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Junto Nakatani hits the pound-for-pound list after another world title win, and it’s Gervonta “Tank” Davis falling off to make room.

Scott Christ

(1) Naoya Inoue, (2) Terence Crawford, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Dmitry Bivol, (5) Artur Beterbiev, (6) Devin Haney, (7) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (8) Junto Nakatani, (9) Kenshiro Teraji, (10) Canelo Alvarez

I’ve had some changes in heart the last couple months. Last month, I dropped Tank Davis a few spots. This month, Tank Davis is out. My issue is split. One thing is Tank just isn’t doing anything, and frankly shows no ambition to go after the best fights he can. Hey, that’s his prerogative, and if this were the dollar-for-dollar list, he’s top tier. But it isn’t. Enough coverage of boxing is forced to be about the short-sighted carny business aspect.

For once, I just want to talk about what’s happening in the ring.

And that’s where you get to the other stuff: Guys like Bam Rodriguez, Junto Nakatani, and Kenshiro Teraji are just going out there and doing it. You could argue Canelo Alvarez is slipping into the current Tank territory, but Canelo has far greater history and accomplishments, too, and that’s what keeps him hanging on at No. 10 for me, for now.

Gervonta Davis Tweets Hearn $10 Million Offer For Garcia Fight - Big Fight  Weekend

But Canelo’s on relatively thin ice, too. I think Tank is a tremendous talent, I think Canelo is still an outstanding fighter, but there are other people out there who are raising their stock while these guys sit stagnant.

This is also why Terence Crawford has slipped to No. 2 for me. I kind of had (and have) Inoue and Crawford as 1A and 1B in my mind, because I think Crawford is genuinely great. But so is Inoue, and Inoue is the guy out there fighting. Inoue will fight again on May 6, making it three fights since last July, the last time Crawford fought, and the only time he fought in 2023. So if one or the other deserves a tiebreaker, I’m going with Inoue at this point.

READ MORE ;Gervonta Davis Reacts as Errol Spence Jr. Sides With Frank Martin Amid Potential Fight Rumors

Nakatani comes in for me, winning world titles in three divisions the way he has is genuinely impressive and he’s a terrific fighter.

Wil Esco

(1) Terence Crawford, (2) Naoya Inoue, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Dmitry Bivol, (5) Artur Beterbiev, (6) Jaron “Boots” Ennis, (7) Canelo Alvarez, (8) Devin Haney, (9) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (10) Kenshiro Teraji

Junto Nakatani Contemplating Moving Up To Bantamweight

Been giving this some thought and while I do think Gervonta Davis is an extremely talented fighter, I just can’t continually give him a pass considering his general level of opposition, with no real desire to even contend for the major world titles which would entail the biggest threats to him. He drops off and Kenshiro Teraji is in.

John Hansen

(1) Naoya Inoue, (2) Terence Crawford, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Dmitry Bivol, (5) Artur Beterbiev, (6) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (7) Devin Haney, (8) Kenshiro Teraji, (9) David Benavidez, (10) Junto Nakatani

Real bummer losing Usyk vs Fury from the February calendar. Not a lot else to shake up the standings this month. Nakatani looked good, but I moved him in last month to look clever before the other guys did, but still hopefully early enough that people won’t remember Stumberg did it first out of us all.

So, no changes for me, but I’m curious to see how many colleagues keep Canelo in their top 10 this month. Justice for David Benavidez!

Patrick Stumberg

Report: Davis vs. Garcia provides big PPV number

(1) Naoya Inoue, (2) Terence Crawford, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Canelo Alvarez, (5) Dmitry Bivol, (6) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (7) Artur Beterbiev, (8) Junto Nakatani, (9) Devin Haney, (10) Kenshiro Teraji

What did I say? What did I say about Junto Nakatani?

In all seriousness, torching Santiago like that went above even my expectations. There’s no doubt in my mind that, given the opportunity, Nakatani will run roughshod over all his fellow bantamweight champs.

RELATED ;Gervonta Davis fires back at Shakur Stevenson’s reaction to Devin Haney sparring footage in deleted tweet

As for the rest, we’re probably not going to see much movement for the next couple of months unless Ryan Garcia somehow flips the script on Devin Haney in April. Kosei Tanaka’s getting close to the fringe, but he’ll need a few more good wins before I’m ready to rank him with his countrymen.

Lewis Watson

Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia Technical Breakdown: Winning in the Gym

(1) Naoya Inoue, (2) Terence Crawford, (3) Oleksandr Usyk, (4) Devin Haney, (5) Artur Beterbiev, (6) Dmitry Bivol, (7) Canelo Alvarez, (8) Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, (9) Kenshiro Teraji, (10) Gervonta Davis

No movement in February in the month that we should have seen Fury vs Usyk. Nakatani was the star of the month and is the closest to breaking into the top 10. Junto looks a special fighter, underlining that in his pummeling of Santiago last week and at 26 has the world at his feet.

50 Cent cleverly revives his long-standing feud with Mayweather, using his novel’s promotion to comment on literacy, against the backdrop of Diddy’s legal troubles.

Once again, 50 Cent has taken to social media to reignite an old feud with Floyd Mayweather, coupling the promotion of his new fiction novel with a fresh jab at the boxing champion’s literacy. This development comes amid swirling discussions surrounding Diddy’s sexual assault allegations, adding another layer to the ongoing drama in the music and sports entertainment spheres.

In a clever marketing move, 50 Cent, also known as Curtis Jackson, used the announcement of his debut novel, The Accomplice, to take a swipe at Mayweather. Via an Instagram post, he made a tongue-in-cheek remark about ensuring the simultaneous release of the audiobook, hinting at Mayweather’s alleged illiteracy. This dig is part of a long-standing feud between the two, with 50 Cent periodically mocking Mayweather’s reading ability. The post not only highlighted Jackson’s upcoming literary venture but also teased a related movie project, all the while subtly reigniting his rivalry with Mayweather.

50 Cent says Floyd Mayweather is broke: Feud escalates, boxing, UFC

 

Mayweather’s Controversial Podcast Appearance

The timing of 50 Cent’s jab coincides with Mayweather’s recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, where he refrained from criticizing Diddy over recent sexual assault allegations. Mayweather’s comments, suggesting a reluctance to ‘stomp’ on Diddy due to the latter being a ‘Black man’ and emphasizing the importance of minding one’s own business, have sparked controversy. This stance, especially coming from a figure like Mayweather, has added fuel to the ongoing discussions surrounding accountability and celebrity culture.

Diddy’s Legal Troubles and Industry Impact

Diddy, facing several sexual assault allegations, has become a topic of intense debate and scrutiny. Despite settling a lawsuit with Cassie, he continues to battle legal challenges in New York. These allegations have not only affected Diddy’s personal and professional life but have also prompted broader conversations about the music industry’s handling of such serious accusations. The situation is further complicated by the varied reactions from other celebrities, including 50 Cent’s provocative commentary.

TIL 50 Cent once challenged Floyd Mayweather to read one page of a Harry  Potter book : r/todayilearned

The feud between 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather, though personal and at times petty, sheds light on larger issues within celebrity culture, including how allegations of misconduct are navigated and discussed publicly. As both men continue to wield significant influence, their actions and words ripple through their respective industries, prompting us to reflect on the nature of celebrity feuds and the real-world issues they often intersect with. With no resolution in sight, the saga between Jackson and Mayweather continues to captivate and provoke, underscoring the complex interplay between personal vendettas and public discourse.

50 Cent has once again stirred controversy by revisiting his past criticism of boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, this time doubling down on allegations of illiteracy.

Shortly after announcing his upcoming debut fiction novel on Friday (March 1), Fif turned to Instagram to promote the book, The Accomplice, and in the same breath slyly threw shade at his longtime rival.

“I have no beef with anyone, I even made sure the audiobook comes out at the same time so champ won’t feel left out. [shrug emoji] GLG [traffc light emoji],” he wrote alongside a snap featuring the book’s cover.

“GreenLightGang [film emoji] The accomplice Movie coming soon,” he added also revealing there’s a film in the pipeline, all the wile tagging his spirit brands Branson Cognac and Le Chemin du Roi.

The feud, spanning back as far as 2019, saw 50 Cent poking fun at Mayweather’s alleged illiteracy issues with a written letter he shared on Instagram.

50 Cent Wants to Fight Floyd Mayweather - XXL

It seemingly reignited this week after Mayweather’s comments on Diddy’s sexual assault allegations.

The retired boxer appeared on The Pivot Podcast in late February where he refused to condemn the Bad Boy boss over accusations he raped four woman, including his ex-girlfriend Cassie.

“I’m not gonna speak bad about P. Diddy,” Mayweather said. “‘Cause he still a Black man. Mistakes happen. And I can’t say if it is or not a mistake, but things happen in life. And P. Diddy’s business is P. Diddy’s business. It’s not my job or anybody else’s job to go on the internet and stomp him and kick a man while he’s down.

READ MORE ;Floyd Mayweather Reveals Only Way Canelo Alvarez vs. David Benavidez Is Possible

“My take on it is: it’s not my business. I don’t think it’s right at all and I don’t condone it. Even if that happened to my daughter, I would be hurt but that’s a choice that my daughter made.”

In an Instagram post shared shortly after the appearance, Curtis re-posted a video of Mayweather’s comments and took aim at his long-running rival.

He wrote: “[palm on face emoji] they didn’t even ask him about this, Champ is you stupid or is you dumb? Get me the fuck out ya head, you sound like a hater. DIDDY DO IT ? COMING soon.”

50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather Appear to End Their Decade-Long Feud

Diddy has been accused of several instances of sexual assault since November of last year, all of which he has vehemently denied.

JUST IN ;Devin Haney takes break from attacking Ryan Garcia to call out hater Floyd Mayweather

He quickly settled the lawsuit filed against him by Cassie but is still facing three suits in the state of New York.

Anthony Joshua has bumped into John Fury ahead of his upcoming fight.

AJ will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in the main event of ‘Knockout Chaos’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday night.

Tyson Fury’s opinionated father is in the Middle East to support his son Roman, who will look to stretch his perfect professional boxing record to 4-0 in an undercard fight against Martin Svarc.

‘Big John’ has never shied away from backing his WBC heavyweight champion son to beat Joshua and every other big man in boxing.

However, Fury Sr has always enjoyed a friendly relationship with AJ, so much so that ‘The Gypsy King’ jokingly told Joshua to sever ties with his old man in December 2022.

Of course, their inevitable meeting in Saudi Arabia was a friendly one.

John Fury explains why Francis Ngannou is a 'tall order' for Anthony Joshua  | DAZN News US

 

The two men embraced after bumping into each other before Joshua kicked off their conversation by making the 59-year-old worry about what he’d said in recent interviews.

“How are you? I have watched everything you have said,” Joshua told Fury, who responded with an awkward laugh before pointing out the size of the 6ft 6in KO artist.

He joked: “He is a f****** big fella, isn’t he?”

READ MORE ;Anthony Joshua ranks the greatest heavyweights ever and does NOT put Tyson Fury in the top tier but where does he place Francis Ngannou ahead of their Saudi showdown?

Joshua added: “It is land of the giants, isn’t it? The heavyweight division is changing up.”

Fury then said it was ‘great’ to meet Joshua as the conversation turned towards Roman, and the pair wished each other luck before going their separate ways.

It may be friendly between the two men right now, but it won’t be for long.

John Fury's brilliant reaction after meeting Anthony Joshua ahead of Francis  Ngannou fight - Dexerto

Joshua is hoping to secure a fight with Tyson or Oleksandr Usyk after they clash in a historic four-belt undisputed bout on May 18.

The 34-year-old could be trying to knock lumps out on John’s son by the end of 2024, but for now, it appears they are focused on different things.

RELATED ;Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou took on punch machine challenge to test elite heavyweight power

Joshua has an MMA KO merchant to take care of, while Fury is trying to make another boxing superstar out of one of his children.

Anthony Joshua ranked heavyweight boxing stars from past and present, but there was no space for Tyson Fury amongst the top tier of previous champions.

The 34-year-old is attempting to put himself in the frame for another world title shot when he fights Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on Friday, March 8 and has been nominating his pick of the best boxers in the history of the division.

Joshua is a former two-time world champion himself and wants to become a three-time record belt holder by facing the eventual winner of Tyson Fury’s clash against Oleksandr Usyk.

Ahead of his showdown with former UFC star Ngannou, Joshua was presented with a list of heavyweights and asked to place them into five separate groups ranging from GOAT [greatest of all time] to sparring partner.

UFC icon Francis Ngannou wants Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua for first  boxing match - Daily Star

The Englishman placed a total of seven fighters in the GOAT category while others mixed in the champion, world level and mid level rankings.

An honest and modest Joshua started by immediately thrusting former heavyweight superstar Muhammad Ali into the top tier who was later joined by Derek Chisora, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitschko, Joe Lewis, Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano.

READ MORE ;Francis Ngannou told five things he must do against Anthony Joshua in mega-fight

Joshua previously beat former Ukrainian champion Klitschko to claim his first WBA title at the age of 27 in front of 90,000 spectators at Wembley in 2017.

A matchup against Fury has been touted ever since and looked to be close to coming to fruition before he was surprisingly beaten in two separate bouts by Usyk.

Joshua and Fury would be one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing, but there was only space for the Gypsy King and Usyk amongst the champion rankings.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua called out by Francis Ngannou after UFC exit  as heavyweight star eyes boxing switch | The Sun

Deontay Wilder, Frank Bruno and Joseph Parker also made it into the grouping with Joshua placing himself in the group of superstar boxers as well.

Meanwhile, upcoming opponent Ngannou who floored Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout last year was added into the third ‘world level’ tier by Joshua.

The Cameroonian has displayed his outrageous power in the build-up to Friday’s fight, but remains the underdog for the big-money clash in Riyad.

UPDATE NEWS ;Anthony Joshua famous TV show punch power record smashed by Francis Ngannou

David Haye, Dillian Whyte and Daniel Dubois were also place in the same group.

A host of other heavyweight contenders including one of Joshua’s most recent opponent Robert Helenius and fellow Brit Joe Joyce were put into the mid level tier.

What else can David Benavidez do? Can he ever challenge Canelo Alvarez, despite being the interim champion for almost two years? Floyd Mayweather believes the Mexican fighter needs to do what he did to bag his dream fight.

‘The Mexican Monster’ has decided to quit the waiting game and move up to 175 and challenge for the belt. He will exchange punches with Oleksandr Gvozdyk, with the winner expected to challenge the victor of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol for all the marbles. While Alvarez plans his Cinco de Mayo fight, Benavidez prepares for the fresh challenge ahead. But will their paths cross? Will Benavidez, at 28-0, be “the man”?

Floyd Mayweather explains what David Benavidez needs to do

Speaking with Fight Hype, Mayweather touched upon the way the 27-year-old fighter needs to keep on putting opponent after opponent on the canvas to have his way. Waiting for his turn is the mantra that the former world champion has given Benavidez. Floyd said, “If David Benavidez keeps beating fighter after fighter, and champion after champion, eventually he’ll be the man.”

Boxing: Mayweather believes Canelo is ducking David Benavidez fight | Marca

“And then everybody will want to fight him. Just like me, you have to wait your turn. David Benavidez is a helluva fighter. All David has to do is keep going out there and beating guys, staying focused, and then he’ll be the guy,” Mayweather added.

READ MORE ;Floyd Mayweather dragged into growing Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia rivalry

Mayweather, a technical fighter with a not-so-fan-friendly style, initially found it hard to get big names. But he persisted, and after stacking his resume and beating rivals in the squared circle, big fights soon followed.

A similar case is with Benavidez, who has to keep running down on every opponent, and soon he will force his way in. However, if Benavidez’s father is to be believed, the super middleweight is avoiding a fight with his son to save his face and possibly a defeat.

Canelo Alvarez seems headed toward Edgar Berlanga or Jaime Munguia, which  defies belief with David Benavidez or Terence Crawford available

According to David Benavidez Sr., Alvarez is at the end of his career. He told Fight Hype, “He is not the same Canelo that used to break arms and knock people out. He knows that David can beat him, and he doesn’t want to lose to David.”

UPDATE ;Ryan Garcia Risks Floyd Mayweather’s Wrath by Sharing Clip of Devin Haney Getting Stunned by Gervonta Davis

Currently, Alvarez is busy planning his Cinco de Mayo fight as he screens through names to defend his undisputed crown. But there appear to be no concrete reports as of now about whom he will be fighting. Meanwhile, Benavidez is breaking a sweat in training to prepare for his light heavyweight debut.

Ngannou takes on Joshua next week as he looks to record his first professional boxing victory, five months after almost beating Tyson Fury

Francis Ngannou has been given a long list of instructions as he prepares to take on Anthony Joshua next week.

Ngannou, who dropped Tyson Fury on his professional boxing debut last October before falling to a narrow split-decision after 10 rounds, goes into Friday’s clash as a significant underdog. Joshua has won his last three fights and knows victory could propel him into another world title fight.

One of those victories last year came against Jermain Franklin and the heavyweight has offered Ngannou some advice ahead of his second boxing bout. “Francis needs to do these five things,” he told Action Network. “1. He needs to come out fast and bully AJ, Joshua does not like to be bullied. 2. He must use his jab to set up his power, he cannot look for one shot to take him out. 3. Francis needs to stay patient and wait for the opening like he did with Fury. 4. He will need to take AJ’s power, and if he can do that, he has a major chance to win. 5. He must focus on working the body and using angles to counter AJ’s power.”

Anthony Joshua To Fight Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia

 

Joshua, meanwhile, will not simply bulldoze his way through Ngannou and must seek to wear out the mixed martial artist-turned-boxer before landing any knockout blow, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

READ MORE ;Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou took on punch machine challenge to test elite heavyweight power

Ngannou may have lost the element of surprise after a staggering professional boxing debut last October when the former UFC heavyweight champion knocked down Tyson Fury before losing a debatable decision.

He will look to prove his performance was no fluke on March 8 against Joshua , who hopes to put himself in the shop window for a crack at British compatriot Fury or a trilogy meeting against Oleksandr Usyk.

“This isn’t going to be one hit on the chin, clearly he’s an immovable object with a fantastic chin and big, big, big power. You’ve got to be really smart in this fight – don’t get hit, break him down and hopefully he’ll go over like a big tower and we can just move on.”

In fact, he took it one step further … by turning the outline of Crawford’s body (the T in the TBC logo) into an actual figure of the undefeated pugilist.

Tiger Woods will be recognised in a ceremony during the US Open week this June; Former world No 1 has won the US Junior Amateur, US Amateur Championship and US Open three times during his career; 48-year-old has played a limited schedule in recent seasons

Tiger Woods has been selected to receive the Bob Jones Award, the highest honour from the USGA that recognizes his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s traditions.

Woods typically is honoured for his performances on the course, where he has won 15 majors among his 82 career victories on the PGA Tour, but now follows Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan to win the accolade.

“This award goes beyond playing performance, recognizing the lasting impact of one person’s journey that has forever changed the image and growth of golf,” said Mike Whan, the CEO of the USGA.

Tiger Woods makes it clear: He's in the Genesis Invitational to win - Los  Angeles Times

“There are very few who stand alongside Tiger Woods in terms of on-course accomplishments, and he is in a class of his own when it comes to the impact he has made on the game and future generations who will play it.”

Woods was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2022 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump in 2019.

READ MORE ;Mike Trout and Tiger Woods Expected to Get Final Approval on Golf Course

The 48-year-old is a nine-time USGA champion, winning three straight US Junior Amateurs and US Amateur Championships before winning securing the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2000, Bethpage Black in 2002 and Torrey Pines in 2008.

Woods will be honoured on Wednesday June 12 during the US Open at Pinehurst No 2 in North Carolina, although the 15-time major champion is currently not eligible to compete unless he is given a tournament exemption by the USGA.

Tiger Woods returns to golf with 12-year-old son — and the similarities are  uncanny

Other past recipients of the Bob Jones Award include Mickey Wright, Francis Ouimet, Byron Nelson, Nancy Lopez, President George H.W. Bush, Patty Berg and Annika Sorenstam.

What next for Woods?

Woods, who said last year he was targeting ‘a tournament a month’ in 2024, saw his comeback cut short at February’s Genesis Invitational after withdrawing during his second round through illness.

The world No 906 is expected to play once on the Florida Swing ahead of the major season, likely The Players later this month, while Woods is also listed in the field for the Seminole Golf Club pro-member event on Monday March 4 in Florida.

Woods is expected to be back in action at The Masters from April 11-14 as he chases a sixth Green Jacket, while the PGA Championship from May 16-19 takes place at Valhalla – the venue where Woods lifted the Wanamaker Trophy in 2000 as part of the ‘Tiger Slam’.

Simone Biles has shared a video of her fall ahead of the Paris Olympics. Well, before anyone panics, the video is a throwback while Biles is as fit as a fiddle. Enjoying with her husband in Hawaii, the American superstar gymnast decided to celebrate World Leap Day hilariously. It is often said that the mark of a true champion is when they can embrace their failures. Well, for Biles, she has proven her worth.

Usually, athletes share joyous moments of their lives on the occasion of World Leap Day. But Biles probably thought of giving her fans something to laugh about. Surely, they did have a field day getting to smile at a rare failure of the American icon.

READ MORE ;Simone Biles Proves Blue Is Definitely Her Color in Dueling Bikini and Evening Wear Looks

When we hear the name Simone Biles, seldom do we picture her tripping while trying to perform a routine. However, as it is evident, even the legends of the game too have an off day. Echoing the same sentiment, Simone Biles thought of mocking herself on social media. The 26-year-old athlete took to her X account and posted a video of her tripping.

Simone Biles: Olympic champion responds to viral video of black girl not  given medal - BBC Sport

Captioning the post, “HAPPY LEAP DAY💙😂”, Biles tried to invoke laughter among her fans. However, while the video was funny, her fans ceased to troll her for the slip-up. Instead, they praised her for her sporting spirit. Not every day will you see an athlete post a snippet of how they failed. For obvious reasons, such clips can lead to public shaming of an athlete’s reputation.

But Biles, being an Olympic gold medalist, had the courage to make fun of her mistakes. This is what stood out to her fans and they started to shower her with words of admiration even more. Speaking about hilarious incidents, Biles was once handed a coloring book by a flight attendant.

Biles’ hilarious run-in with a flight attendant 

Back in 2022, days after being awarded with the Presidential Medal of Honor, Simone Biles had a weird flight experience. While she stands at 4’8”, there is little chance people won’t recognize who she is. Unfortunately, this flight attendant not only could not recognize Biles but also mistook her for a kid owing to her short stature.

Simone Biles | Biography, Olympics, Medals, & Facts | Britannica

Things took a hilarious turn when the attendant offered her a coloring book to keep her occupied throughout the journey. However, soon, the confusion was clarified. Embarrassed at their ignorance, the flight attendant offered Biles her favorite snack, Mimosa, as a token of apology.