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Of his 34 wins (34-2-1, 24 KOs) in the paid ranks, only three have come inside the opening round.

However, one early pro-fight was over in a flash.

Back in April 2009, when Fury was a fresh-faced 20-year-old with a full head of hair, he took on wiley veteran Matthew Ellis in his fifth professional outing at Bethnal Green’s York Hall.

Tyson Fury reveals wife Paris suffered miscarriage a day before his fight  with Oleksandr Usyk in May | Boxing News | Sky Sports

In his prime, Ellis was a solid British heavyweight contender, who once boasted an impressive 18-1 record.

But by the time he squared off against Fury, Ellis was on the decline and had self-admittedly ‘turned up for a payday’.

RISING heavyweight star Moses Itauma has now reached the age of 20, meaning his ambition to break Mike Tyson’s record is beginning to slip away.

The devastating puncher comes off an emphatic stoppage over Demsey McKean, ending their encounter on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2 in just over a minute.

I cancelled my own 18th birthday party so I can beat Mike Tyson's record  and become youngest ever heavyweight champ | The Sun

Not only is Itauma a prolific knockout artist, but he has also proven to be one of the most dynamic and explosive movers in the land of the giants.

And yet, the talented Brit now has just under five months to become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time, a goal he has made no attempt to hide.

‘Iron Mike,’ of course, set the record when he dethroned Trevor Berbick with a destructive two-round display in 1986.

Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBO heavyweight titles, was named the best boxer of 2024 in any weight category by the World Boxing Council.

Details: The organisation justified its decision because Oleksandr Usyk, 37, became the first boxer in the four-belt era to win the absolute heavyweight championship.

Oleksandr Usyk wins WBO and WBC belts after win over Mairis Briedis - BBC  Sport

Quote: “Usyk has consistently demonstrated his exceptional skills outside of Ukraine, showcasing his global impact on the sport. These achievements solidify Usyk’s legacy as one of the greatest boxers of his generation.”

More details: The best female boxer of the year is Australian Skye Nicolson, 29. She competes in the featherweight division and defeated the main contenders in 2024: Dane Sarah Mahfoud, Dominican Republic’s Dayana Vargas, and UKʼs Raven Chapman.

Anthony Joshua’s recent post on his official X page, featuring a photo of himself with his uncle, brother, and cousins during his visit to Nigeria, has ignited a wave of reactions from fans worldwide.

With over 2,500 replies and 4.6 million views, the random image has struck a chord, showcasing the power of family and the pride of reconnecting with one’s roots.

Fans flooded the comments section with admiration and humour, praising Joshua for remembering his roots despite his global fame.

Boxing news - Anthony Joshua's heavyweight title defence could slip to July, says Eddie Hearn - Eurosport

The caption, *My uncle, brother, and cosins 👑,”* resonated deeply with many, sparking conversations about family values, homecoming and the Nigerian culture.

One fan, @mrajakaiye, took the opportunity to encourage others to explore Nigeria, writing:

“To all AJ fans—Make sure you put visiting Nigeria 🇳🇬 on your to-do list this year. It’s the best place in the world. So many tourist attractions, amazing people, and amazing food—you’d be spoilt for choice.”

 

A matchup between Fury and Joshua has long alluded the boxing world for one reason or another. Many believe the typical boxing politics prevented the two from sharing the ring at the peak of their careers. Now that both men are without gold and have tasted defeat more than once, there is a belief that the fight could finally come to fruition.

Joshua confident Fury fight will happen

The only problem is, some feel that the best chance to make the bout happen has come and gone and the interest level won’t be nearly as high as it could’ve been.

With talk once again swirling of a potential clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, former UFC star Darren Till took to his ‘X’ account to unleash a rant on the fight not happening when it should have.

Gervonta Davis has announced his plans to retire by the end of 2025, leaving fans stunned and the boxing world buzzing. The Baltimore native, boasting a flawless 30-0 record with 28 knockouts, has long been considered a potential generational talent. His decision to step away comes as a surprise, especially with his star power still on the rise.

The 30-year-old southpaw, known as “Tank,” is next scheduled to defend his WBA lightweight title against Lamont Roach Jr. on March 1 at the Barclays Center in New York, despite reports of a cancellation. While fans eagerly await that bout, Davis’ announcement shifts the focus to the limited time left in his career.

The Gervonta Davis miracle and how Tank can define an age | The Independent

In an interview with Moment of Spotlight, Davis shared his reasons for retiring, pointing to the challenges and pressures of fame. “I’m going through a lot, been through a lot, been betrayed and s**t like that. It really made me want to give up on the limelight, he said. “Everybody chase being in front of the camera. They chase an image. I don’t want to be a part of that. As long as I have my money, can take care of my kids and whoever I need to take care of, I don’t need none of this.

Lucas Ketelle: I think it will still be Usyk. Naoya Inoue, I think will start to regress this year. I don’t see Crawford fighting after 2025. Artur Beterbiev probably won’t fight after 2025, and who knows what Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is doing. Four of the best 10 fighters in the world might be viewed a lot differently in 2025. I think we are going to see a lot of younger fighters move up into the top-five. Fighters like Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, Shakur Stevenson and the emergence of Keyshawn Davis as a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter will grab our attention.

Oleksandr Usyk Told His Final Challenge Is Heavyweight Who 'KO'd Him In  Sparring': "Make The Fight" - Seconds Out

Owen Lewis: Inoue or Rodriguez, both of whom are outclassing their opponents by greater margins than the rest of the pound-for-pound elite. Usyk and Crawford will likely begin succumbing to age by year’s end.

Declan Warrington: Oleksandr Usyk. I don’t see another fight that can enhance his reputation any further than it already deserves, but I also don’t see him declining significantly or doing anything to harm it – or another fighter surpassing him in the coming 12 months.

Mike Tyson won his first heavyweight world title in 1986 yet remains one of the biggest names in boxing after a busy year in and out of the ring.

‘Iron Mike’ became the youngest-ever heavyweight champion at 20, and his incredible knockout record made him a global superstar. Before his first defeat in 1990, only four of Tyson’s 37 fights had reached the final bell, giving him an unparalleled aura in the ring.

Jake Paul, Mike Tyson Fight Viewed by 60 Million Households

As one of the most iconic boxers of all time, Tyson has remained a popular figure, as shown by the number of fans who watched his comeback fight against Jake Paul in November. With 2024 now over, Mirror US Sport takes a look at Tyson’s most significant moments from last year that could still shape his future.

Tyson had been originally scheduled to face Paul in July, but a stomach ulcer flare-up delayed their fight. The 58-year-old recalled coughing up blood onboard a flight in May, with his health issues leading friends to become concerned for his life.

World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is set to take an extended break from the sport according to his manager.

The Ukrainian maintained his unbeaten record with a second win over Tyson Fury over Christmas.

Oleksandr usyk

Egis Klimas says he expects his client to return to the ring in the summer after resting for the next few months.

It’s believed Usyk’s next fight could be against IBF champion Daniel Dubois who called out the 37 year old in the ring in Riyadh.

Luke Littler will now sail beyond £100million in career earnings according to a leading sports finance expert. The 17-year-old will take home a £500k cheque from Ally Pally as well as the Sid Waddell Trophy, after hammering Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the World Darts Championship final.

A large portion of that will go to HMRC, but Littler’s reaction to the announcement of his cash prize on Friday night spoke volumes as he pointedly raised his eyebrows.

Tyson Fury and Luke Littler set to go head-to-head on amazing night of  sport - Chronicle Live

And there are now likely to be ample big paydays to come with the teenage sensation tipped to go on and have a record breaking career.

Having won 10 senior PDC titles in his debut year, and captured the Premier League Darts crown, Littler has attracted a string of high-profile sponsors. His earnings since his spectacular Ally Pally debut a year ago have reportedly surpassed £1m already, and the endorsements are likely to keep piling in after his maiden world title.