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Tyson Fury explains why Anthony Joshua car crash was inspiration

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Tyson Fury Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury explains why Anthony Joshua car crash was inspiration for boxing comeback

Tyson Fury has cited Anthony Joshua’s involvement in a tragic car crash as inspiration for his boxing return.

Fury faces Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, which comes 16 months after his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov pose for a photo during the Tyson Fury v Arslanbek Makhmudov press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2026 in London, England

JUST IN: Why Tyson Fury accuses Oleksandr Usyk of being a ‘cheat’

‘The Gypsy King’ announced his return to the ring in January, a year after he said he was retiring following back-to-back losses to Usyk.

Fury was handed his first career defeat by the Ukrainian WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion in May 2024 and failed to bounce back in their rematch seven months later, losing both on points.

But the 37-year-old is back and ready to take the boxing world by storm once again.

In typical Fury fashion, ‘The Gypsy King’ took centre stage at the kick-off press conference for his fight with Russia’s Makhmudov, and he was asked why he decided to return.

Tyson Fury plans to ‘make boxing great again’

“I came back for one reason only, and that’s to make boxing great again,” Fury said.

“Since I retired for the fifth time over a year ago, boxing for me has gone on a downward slope.

“It’s become quite boring, and boxing has its maximum potential when Tyson Fury is actively fighting.”

Fury then explained how Joshua’s tragic motor accident in Nigeria, which happened only ten days after the British boxer defeated Jake Paul, ultimately prompted his return.

In December, Joshua was hospitalised and sadly lost two of his best friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, when the SUV he was travelling in crashed into a truck outside of Nigerian capital Lagos.

For Fury, that was a sign not to take life for granted, as he described why the awful accident instantly made up his mind about a return.

Why Anthony Joshua was an inspiration to Fury

Fury said Joshua's tragic motor accident made him realise 'life is very short, precious and fragile.'

“The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was a tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua,” Fury added.

“I was on holiday with my family in Thailand for Christmas, just to get away from the rain. I was sick of the rain; it was depressing me.

“Then I heard all the bad news that had gone on, and I thought, ‘Life is very short, precious and fragile.’

“And anything could happen at any given moment, and you should never put things off until tomorrow, or next week, or next year.

“Because tomorrow is not promised to anybody, the Bible says tomorrow is not a gift – tomorrow is not promised.

“Tomorrow is a mystery, so we have to live for today, and me living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I’m going to come back to boxing.

Frank Warren and Tyson Fury attend the Tyson Fury and Arslan Makhmudov face off during a press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2026 in London, England

Tyson Fury talks to the media at the Tyson Fury v Arslanbek Makhmudov press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2026 in London, England

“Because it’s something that I love and I’m passionate about and that I’ve always been in love with.

“And there is no tomorrow to put it off to, so that’s why I’m back today for this big fight.”

Fury’s last win came against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October 2023.

The victory over Ngannou came ten months after Fury stopped Derek Chisora in their London trilogy bout.

Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, promised a rejuvenated Fury at the London press conference and said it’s a matter of when, not if, his man becomes a three-time heavyweight champion.

Frank Warren, founder of Queensberry Promotions, described Fury as a ‘phenomenon’ and the best heavyweight of his generation with ‘so much still to give and prove

Tyson Fury manager lays out three-fight year as he names one of ‘front runners’ for comeback fight

He said he never discussed fighting with Fury, and it was entirely the heavyweight’s decision to make a comeback.

Warren added that he’d love to see Fury face Usyk for the third time, as well as take on the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois.

Fury: I’ll get the decision if I fight Usyk again

Fury, who is training in Thailand for his fight with Makhmudov, is eyeing up a trilogy with Usyk down the line, as he believes he will get his arm raised at the third time of asking.

“I’ve got a lot more to offer, and there’s a lot of big fights out there that I know I can win,” Fury said, speaking to Lennox Lewis on the Netflix broadcast after the press conference.

“I know I can beat this guy, and I know I can beat other heavyweight champions in this division.

“If we get a fight with Usyk again, I know I’ll get the decision this time… I’d like to think I’ll go on for a long time, who knows.”

Arslan Makhmudov attends the Tyson Fury and Arslan Makhmudov face off during a press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 16, 2026 in London, England

 

Fury predicts he will finish Makhmudov via KO in the sixth round, and Usyk will come ‘begging’ for a fight due to the monetary value his name holds.

Makhmudov, who has stopped 19 of his 21 professional wins by knockout, scored a unanimous decision win over Briton Dave Allen in his last fight four months ago.

“I was very happy when I heard the news because for me this is a dream fight,” the 36-year-old said.

“All my life, I have gone for my goal. My parents, my uncle told me when I was 9 years old, ‘You’re gonna be champion of the world.’”

Speaking on his opponent and entering enemy territory once again, Makhmudov added: “He’s a legend, a big name in boxing, but I come here to make my legacy and my story.”

“When I was in Sheffield [fighting Allen], 10,000 arena, the arena was against me, but I said God is with me, it doesn’t matter who’s against me.

“And I was successful. This time it’s the same thing. All the world can be against me, but it’s nothing if God is with me.”

Fury vs Makhmudov concludes a huge few weeks in British boxing, with Moses Itauma and Chisora both booked in big fights beforehand.

Chatham’s 21-year-old heavyweight star Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin in the main event of the Magnificent 7 bill on March 28.

Chisora, meanwhile, contests his 50th professional fight against Deontay Wilder at London’s O2 Arena the following weekend.

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BOXING

Why Tyson Fury accuses Oleksandr Usyk of being a ‘cheat’

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Tyson Fury Oleksandr Usyk

TYSON FURY INTERVIEW: Gypsy King accuses Oleksandr Usyk of being a ‘cheat’ as he reveals his wife Paris stopped speaking to him after his ‘selfish’ decision to make FIFTH boxing comeback

Nobody in Tyson Fury‘s inner circle wanted him back in the ring and for a while, they made that perfectly clear by cutting him off.

‘My dad stopped speaking to me for a while. My brothers stopped speaking to me, even Paris. Everybody cut me off,’ Fury says of the fallout after he chose to end yet another retirement and fight again. ‘Nobody wanted me to return and they made that clear… but, it’s my decision and my life.’

The decision is now locked in. Fury will return to face heavy-handed contender Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, topping a major card promoted by The Ring Magazine.

Fury is adamant he didn't lose to Oleksandr Usyk and described the Ukrainian as a 'cheat'

READ: Gervonta Davis Avoids Another Arrest — But Jail Risk Lingers

But when Fury talks about why he’s back, the story begins not with belts or future opponents, but with conflict at home.

‘It’s my decision to make, it’s but probably a bit selfish,’ he says. ‘It’s just I’m at my happiest when I’m in that ring entertaining people and I have no plans to stop any time soon. I’ll probably keep fighting until I’m 50 I’d say.’

Retirement, with Fury, has always been a flexible concept. This is his fifth return. He speaks about fighting not as a career obligation but as a compulsion – something chosen, not required.

‘I’m back because I’ve chosen to be back. I ‘ve chosen boxing because I love boxing. I ain’t boxing because I’ve spent my money and I have to risk my health to make a quid. I get that people want me to move on with my life but it’s just one of those things I can’t.’

That idea, moving on, became a fault line in our conversation when we discussed his fiercest rivalries.

I put to Fury a specific scenario. We had sat down with a sports psychotherapist to analyse the explosive interview given by Deontay Wilder on talkSPORT, where he reacted angrily when challenged on the various explanations he has offered for his defeats to Fury.

The specialist’s view was clear: Wilder will never return to his previous level unless he fully accepts, internally, that he was beaten.

Acceptance, he argued, is the only way elite fighters psychologically reset after a loss.

I then asked Fury directly: by that same logic, has he come to terms with his own defeats to Oleksandr Usyk?

The response was immediate and incendiary.

‘He never beat me. He cheated. Man, he cheated. He had rockets up his ass. He cheated. I’ll never agree that he beat me. He’s a cheater and he’s pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes.’

When pressed on whether he genuinely believes Usyk cheated and what he meant by it, Fury did not retreat behind diplomacy.

‘A cheater? Yes. He cheated. He’s a total cheater. I don’t need a psychologist to help me get over those defeats as they weren’t defeats. I also don’t need a psychologist to tell me to leave it in 2024, I have worked that out myself.’

It is a total rejection not only of the official results but of the psychological premise behind the question.

Where the therapist’s model depends on acknowledgement and processing, Fury takes a very different route – reframing the results entirely and removing the need for any emotional reconciliation.

He insists the power remains in his hands anyway.

‘Mark these words, the rabbit will be begging the GK for a fight by the end of the year, begging on his knees.’

Fury offered no evidence to support the allegations, and no wrongdoing has been found against Usyk.

If Fury will not concede an inch on Usyk, he is just as firm when discussing Deontay Wilder. His view is that time, punishment and mileage – more than mindset alone – explain where Wilder now stands.

‘He’ll never get back to where he was, because I smashed him to pieces twice, literally took years off his life,’ Fury says.

‘And the fact that he’s 40 years old, the sun’s run out the bottle for him… He can never get back to where he was.

‘Look, it’s simple. He’s past his prime, it’s like his sell by date has expired. If you get the best steak ever, $1,000 for a steak. Leave it in the fridge for a week, and it goes off.

‘You ain’t gonna eat it. You’re never gonna get it back again. You can’t rejuvenate it unless there’s a youth serum that I don’t know about and that’s what’s happened to Wilder.’

In Fury’s telling, their trilogy – especially the third bout – was the decisive turning point.

‘Deontay Wilder was finished in 2021 after that terrible destruction I gave him in that third fight. That should have been curtains for him. But he spent all his money and made bad decisions so now he has to come back – fighting in his 40s and risking his health as well as everything else. So it’s a sad state to get in. But I hate to say it, but I told you so.’

For Fury, all of it – Usyk, Wilder, the critics, the retirement chatter – is secondary to one simple truth: he fights because he chooses to, on his own terms.

‘I’ve been through it all, I’ve seen it all, and I’m still standing,’ he says. ‘Records, belts, opinions… they don’t change what I do in that ring. I fight when I want, I fight how I want, and I fight for me. That’s it.’

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BOXING

How Stevenson not ‘ducking’ opponents separates him from Mayweather

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Shakur Stevenson Floyd Mayweather

Roy Jones Jr explains how Shakur Stevenson ‘not ducking’ anyone has separated him from Floyd Mayweather

According to Roy Jones Jr, Shakur Stevenson may already have an attribute that separates him from Floyd Mayweather.

Just a few weeks ago, the undefeated 28-year-old, Shakur Stevenson, successfully won the Ring Magazine and WBO world super lightweight titles when he dominated Teofimo Lopez.

Due to another flawless performance, Stevenson once again drew comparisons to one of the greatest boxers of all time, Floyd Mayweather.

Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images

JUST IN:Gervonta Davis Avoids Another Arrest — But Jail Risk Lingers 

Despite that, former boxing champion Roy Jones Jr believes that the 28-year-old already possesses an attribute that ‘Money’ Mayweather didn’t have.

Stevenson not ‘ducking’ opponents separates him from Mayweather

Although he is still early in his career, Stevenson has already fought several top level opponents on his way to becoming a champion in three different weight classes.

With his boxing style, Stevenson always finds himself being compared to Mayweather, as he often avoids damage in his fights.

In fact, opponents of the Olympic silver medalist only land 16.7 percent of their punches on Stevenson, which is the lowest rate in the sport.

And although that is what Mayweather built his career and success on, Jones Jr believes that is where the similarities between the two end, and he has claimed that Stevenson has something that separates him from the consensus GOAT.

“He is (this era’s Floyd Mayweather),” Jones Jr said in an interview with Fight Hub.

“Because he isn’t taking many chances, he isn’t giving guys no chance to beat him. The difference is (Stevenson’s) fighting everybody.

“He’s not ducking and dodging, he’s fighting everybody. That’s a little different. He can be Floyd Mayweather as far as not being beat in his era, but he’s a little different because he’s willing to take on the biggest challenges.”

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao hold each other during their 2015 bout

Mayweather was often criticized for delaying fights or avoiding opponents

Throughout his career, despite maintaining his flawless 50-0 record, Mayweather was often criticized for avoiding opponents or delaying matchups.

Although he and Manny Pacquiao finally fought in 2015, Mayweather was criticized for years for delaying the fight and finally agreeing to fight ‘Pac Man’ outside of his prime.

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BOXING

Gervonta Davis Avoids Another Arrest — But Jail Risk Lingers

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Gervonta Davis

A Baltimore judge has recalled the arrest warrant for Gervonta “Tank” Davis over an alleged probation violation linked to his 2020 hit-and-run case.

The state did not oppose the request. Davis’ attorney has said the fighter remains compliant, removing the immediate risk of being taken into custody in Maryland on that matter.

The immediate threat has eased. The wider case remains.

Gerovnta Davis speaks to press at a press conference before a big fight

JUST IN: Risk, Reward, And Reputation: Why This Is the Fight Gervonta Davis Cannot Ignore

Probation Warrant Recalled
The warrant stemmed from Davis’ probation status tied to the Baltimore hit-and-run case. While the recall eases the short-term threat of an arrest in Maryland, it does not end probation itself or the court’s ability to revisit compliance if circumstances change.

Davis has already experienced how quickly conditions can tighten when supervision is involved. That history underscores how quickly probation can shift from supervision to custody.

Florida Case Still Active
Davis is still facing separate allegations in Florida following an October 27, 2025, incident in Miami Gardens. Reports around the case have referenced charges including battery, false imprisonment, and attempted kidnapping. Davis was arrested in Miami in late January and later released on bond with a no-contact order in place.The key point is simple: the Maryland warrant being recalled does not resolve the Florida case. If the Florida matter advances to a conviction, the consequences could be serious on their own. It could also put Davis back under renewed scrutiny in Maryland due to the existing supervision.

Second Jail Term Still Possible
Nothing in the recalled warrant guarantees Davis avoids custody in the future. It only removes one immediate pressure point.

Davis remains undefeated at 30-0-1. Outside the ring, the legal timeline remains active. Even with the Maryland warrant recalled, any new adverse ruling in Florida could place him back into jeopardy quickly.

One issue has been resolved. The larger case has not.

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BOXING

Deontay Wilder Breaks Down Why He Didn’t Face Usyk

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Deontay Wilder Oleksandr Usyk

Deontay Wilder says the long-discussed fight with Oleksandr Usyk did not fall apart at the negotiating table — it never lined up with the plan already in motion.

Wilder told Fight Hub TV the Usyk idea was real “at moments,” but as the buzz grew, there was still no confirmed date or venue to anchor the talks.

With no firm date or location on the table, Wilder turned his focus back to a fight that had been in the works far longer.

A WBN poster of Usyk vs Wilder in the backdrop of the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas

READ: “Tougher than all of them”: Deontay Wilder overlooks Tyson Fury as

Chisora Fight Was Already In Motion
Wilder explained that negotiations for a fight with Derek Chisora had been underway for months and were initially targeted for December before other circumstances delayed it.

“And me and Derek have been working on a fight for a very long time,” Wilder said. “Actually, this fight’s supposed to have happened back in December, you know what I mean, but due to other situations and stuff, it didn’t happen.”

By the time Usyk’s name entered serious discussion, Wilder said the Chisora agreement was already part of a wider plan he did not want to abandon.

Usyk Talks Lacked Structure
Wilder said Usyk mentioned the fight first, which sparked the wave of attention and conversations. But he also suggested the situation never came with the basics needed to move it forward quickly.

“He mentioned it first, he wanted to fight me,” Wilder said, describing how the talks gathered momentum. “But I don’t think they, you know, had a real set date, a place where they wanted to go, that still was lingering around. And you know, the clock goes like this, it’s tick tock.”

As reported exclusively last year, Shelly Finkel wanted Wilder in the ring by the end of 2025. At 40, Wilder stressed that waiting without direction was not an option.

“I can’t sit back, I can’t sit around,” Wilder said. “And of course, we have plans of what we want to do to get to the top.”

Timing Over Opportunity
Rather than framing the situation as a rejection, Wilder described it as timing and progression. He said his return path was already mapped out, and he wanted a step that fit what came next.

“The second fight is what’s going to be something a level a little bit different than my opponent, but a little bit more,” Wilder said. “And then the Derek Chisora (fight) came, which was the level all over because we need somebody like that.”

Wilder made it clear that the Usyk interest intensified while his own path had already been set. Without a firm framework in place, he was not prepared to let the clock run down.

The opportunity may return. For now, the division has moved on. In Wilder’s words, this time it was not about fear or money. It was about the lack of a plan — and the fact that he refused to sit still while it formed.

The immediate consequence is clear: the WBC title route has shifted, with President Mauricio Sulaiman stating Usyk must next face mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

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CELEB NEWS

As Charlie Woods Rejects Tiger Woods’ Stanford Legacy PGA

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Charlie Woods Tiger Woods

PGA Tour Pro Sticks Up for Charlie Woods as He Rejects Tiger Woods’ Stanford Legacy

Charlie Woods faces more scrutiny than any other junior golfer today. That is not just opinion, but the assessment of a PGA Tour rookie who spoke on Fore Play Episode 837, just a day after making the first hole-in-one in TGL history. He has seen firsthand the difference between pressure and attention when it comes to Charlie.

“Knowing Charlie a little bit and having the opportunity to interact with him a few times, I think he’s really well adjusted. He loves competing,” Neal Shipley spoke on the podcast.

feature-image

READ: The Real Reason Why Charlie Woods Rejected Tiger Woods’ Stanf

Then came the other side of it. “I wouldn’t want to trade shoes with him. He’s got it tough for a 17 or 18-year-old kid. It’s a lot of attention.”

Charlie is 16 still, and you know what that attention looks like, because Shipley named it precisely. Tiger Woods chose Stanford in 1993, won the NCAA individual title in 1996, and turned professional weeks later. Charlie chose Florida State, the first Woods to break from a path the golf world had spent years treating as a foregone conclusion.

Since age 13, the conversation around Charlie Woods has run on one track: when does he win a major? Not which junior title is next. Not which college program fits his development. Majors. Shipley, who earned his PGA Tour card after starting at James Madison before transferring to Ohio State, understood what that track costs a player still building a game.

“Talk about it since you were 13 years old about how he’s going to win majors,” he said on the podcast.

Shipley followed that with the most grounded thing said about Charlie’s situation in any public forum this week: “Just because your last name is Woods does not mean you’re going to put the ball in the hole better than other people on the golf course.”

He named players from his own collegiate class, juniors with the rankings, the tournament wins, and the full attention of recruiting programs, who are not playing professional golf now. The distance between a decorated junior and a tour card is narrow for everyone.

Charlie committed to Florida State on February 10, 2026, ranked No. 21 in the AJGA, a ranking that sat outside the top 600 twelve months earlier. He won the 2025 Team TaylorMade Invitational for his first AJGA title, finished T9 at the Junior PGA Championship, and closed out The Benjamin School’s second FHSAA Class 1A state title with a final-round 68, the low round of the tournament.

Mike Russell arrives at FSU as the No. 1-ranked junior in the country, a two-time AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year, a two-time Junior PLAYERS champion, and the youngest player in history to make a Korn Ferry Tour cut. While Charlie sits at No. 21, with one AJGA title, a T9 at the Junior PGA Championship, and a resume that has moved from outside the top 600 to the First Team All-American list inside twelve months. The gap between them in current rankings is real, but the trajectory of closing that gap is the more relevant data point heading into Tallahassee in 2027.

Shipley’s read on the decision: “Great facility. Great coaches. Great decision for him.”

What that facility and those coaches have actually produced is the more relevant question heading into 2027.

Florida state golf’s pro pipeline makes Charlie Woods’ commitment more than symbolic

Brooks Koepka came through this program. Five majors, back-to-back U.S. Opens in 2017 and 2018, back-to-back PGA Championships in 2018 and 2019, and an FSU Athletics Hall of Fame induction in 2022. Daniel Berger played for the Seminoles. Luke Clanton graduated recently and turned professional after leading FSU to the 2024 NCAA Championship final. Coach Trey Jones is in his 23rd season, inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in December 2024, with four top-five NCAA finishes and an ACC title in 2023 on the program’s record. The Seminole Legacy Golf Course carries an $8 million renovation.

Jones stood in the gallery for Charlie’s final-round 68 at the state championship last November, watching every shot. NCAA rules prevent him from publicly discussing the commitment until signing day in November 2026. His presence at that tournament did not require words.

Jones has built a program in which coaches have developed elite players and managed large personalities over two decades. The Class of 2027 — Russell and Woods together — now carries more public attention than any incoming college golf pairing in recent memory.

Shipley framed what Charlie faces without softening it: “It’s hard.” A last name does not move the ball closer to the hole.

The golf course has always been indifferent to inheritance.

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BOXING

Mike Tyson sends a message that should concern all boxing fans

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Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson believes boxing is dying in America, and he’s putting his name and resources behind saving it.

The 59-year-old Hall of Famer announced the Mike Tyson Invitational, scheduled for March 12 through 14 in Las Vegas, as his answer to a sport he says has lost its competitive foundation and cultural relevance.

The three-day event will showcase the nation’s top amateur boxers, giving them a platform to compete against elite opposition.

Mike Tyson is concerned about the future of boxing at grassroots level

JUST IN: “Tougher than all of them”: Deontay Wilder overlooks Tyson Fury as

Tyson’s team sought out premier talent with the long-range goal of elevating boxing back to where it once stood as a conversation driving sport rather than an afterthought overshadowed by mixed martial arts.

“Listen, boxing is dying, and that is what’s driving me,” Tyson said. “If I can be involved in any way in the uplifting and development of boxing, I’ll be happy with that.”

His concerns extend beyond professional boxing’s struggles to capture mainstream attention. Tyson worries about the sport’s future at the amateur level, where he believes insufficient competition prevents American fighters from developing into world class talent.

The title of heavyweight champion has gone from among the most prestigious in sports to one that’s nearly anonymous.

“I was watching some of the amateur fights and I was wondering, ‘We don’t have enough boxing clubs,'” Tyson noted. “Before, when I was fighting, we could fight at the Ohio state fair.

“Then I’d go to Colorado the next two weeks and fight in the national tournament. That’s what we need to be able to compete with the other countries. We need more competition.”

Olympic future remains uncertain despite 2028 inclusion

The International Olympic Committee announced last March that boxing would be included in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, ending doubt about whether the sport’s longtime presence in the quadrennial event would continue.

But that temporary reprieve doesn’t address the deeper problems plaguing American boxing at every level.

Tyson’s main focus is making boxing big again in the United States.

Occasional major events like the Canelo AlvarezTerence Crawford unified super middleweight title fight September 13 before 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas demonstrate the sport can still draw massive audiences.

But those attention-grabbing bouts only temporarily push back on the notion that boxing is in trouble at the grassroots level.

An untouchable legacy in boxing

The self-proclaimed “baddest man on the planet” knows what boxing looks like when it thrives.

His career produced a 50-7 record with 44 knockouts, including victories in his first 19 professional bouts by knockout, 12 in the first round.

His fights became must watch events, with Tyson declaring before entering the ring, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched.”

“We’re all entertainers, trust me, especially fighters,” Tyson said. “If you don’t perform well, people give their opinion about you. You may not like it. My job was always to make the people happy as a fighter.”

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“Tougher than all of them”: Deontay Wilder overlooks Tyson Fury as

By
Deontay Wilder Tyson Fury

Deontay Wilder overlooks Tyson Fury as he names surprise toughest opponent of career

Deontay Wilder has been made to dig deep on more than one occasion during his professional boxing career.

Artur Szpilka and Luis Ortiz were both causing ‘The Bronze Bomber’ all kinds of problems before he plucked out a punch from the Gods, while punishing defeats to Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang took significant mileage off his clock.

Johann Duhaupas against Deontay Wilder in 2015

JUST IN: “They Were Gonna Make His Life Miserable”: Why Team Canelo Under Fire as Terence Crawford’s Retirement Protects Legacy

Before he locked horns with any of the aforementioned contenders, Wilder’s handlers matched him against rugged veteran Johann Duhaupas in September 2015.

Wilder was making the second defence of his WBC heavyweight title in his home state of Alabama after snatching the green and gold strap from Bermane Stiverne six months prior.

Duhaupas had struggled against no-hope former title challengers Manuel Charr and Francesco Pianeta, and a defeat to fringe contender Erkan Teper did little to persuade fans that he could pull off an upset.

While the fight wasn’t particularly competitive, Duhaupas made Wilder work harder than he had ever done before.

With blood pouring from a cut on the bridge of his crooked nose, Duhaupas forced the heavy-handed American onto his heels as hellacious shots repeatedly bounced off his head.

After 11 punishing rounds, referee Jack Reiss stepped in and waved off the fight against the ropes, much to the dismay of the stubborn Frenchman.

11 years later, and Wilder is still in awe of how Duhaupas walked through his shots undeterred.

“It might surprise you, but my toughest opponent and the one who hit me the hardest is the Frenchman, Johann Duhaupas,” Wilder told talkSPORT.com.

“I remember he was very durable, and he brought the fight to my backyard.

“I remember he hit me with a jab and I thought, ‘Oh s*** I cannot take these punches too many times, or there is going to be an upset in my own hometown.’

Wilder says he has never been hit harder than in his fight with Duhaupas

“That’s when I started getting myself together, and I eventually stopped him, but he was still on his feet, the tough b******.

“He is the only one who has hit me, and I can still remember the after effects of the punches.

“Tougher than all of them, and that is the God’s honest truth.”

When is Deontay Wilder’s next fight?

Wilder is expected to be dragged back into deep waters by Derek Chisora on April 4.

Both men are making their 50th, and potentially final, professional outings at London’s O2 Arena.

Whoever emerges victorious could land a shot at unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, while the loser will almost certainly be frozen out of the title picture.

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BOXING

“They Were Gonna Make His Life Miserable”: Why Team Canelo Under Fire as Terence Crawford’s Retirement Protects Legacy

By
Canelo Alvarez Terence Crawford

It’s been exactly five months since the mega fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.

The latter became a three-division undisputed champion, beating, arguably, one of the best boxers of the generation.

Three months later, however, ‘Bud’ announced his retirement from the sport, finishing his boxing career undefeated. This came at a special time, though.

Canelo Alvarez Terence Crawford

READ: “I’m Giving You Fees to Just Bankrupt My Family”: Mike Tyson Slams WBC Amid Terence Crawford, Shakur Stevenson Revolt

In the days leading up to his retirement, there was much talk about Crawford’s next fight. Many speculated whether he would move down to middleweight for another undisputed run or if a rematch was in the works. However, it all fizzled out when Bud announced his retirement. Now, a renowned boxing trainer says, “I’m glad he [retired].” Why?

Team Canelo Alvarez would have made Terence Crawford lose

“I’m gonna say [this, and] a lot of people are gonna be mad at me,” acclaimed boxing trainer Joel Diaz told Fight Hub TV’s Marcos Villegas. “The fact that [Crawford] won, working on a rematch, they [Canelo’s team] were gonna make [Crawford’s] life miserable for a rematch for [Crawford] to lose the next one.”

According to Joel Diaz, “that’s the way boxing works.” He explained that Canelo Alvarez has long been the favorite—a major draw with significant influence in the sport. And on the rematch, Canelo’s team would’ve found a way to ensure he won the next one.

Thanks to Canelo’s massive purses, everyone involved stands to earn a bigger cut if he wins, which incentivizes them to root for him to win and remain on top. However, with his loss, that popularity and pulling power may begin to fade. And with Canelo approaching retirement, the window to capitalize on his star power is shrinking, making the financial stakes even higher.

The trainer, who coached Crawford’s opponent before Canelo, Israil Madrimov, also suggested that Terence Crawford’s decision to step away from the sport protects his legacy from being tarnished. “In the books of boxing, forever in history, look at this guy,” he explained. “He came from 54 to 68, beat the king of boxing and took all the belts and retired.

“I know there’s a lot of temptations. There [are] millions of dollars… Yes, it’s tempting, but you know what? Money comes and goes, and at the end of the day, money is not going to last forever. What’s going to last forever? A legacy.”

Diaz also trained Dmitry Bivol for the latter’s fight against Canelo in May 2022. And Bivol is one of only three fighters who have managed to beat ‘Cinnamon,’ including Floyd Mayweather. Coming back to the point, though, Canelo hasn’t fought since his loss to Crawford last year.

However, that hasn’t stopped the Mexican boxing legend from continuing to pursue Crawford anyway.

Alvarez blames ‘leg cramps’ for Crawford loss; wants rematch

After getting dominated, Canelo believes physical issues may have played a part in his diminished performance. “I tried, but my body didn’t respond,” Alvarez said. “I had cramps in my legs, so it didn’t respond the way I wanted.”

He admitted mistakes in both training camp and execution. “We learn from that and move forward… I know what mistakes I made in the fight and in the camp, too,” he added. Alvarez believes a second fight would look very different and argues Crawford owes him that opportunity. “After the fight,” he said. “I said we need to run this fight back because I didn’t really feel the way I wanted.

“For him to deserve all the credit, he needs to give me the rematch.”

Whether the rematch actually materializes remains uncertain. But Joel Diaz’s comments have cast a troubling shadow over the situation, hinting at a darker possibility that could reflect poorly on Canelo Alvarez. If the fight does happen, will Diaz’s claims prove justified—or will they be put to rest once and for all?

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The Real Reason Why Charlie Woods Rejected Tiger Woods’ Stanf

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Tiger Woods PNC Championsip Charlie Woods

The Real Reason Why Charlie Woods Rejected Tiger Woods’ Stanford Legacy Is Confirmed by Insider

Charlie Woods has his sights set on his future as an amateur golfer. And he’s not following the same path as his father, Tiger Woods. Instead, he has chosen to go down the road where his arch-rival is enrolled: Florida State University. Eager to rise up the ranks, the crew of Fore Play Golf podcast explained why Woods will benefit from playing alongside Miles Russell.

Sam “Riggs” Bozoian told his co-hosts, “Charlie Woods, 17 years old, commits to Florida State University. He announced his commitment Tuesday afternoon. He will join Miles Russell, who is the number 1 player in the AJGA rankings, as the kind of star-studded class that they’re going to have of 2027.”

As confirmed by the PGA Tour on Instagram, Woods announced that he will be joining FSU alongside #1 AJGA-ranked player, Russell. Bozoian’s statement gave Frankie Borrelli the perfect stage to comment on the situation.

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READ: Tiger Woods’ 17-year-old son Charlie announces major golf move

“I love it. I think it’s a great move,” Borrelli said. He added, “I saw a lot of people were surprised it wasn’t Stanford or something closer to what Tiger did at Stanford. Florida State having Miles Russell is great for Charlie Woods. Being around the best player, they’re going to be very competitive; they’re going to build off of each other. Obviously, Charlie on to Miles more than the other way around, because he’s the best player in the country.”

Unlike Woods, Russell enjoyed a very successful spell as a junior golfer. Over the last year, he has won three events and was in contention in every time he joined the field. Not that the Big Cat’s son has also not found success during this period. Woods managed to capture the Team TaylorMade Invitational last year and showed tremendous improvement in his game. However, he was still being compared to his father’s legacy. And moving to FSU will potentially help him overcome that.

“I think this is great for his development. For a kid that grew up with his dad being Tiger Woods, the best situation ever for a golfer, but also not a realistic childhood or upbringing. So to be able to go to experience college and playing with a team. Not being singled out and with the spotlight on you; you’re just a part of a team with a logo,” Borrlli added.

He also said, “That’s going to be great for Charlie Woods. This is everything that he needed instead of going pro and trying to be on the PGA Tour at the age of 18-19; this is so much better for him.”

Had Woods gone to Stanford University, he would have constantly been compared to his legendary father. Instead, the young protege will be teamed up with and competing against his rival at FSU. That will give him the opportunity to breathe and build his own path into professional golf.

That said, Woods will also have a score to settle with Russell, going to Florida State University.

Charlie Woods might look for payback against Miles Russell at FSU

Charlie Woods has been working hard to find his game. However, over the last couple of years, his efforts have been overshadowed by those of his rival. Miles Russell has been stealing the spotlight from the 17-year-old due to his incredible skills.

After his incredible record in 2024, Russell left an impression on TaylorMade after his U.S. Amateur Championship domination whereas Woods ended up missing the cut. And the brand didn’t hold back on highlighting Russell’s skills.

In an Instagram post, they shared glimpses of him with a caption, “A 15-year-old phenom. 😳 @milesrussellgolf has all the shots in the bag with #TP5x. #TeamTaylorMade.”

While may be hanging out with Russell as they prepare to join FSU in 2027, but the young protege might also be looking for some payback. It might not come in the form of direct competition. But Woods might be looking to get one-up on his rival by slowly getting better than him while playing alongside him.

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