘It would be removed from his neck. But he’s just thinking, “£100m, that’s alright”.

‘You’ve got to be careful what you wish for to be honest with you.’

Hearn went on to question Paul’s offer to fight in 2026 but did not categorically rule out the possibility that Joshua ‘spark out’ the social media star should the opportunity arise.

‘He did say 2026. That’s a bit like saying I’m going to win gold in the surfing in the Olympics in 2028. You know what I mean? Why not now?’ Hearn added.

‘If you want to fight AJ, you’re not going to get any better. But look, we’re in that position.

‘When we had the World Heavyweight Championship and all that kind of stuff, if Jake Paul came out and said, fight us, obviously, we’d go, no, we’re trying to become undisputed.

‘But if someone slung a load of money at AJ and said, go and spark Jake Paul, I’d be pushing him in it myself.

‘It’s definitely not a fight that was on the radar for AJ. But in the mad world that we live in, I’d never say never.

‘The 2026 thing is a bit of a cop out. We’ll do it next if you want.’

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Daniel Dubois could defend his heavyweight world title against Derek Chisora in a thrilling domestic dust-up if a fight against Oleksandr Usyk cannot be agreed.

Chisora beat Otto Wallin on points in February in what was his 49^th professional fight, eager to take on one of the biggest names in fight no50 before retiring.

The 41-year-old named Anthony Joshua, Usyk and Dubois as potential opponents with the battle-hardened veteran looking to bow out in style later this year.

Dubois, who won the IBF title last year before demolishing Anthony Joshua in his first title defence six months ago, is eager to fight WBO, WBA and WBC champion Usyk in another undisputed showdown.

The situation is complicated however by Usyk being ordered to make a mandatory defence of his WBO belt against Joseph Parker.

Should the undisputed fight be put on hold, Chisora will be next in line for a crack at Dubois with his promoter Frank Warren confirming ‘Del Boy’ in the mandatory challenger for the IBF title.

“Chisora is [an IBF mandatory],” promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports.

“He won it in his last fight and everyone knew what the fight was going to be for. He is the mandatory to our man, ‘Dangerous Dan [Dubois]’, so that’s the position he’s in.”

Chisora’s previous world title challenges came 10 years apart in 2012 and 2022 respectively against Vitali Klitschko and Tyson Fury.

‘He wants a big fight to go out on. Eddie [Hearn] and I have had a couple of chats today and in due course will let people know our views on what we’ll do,’ Warren continued.

‘We both have been involved in his career, he started off with me, been with me a long time, was with me for the last few fights.

;We want to deliver that 50th fight. I want to work something between us that we both [Warren and Hearn] walk him out.’

After beating Wallin in Manchester, Chisora unveiled a list of possible opponents with old pal Joshua among them.

The two have been friends since Joshua first came through their Finchley gym almost two decades ago with a meeting between the two seemingly a non-runner.

‘It’s probably not something I would put to AJ but seeing as they are mates, they may be having that conversation?’ Hearn told Metro last month.

‘If they fancy it themselves there will be plenty of interest and money involved so I wouldn’t be one to get in the way. You can never really predict Derek.’

George Foreman is regarded as a legend in boxing and in the kitchen thanks to his iconic grill – but he nearly lost out to Hulk Hogan on the deal of a lifetime.

The former world heavyweight champion, who has died at the age of 76, was involved in one of the most iconic fights in boxing history, known as Rumble In The Jungle, where he lost to Muhammad Ali in Zaire in 1974.

But Foreman, who also became the oldest heavyweight world champion in history, amassed his fortune outside of the ring by endorsing his George Foreman ‘Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine’.

The double-sided grill, which was invented by Michael Boehm and endorsed by Foreman, was a huge success worldwide, selling over 100 million units since 1994.

Foreman revealed that following the last fight of his professional career in 1997 – a defeat to Shannon Briggs – he received a $1 million royalty bonus for the grill.

Foreman later revealed just how lucrative the grill endorsement continued to be during his retirement.

‘There were months I was being paid $8 million per month,’ he told AARP.

However, the George Foreman Grill as we know it may never have existed if Hulk Hogan had answered a phone call before the product launched.

It was initially claimed that Hogan passed up the chance to endorse the grill and instead picked a meatball maker.

‘He [Hogan] gave me some investment advice because his manager said to him, ‘You should get into these things, kitchen appliances, put your name on something’,’ Avatar star Sam Worthington said in 2011.

‘The Hulk said, ‘Well, what have you got?’ The manager said, ‘Well, I’ve got this meatball maker, it pounds the meatballs’. The Hulk went, ‘That’s fantastic, I want the Hulkamania Meatball Maker’.

‘The manager goes, ‘what about the other thing?’ He goes, ‘Ah, give that to your other client.’ The other client turned out to be George Foreman, it was the grill! So George Foreman’s made $300 billion and how many people own a Hulkamania Meatball Maker?’

However, in an interview with The Herd in 2019, Hogan claimed that he actually missed the phone call which offered him the endorsement and was instead lumbered with the Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer, which flopped.

Asked if passed up on the George Foreman Grill, Hogan replied: ‘Stop, that’s not true.

‘My kids were upset because I was always picking them up late from school. So I said, ‘I’m going to beat all these soccer moms today’, and went to McDonalds, got a cooler, had everything ready, and got to the school at like 2:30, instead of 3:30, and now I’ve finally got all the soccer moms behind me and my kids excited I got there early.

‘Then I get home and press the old school voicemail recorder machine and it says. ‘Hey Hulk, this is Sam Perlmutter, I’ve got a grill and I’ve got a blender and I’m going to call you and George [Foreman] to see who wants it.’ I wasn’t there to answer the call, so when I call Sam back he said George took the grill.

‘So basically, $550 million later, George got the ‘Lean, Mean Grilling Machine’ and I got a blender that when you put double-AA batteries in, it would fart and then turn off.’

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It was 4:30 in the morning when 32-year-old Muhammad Ali finally climbed through the ropes in the still-sweltering air of the 20^th of May Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire.

It was the final step in a seven-year odyssey to reclaim the heavyweight world championship having had his crown taken from him by forces outside the world of boxing. The monstrous George Foreman – who passed away at the age of 76 – was now in possession of the belts and deemed the new king.

What is regarded as one of the best fights in history barely tells half the story. The journey to Rumble In The Jungle remains one of the most remarkable in boxing history and in a game where the line between sport and spectacle is so routinely blurred, it has still stood the test of time. 50 years on, its legacy is still felt.

Following the tragic death of Foreman, who leaves behind an untouchable legacy and a huge fortune, Metro looks back on how the fight represented something much more significant socially, culturally and politically, with former world champion Johnny Nelson recalling its impact on him and his own career as a Black British fighter in our exclusive interview.

The players

Ten years before events in Zaire – now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo – Ali ascended to the summit of heavyweight boxing, beating Sonny Liston inside six rounds to become world champion. Still known as Cassius Clay, that victory catapulted him into the stratosphere. Much more than a fighter, Ali was a voice for the oppressed, an irresistible entertainer and a true people’s champion.

But three years later, after nine title defences that took him across the US and twice to London, he was stripped of his world championship and banned from boxing for three years. Ali’s refusal to serve in the Vietnam War on religious grounds – a decision he was almost sent to jail for – derailed his career. He returned to the ring in 1971 but defeats to Joe Frazier and Ken Norton prompted questions whether his best days were behind him. But Ali avenged those losses and was back on track to reclaim the biggest prize again.

Amid all this, there was a new player in town. After winning gold in the 1968 Olympics, the gargantuan Foreman had set about knocking out everyone in his path with his formidable presence and destructive punching power redrawing the heavyweight division’s landscape. Frazier and Norton – the two men Ali lost to after his return to the sport – were both demolished by Foreman inside two rounds.

Between the two men was Don King. While he would become one of boxing’s most notorious and controversial figures, the small-time bookie turned promoter was relatively unknown at this stage. King, always a silver-tongued salesman, promised Ali and Foreman $5million each to get on board, sums that would see them eclipse the lifetime earnings of their contemporaries Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano. But there was one hitch in the plan; King did not have the money.

The setting

Instead, King found someone who did. That man was Mobutu Sese Seko, the despotic dictator who had seized power of Zaire nine years earlier in a bloody coup. Mobutu agreed to finance the fight, on the provision it took place in his country.

As expected, he kept a tight grip and his influence on proceedings was huge. Before christened the ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’, the fight was controversially billed as ‘From the Slave Ship to Championship’. The evocative and controversial sell was deemed to go too far after a public outcry. Unimpressed, Mobutu was said to have ordered all posters around the city to be torn down and destroyed.

Among the many verbal jabs Ali threw in the run up to the fight was a remark aimed at any reporters having the cheek to predict a win for Foreman. ’When you get to Africa, Mobutu’s people are gonna put you in a pot, cook you, and eat you’. Mobutu was not amused with the suggestion the locals were cannibals, not part of the modern image he had in mind for the nation.

Ali and Foreman were originally scheduled to fight on September 25 but five days before the opening bell, disaster struck when the champion was cut open by a stray elbow in a sparring session. The show was pushed back five weeks with both men ordered to remain in the country – blocked from leaving by Mobutu who feared if either man did head home, they would not return.

The fight

‘People thought Foreman would crucify Muhammad Ali. This was the young superstar who was destroying everyone around him. But Ali had already been the superstar. His skill made history that night.’

Back in the US, the fight was beamed into theatres across the country via closed-circuit television with its 4:30am start time in place to satisfy that American audience. Over the years, it has been claimed the television audience across the world was close to one billion – accounting for around a quarter of the world’s population at the time.

Ali was a wide outsider with the bookmakers; the ageing superstar up against a man in destructive form in Foreman. But Ali soaked up the best the beast had to offer and introduced perhaps boxing’s most infamous example of strategic improvisation to seize victory.

It was the night ‘rope-a-dope’ was born and unleashed to the world, with Ali parking himself on the ring ropes and sapping his rival’s energy before delivering a devastating counterattack in the eighth round. Floored with a vicious right hand and succumbing to fatigue, Foreman was flattened as Ali’s second world title coronation was completed on the home soil of his ancestors. 

The legacy

Talk to any boxer from the last 50 years and invariably, the Rumble in the Jungle comes up. Be it through dusty old VHS tapes or YouTube clips, the fight has been dissected by generation after generation of fighters, each looking to glean something new or to soak up the sheer scale of it all over and over again.

Johnny Nelson counts himself among them. The former cruiserweight world champion was just seven years old at the time and as he began making his first trips down the gym in Sheffield to lace up a pair of gloves, it played a role in his own development as a fighter. But on a deeper level, it provided a glimpse of the enormous stage Black fighters could now make their own.

‘It made people like me want boxing to be my life,’ Nelson told Metro. ‘It put the sport on a completely different level and it inspired so many. Ask any fighter, regardless of where they were born, and he or she will be able to pull something from that fight that spoke to him or her. That is every single fighter out there.

‘To see two Black men in Zaire get the word’s attention like that was what dreams were made of.

‘Watching that as a young Black kid, you knew it could be done. “That is someone who looks like me. If they can do it, I can do it”. Before then, it wasn’t thought possible, to get to that level where the world stops and watches. But it was there in front of us. They showed there was a way. It was a precedent and for countless Black British fighters, this had a huge influence. The whole world was talking about it.’

Culturally, Rumble in the Jungle was a milestone. ‘History was being made and at the time we didn’t realise how much it was shaping our sport,’ Nelson continued. ‘Ali made boxing a worldwide sport and inspired generation after generation regarding how much they get paid and making them understand it is not about just being a good boxer but being a personality. Whether people like you or loathe you. Ali was the first to capture that.

‘Don King was at the heart of it. This razzle dazzle, this arrogance, trying to make it showbusiness. You were still fighting boxing snobbery and racism so for a Black promoter like King to come in and do such braggadocios things in such a politically sensitive country… it was scoffed at. The elites in the sport said it couldn’t be done. “Don’t trust this man”. There was a lot done to try and trip him up. Regardless of what you think of King, he set it up.’

Heavyweight boxing has remained the sport’s blue-riband division since those glory days. From the brilliant, absorbing chaos of the 90s led by Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and its other ferocious contenders to Saudi Arabia’s modern-day quest to dominate the sport, there have been spectacular nights that have seen boxing become the only topic worth talking about.

But none have quite managed it like Rumble In the Jungle.

‘It is 50 years of influence,’ Nelson said. ‘They’ve made countless movies to try recreate what is was about. This bled through across society and culture across generations. There are certain things you remember and this is one of them. It was part of our history. And people don’t realise that until it’s gone.

‘Look at the big shows now. It is not just about putting bums on seats. It is about showbusiness. The story behind the show. There has got to be a reason for people to come and watch.

‘It doesn’t matter what your skill level is, you need that as part of it. There’s got to be something capturing the imagination. Today’s version of the sport has learned massive lessons. How to tell a story. We now know much money can be made. That has been the blueprint for everything since.’

George Foreman leaves behind an enormous legacy in the ring and outside of it following the death of the heavyweight boxing legend aged 76.

‘Big George’ reigned as world champion twice during a storied career at the top – once as America’s most feared young fighter and then again as the oldest champion in history 21 years apart.

The hard-hitting heavyweight was outclassed by Muhammad Ali in 1974, losing his first world title and retiring from the sport three years later.

In need of money after almost becoming homeless, he returned to the sport a decade later and would soon mount another title charge, making history in 1994 when he beat Michael Moorer.

Foreman’s decision to return to boxing was largely a financial one. But it was a venture away from the sport that saw him earn a fortune that would dwarf the earnings he collected in the ring by endorsing the George Foreman Grill.

What was George Foreman’s net worth?

Foreman’s net worth stands at around $300million with the majority of that wealth coming from his work with the Foreman Grill which launched in 1994.

Foreman was the face of the product that went onto sell over 100 million units with his natural charm and charisma helping it become a house hold item.

Prior to that deal, Foreman’s biggest payday in boxing was the $5million he banked for fighting Ali at Rumble In the Jungle in 1974.

Both men were paid up by Mobutu Sese Seko, the despotic dictator who had seized power of Zaire where the historic fight was held.

How much did George Foreman make from the grill?

Foreman was selected to be the face of the double-sided grill which was invented by Michael Boehm. At its peak, Foreman was earning $4.5million a month from the endorsement, banking 40 per cent of the profits on each grill sold.

That was until Salton Inc paid him $138million in 1999 to acquire rights to use his name. Foreman continued to promote the product after that.

While Foreman has never disclosed the exact amount he earned from endorsing the grill, it is estimated he made over $200m over the years from the deal.

How did George Foreman go from boxing to grill endorsement?

The George Foreman Grill was officially launched in 1994, the same year the heavyweight recaptured the world title at the age of 45.

The partnership was a huge success, helped by Foreman’s affability and enthusiasm having providing the tagline ‘It’s so good I put my name on it!’

Foreman would fight on for three more years, retiring after defeat to Shannon Briggs. By that point, people unfamiliar with his boxing legacy now knew exactly who he was.

Foreman’s new life as an entrepreneur netted huge profits and introduced the world to a side of the man seldom seen during his destructive rise in boxing.

‘They’re calling me day and night. I was selling myself so successfully that they said, “Let him sell our stuff,’” Foreman told Forbes in 2019.

‘These people came to me and said they wanted to go in on a joint venture with me for the grill. I didn’t have any idea it would sell. Next thing you know, I had sold 500. Then 5,000. Then we sold 5 million of those things. If I told you that I could see that coming, I’d be lying.’

Mike Tyson has led the tributes to George Foreman following the death of the heavyweight legend.

Foreman’s family announced the death of the former world champion on Friday night with ‘their hearts broken’ after the loss of ‘Big George’ at the age of 76.

He leaves behind a staggering legacy in boxing, having won gold for USA at the 1968 Olympics before becoming one of the most feared world champions in the sport.

Foreman fought Muhammad Alli at the legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ and was crowned the oldest world champion in history in 1994.

Foreman is remembered as one of the most ferocious punchers in boxing history with tributes quickly pouring in for the American.

Another heavyweight legend in Mike Tyson was among the first to pass on his message of support to the Foreman family.

‘Condolences to George Foreman’s family,” Tyson said on social media, sharing pictures of the two together. ‘His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.’

Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum said: ‘George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family. We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.’

Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew wrote: ‘RIP to one of the greatest human beings to ever put on boxing gloves.. This man was truly amazing!

‘There is no doubt imo he’s the greatest puncher boxing has ever seen.. Rest easy king the world is a lesser place without you.’

A statement from the Foreman family released overnight said: ‘Our hearts are broken.

‘With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones.

‘A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.

‘A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.

‘We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.’

Heavyweight boxing legend George Foreman has died aged 76.

Foreman fought Muhammad Ali in one of boxing’s most historic fights, Rumble In The Jungle, and was also the oldest heavyweight world champion in history.

Away from boxing, Foreman achieved worldwide fame as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which sold over 100 million units.

A statement released by his family on his Instagram account said he died peacefully on Friday ‘surrounded by loved ones’.

After winning gold at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, Foreman entered boxing’s professional ranks as one of the most feared young fighters in the sport, ploughing through the division as he left a trail of destruction in his wake.

After winning 35 of his first 38 fights by brutal knockout, Foreman was crowned world champion after flattening Joe Frazier in 1973, coming in as the underdog but knocking the champion down six times as he stunned the world.

Foreman went onto defend the title against Ken Norton the following year, putting the challenger away inside two rounds.

It set up Rumble In The Jungle, boxing’s most celebrated night, taking on Ali who was returning to the sport after seven years in exile.

In Zaire, Foreman fell victim to Ali’s ‘rope-a-dope’ tactics, punching himself out before Ali went in for the kill in the eighth round.

Foreman fought six more times, suffering another defeat to Jimmy Young. Having been left questioning his ability since the Ali defeat, he retired after the Young defeat to become an ordained minister.

He spent the next 10 years away from boxing but at the age of 38, he stunned the world again by announcing his return.

While many questioned what the overweight veteran could accomplish against a new generation of fighters, Foreman racked up 24 more wins to earn a world title shot against Evander Holyfield.

He fell short that night, also failing in a title bid against Tommy Morrison in 1993, but the following year he made history.

In November 1994 aged 45, Foreman took on WBA and IBF champion Michael Moorer, reclaiming the world titles with a devastating 10^th round knockout.

Foreman defended the title three times before a controversial defeat to Shannon Briggs in 1997, hanging up his gloves for good shortly after.

While his return to boxing was profitable, it was with the George Foreman Grill that made his fortune. Launched the year of his final world title success, his affable personality and enthusiasm turned the product into a household must-have.

Foreman was married five times, most recently to Mary Joan Martelly whom he wed in 1985. He is also survived by 12 children including five sons all named George.

A statement from the Foreman family said: ‘Our hearts are broken. With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones.

‘A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.

‘A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.

‘We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.’

Anthony Joshua is eager to fight Jake Paul, according to Eddie Hearn, with the two already in direct contact to make it happen.

Paul last fought in October when he beat another former heavyweight champion – albeit one 31 years older than him in Mike Tyson –and is now desperate to secure a bout with another of the sport’s biggest names.

In Thursday, ‘The Problem Child’ directly called out Joshua, insisting the two-time world champion ‘doesn’t have a chin and has no skill’.

In response, Joshua fuelled the fire, posting a screenshot of a video call with the American, tagging him with the caption ‘2026’.

Joshua’s promoter Hearn has now revealed the fight is a very realistic prospect.

‘For me, we’d do it for the banter,’ Hearn told DAZN.

‘AJ would fight Jake Paul. He would fight anyone to be honest with you. And if Jake Paul wants to step up and fight Anthony Joshua, he will need the relevant insurance.

‘But the only thing that was disappointing is that he said 2026. Do it in 2025 if you really want to do it.

‘But those two have spoken, I spoke to AJ this morning and he went, “of course, I’ll fight him”.

‘Jake creates massive events, unbelievable viewership and no disrespect to Jake Paul but it’s a straight forward night’s work.

‘I like this calling out of Canelo [Alvarez] and others. AJ is another chance. But if they are game, why not?’

Asked again what Joshua said in response to the challenge, Hearn continued: “He said, “why not? Tell everyone I’ll fight anyone. It is not a problem for me.’

Paul has won 11 of his 12 professional bouts to date, beaten by another relative novice in Tommy Fury in 2023.

Joshua meanwhile has not fought since his devastating knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois six months ago, still recovering from an unspecified injury that could delay his return to the ring until September.

Fighting Paul would represent a major swerve for Joshua who has been determined to become a three-time heavyweight champion or finally meet Tyson Fury in the ring.

‘Before he retires he wants to become the heavyweight world champion again, and become a three-time champion, so he is going to want to go after whoever has the belt,’ Hearn told Metro last month.

‘I get that everyone wants to know about AJ’s next moves, but we haven’t had that conversation yet.

‘There will be plenty of time for these types of conversations. There is no secret that he wanted the Tyson Fury fight – but now he is retired then he has to go for the world championship.’

Former heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno has spoken out after a ‘tough few weeks’ having fallen ‘seriously ill’ on a long-haul flight earlier this month.

Bruno was supposed to be heading on to Thailand as part of a speaking tour but fell ill midway through the first part of his long-haul journey.

The father of four was treated by airport medics after landing in Doha, Qatar with a ‘feverish’ condition before being taken to hospital for further tests.

The Sun reported that the British boxing icon was then kept in Al Wakra Hospital hospital for two weeks with his passport taken away to prevent him from leaving.

The heavyweight legend has now provided an update on his condition, confirming it was a ‘viral infection’ that hospitalised him.

Bruno regularly makes speaking appearances at functions across the country but for now has been advised not to return to work.

‘Morning so my illness story is out! Now you know why I have been quiet on social media,’ Bruno wrote on X.

‘The last 3 weeks have been tough especially not knowing what was wrong with me and a Viral infection can mean loads of things between Dave [Davies, Bruno’s manager] in the office and me we’ll keep you informed.

‘At the moment I am told I cannot go to work so for the jobs last week and this weekend please accept my apology however the office is telling me most bookers want to transfer the booked dates. The office tells me already this morning hundreds of messages from well wishers so thank you. Cant wait to get back to work.’

Bruno’s manager Davies told The Sun: ‘Frank was flying out to work in Thailand when he was taken ill on the plane at Doha.

‘Medical crew attended Frank on the plane and at hospital. He’s now recovering and hopes to be back at work as soon as possible.’

Prior to taking off on the flight, Bruno had posted a picture on Facebook from his plan seat with the caption: ‘Morning so the Frank Bruno World tour continues. Up early for a plane, I don’t sleep well on planes but trying to catch up on some zzzzzzzzzzzs.’

However, the former boxer soon began to feel ill, with his condition deteriorating as the journey went on.

‘Frank was in a bad way and was sweating profusely and had fever-like symptoms,’ a source told the Sun.

‘Doctors were really worried and carried out all sorts of tests, including for meningitis. They then diagnosed him with a viral infection, which at least meant they could start treating him.’

Bruno was scheduled for a four-talk tour, starting in Pattaya before moving on to Bangkok, Hua Hin and Koh Phangan.

‘In typical Frank fashion, he was more worried about supposedly letting his fans down,’ the Sun’s source added.

“He is massively popular in Thailand and a lot of expats go to his shows. But there was nothing he could do. Thankfully he’s now on the mend.’

It is hoped that Bruno, given an MBE for services to boxing in 1990, will complete a full recovery in time to fulfil UK tour commitments in May and June.

In his prime, Bruno was one of the biggest names in British sport in the late 1980s and 90s, a ferocious and endearing heavyweight with 38 of his 40 victories in the ring coming via knockout.

His crowning moment came in 1995 when he beat Oliver McCall at Wembley to win the WBC heavyweight title on home soil.

The Londoner also twice shared the ring with Mike Tyson in 1989 and 1996 with that second meeting proving to be his last fight before he retired with a record of 40 wins and five losses.

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Jake Paul has been mocked on social media after the YouTuber-turned-boxer claimed he would easily beat two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Paul most recently fought last November when he beat 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a blockbuster event watched by a reported 60 million households around the world.

The American, who has won 11 of his 12 professional bouts, looked to have agreed another megafight with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez before the Mexican pound-for-pound great instead chose to fight Terence Crawford.

Paul remains on the lookout for his next high-profile opponent and boldly called out British heavyweight Joshua whose most recent fight was a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois.

‘I know my boundaries,’ he said on his podcast BS w/ Jake Paul. ‘I want to fight Anthony Joshua because I know that I will f****** beat Anthony Joshua’s arse.

‘He doesn’t have a chin, and he has no skill and he’s stiff. And I love you, Anthony. We’re friends, all this s***, but I want to fight you.’

While Joshua lost his most recent fight, the 35-year-old is still a two-time world champion who boasts a five-inch height and 25-pound weight advantage over Paul.

And upon hearing Paul’s bold call-out and outrageous prediction on social media, many boxing fans were keen to mock his chances in a potential match-up between the pair.

‘AJ would snap his neck with a jab,’ former boxer and current trainer Dave Coldwell said.

’10 seconds is all it would take [for AJ to win], DAZN broadcaster Ade Oladpio added.

‘I admire the confidence/immense delusion Jake Paul has. It’s what brought him success in his social media career and forays to the ring. But this is the height of absurdity,’ combat sports journalist Chisanga Malata responded.

Others were keen to point out that Paul had already lost to Tommy Fury, the half-brother of Tyson Fury and a boxer of far less pedigree than Joshua, while one fan simply wrote: ‘Define delusional’.

Joshua, meanwhile, appeared to issue a response to Paul’s call-out, posting a screenshot of a call with the American on his Instagram alongside the caption: ‘2026’.

The British heavyweight is still eyeing up a return to the ring following his crushing defeat to Dubois, but promoter Eddie Hearn said his comeback had been delayed a few months due to an unspecified injury.

Asked about Joshua’s injury, Hearn said: ‘Top-half of his body, there you go.

‘Nothing major but it means that he’s been returning to training and it’s not quite ready to turn back to camp.

‘He needs about another eight weeks until he can punch properly, you’re looking at what, April-May till he can start camp properly so it leads us to the back end of the summer.’

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Anthony Joshua’s return to the boxing ring has been delayed until September at the earliest due to a mystery injury.

The 35-year-old has not fought since his crushing defeat to Daniel Dubois at a sold-out Wembley Stadium last September, missing the chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion when he was knocked out in the fifth round.

A rematch was initially discussed for February, plans which were scrapped due to Joshua needing more time to prepare.

‘There are always niggles and he had a few so physically it’s just a case of whether AJ is ready to do that,’ his promoter Eddie Hearn said last October.

Joshua remains desperate to become a three-time world champion and has repeatedly spoken of his desire to secure a long-awaited showdown against Tyson Fury – who announced his retirement from boxing in February.

But any plans for that fight will be on hold until the second-half of the year.

Hearn would not specify the exact nature of Joshua’s injury but stressed his fighter will not be able to start training camp until April or May.

Asked about Joshua’s injury, Hearn said: ‘Top-half of his body, there you go.

‘Nothing major but it means that he’s been returning to training and it’s not quite ready to turn back to camp.

‘He needs about another eight weeks until he can punch properly, you’re looking at what, April-May till he can start camp properly so it leads us to the back end of the summer.’

In February, Hearn explained there had been no concrete discussions with Joshua over his next opponent.

‘I get that everyone wants to know about AJ’s next moves, but we haven’t had that conversation yet,’ Hearn told Metro.

‘There will be plenty of time for these types of conversations. There is no secret that he wanted the Tyson Fury fight – but now he is retired then he has to go for the world championship.’

Following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua embarked on a thrilling 11-month run where he racked up four wins on the bounce against Jermain Franklim, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.

Defeat to Dubois however has, temporarily at least, removed him from the world title picture.

Dubois was set to defend his IBF heavyweight title against Joseph Parker in February but was forced to withdraw just days before the opening bell due to illness.

Parker has since been named the mandatory challenger for the WBO title, one of the three belts currently in Oleksandr Usyk’s possession.

But Usyk and Dubois could still meet first to crown an undisputed champion in the summer.

While Fury has so far remained out of boxing’s spotlight since his latest retirement, Hearn is still hopeful he will reverse that decision to set up a Battle of Britain with Joshua later in the year.

‘In my deluded head, Fury comes out retirement at some point in the next few months, and they end up fighting this year,’ Hearn recently told Boxing Scene.

‘But again, no guarantee. Nothing’s led me to think that. I just think that at some point Tyson Fury is gonna sit there and go, “F**k it.”.

‘It’s the biggest fight to make and it’s not like he’s deteriorating. It’s not like he looked shot against Usyk; he just got beat by the better man.’

World champion boxer Nick Ball floored his opponent TJ Doheny with a wild kick in their title fight in Liverpool.

Ball, 28, put his WBA featherweight title on the line in his home city with bizarre scenes unfolding at the end of the opening round.

After an exchange in the corner of the ring, Doheny appeared to be holding Ball in a headlock after the bell had rung.

Ball responded by aiming a kick at the Irish fighter who fell to the mat with gasps coming from the crowd.

Referee Michael Alexander spoke sternly to both fighters who amicably touched gloves at the start of the second round with the fight continuing.

Ball, who won his world title last summer in a wonderful win over Raymond Ford, piled on the pressure during the second-half of the fight, catching Doheny with shuddering shots upstairs and to the body.

38-year-old Doheny was throwing little back but stood his ground valiantly, absorbing huge damage as he survived another relentless attack in the 10th round.

In between rounds, the decision was made by Doheny’s corner to pull their man out and rescue him from further pain.

Ball remains undefeated in 23 fights with his only blemish his hugely contentious draw with Rey Vargas last year, a fight many believed the Liverpudlian won.

‘In there, it’s going to be tricky. It’s a world title fight in my own city. Sometimes I can rush in. The main thing is taking my time and it paid off,’ Ball said post-fight.

‘They [the crowd] want to see all the action. Obviously, I can box and go all action. I felt him getting tired with the pace I was setting.’

Ball is eager to test himself against pound-for-pound superstar Naoya Inoue, the Japanese fighter who has demolished every opponent in his way to claim world titles in four different weight classes.

Ball’s promoter Frank Warren is eager to make the first happen within the next 12 months.

‘That happens, it’d be towards the end of the year or maybe early next year but that’s the plan,’ Warren told TNT Sports.

British boxer Charlie Edwards was booed by the crowd and labelled a ‘disgrace’ by viewers after ‘running around the ring’ in his title fight against Andrew Cain.

Edwards’ took his hit and move tactics perhaps a little far in their 12-round contest in Liverpool on Saturday night.

From the third round, the former WBC flyweight champion danced away from his opponent, backing off to the ropes to avoid being hit and seemed reluctant to throw shots of his own. The Londoner also stopped to showboat, holding his hands behind his back and inviting his opponent to come forward.

Edwards continued to relentlessly circle the ring in the fourth and fifth rounds much to Cain’s frustration in an ugly watch with boos coming down from the bemused crowd.

Jeers continued to come with the house DJ, responsible for blasting tunes in between rounds, even joining in on the fun.

Following the 10^th round, ‘Runnin’ by Naughty Boy blared out followed by the Chase and Status track of the same name after the 11^th.

Edwards believed his unpopular tactics were enough to get the win, celebrating with his team after the final bell.

But much to the delight of practically everyone inside the M&S Bank Arena, Cain was declared the winner via split decision, taking the British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles.

Former world champion Carl Frampton scored the fight a draw but was happy to see Cain get the decision after watching Edwards’ antics.

‘I actually scored it a draw,’ he told TNT Sports.

‘At a stage in the fight I thought Andrew Cain was going to start running away with it. There was one guy trying to fight tonight and that was Andrew Cain. Although I scored it a draw, I’m kind of glad [Cain won] and he deserves it.’

Frampton also suggested Edwards may now find it difficult securing his next fight given how unpopular his tactics were.

‘With that style Charlie Edwards imposed tonight, it is going to be difficult to get him a fight. Nobody wants to watch that.

‘I get it, I understand tactically that is what they thought would give him the best chance of winning the fight but there is running and there is running and I think that was maybe a bit too much.’

Boxing fans on social media were also far from impressed with one fan describing it as ‘without a doubt one of the worst fights I have ever seen’

Another wrote: ‘I think I’d genuinely have been done with the sport if they rewarded that Charlie Edwards performance with a win.’

‘Edwards was a disgrace, absolutely shocking from a pro boxer. Shouldn’t be getting paid,’ another lamented.

It’s not uncommon for boxing referees to catch the odd stray punch in the heat of battle – but Eamonn Magill will have assumed he was safe as he prepared to confirm Ruadhan Farrell’s victory over Gerard Hughes.

Unfortunately, that was not the case.

Farrell produced a convincing performance to emerge from the super-bantamweight bout with a 79-73 win over Hughes, taking the Irish champion’s record to 7-1-1.

The pair renewed their rivalry on Saturday night’s Point of Pride card at Belfast’s SSE Arena, two years on from their draw at the same venue.

A dejected Hughes could not hide his frustration after being dealt the first defeat of his career at the 11,000-capacity arena in the Northern Irish capital.

But Farrell was the far busier of the two fighters across the early rounds, with Hughes left needing a knockout in the closing stages to come out on top.

There was little doubt over whose arm would be raised as Farrell and Hughes returned from their respective corners – and what happened next left viewers in hysterics.

As Farrell stretched out a consoling glove to his opponent as the pair waited for the verdict to be delivered, Hughes planted an accidental shot on the nose of referee Magill with a hefty uppercut.

Fortunately for Hughes, Magill took the punch like a champ, breaking into a fit of the giggles, before eventually holding Farrell’s arm aloft to pronounce the 25-year-old the winner.

Lewis Crocker got the better of Paddy Donovan in Saturday’s controversial headline event, with the latter disqualified for landing a late shot after the bell.

‘Listen to the crowd, the crowd can tell you, I won the fight, I was winning every single round. I dropped him, I was beating him up and I was getting the knockout,’ a furious Donovan said after his defeat.

‘The crowd is ferocious in here. They say I hit him after the bell but I thought I hit him on the bell. You can see Lewis was a beaten man and I won the fight fair and square.’

Donovan confirmed that he intended to launch an appeal against the decision ahead of a possible rematch with Crocker.

‘The referee took my dreams away tonight,’ he added.

‘We’re going to appeal the decision and I want an automatic rematch right on the spot.’

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Gervonta Davis blamed his hairdresser for his under-par performance in his world title fight against Lamont Roach Jr on Saturday night.

Davis, known for his savage knockout power, narrowly retained his WBA lightweight title after he was held to a controversial draw against Roach Jr in Brooklyn.

In the ninth round of their contest, Davis absorbed a left jab to the head, taking a knee immediately after with many observers feeling it should have been ruled a knockdown.

‘Tank’ was instead allowed to walk over to his corner with no standing count taking place, much to the confusion of everyone inside the Barclays Centre.

Prior to that, the Baltimore fighter was seen getting his faced wiped with a towel in his corner, later revealing ‘grease’ running from his braided hair was running down and ‘burning’ his eyes.

Had that moment where Davis’ knee touched the canvas in the ninth been ruled a knockdown, Roach Jr would surely have taken the lead on the judges’ scorecards, resulting in a new champion being crowned.

Explaining what happened in that decisive moment, Davis said post-fight: ‘I just got my hair done two days ago and she put grease in my s**t.

‘When you are sweating and s**t like that, the grease came into my face and it burnt my eyes.’

Boos then began to rain down from the New York crowd with Davis firing back: “Yo why you all booing like I’m talking b****t? This is real facts.

“Look at my hair, I just got my s*** done.

‘But it’s cool, they [the fans] they love you and then they hate you again.’

Saturday’s draw is the only blemish on Davis’ otherwise perfect record having knocked out 28 of his previous 30 opponents before last night.

Boxers have produced some wild excuses for poor performances over the years.

Deontay Wilder famously blamed his ringwalk costume after his devastating defeat to Tyson Fury in February 2020, insisting the pre-fight outfit was ‘too heavy’ and wore him out before the opening bell.

David Haye came up short in his world title bout against Wladimir Klitschko in 2011, later explaining he had broken his little toe in training before the fight. The Briton was labelled a ‘cry baby’ by legendary promoter Frank Warren.

More recently, British fighter Ohara Davies suggested his defeat to Ismael Barroso last year was partly due to his Las Vegas hotel ‘pumping extra oxygen in his room so that people can be there all day gambling and not be tired.’

Irish boxer Paddy Donovan accused the referee of ‘taking his dreams away’ after he was dramatically disqualified during his fight against Lewis Crocker.

Donovan appeared to be in control of his much-anticipated bout with Northern Irishman Crocker and was well ahead on all three judges’ scorecards heading into the final few rounds.

But Donovan was then controversially disqualified for landing a shot after the bell at the end of the eighth round.

The decision provoked an angry response from fans in Belfast’s SEE Arena and chaos inside the ring as Donovan initially began to celebrate, presuming the referee was waving the fight off for a knockout.

But referee Marcus McDonnell was in fact disqualifying him for the late punch, having already docked the Irishman for headbutting earlier in the fight.

Donovan fell to his knee as he took in the verdict and accused the referee of ‘taking my dreams away’ in an emotional interview in the ring.

‘Listen to the crowd, the crowd can tell you,’ he told DAZN. ‘I won the fight, I was winning every single round.

‘I dropped him, I was beating him up and I was getting the knockout. The crowd is ferocious in here.

‘They say I hit him after the bell but I thought I hit him on the bell. You can see Lewis was a beaten man and I won the fight fair and square.

‘The ref took my dreams away tonight. We’re going to appeal the decision and I want an automatic rematch right on the spot.’

Crocker, meanwhile, said: ‘That’s not how I would want to win a fight.

‘I heard the bell and I can’t see because I’ve been getting hit with the head, I dropped my hands and that’s what caused the knockdown.

‘Our plan was to work in the second half of the fight. I was continually hit with the head, got hit with the elbow at one stage but that’s not how I want to win.

‘I heard the bell, dropped my hands, couldn’t see because of the previous headbutts and the punch came out of nowhere after the bell.’

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn added: ‘You don’t want the fight to finish like that. It was a good fight.

‘Paddy Donovan was controlling the fight. The points were making it interesting, you feel like Crocker had to force the fight for the last few rounds and Paddy was sensational.

‘The shot was after the bell. Did it warrant an instant disqualification? Are you tallying up the headbutts during the fight as well? For me, I want to see it again.

‘I think Lewis Crocker’s in a position now, he’s mandatory for the world title. I’m sure those guys will appeal to the IBF.

‘Lewis Crocker doesn’t have to do anything. He can sit there for a shot at the world title. The reality is there’s going to be a lot of people wanting to see this fight again.

‘We know what controversy does. It builds into massive fights, massive rematches. The rematch of this fight is huge.

‘But will Crocker want it? What will the IBF say? We’ll have to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

‘Honestly, as a promoter for both, I want to see the fight again and I want to see it play out.’

By winning the IBF eliminator, Crocker will now have a shot at the world title, though an appeal could earn Donovan an immediate rematch.

Both fighters boasted unbeaten records before Crocker sealed a controversial and dramatic victory over Donovan by way of disqualification.

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Boxing has often been described as the loneliest of sports, but for Cindy Ngamba, a crowded gym within a Bolton youth club provided her with a home and a purpose when she needed them most.

Aged 15, Ngamba was a shadow of her former self. Shy and lacking confidence, she was still missing home having left Cameroon with her older brother four years prior to live with their father, Gerome in the UK.

But after stumbling in on a boxing class at Bolton Lads and Girls Club she was immediately transfixed. After her first session, she went home and fell further in love with the sport, spending hours trawling through Mike Tyson compilations and rewatching Nicola Adams’ gold medal triumph at the London 2012 Olympics.

Ngamba still had to be patient and spent two years merely skipping and shadow boxing before she was finally offered the chance to put on some gloves and spar. Her first opponent? A boy far taller and heavier than she’ll ever be.

‘I don’t think he was excited. He was like, ‘I don’t want to fight a girl’,’ Ngamba recalls. ‘Once I threw a punch, he was kind of shocked that he’d been punched by a girl. Finally, he threw one back and caught me with a backhand. I remember just seeing a flash and going down on a knee.

‘I think at that moment, everything just went quiet but I just started smirking and giggling. I thought: ‘Oh it’s not that bad getting punched.’ I got up and ever since then, I’ve just kept going.’

In her own words, Ngamba has never thought to herself: ‘I’m the s**t’. And yet, little more than six years on from her amateur debut, she speaks to Metro as a three-time national champion and the first-ever Refugee Olympic Team medallist after upsetting the odds en route to claiming a bronze medal at the Paris Games last summer.

‘To be honest with you, I never really noticed how talented I was,’ she says. ‘It was the people around me who would talk about my potential and what I could achieve but I never had that mindset.

‘Before the Olympic qualifier in Milan, I thought there was no way I’d be able to qualify. It’s not possible. I didn’t know how people could qualify because even then you’re fighting against the best of the best.

‘Then in Paris, I had to push my body to the limit again but I was able to achieve my dream. When I joined my youth club back in Bolton, my goal was to go to the Olympics and win a medal so nothing can ever top that moment.’

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of Ngamba’s historic achievement last summer, however, is how close it was to never happening. When applying for college at age 16, Ngamba realised she did not have the correct papers to be in the UK and could be deported at any moment.

In 2019, her worst nightmare also became a reality. At one of the many routine immigration appointments she attended to try and rectify her situation, Ngamba was arrested, handcuffed and taken to a detention centre near London. Thankfully, last-minute paperwork was sorted to prevent her deportation and soon after she was granted refugee status to remain in the UK indefinitely.

Without citizenship, however, Ngamba was unable to represent Team GB at the Olympics and was stuck in limbo. During lockdown, she strongly considered turning professional before her boxing British boxing officials helped her apply to join the IOC’s refugee team. ‘I was so close to giving up on my dream,’ Ngamba admits.

Part of the reason Ngamba feared deportation so greatly was because of her sexuality. Openly gay since she was 18, the boxer could be sent to prison for up to five years back in Cameroon where homosexuality remains a criminal offence.

And while Ngamba is free to live her life as a lesbian in the United Kingdom, it was back in Cameroon when she first began to get grips with her sexuality.

‘I had a crush on my best friend but she had a crush on my brother, Kennet. She would tell me things to go and tell my brother and I’d think ‘No, I don’t want to tell him’. I knew I was jealous,’ she jokes.

‘I learned more about my sexuality on YouTube. We had a computer in my house, and I would watch videos of people coming out to the family. Some were good, some were very bad. And I questioned, is that going to be me? Is that how my family’s going to react? It kind of pushes you back about wanting to come out or speak to anyone.

‘In the end, my siblings didn’t have any dramatic reaction – they sort of already knew – but the support I’ve received from everyone else has been tremendous. When people look at me, they don’t look at me and say ‘Cindy is a lesbian and likes girls so we don’t want to be next to her and we should judge her’.

‘They look at me because I’m Cindy, and because of what I’ve achieved and what I’ve overcome. I’ll always be open about it and always talk about it. I think it makes me even stronger to be part of such a community.’

Having missed out on gold in Paris, Ngamba hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of making an Olympic return in Los Angeles but, for now, will turn her attention to the paid ranks.

And in a clear sign of her intent, Ngamba will make her pro debut against experienced English fighter and current European champion Kirstie Bavington in an all-women’s card at London’s Royal Albert Hall on March 7.

Her profile has grown immensely since her last fight at the Paris Olympics but Ngamba is confident she won’t be fazed when she makes her first ringwalk as a pro.

‘For me, there is no real difference between the amateurs and the professionals. I think people don’t like hearing it, but it’s just another fight, she says. ‘I know that I’m going to the ring with an experienced girl, but I think that’s the calibre of fighter I want to challenge myself against.

‘I knew there was going to be more attention but that’s the life I chose for myself. I chose to put myself in that ring. I chose this journey, and I’ve chosen these challenges. After everything I’ve been through why should I feel scared now?’

Cindy Ngamba was named Sports Hero of the Year at the Metro Pride Awards 2025. You can view the full list of winners by clicking here.

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In his latest column, former Olympian and heavyweight contender Frazer Clarke looks back on a week of chaos for Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn and the ramifications it will have on their fight in April.

Everywhere you have turned this week, it has been Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn.

It’s been explosive and two wild press conferences have everyone hyped for when they meet in the ring on 26 April.

I know both fighters and I know both are keen to sell a fight, put it that way. If it was me on the receiving end of the egg, I would be fuming and no doubts the PPV numbers will go through the roof off that alone.

Benn and Eubank grew up on cucumber sandwiches – but the hate is real

Some have been saying it went a bit too far, that a line was maybe crossed. I don’t think that’s the case. Maybe the world has gone a bit soft.

We are talking about a welterweight and a middleweight. Speaking as a heavyweight, they are hardly going to shake the universe. Get a couple of the big security lads around them and they won’t get near each other.

They are dangerous fighters of course but it’s not like we are dealing with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury who tower above everybody  else with the heavy artillery. They are two guys who have grown up in relative luxury. These boys grew up on cucumber sandwiches. There’s not going to be any drama in the car park. Let them crack on!

The puppet masters at the top of the table, the ones reaping the financial rewards alongside the fighters, they might be saying on cameras “oh this is a step too far”. But they are secretly patting Chris Eubank Jr on the back and saying, “well done son”.

Eddie Hearn is doing what any good promoter would do. I hope the fight delivers because they are two good fighters. We aren’t talking about Bivol and Beterbiev, we won’t see quality anywhere near that on display but hopefully we see enough violence. I would be very disappointed if it doesn’t deliver.

While everyone involved has been doing their job of selling the fight, I do think the hate is real. You feel it. The added layer of the history between their dads is a factor too. I like both of them. But I understand if you’re one of Eubank Jr’s opponents you wouldn’t be able to stand him. And for Conor, if he wasn’t in boxing he’d probably be in Hollywood. He might be up for a Bafta by the end of it all.

Eubank vs Benn fills the void left by Fury vs Joshua

It has been fun but it is sensible to keep them apart from now until fight night. And definitely keep them in different hotels once fight week arrives. It has happened to me many times, you end up in the lift with your opponent or they are eating breakfast just across from you.

There is a lot of animosity so risking anything would be a bad idea. Put a metal rail or a cage between them like we saw with David Haye and Derek Chisora and it adds to the cinema. All I am interested in is a good fight but the way it’s being built, all that stuff will play its apart.

This fight will bridge the gap and maybe fill the void left by Joshua vs Fury not happening. I am more interested in the technical side of things but it does have everything, the background, the financial backing, the story, the mouth of Hearn and Eubank, the acting skills of Benn, my promoter Ben Shalom whose right in the thick of it stirring the pot as well. So it’s all good.

Bivol vs Beterbiev masterclass

While we didn’t get to see Daniel Dubois in action, last Saturday’s card in Saudi Arabia delivered across the board.

Dmitry Bivol against Artur Beterbiev was the absolutely the best of the best and Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi was a ridiculously good fight to open the show. Buatsi turned in one of the best performances of his career and still came up just short, Smith was just a bit too cute and experienced for him. But Josh has plenty of big fights ahead.

That light-heavyweight division is looking incredible. That fight might be the thing finally triggers all the fights among the British lads we have been dying to see involving Buatsi, Smith, Anthony Yarde and others who are just behind Bivol and Beterbiev

The divisions in this sport go through periods of being absolutely on fire and I do believe the light-heavyweight division is enjoying that now.

During the chaos of Tuesday’s Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn press conference, there was one man conspicuous by his absence.

Eubank Jr and Benn will follow in their fathers’ footsteps when they meet in the ring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 26 April, rebooting the engrossing rivalry that consumed British boxing in the early 90s.

One of the protagonists from that classic chapter was present in Nigel Benn – seen grabbing Eubank Jr by the throat during the wild moments that followed his son getting an egg splattered across the side of his face.

But the man he shared two wars with in Chris Eubank Snr was not.

For years, Eubank Snr was a looming presence in his son’s boxing career, by his side in the gym, at press conferences and in the ring.

But the former middleweight and super-middleweight world champion has not been in his son’s corner since 2019, with the two falling out over which direction Jr’s career should take.

Eubank Snr was also vehemently opposed to his son fighting Benn in 2022 at an agreed catchweight of 157lbs, fearing the weight cut could leave lasting damage on his first born.

In 2023, the British boxing legend and his nephew Harlem grew closer together than ever following the death of Harlem’s father and Eubank Snr’s brother, Simon.

His uncle has been a guiding presence in his career since and has been ‘on the phone most weeks giving me advice and instilling that code that he embodies,’ as Harlem prepares to return to the ring next Friday to take on Tyrone McKenna live on Channel 5.

Harlem shares a close bond with both his uncle and his cousin and admits the two are ‘completely different personalities’. With Snr’s presence missed during a chaotic week, Harlem believes his uncle can still have a role to play in the family feud with the Benns in the coming weeks.

‘Potentially, I think so,’ Harlem told Metro. ‘If he is to be involved, it will be on his terms. I don’t think anyone is going to ask him to do anything or he does anything he doesn’t agree with. He could definitely be involved to whatever degree he chooses, that’s definitely a possibility.’

The father-son relationship has been strained in recent years. In an interview with talkSPORT in 2023, Eubank Snr accused his son of abandoning him to instead surround himself with ‘yes man’ and ‘PE teachers’, spectacularly agreeing with critics who labelled his son a ‘charlatan’ following his defeat to Liam Smith.

Last November, Eubank Jr pleaded for his father to return to his side for the Benn fight. While the dynamics of the relationship inside the world of boxing are complicated, Harlem hopes it could lead to some bridges being built.

‘The bridges could be easily mended outside of boxing,’ he said. ‘In boxing, with what Snr has achieved and the history he has left, it is almost like what he says goes. And in boxing people will always have different views. I think it is two different things, inside of boxing with a father-son relationship there is a lot of different dynamics and it’s the same outside of boxing. Everything can be worked out for sure and I hope to see it.’

Eubank Snr and Benn enthralled the public with a rivalry that burned so intensely it demanded the attention of the country as the sport rode the peak of its popularity in the 1990s. While it was often wild, would Snr have approved of Tuesday’s egg attack?

‘Chris Snr and Chris Jr are two different personalities and characters. What happened this week… that was not Snr’s style,’ Harlem admitted. ‘Snr’s style was very different but were in a new generation of clickbait and Jr is very good at capturing that attention. It was something very entertaining but I don’t think Snr would have chosen for him to do that. Times and styles are different and everyone has their own way.’

Like many others, Harlem kicked back and enjoyed Tuesday’s press conference madness. While it was fun and games as Benn was left with egg on his face, Harlem insisted it was ‘the very least he deserves’ after the drama that saw the fight postponed three years ago following two failed drug tests.

‘That’s the most rattled I have ever seen anyone I think,’ Harlem said with a smile. ‘It brought everything that’s happened the last three years back into context and raised the questions that needed to be raised for a boxing community that hasn’t necessarily got all the answers.

‘Chris is always the one that’s willing to ask those questions and if it needed to be instigated by cracking an egg on him, then so be it. There always underlining truths to these things and with Chris, everything is always well thought through.’

Harlem’s immediate focus is on next Friday night when he goes toe-to-toe with McKenna, the battle-hardened Irish fighter who is expected to bring plenty of support over with him to Brighton.

It will be Harlem’s second fight at welterweight with the 31-year-old now focused on making in-roads at 147lbs having been left frustrated in attempts to agree a fight with Adam Azim down at super-lightweight last year.

While chasing down world opportunities at welterweight is the goal, Harlem is still eager to exact revenge on the 22-year-old superstar who ‘wasted a year’ of his career.

‘I prepared for that fight three times over, I was messed about for a year with that fight and it’s the reason I have to make up for lost time in the sport,’ Harlem said.

‘So there is always going to be that feeling of revenge that I want for all that time wasted. So will always be open to that fight.

‘I have built where I am in this sport on my own. That was taken for granted last year. We had the wool pulled over our eyes with the politics of the sport and I will make sure that never happens again. Now it is about being active and making that charge to that world title opportunity.’

Harlem Eubank’s fight against Tyrone McKenna is live and free-to-air on Channel 5 on Friday 7 March.

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will finally meet in the ring in April with the fight date for one of the vicious rivalries in boxing confirmed.

30 years on from their fathers sharing one of the most compelling chapters in British sport, the sons will follow in their footsteps and carry on the family war.

Eubank Jr and Benn were originally set to meet in October 2022 until it emerged the latter had failed two drug tests just days out from the opening bell, forcing it to be scrapped.

The bitter rivalry has grown since, with Tuesday’s chaotic press conference illustrating the genuine resentment that has consumed both camps.

Security pulled the two men apart after Eubank Jr slapped his rival with an egg during their face-off with his father Nigel and promoter Eddie Hearn also in the thick of it.

So, with plenty more fireworks in the weeks to come, here is everything you need to know about the fight – including the date, start time, undercard and how to watch in the UK.

When is the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight?

Eubank Jr vs Benn takes place on Saturday 26 April at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

What time does Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn start in the UK?

Ringwalks are still to be determined but fans can expect the main event to get underway from 10pm onwards.

Tottenham’s home ground has previously hosted two huge nights of boxing – Tyson Fury’s win over Derek Chisora in December 2022 and the first meeting between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. On both occasions, ringwalks for the main event began at around 10pm.

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn undercard

A stacked undercard has already been confirmed for April. Former world title challenge Anthony Yarde will meet Lyndon Arthur for the third time with Liam Smith, who has a win and a defeat against Eubank on his record, returning to face Aaron McKenna.

Former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billiam-Smith is in action against Brandon Glanton with Viddal Riley and Cheavon Clarke squaring off in a thrilling domestic clash at the same weight.

How to watch Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn on TV and live stream in the UK

Eubank Jr vs Benn will be available to order on DAZN PPV and Sky Sports Box Office. The price is still to be confirmed.

What weight is Eubank Jr and Benn being fought at?

The weight limit for the fight has been a contentious issue since it was first discussed nearly four years ago. Benn boxes at welterweight (147lbs) with Eubank Jr operating two divisions higher at middleweight (160lbs).

In 2022, a catchweight of 157lbs was agreed – a decision that infuriated Chris Eubank Snr who called for the fight to be scrapped. This time, Eubank Jnr and his team have got their way with April’s fight to be contested at 160lbs.

How to get tickets for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn

Pre-sale tickets for the fight are available from Wednesday 26 February at 12pm to the following day.

General sale launches at 12pm on Friday 28 February.

Cheapest tickets for the night are set to be priced at £50.

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn have been banned from participating in another face-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after Tuesday’s chaos.

Two press conferences were arranged this week to launch their fight taking place on 26 April with the first instalment in Manchester last night ending in a brawl on stage after Eubank Jr slapped Benn with an egg.

Benn’s father Nigel, who shared a legendary rivalry with Chris Eubank Snr over 30 years ago, was also involved in the carnage along with promoter Eddie Hearn.

There were plans for the two to meet again at Tottenham”s home ground on Wednesday.

But that head-to-head will not take place amid ‘security concerns,’ Sky Sports report.

Thursday’s second press conference at the Premier League ground is still scheduled to go ahead with additional security staff to be drafted in to avoid a repeat of last night’s scenes.

Benn’s promoter Hearn raised major concerns over further media events this week, warning it would be ‘attack on sight’ for both Eubank Jr and Benn.

‘The world we live in today, it will go viral, people will think it’s quite funny but I will tell you one thing, in the fight game, everything changes now,’ Hearn said.

‘You don’t wanna be backstage right now. If you see Nigel Benn tonight, run.

‘These aren’t normal people, they don’t have a cup of tea and forget about it. This had bad blood and everything has changed.

‘I don’t know if we can have Thursday’s press conference now because it will be attack on sight.’

Eubank Jr and Benn were originally scheduled to meet in the ring in October 2022 before the latter returned two failed drugs tests, forcing the all-British contest to be abandoned just days before the opening bell.

The WBC said in 2023 that a ‘highly-elevated consumption of eggs’ was a ‘reasonable explanation’ for his failed test. Benn finally saw his suspension lifted in November.

British boxing legend Nigel Benn was spotted springing to his son’s defence to try and strangle Chris Eubank Jr during Tuesday’s chaotic press conference.

Eubank Jr and Benn will follow in their fathers’ footsteps and meet in the ring on 26 April in what has developed into one of the most vicious rivalries in the sport.

The two came face-to-face at a press conference in Manchester last night with tensions inevitably boiling over as Eubank Jr slapped his rival with an egg on stage, sparking a wild brawl.

Benn Snr has been in his son’s corner at various stages of his career and was in attendance at Thursday’s press conference. He and Eubank Snr shared one of British boxing’s most enthralling rivalries over 30 years ago, captivating the nation across two bouts in 1990 and 1993.

As security waded in to separate the two boxers, footage released later in the evening showed Benn Snr making a beeline for Eubank Jr.

The former super-middleweight champion is seen furiously wrapping his hands around the 35-year-old’s neck before a member of security pushes him away.

Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn was also in the thick of it, seen arguing with Ben Shalom, Eubank Jr’s promoter, before shoving him on stage.

After some calm had been restored, Hearn urged anyone in the building to avoid crossing paths with an irate Benn Snr for the rest of the night.

‘Everything he [Eubank Jnr] does is pre-meditated,’ Hearn told Sky Sports.

‘He has sat at the press conference the whole time with an egg and he’s slapped Conor Benn in the eye. I’ve got to be honest with you, I thought it was a glass because when it smashed, bits were flying everywhere.

‘The world we live in today, it will go viral, people will think it’s quite funny but I will tell you one thing, in the fight game, everything changes now.

‘You don’t wanna be backstage right now. If you see Nigel Benn tonight, run. These aren’t normal people, they don’t have a cup of tea and forget about it. This had bad blood and everything has changed.

‘I don’t know if we can have Thursday’s press conference now because it will be attack on sight.’

Eubank Jr and Benn were originally scheduled to meet in the ring in October 2022 before the latter returned two failed drugs tests, forcing the all-British contest to be abandoned just days before the opening bell.

The WBC said in 2023 that a ‘highly-elevated consumption of eggs’ was a ‘reasonable explanation’ for his failed test. Benn finally saw his suspension lifted in November.

Eddie Hearn says he shoved Ben Shalom during tonight’s explosive press conference as he wanted to confront Chris Eubank Jr over his ‘b**** move’ to slap Conor Benn with an egg.

Two months out from Eubank Jr’s eagerly anticipated fight with Benn, the pair faced off at a packed-out Manchester Central Auditorium, where the scenes descended into chaos up on the stage.

Surrounded by various team members and security personnel, the two bitter rivals were seen exchanging a few choice words before Eubank Jr struck his undefeated opponent with some force across the cheek.

It soon emerged that Eubank Jr had smashed an egg into the side of Benn’s face, with yolk clearly visible over the latter’s designer clothes in the immediate aftermath.

The two British fighters – who had originally been due to lock horns in 2022 – had to be held apart as the resulting fracas threatened to get out of hand and Benn’s legendary father, Nigel, was seen grabbing Eubank Jr by the throat.

Elsewhere in the melee, Benn’s promoter, Hearn, attempted to get within earshot of Eubank Jr to condemn his behaviour, pushing Shalom out the way in the process.

‘I wanted to try and tell Eubank Jr that it was a b**** move,’ Hearn told iFL TV when asked why he had pushed Benn’s promoter.

‘And I just believe, in my instincts and my heart, that Ben knew about that [plan to smash the egg]. He says he didn’t.

‘I was trying to get through and he was in my way… it weren’t f***ing nothing bad was it?!

‘But listen, I don’t mind Ben, genuinely. I do take the mick out of him a little bit.

‘Obviously, I’m going to run rings around him at all junctions but that’s what you’d expect coming into the game.’

Hearn, who initially thought Eubank Jr had glassed Benn, added: ‘I’ve just told Ben Shalom a couple of times that we’ve got everything that we’ve wanted and more and, yes, you signed the contract. Don’t moan about it after.

‘You requested a rematch clause, not us. And they just got a little bit lost in their points.

‘The reality is you ain’t gonna outtalk me, ever.’

Asked whether he had spoken to Shalom since the on-stage brawl, Hearn replied: ‘Yes, it’s all cool.

‘He promises me he didn’t know about it. I don’t believe him but I ain’t going to lose a second of sleep over it.

‘It’s good, you want a little bit of aggro don’t you?’

Speaking to Ring Magazine after the fracas, Shalom was adamant he was not involved in Eubank Jr’s plan to egg Benn, insisting ‘Chris does what he wants’.

On the shove he received from Hearn, Shalom added: ‘He did push me, didn’t he?! I’ve been pushed now my Frank [Warren] and Eddie… unbelievable.

‘I think at the start, in fairness to Eddie, he thought it was a glass, he didn’t realise it was an egg.

‘He’s lost his head, he’s trying to do whatever. It wasn’t about him, it wasn’t about me and he’s just come for me. Look, he’s calmed down now.

‘I said, “What the f***’s it got to do with me?!”… he knows that Chris does what he wants, Chris has worked with him.

‘He knows that Chris does what he wants and at the end of the day, now that he knows it’s an egg, he’s calmed down.’

Eubank Jr and Benn are due to hold another press conference on Thursday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the showpiece event will be staged on April 26.

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Chris Eubank Jr slapped Conor Benn with an egg as the two bitter rivals clashed during a bad-tempered face-off for their upcoming fight on Tuesday evening.

Eubank Jr and Benn’s meeting in Manchester – ahead of their eagerly anticipated bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26 – rapidly descended into chaos, with the duo having to be pulled apart.

The brawl broke out after a fiery press conference involving the two teams, in which Eubank Jr, not for the first time, attacked Eddie Hearn, accusing Benn’s promoter of trying to ‘sabotage’ the event.

Eubank Jr and Benn had originally been due to enter the ring back in October 2022 before the latter returned two failed drugs tests, forcing the all-British contest to be abandoned.

The feud involving Eubank Jr and Benn stretches back a number of years and mirrors the rivalry their two legendary fathers, Chris and Nigel, shared during their peak years in boxing.

Several vicious barbs and insults have been thrown back and forth between the camps over recent weeks and months but, tonight, security personnel had to intervene, with the two fighters having to be separated on the stage at a packed-out Manchester Central Auditorium.

Video footage of the altercation quickly went viral on social media, with Benn left apoplectic after being struck in the face by Eubank Jr during an explosive face-off.

It soon became clear that Eubank Jr had pulled an egg from his pocket and smashed it in the face of his undefeated opponent after they had exchanged words.

Benn will no doubt be doing everything in his power to ensure it is Eubank Jr who is left with egg on his face when the pair lock horns for their grudge match in north London.

‘That’s the only shot you’ll land on me you f***ing p****. 2 rounds you are finished @ChrisEubankJr,’ Benn posted on X, formerly Twitter, shortly after the melee.

Before long, Eubank Jr tweeted: ‘Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drugs tests. So I contaminated him with an egg.’

Speaking to Sky Sports following the fracas, Hearn condemned Eubank Jr’s behaviour and revealed how he initially thought the middleweight had smashed a glass in Benn’s face.

‘Everything he does is premeditated. There’s nothing that happens that he adapts to during a press conference so I thought it was a b**** move to be honest with you,’ an irate Hearn raged.

‘What he’s done is he’s taken an egg to a press conference, he’s sat at the press conference, the whole time, with an egg, and he’s slapped Conor Benn in the eye with an egg.

‘I thought it was a glass, I’ve got to be honest with you, because when it smashed and the noise it made… bits were flying everywhere.

‘The world we live in today, it will go viral and people will think it’s quite amusing.

‘But I’m telling you one thing: in the fight game, everything changes now about this fight. You don’t want to be backstage right now. If you see Nigel Benn tonight… run.’

Even Eubank Jr’s promoter, Ben Shalom admitted his fighter had overstepped the mark with his behaviour on the stage.

‘Great press conference but I have to say, I will put it on record, I do think that was too far at the end,’ Shalom told Sky Sports.

‘I didn’t know what it was, I’ve watched it back and it’s obviously an egg. But look, it adds to it.’

Eubank Jr and Benn are due to hold another press conference on Thursday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the showpiece event will be staged in two months’ time.

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KSI has issued an apology to Wayne Bridge and revealed a private message he sent the ex-England footballer after their clash in the boxing ring.

A year on from his defeat to Tommy Fury, KSI announced to the crowd at last month’s Misfits Boxing 20 event in Manchester that he had reached an agreement to return and fight Bridge.

But the atmosphere very quickly turned sour when Bridge jumped into the ring, with KSI launching into a vicious verbal attack in which he brought up the topic of his rival’s ex-girlfriend, Vanessa Perroncel, and her alleged affair with John Terry.

Bridge pulled out of the bout just two days later, citing the YouTuber’s ‘deeply personal’ remarks as the reason for his decision. Former UFC star Dillon Danis has since been confirmed as his replacement for the March 29 showpiece.

Bridge and Terry had been team-mates at both club and international level during their playing days – and Perroncel’s supposed involvement with the latter dominated both the front and back pages in 2010.

Perroncel has repeatedly denied having an affair but Bridge refused to shake Terry’s hand when the duo later came up against each other midway through the 2009/10 Premier League season.

‘I’m sure a lot of you have seen what happened on Saturday night at the Misfits Boxing event,’ Bridge said in a statement confirming his withdrawal from the fight.

‘Firstly, I think it’s important to explain my reason for accepting the fight. I always like to challenge myself. This felt like a good opportunity to go up against an interesting opponent on a big stage.

‘I have always loved boxing as part of my everyday training routine. I was fully prepared to train hard and have some fun. Of course, I expected to face some criticism, but I feel like what was said on Saturday crossed a line.

‘These are deeply personal comments that affect mine and other families involved in the situation. I’m a family man first and my priority is protecting them.

‘My opponent is someone that many children look up to around the world, including my kids. I hope one day he will look back on this differently. I personally don’t wan’t to be involved in these exchanges. I will no longer fight on 29th March.’

KSI kept his head down and remained tight-lipped in the days following Bridge’s withdrawal, with talkSPORT presenter Simon Jordan among those to slam the social media sensation.

But speaking on the latest episode of Sidecast, KSI took the opportunity to say sorry to Bridge for what he had said during the exchange.

‘I privately DM-ed him. The thing is, I messaged him like, “Bro, I’m not a d***head!”‘, KSI explained.

‘I know [he’s got a wife and kids] but I was selling the fight and I thought he should know that. Wayne Bridge, I’m sorry. I’ve told you in DMs anyway but, yeah, my bad.’

Earlier this month, KSI claimed that Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Tony Ferguson and Jorge Masvidal had all rejected the chance to fight him before Danis agreed to enter the ring with him next month.

‘Dillon Danis wasn’t even my fourth choice! He went to Nate Diaz, he said no. We went to Donald Cerrone, he said no. We went to Tony Ferguson, he said no.

‘These guys said no to me. So I’m like, “Bro, do I have to go to a f***ing footballer to fight?”, and he said yes, so what the f***.

‘I’m there confused that a footballer wants to fight me but these top UFC, ex-UFC fighters, don’t want to fight me.’

On Danis being his next opponent, KSI added: ‘You know what? I’m fine with it.

‘I’m happy to knock out Dillon Danis, I’ve been wanting to knock this guy out since Misfits 3.

‘I don’t understand this talk of him being irrelevant.’

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Eddie Hearn says he ‘actually thought’ he was ‘having a heart attack’ during Callum Smith’s victory over Joshua Buatsi in Riyadh.

Smith ended his fellow Brit’s unbeaten record on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

Both fighters inflicted damage during an entertaining and intriguing light-heavyweight bout but it was Liverpool’s Smith, 34, who won by unanimous decision to win the WBO Interim title.

It was Smith’s 31st victory from 33 professional fights while Croydon’s Buatsi, 31, suffered his first defeat in his 20th bout.

‘I actually thought I was going to have a heart attack tonight. I really did,’ Matchroom chief Hearn told The Stomping Ground.

‘During the Callum Smith fight, I sat down and felt a bit dizzy. I do often wonder… you never know when you’re on the verge of keeling over, do you?

‘I was thinking to myself, if the Goodlord took me now, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go, would it?’

Hearn described Smith’s performance against Buatsi as ‘unbelievable’ and said it was an ‘incredible domestic tussle’ to open what was billed as one of the best boxing cards of all time.

‘Callum Smith was unbelievable,’ he added on DAZN. ‘What a fight.

‘That was an incredible domestic tussle. I’m very proud of Callum, I thought it was a brilliant performance.

‘Shoutout to Buatsi as well because he was tough as old boots but the right man won.’

Smith’s victory marked the start of a successful night for Hearn’s Matchroom, who also claimed wins with lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson and the new undisputed light-heavyweight world champion Bivol.

Bivol suffered the first defeat of his career against his compatriot Beterbiev four months ago but reversed the form this time around, winning on two of the judges’ scorecards.

‘I think a lot of people felt he won the first fight. It was obviously very close,’ Hearn said after Bivol got revenge over Beterbiev.

‘It was one of the best performances I’ve ever witnessed. I thought he won the first two rounds and then Beterbiev won the next three I think but it was the way he won them.

‘What Bivol did was just incredible, young fighters should look at the way he boxed.

‘To do that to Beterbiev, who is an absolute beast and one of the greatest fighters of our generation, it’s the kind of performance that cements you as a pound-for-pound king.’

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Alcatraz, one of the America’s most notorious prisons, could be set to open its doors again to host a boxing match later this year.

The iconic island off the coast of San Fransico closed down in 1963 after housing some of the country’s most famous inmates including Al Capone.

It could now be set to host a huge night of boxing later this summer with super-lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez confirming talks are well underway for him to put his world title on the line inside the old prison walls.

Asked if he will be the man headlining at Alcatraz, Lopez told reporters over the weekend: ‘Absolutely. Definitely in talks about Alcatraz, it’s an honour, I’m grateful to be in his position and we ready to take over.’

IBF champion Richardson Hitchins is one name firmly in the frame to fight Lopez who confirmed those plans.

‘I believe so. But anything is possible,’ he told Boxing News.

The Ring Magazine initially reported earlier this month the proposal was under serious discussion. Saudi Arabian boxing chief Turki Alalshikh recently revealed he was looking at a number of historic destinations for the sport, including The Eiffel Tower and The Colosseum in Rome.

‘What do you think if there is [an] event, fight in Alcatraz jail one day?’ he said.

‘It is like a museum now. You know, sometimes I get in my mind I want different places to do [fights].

‘Sometimes in mountains, maybe someday in the Pyramids in Mexico, someday in [the] Eiffel Tower in France, [The] Coliseum in Italy.

‘’You understand this concept?’

Any deal ‘The Rock’ to host a boxing event would require approval from the National Park Service, which manages Alcatraz as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Alcatraz was America’s most feared maximum security prison during its time in operation from 1934 and 1963. It now operates as a tourist attraction, attracting over one million visitors every year.

The prison was considered escape-proof thanks to the cold water temperatures and strong currents around the island located over a mile off the shore but a number of breakouts were attempted over the years.  

Lopez became WBO super-lightweight champion in the summer of 2023, beating Scotland’s Josh Taylor to take the title.

He has successfully defended the belt twice since then against Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett.

While Lopez is sold on the plans, Hitchins is not convinced. With both he and his potential opponent proud New Yorkers from Brooklyn, he believes ‘The Big Apple’ is the only location that makes sense.

‘Alcatraz, that don’t make the fight fun for me,’ Hitchens told Fight Hype. ‘I wanted to fight in New York. That was the whole storyline, two guys from New York, fighting there.

‘I’ve been holding the city down since the 2016 Olympics, representing the city. If it makes sense [to fight in Alcatraz], I haven’t got an offer yet, I’ll leave happy.

‘The fight isn’t as fun for me than if it were in New York. Turki said he wanted to do it under the Brooklyn Bridge. I’m also hearing about Madison Square Garden and the Barclays.

‘I’m still with the fight. We just got to wait and see what it’s about. Eddie Hearn will be talking to Turki in the next week or so, and they’re going to see what it brings to the table. So, as long as it makes sense, I’m down to make it happen.’