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Tyson Fury has vowed to beat Oleksandr Usyk and win back the Ring heavyweight title, which will be music to the ears of boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

Oleksandr Usyk has once again been named champion in Ring Magazine’s boxing rankings, something Tyson Fury isn’t too pleased about. Fury has topped their rankings twice in the past and confidently claimed that he surrendered his title just so he could climb back to win it for a third time.

Fury will become the undisputed heavyweight champion on May 18 if he can beat Usyk, and could become the holder of the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles.

READ MORE ;I got stopped by Anthony Joshua during 41-fight career, but Joe Joyce’s comeback opponent is the only man who truly knocked me out

Usyk initially took the belts off Anthony Joshua in 2021 and retained them a year later when facing the British heavyweight again in Saudi Arabia. Usyk’s ninth-round knockout win against Daniel Dubois in August was enough to retain the Ring heavyweight honours, but Fury is very confident about being the champion again after May 18.

When is Tyson Fury fighting Anthony Joshua? Dates, location reportedly set  for heavyweight boxing title fight | Sporting News

“I’m the craziest mother***** out there,” Fury said on social media. “I gave up the Ring belt so I could win it three times.”

Usyk is top of the rankings as the heavyweight champion, with Fury in first (second) and Joshua in (third). The latter has climbed up the list thanks to his impressive recent form.

UPDATE ;WBC defend Francis Ngannou top-10 ranking following knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn called Joshua the “best heavyweight in the world” after he knocked out Francis Ngannou in the second round earlier this month, making it his fourth win in a row after losing consecutive bouts against Usyk. Joshua has only lost three times in his career, the other instance being against Andy Ruiz Jr when the Mexican fighter produced a shock win via TKO.

His rise back to the top has been acknowledged by Ring, after beating Ngannou, Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius, and Jermaine Franklin since August 2022. Hearn wants Joshua to finally face Fury after years of negotiations, as he’s aware that AJ is in the form of his life.

POLL: Who Will Win Between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury?

Fury on the other hand was underwhelming in his last fight, when he faced Ngannou on his boxing debut. Fury was knocked down by the former UFC champion and controversially won via a split decision, but has no concerns ahead of facing Usyk.

The 2020 Olympics silver medalist Jordan Chiles has had numerous accolades on big stages throughout her illustrious career. Along with her own goals, Chiles never forgets to extend her gratitude to the people who have stood beside her during the trying times. On multiple occasions, the 2022 world champion has mentioned that America’s most decorated gymnast Simone Biles is one of her biggest support systems who has helped her across rough patches.

The dynamic duo were national teammates at the Tokyo Games, and while Biles withdrew from the finals, Chiles had to fill in the void as best as she could. Now, days after Simone’s 27th birthday, Jordan once again took to social media to emphasize how her best friend has impacted her life.

READ MORE ;Simone Biles had a 4-word response to husband Jonathan Owens signing with the Bears

In her latest Instagram story, Chiles shared her gratitude for having Simone in her life. “You always have that one person that can change your whole life. And this my friend is you,” stated Chiles with overwhelming emotion, referring to Biles. The accompanying image shows Jordan and Simone sharing a candid moment in a photoshoot. The comment from Chiles came in June last year after the two took on the Olympic team trials for the Tokyo Olympics together. And now, ahead of Paris, her statement has resurfaced.

Who is Jordan Chiles? Everything to know about the African-American who  cheered for Simone Biles at U.S. Classic

The IG story of Chiles shares the original post by another Instagram account (Simone Biles Fan Army) which sought to highlight how the explosive duo has evolved but has remained steadfast in their support of each other. “From the World Stage to The Real Life Scene, Jordan Chiles and Simone Biles are Perfect Friends as They are Each Other’s Support System“, reads the caption of the IG post.

Jordan and Simone have gone through highs and lows together multiple times together and have always made sure to cheer the loudest when one of them stepped onto the floor. While Chiles basks in the moment after signing a huge contract deal, this wouldn’t be the first time America’s favorite gymnastics duo looked to each other for emotional support.

RELATED ;Simone Biles Shatters Records: Becomes Most Decorated Gymnast at World Championships

Only two days ago, when the country came together to mark Simone’s birthday, Jordan wasn’t far behind. “Happy birthday to my ride or die, my other half, my best friend, my partner in crime, and my big sis!!” sounded Chiles’ sonorous IG story, drawing the attention of the world to her love for Simone. Chiles also didn’t hesitate to bash Biles’ critics when doubts cast a long shadow on the latter’s gymnastics career and made sure to make Simone understand that her skills were beyond reproach.

The Vault Medalists | Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Jade … | Marissa  Babin | Flickr

In 2018, when Chiles was pondering the chances of stepping away from gymnastics for good, it was Biles who helped her cast the lingering thoughts aside and make her return to action. Their love of standing beside each other was highlighted once again in an uncanny manner as both Chiles and Biles had to watch the 2024 Winter Cup from the sidelines. Now, with the Olympic team trials around the corner, it waits to be seen if the fast friends can catch the flight to Paris together once again.

There could be a massive title fight later this year.

Isaac Cruz’s manager believes his fighter could be set to run it back with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.

Cruz and Davis fought three years ago, with the current WBA lightweight champion coming out on top, but the fight announced the Mexican to a wider boxing audience due to his credible performance.

Davis is rumoured to be fighting Frank Martin in June to defend his belt, while Cruz’s next clash is with Rolley Romero on March 30 (live on Amazon in the US).

READ MORE ;Gervonta Davis destroyed punch machine challenge and beat scores set by Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder

The winner of Cruz vs. Romero would not be mandatory for any fighter, but both would be well placed to line up another fighter as the WBA super lightweight champion, a weight class in which Davis has fought before. Gibbons believes that an impressive showing against Romero would put him in control.

Gervonta 'Tank' Davis claims judge won't let him spend Christmas with his  children | Marca

“Pitbull’ will come out of this a star, and if he really whacks ‘Rolly,’ all he has to do is stand up in that ring and ask, ‘Gervonta, what do you want now?’” Gibbons said, reported BoxingScene.com.

“There’s a real mystique about ‘Pitbull,’ and that opportunity to look sensational against ‘Rolly’ exists because [Romero] tends to just stand there … this might be a slow beatdown and a fight that steals the show.”

UPDATE ;Sean O’Malley Eyeing Boxing, Considers Skipping Ryan Garcia And Gervonta Davis For Floyd Mayweather

He continued, discussing the outcome Cruz and Davis won their respective fights ahead, saying: “If both win, this fight should happen,” Gibbons said.

Two-time Players Championship winner Tiger Woods will not be competing at TPC Sawgrass this year after opting out of the event; Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is among those missing his presence; watch the 2024 Players Championship on Sky Sports Golf

It is Sunday, November 15, 2020. Scottie Scheffler is on the par-three 12th hole of Augusta National in the final round of the pandemic-delayed Masters and is watching playing partner and defending champion Tiger Woods shoot a 10 after firing three balls into the water of Rae’s Creek.

It will go down as the worst single-hole score of the 15-time major winner’s professional career, but what sticks out most for Scheffler is not so much that aberration, but the fact Woods shook it off and went on to birdie five of the six remaining holes.

READ MORE ;Tiger Woods will NOT play the Players Championship next week as 15-time major winner misses the deadline to commit to the $25million tournament at TPC Sawgrass

Three-and-a-half years down the line, Scheffler is saddened he will not have an opportunity to defend his Players Championship title in a field containing the 48-year-old, who opted against teeing up at TPC Sawgrass this week, but is still in awe of what he saw during that round at Augusta.

Tiger Woods remains listed in field for The Masters | Reuters

“He’s just so much different, I think, than the rest of us,” Scheffler said of Woods. “Like, he’s won so many golf tournaments, and he makes a 10 on No 12 at Augusta, and he birdies five of the last six holes, and it’s Sunday.

“I mean, it’s completely meaningless to him; like, at that stage in his career, what’s the point? And for him just to step up there and completely turn it around – and I kid you not, he hit still to this day, three of the best iron shots I’ve ever seen hit coming into those last few holes, and it was just unbelievable to watch.

“As far as I’m concerned, and in my lifetime, Tiger’s really been the guy that’s dominated basically since 1997 up until about 2020, whenever he really got hurt. I don’t know if we’ll ever see anything like that again in the game of golf.”

Those moments from playing a round with one of golf’s all-time greats are not just what Scheffler has taken from Woods though. The world No 1 also learnt from his approach of playing every shot, whether it is his first or last of a tournament, like it is the most important of his career.

Xander Schauffele has been able to marvel at some of Woods’ triumphs since graduating to the PGA Tour eight years ago, notably his last Masters win in 2019 and his Tour Championship victory the year before.

The Players Championship Without Tiger Woods Lacks This Important Feature -  The SportsRush

They are moments the reigning Olympic golf champion treasurers and he is in no doubt the wider golfing fraternity should too, and Schauffele knows how much of a draw Woods is even though his prowess is somewhat diminished since his 2021 car accident.

“To see him win the Masters, to see him win at East Lake, I find myself very fortunate,” Schauffele said.

“I think all the golf fans should as well, and if there’s anyone that’s going to talk about putting their head in the sand and find some way to win another golf tournament, I would imagine it’s going to be him.

“So being his competitor, I pull for him pretty hard, and he’s kind of the heartbeat of golf, in my opinion, and any time he tees it up it’s a spectacle.”

Woods has not appeared at The Players since tying for 30th in 2019 and his five-year exemption for the tournament earned through his last Masters win is due to expire this year.

Whether some new exemption might be granted as a past champion at TPC Sawgrass remains to be seen, although PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan feels Woods would be the last person to push for that to happen.

Tiger Woods rebounds in second round to make cut at PGA Championship | CNN

“I think you all know Tiger well enough to know that he wants to earn his way into every competition,” Monahan said. “That’s his makeup.

Novak Djokovic has decided to skip the 2024 Miami Open following his surprise early exit in Indian Wells in a decision that reinforces his priorities and focus on the big picture. 

Having entered Miami, Djokovic had planned to play the ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time since 2016, but he has now altered his schedule.

The world No 1 suffered a huge upset at the hands of world No 123 Luca Nardi in the third round of the 2024 Indian Wells Open earlier this week.

READ MORE ;Novak Djokovic vs Aleksandar Vukic Live Stream Tips Djokovic to Cruise to Victory at Indian Wells

Serbian journalist Sasa Ozmo reported on Thursday that Djokovic would not feature in the second leg of the ‘Sunshine Double’ in Miami, which will run from March 20-31.

While Djokovic’s withdrawal may surprise some given his titleless start to 2024 and fairly limited action so far this season, it is a move that makes sense in a number of ways.

Novak Djokovic fined for Wimbledon racket smash | Fox News

Firstly, it allows Djokovic significantly more time to prepare for the European clay-court season. Playing the hard-court tournament in Miami would have meant a swift surface change had Djokovic gone deep at the event, which ends just a week before the first big clay-court tournament begins in Monte Carlo on April 7.

This may not have been the ideal preparation for a crucial part of the campaign for the tennis legend, who turns 37 in May and has managed his schedule masterfully in the latter part of his career.

The build-up to the year’s second Grand Slam at Roland Garros is now, understandably, the priority for Djokovic — who has repeatedly stressed in recent years that peaking for the four majors is his primary focus at this stage.

JUST IN ;Novak Djokovic gets no sympathy from umpire after controversial play in humiliating loss to Luca Nardi

The 24-time Grand Slam titlist is the defending champion at the French Open, having downed Casper Ruud to claim his third title at the clay-court major last year.

Djokovic suffered his first loss at the Australian Open since 2018 when he was beaten by eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the 2024 edition in January following a lacklustre performance.

Djokovic expects Nadal back for more Grand Slams not just to play |  SuperSport

This means this year’s French Open, arguably, takes on heightened importance for Djokovic after a rare instance of him missing out in Melbourne, where he is an 11-time winner.

The fact the 2024 Olympic Games will be staged on the red clay courts at Stade Roland Garros could be another reason for Djokovic to place added emphasis on training on the surface and having a strong clay-court campaign.

Along with fighting for every Grand Slam title, Djokovic has frequently outlined that representing Serbia remains a big priority for him. Winning a medal at the Olympics, in particular, is a huge goal.

RELATED ;Novak Djokovic terrifies me Believe he could sleep with his eyes open Serb winning Blink Challenge at Indian Wells delights fans

An Olympic gold medal is the only major prize in tennis to have eluded Djokovic during his astonishing career to date, with his best result at the Games coming in 2008, when he earned a bronze.

While the Miami Open is a highly prestigious tournament, the Serbian has already won it six times, and it is not on par with the four majors or the Olympics.

Novak Djokovic News - Latest Novak Djokovic News, Stats & Rumors

The 1000 ATP ranking points on offer are valuable, but not crucial to Djokovic, given he is guaranteed to retain the world No 1 position until after the event –since he is defending no points from 2023.

UPDATE ;Novak Djokovic confirms Nadal withdrawal from Indian Wells signals the end of an era

In any case, retaining top spot is no longer as critical for Djokovic as he already holds the all-time records for the most weeks at world No 1 and ATP year-end No 1 finishes — the former by a huge margin that continues to grow.

The Chicago Bears are welcoming their new star athlete with open arms.

No, not Caleb Williams. We’re talking about the greatest American gymnast in history, Simone Biles, who happens to be married to newly-signed Bears safety Jonathan Owens.

READ MORE ;Reliving Her Unfulfilled Dream, Simone Biles Takes Jonathan Owens on an Adventure

Owens reportedly inked a contract with the Bears worth $4.5 million over two years this week — the perfect Birthday gift for Biles, who turned 27 on Wednesday. The four-time Olympic gold medalist took to social media Tuesday to share her excitement about moving to Chicago.

The Bears responded Wednesday with a “Happy Birthday” message for their new famous fan.

Simone Biles withdraws from individual all-around event 'to focus on mental  health', says USA Gymnastics | Olympics News | Sky Sports

With 30 World Championship medals (23 gold including six all-around titles), Biles is widely considered to be one of the greatest artistic gymnasts of all time. Her seven Olympic medals ties Shannon Miller for the most ever by an American gymnast. The reigning all-around world champion, Biles is gearing up to compete in the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Conor Benn dismisses the idea of a competitive fight between Terence Crawford and Chris Eubank Jr., stating it would be very one-sided, with Eubank getting “smashed to pieces.” Benn believes Eubank is on a downward trajectory and doubts the likelihood of the matchup, labeling it as “smoke and mirrors.” As Benn focuses on securing a world title soon, he emphasizes the shift in the boxing landscape where mega fights take precedence over traditional world titles.

What’s Next

Conor Benn aims to pursue big fights and secure a world title in the near future, emphasizing the importance of fan-enticing matchups in the evolving boxing landscape.

READ MORE ;Boxing pundit explains exactly why Terence Crawford could fight Chris Eubank Jr as Canelo Alvarez fight looms

Bottom Line

Conor Benn questions the competitiveness of a potential Terence Crawford vs. Chris Eubank Jr. fight, underscoring the shift towards mega fights over traditional world title bouts in boxing.

Jake Paul confirms upcoming Netflix boxing match with Mike Tyson, rejects brother Logan Paul’s claims

He'll get smashed to pieces'- Conor Benn delivers verdict on Chris Eubank  Jr vs Terence Crawford and rips into rival for choosing opponent | talkSPORT

Jake Paul disputes Logan Paul’s claim of being offered a fight against Mike Tyson, revealing the fight was actually arranged through a deal with Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions. Jake expressed frustration at Logan’s statements, calling them lies and attempts to steal his spotlight.

The Big Picture

The Paul brothers’ feud escalates over conflicting accounts of a boxing match offer, shedding light on their ongoing rivalry and public disputes.

What’s Next

The ongoing tension between the Paul brothers may lead to further public disagreements and controversies.

Bottom Line

Terence Crawford vs. Chris Eubank Jr - Conor Benn has his say on potential  fight | DAZN News GB

Jake Paul calls out his brother Logan for spreading falsehoods and detracting from his achievements, highlighting the strained relationship within their family.

In a candid revelation, former boxing champion Amir Khan opened up about a pivotal moment in his career that resulted in a significant financial setback, attributing it to a misunderstanding with Floyd Mayweather.

In 2014, Floyd Mayweather gained attention for conducting a fan poll regarding his May 3rd fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, with contenders Marcos Maidana and Amir Khan in contention. Khan emerged as the victor of the poll, garnering 57 percent of the votes. However, despite Khan’s triumph and his prior victory over Maidana, Mayweather ultimately opted not to select Khan as his opponent for the bout.

Amir Khan Explains Why He Lost Floyd Mayweather Fight

The British Legend Regrets The Decision

Recalling the incident as one of the biggest regrets of his life in an interview with Gambling Zone, Khan shared the story of a missed opportunity to face Mayweather during the prime of his career. According to Khan, a deal had been finalized, complete with a signed contract for the much-anticipated bout. However, trouble arose when Khan decided to publicly announce the fight before Mayweather had the chance to do so.

Amir Khan insists he would 'outbox' Floyd Mayweather if both fighters were  in their prime | Daily Mail Online

In Khan’s words, Mayweather “spat his dummy out,” expressing displeasure at not being the first to break the news. Mayweather’s reaction stemmed from a belief that, as the bigger star, he should have had the privilege of announcing the bout. Khan admitted to his mistake of prematurely disclosing the fight on social media, which triggered Mayweather’s bitterness and ultimately led to the cancellation of the match.

I decided to announce it first and then Floyd spat his dummy out, he said ‘why have you announced it first?’ He thought he was the big star and it was up to him to announce it. I made that mistake, I posted ‘guys, I’m fighting Floyd Mayweather next’ and he got very bitter that I jumped the gun and it was off. I was young, 24 or 25, and I got excited about fighting a legend in the sport.”

Reflecting on his youthful enthusiasm at the time, Khan acknowledged his error in judgment, expressing excitement at the prospect of facing a legend like Mayweather. However, the fallout from the misunderstanding cost Khan millions in potential earnings, serving as a hard lesson learned.

Amir Khan still hoping to secure blockbuster fight against Floyd Mayweather  | Boxing News | Sky Sports

Now older and more experienced, Khan accepts the outcome, stating, “But it is what it is.”

The WBC have defended their decision to rank former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in their top 10 following his defeat to Anthony Joshua; president Mauricio Sulaiman says they are in the process of working on the current heavyweight rankings

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman says he stands by the decision to rank Francis Ngannou in the top 10 despite the former UFC heavyweight champion’s crushing knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua.

READ MORE ;Francis Ngannou felt like he was ‘falling asleep’ warming up for Anthony Joshua: ‘I was the only one that didn’t show up’

Ngannou was placed at No 10 in the rankings by the WBC on the back of his impressive boxing debut against Tyson Fury, which saw him record a stunning third-round knockdown of the undefeated world champion in a split decision defeat back in October.

Such was the lasting impression of his performance that Ngannou had been backed by some to trouble Joshua, only for the former unified world champion to assert his dominance with three brutal knockdowns on the way to victory in Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua dropped Francis Ngannou three times on his way to a  devasting victory - As it happened - Eurosport

“100 per cent [we stand by the decision to rank him in the top 10], just by facts. Everybody criticised the WBC, myself, the ratings committee,” said Sulaiman, speaking to Sky Sports.

“They jumped the gun and a month later the fight is announced against Joshua and nobody said anything. It is about tendency, we don’t go or rule or make decisions by popularity. It is not a popularity con

“We go by facts, by rules and the ranking of Ngannou was perfectly supported by the WBC rules which is clear in the criteria from rankings that we consider the activity of the fighter in other contact sports.

RELATED ;Francis Ngannou discovers brutal consequences of Anthony Joshua defeat

Ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou was knocked out by Anthony Joshua during their non-title heavyweight boxing contest in Saudi Arabia last Friday.

Francis Ngannou will drop out of the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight rankings after his devastating defeat to Anthony Joshua last Friday. Ngannou, 37, was brutally knocked out by Joshua, 34, in the second round of their fight in Saudi Arabia.

Much was expected of Ngannou heading into the bout after his impressive debut performance against Tyson Fury last October. Although Fury won that fight via split decision, many fans believed Ngannou should’ve been handed the victory for flooring the WBC champion and holding his own. The WBC responded by handing Ngannou, a former UFC champion, a spot in their top 10 heavyweight rankings.

READ MORE ;Anthony Joshua to face winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk

Yet that honour has now been retracted after Joshua’s emphatic victory. AJ, a former two-time world champion, twice floored Ngannou before dropping him for a third and final time. Joshua has now won four fights on the bounce and is back in contention for a world title shot.

But Ngannou’s dream of becoming a world champion in both UFC and boxing has been put on hold. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has confirmed that Ngannou will drop out their top 10 heavyweight rankings. “Yeah, (he will drop) from the top 10 certainly because he was knocked out in two rounds,” Sulaiman told talkSPORT.

Dillian Whyte says Francis Ngannou too complacent for Anthony Joshua - Bad  Left Hook

Sulaiman insists he does “not regret ranking” Ngannou and has praised his “sensational outing” against Fury. Sulaiman added: “Joshua looked phenomenal, Ngannou looked surprised. He got caught early and could not recover from the next knockdown.

“But to use an analogy, in 1971, Joe Frazier knocked down Ali and beat him for the first time. In the next fight, George Foreman knocks Frazier down seven times and knocks him out in two rounds. Does that erase Joe Frazier’s performance against Ali?”

RELATED ;Anthony Joshua names four potential next fight options including Deontay Wilder and former foe

Sulaiman refused to confirm whether Ngannou will remain in the top 40 heavyweight rankings – insisting it is “a matter for the ratings committee” – but would like to see him stay in the mix. The WBC chief continued: “If it was my decision, I would support him to still be in the top 40 rankings.

“I think we all could see him fighting anyone and still be competitive and possibly winning against rated fighters. So we’ll see what the ratings committee decides in the next couple of days.”

Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou LIVE: Joshua knocks out Ngannou in brutal  fashion in second round, Parker also wins | Goal.com Cameroon

Joshua also believes Ngannou is capable of being competitive in boxing. The Brit said in his post-fight press conference: “He can come again. I told him he shouldn’t leave boxing. He can do well. Remember he’s two fights in and he’s fought the best. He can go a long way if he stays dedicated but it’s up to him.”

UPDATE ;Francis Ngannou next fight after Anthony Joshua has already been announced

And Ngannou has pledged to make a comeback and gain his maiden professional win in boxing. He said after his defeat to Joshua: “You can be sure I’m not done here. It wasn’t my day. He was way better than me. It sucks but it’s the game. We all know that.”