Boxing

The Prelude event to Friday’s Olympics has seen A-listers, including actors, music stars and sports champions, arrive in Paris for a glitzy event which will have Serena Williams as a co-host.

The Paris Olympics opening ceremony is tomorrow, but celebrities have already made the city of lights shine, as they arrived for the Prelude event on Thursday.

A-listers spotted on the red carpet include Zendaya, Mick Jagger, and Snoop Dogg.

The glitzy Prelude event is being co-hosted by tennis legend Serena Williams, Charlize Theron, Rosalia, and Omar Sy.

The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White and legendary film director Steven Spielberg were also among those attending the glamorous event at the Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton.

The starry night came together thanks to LVMH chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, Comcast NBCUniversal chairman and CEO Brian Roberts, Grammy-winning American rapper and Louis Vuitton men’s creative director Pharrell Williams, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour.

Artists and dancers will be joining the ceremony, but most entertainment acts have been kept under wraps.

NBC News reported that Celine Dion and Lady Gaga have arrived in Paris amid speculation that one or both of the pop singers will perform at the opening ceremony.

The opening ceremony of the Olympics, which begins at 6.30pm UK time on tomorrow, has been billed as one “like no other” as it will involve 10,500 athletes sailing along the River Seine.

The parade will end at the Trocadero square, facing the Eiffel Tower. It is the first time an opening ceremony is being held outside a stadium.

BOXING

Devin Haney Roped In $10,000 Wager to Prove Why Shakur Stevenson Can’t Beat Gervonta Davis

Even Shakur Stevenson has admitted that Gervonta Davis is a special fighter. On Cigar Talk, the boxer from Newark did not hesitate to state that Davis was blessed with a God-given ability to knock out his opponents 90% of the time. Simultaneously, opposing all the doubters, Shakur argued he could give ‘Tank’ a run for his money. However, ShowBizz the Adult remains unconvinced.

RELATED:Davis and Shields have had a public disagreement in the past, with Davis making derogatory comments about Shields

“Tank will knock him out. I put $10,000 on Tank for the knockout,” he concluded confidently on his stream. Although ShowBizz the Adult expected Shakur to be intimidated by Davis, Shakur’s co-manager felt otherwise.

Shakur Stevenson is not afraid of Gervonta Davis

Other than ShowBizz the Adult, Kenny Ellis, one of Gervonta Davis’ coaches, claimed that only fear could prevent Shakur Stevenson vs. Tank Davis. “The only thing that can stop that fight is fear,” Ellis said, doubting if Shakur was serious about facing ‘Tank.’ But, Shakur’s co-manager, Josh Dubin is confident that the WBC Lightweight champion truly wants the fight. “He’s been begging for it for a long time,” Dubin said.

UPDATE:“Mayweather vs. Loma Would Do Better Than Tank”: See Why

“What Shakur wants to do – let me say it plainly – is to unify at 135,” he added. In Dubin’s opinion, as Lomachenko understood he would potentially lose against Davis, the Ukrainian boxer walked away. However, it is not the same with Shakur. “Shakur’s own enemy is his own greatness and other peoples’ fear of him,” Dubin added. With that said, do you expect Shakur Stevenson to put Gervonta Davis in a fix? Or, do you align with ShowBizz the Adult? Let us know in the comments below.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather, 47, could face Manny Pacquiao, 45, in rematch of £500m fight – but with a twist as rivals make returns

FLOYD MAYWEATHER and Manny Pacquiao could be set for a rematch – but with a twist on their original money spinner.

Mayweather beat Pacquiao in 2015 to end boxing’s most drawn out saga in a blockbuster worth over £500MILLION.

But even in retirement the pair remain linked with a rematch as they continue to box on in exhibition bouts.

RELATED:“Mayweather vs. Loma Would Do Better Than Tank”: See Why

But the American great instead returns on August 24 in Mexico against John Gotti III.

Mayweather officially retired in 2017 after beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 36, but has boxed in exhibitions since.

His last was against the grandson of notorious crime boss Gotti – ending in a brawl in the ring to lead to the rematch.

Pacquiao meanwhile hung up his gloves following defeat to Yordenis Ugas in 2021 – but he has teased a comeback ever since.

And the WBC even controversially opened the door to PacMan challenging welterweight champion Mario Barrios, 29, for the title.

Pacquiao is using his exhibition with Anpo to ease back but Rizin are open to future fights with the Filipino.

UPDATE:Joe Rogan Makes Controversial Claim About Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou

Sakakibara said: “Depending on the result and his performance in his upcoming fight on July 28th, we need to assess the market to see if his return would make sense.

“This is a single bout agreement so if we were to have him back, we need to make sure there is a demand in the market.

“If we can create momentum and anticipation together – since Manny himself is still wanting to have competitive fights – he’s not thinking that this is his last fight.

“So if things turn out right, there is a good possibility where there could be more Manny Pacquiao fights in Rizin.”

BOXING

“Mayweather vs. Loma Would Do Better Than Tank”: See Why

Through ups and downs, through beefs and buys, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is back to the place where he is known to be the best—the ring. It’s been seven years since he hung the gloves professionally. However, it seems, ‘The Money’ magic has yet to fade. One often gets a glimpse of those exceptional moves in the exhibition bouts that he fights every year. After their last fight ended in the most disastrous fashion, Mayweather Jr. and John Gotti III will circle back next month to conclude their argument. So to prepare himself for the match, the undefeated former champion is back in the gym.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Ready for Round Two

TalkSPORT‘s Michael Benson shared the nearly minute-long video. The message of the post read, “Floyd Mayweather bringing back his masterful pads routine at age 47 today…” The clip begins with the former world champion calling out Mexico City, which will play host to the Gotti III rematch on August 24.

“Let me give you guys a little show,” and off he started. His trainer held the pads on both hands. Mayweather Jr. first started with a straight hit on the inside. A short upper cut (right hand) at the trainer’s right, followed by a quick short straight with the same hand. Then his left hand took the third turn. One more straight right, and then left. He repeated the sequence with a slight variation.

RELATED:Fans mock Floyd Mayweather after his workout on the bag as he prepares for August 23 fight

The third sequence was reserved for defense. The trainer threw her left hand at Mayweather Jr.’s face, forcing him to move his head, first to his right, then left, and then backwards. Another round of combinations. and a quick change of direction followed. The seamless execution and sheer speed of Mayweather Jr.’s shots were simply breathtaking.

Timeless Inspiration

No wonder most fans had nothing but words of appreciation for the retired champion. Though a few didn’t hesitate to take digs, by and large, the comments largely reflected Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s greatness with gloves.

Wonderstruck, this fan expressed disbelief at how Floyd Mayweather Jr., even at this age, remains hugely talented and capable. According to the fan, the former champion still has it in him to compete against and potentially defeat some of today’s best welterweights.

This fan found it remarkable that someone at age 47 could accomplish such a challenging task so impressively. They stated that it would be difficult for those who might be half his age.

This fan probably stretched their imagination. According to them, perhaps Vasyl Lomachenko‘s matchup with Mayweather Jr. would have been a better alternative to the one initially planned with Gervonta Davis.

For the following fan, maintaining hand speed at an advanced age is simply extraordinary.

But to this fan, instead of Mayweather Jr.’s new trainer, they would rather watch the former champion while in his prime, training together with his late uncle Roger Mayweather. The sheer magic they used to create while working on the pads was something else.

UPDATE:Floyd Mayweather Promises Two Lucky Fans a Trip to Mexico for John Gotti III Rematch, Find Out How to Participate

Even the other day, fans had mixed reactions to ‘Money’ training with a heavy punching bag. While it impressed a few, some appeared a bit critical.

The fight with John Gotti III follows rumors of a rematch with former opponents Victor Ortiz and Manny Pacquiao. Unfortunately, neither of those fights materialized. Given the brawl that broke out during the first match with Gotti III, fans might be hoping that the second edition comes out clean and with a formal closure.

What is your take on Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s skills? Do you also feel that the former world champion can still give a lot of young men a run for their money?

BOXING

Mike Tyson Posts Countdown Clock to Jake Paul Fight and Video Watching Paul vs. Perry

Mike Tyson is gearing up for his fight with Jake Paul.

Following Paul’s knockout victory over Mike Perry Saturday, Tyson posted a countdown for his fight against Paul and also included a video of him watching Paul’s introduction to the fight against Perry.

This comes after Paul called out Tyson following the victory, declaring “Mike Tyson, you’re next,” during his post-fight interview.

The Paul-Tyson fight nearly occurred on Saturday night, as the original date was for June 20. Tyson postponed the fight due to suffering an ulcer flare up, and that led to Perry stepping in to face Paul instead.

Paul knocked down Perry in the sixth round and improved his overall record to 10-1 with seven knockouts. While it has been an impressive run for the 27-year-old, his accomplishments pale in comparison to what the 57-year-old Tyson has done.

Tyson was the undisputed world champion from 1987-1990 and boasts an overall record 50-6-2 with 44 knockouts. His last professional fight was in 2005 when he fell to Kevin McBride while his last exhibition fight came in 2020 when he fought to a draw with Roy Jones Jr.

The fight with Jones Jr. saw Tyson fight a boxer just a two-year age gap, but the significant age disparity between Tyson and Paul will make the upcoming bout interesting.

The fight is currently set for Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

BOXING

Oscar De La Hoya Gives Surprising Answer To Who Hit Harder Between Mayweather and Pacquiao

Oscar De La Hoya fought the best of his era during a decorated career that saw him become a global star and multi-weight champion of the sport.

The East Los Angeles native saw success in the amateur ranks on his way to an Olympic gold medal at the Barcelona Games in 1992 and then picked up 10 world titles across six weight classes on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer.

He was asked by Combat Podcast who hit him the hardest out of the two legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, both of who beat him at the tail end of his career. He started by down-playing Mayweather’s power.

“We all know that Mayweather is not known for a big punch. It stings, you know it stings, yes.”

He then claimed, which will come as a surprise to many fans, that Pacquiao hit no harder than ‘Pretty Boy’, but just more often.

“I’d have say they were about the same.

It’s funny, because I didn’t feel Pacquiao’s punch, it didn’t do anything to me, maybe it’s because Pacquiao was coming up in weight, I believe that was his first fight at welterweight so I didn’t really feel his punch. With him it was more of an accumulation, you know, but I would say about the same, they punch the same.”

Pacquiao is on the verge of an unlikely comeback as he has been offered the opportunity to head straight into a world title fight against Mario Barrios for the WBC belt. The opportunity comes despite not having fought for two years since his bruising loss to Yordenis Ugas.

Mayweather on the other hand is sticking to exhibition fights with and will return to the ring on August 24 for a rematch against John Gotti III.

BOXING

Fans mock Floyd Mayweather after his workout on the bag as he prepares for August 23 fight

Mayweather worked the bag but got criticized for his lack of power punches

Floyd Mayweather may be one of the best fighters of all time with no losses to his record, but he is not above the court of public opinion as fans slammed his workout on the bag as he gears up to fight John Gotti III on August 23.

Mayweather officially retired from professional boxing in 2017 but seven years later, the 47-year-old continues to step into the ring in a series of exhibition bouts showing that he can never truly get away from the game.

And perhaps that’s why he still looks so fluid, fast and natural although some fans were not particularly impressed with his efforts as they took to X.com, formerly Twitter, to criticize the fighter.

“Couldn’t destroy a real fighter in his prime,” one user wrote in the comments of Boxing Kingdom’s post.

“He never destroys the heavy bag! He’s punching the bag like a lightweight,” added another.

“Even in Floyd’s prime on his best day ever, he never destroyed no heavy bag,” said a third.

When is Floyd Mayweather’s next fight?

Mayweather steps into the ring on August 23 to fight John Gotti III in Mexico City in his latest post-retirement fight in a rematch of their June 13, 2023 clash that prematurely ended in a brawl.

The flash point came when the referee waved off the fight after six rounds following Mayweather domination, although Gotti III got licks in too, enraging the latter. He then tried to attack Money and his team after the bell in Florida.

With the feud continuing on in the subsequent 12 months, it will be interesting to see how proceedings play out at the Arena CDMX and tickets are still on sale for the bout ranging between $76 to $23,280 according to StubHub.

The fight can be watched live on DAZN, who hold the broadcast and streaming rights around the entire world.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather Promises Two Lucky Fans a Trip to Mexico for John Gotti III Rematch, Find Out How to Participate

All your life you admired Floyd Mayweather‘s boxing. You often wished you saw ‘TBE’ in action live! However, you could never afford the tickets. But, what if Mayweather himself now decided to treat you and sponsor a visit to his next exhibition? Sounds interesting, right?

Well, Floyd Mayweather cannot help but be generous. After taking 34 people to Super Bowl LVII by spending one million, Mayweather now wants to provide two lucky fans with the time of their lives! How? He wants to make sure they catch his rematch with John Gotti III live in Mexico City. Bang on!

In June this year, Floyd Mayweather announced that the rematch with John Gotti III was taking place at Arena CDMX, Mexico City, on August 24th. Additionally, it was revealed that Victor Ortiz was returning against Rodrigo Damian Coria. So, the card is not going to be boring at all. Meanwhile, since the last fight between Mayweather and Gotti III ended in chaos with Gotti III willing to attack Floyd even after the official stoppage, one can expect at least full-fledged entertainment from the rematch if not excellent boxing. But, how to be one of the two lucky fans?

While we await more details, Floyd Mayweather took to Instagram and, in one of his stories, wrote, “Two people will win an all-inclusive trip to Mexico for my next exhibition.” For more details, it has been advised to keep an eye on his Instagram account. Soon, he also posted some training videos, showing him preparing for the Gotti III rematch.

Floyd Mayweather has a light session with a lady trainer

Now that the tickets are on sale, Floyd Mayweather is devoting most of his time to training. Although he had out-performed John Gotti III in their first match, Mayweather does not want to take the rematch lightly as he understands that “anything can happen in a fight.” So, he has teamed up with Crystal Thomas! With an Instagram video, Mayweather introduced Thomas to the world.

“As you guys know, I’ve been working for a while. I’ve been working for like thirty minutes or forty minutes. I don’t know the exact time,” said Floyd Mayweather, taking a break. “My trainer, I chose her for a reason. She works extremely hard. Anytime you call, she shows up,” he said about Crystal.

BOXING

Claressa Shields vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse: How to Stream, Betting Odds and Fight Card

By Admin July 24, 2024

On Saturday, July 27, Claressa Shields (14-0, 2 KOs) attempts to add another world title to her ever-growing collection as she moves up to heavyweight to face Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-1, 2 KOs) for the Canadian’s WBC title. The entire card at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan will be shown live on DAZN in over 200 countries across the globe.

Shields was last seen in the ring on June 3, 2023, when she defeated Maricela Cornejo. She holds notable wins against Savannah Marshall and Ema Kozin. Lepage-Joanisse won the WBC crown by a split decision against Abril Argentina Vidal.

Can Shields create history at heavyweight? All eyes turn to Detroit, Michigan as the GWOAT moves up to heavyweight.

How to Stream and Everything Else for Claressa Shields vs. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse

Betting Odds

Per Sportsbook Draftkings, Shields will enter the bout as an overwhelming -2500 betting favourite. Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse is the +1200 underdog as we get closer to fight night.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti Rematch Date, Location Set; 2024 Fight Ended in Brawl

By Admin July 24, 2024

Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced Saturday he and John Gotti III agreed to a rematch on Aug. 24 in Mexico City.

The pair previously fought in June 2023. The exhibition was ended in the sixth round. Gotti continued to throw punches at Mayweather after the stoppage, which sparked a wider brawl in and out of the ring.

Gotti, who’s the grandson of the late New York mob boss John Gotti, told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour shortly after the event he was open to a return encounter. He said Mayweather might have a hard time turning down the idea based on how much attention they generated from their post-fight melee.

Mayweather previously announced the two would square off during the week of Super Bowl LVIII. However, that came to nothing.

Floyd Mayweather Vs John Gotti III - Sports Illustrated MMA News, Analysis and More

The 47-year-old has maintained his retirement from boxing after beating UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017 and running his record to a perfect 50-0. Since then, he has scheduled a series of exhibitions, making no bones about the fact he’s getting paid handsomely for much less work than would be required in an official fight.

Gotti got his combat sports career started in MMA, debuting in 2017 and compiling a 5-1 record before pivoting to boxing. He’s 2-0 so far as a professional.