Admin, Author at Sport Buddy

The resilience of fighters isn’t just measured by how they take punches; it’s also measured by what they live through outside the ring.

Here are six boxers who survived being shot, including Terence Crawford, whose near-fatal injury earned him a scar that tells his incredible story.

1. Terence Crawford
Before becoming an undisputed king of the ring, Crawford survived a gunshot to the head at 21. Remarkably, he drove himself to seek medical help after a dice game turned deadly.

JUST IN: “I Just Kept Doing It”: Oleksandr Usyk Says He Copied His Fighting Style From…See more

Crawford wears the scar as a reminder of how fragile life can be and draws on the incident whenever the chips are down.

‘Bud’ later revealed that the shooter got shot in the head himself and passed away.

Seventeen years later, he faces Canelo Alvarez on September 13 in a legacy-defining night at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

2. Robert Easter Jr.
The former lightweight world champion survived a shooting in Cincinnati in 2022. Three bullets penetrated Easter in a robbery, threatening to derail his boxing career at 23-1-1.

Easter fought through surgery and rehab after informing fans he was in so much pain upon his return to social media. At 34, and out for four years, it’s unlikely Easter will ever fight again.

In 2024, cops arrested Easter for failing to comply after a traffic stop. The former boxer looked disheveled at the time.

3. Jamie Moore
British veteran Jamie Moore was shot twice in the hip and leg during a robbery in Marbella in 2014. One bullet lodged dangerously close to a major artery.

Doctors gave it a six-month recovery, but Moore was back on crutches soon after, and resumed boxing training months later.

4. Mahmoud’ Diamond Boy’ Charr
Charr was gunned down in Essen, Germany, in 2015 by a man who had trolled him on social media. He took multiple shots to the abdomen and hips, resulting in two hip surgeries for replacements.

Despite the incident, Charr returned to win the WBA Regular heavyweight title in 2017.

He remains one of Germany’s most recognizable modern heavyweights as he approaches the end of his career. – If you use these WBN quotes, please link back to the source: https://www.worldboxingnews.com/boxing-news/boxers-who-survived-being-shot/

5. Lamont Powell
Now dubbed “The Blessed One,” Powell survived a 2018 shooting in Providence. He and his uncle were caught in a hail of 36 rounds, with Powell’s uncle wounded.

Miraculously, Powell emerged uninjured and went on to rebuild his life—and his boxing career. He now leads an outreach charity and returned to the ring as a rising pro.

At the time, Powell said, “No bullets hit me. I’m blessed. The reason is God and my mother. We lost her [Melissa] when I was three. She is my guardian angel.”

On the incident, Powell added: “We were sitting in a car. Two kids got out of a vehicle and started shooting at our car.

“They had extended clips, but I don’t know who they were. Neither do the police to this day. My uncle was taken to the hospital. I had to start watching myself closer.”

6. Sam Abdulrahim
Australian cruiserweight Sam Abdulrahim was shot eight times at a funeral in Melbourne in 2022. He drove himself to the police for help, survived critical injuries, and, less than two years later, won the WBC Australian Cruiserweight title, remaining unbeaten in the process.

Nickname, ‘The Punisher,’ Abdulrahim survived another shooting two years later. A third shooting of Abdulrahim in January 2025 ended his life.

Media reports state that the 32-year-old survived a total of seven shootings. – If you use these WBN quotes, please link back to the source: https://www.worldboxingnews.com/boxing-news/boxers-who-survived-being-shot/

BOXING

“I Just Kept Doing It”: Oleksandr Usyk Says He Copied His Fighting Style From…See more

Oleksandr Usyk is a unique boxing talent, though he has admitted he has been inspired along the way by a British fighter.

Usyk has emerged as one of this generation, if not all of history’s, most talented pugilists. The now 38-year-old is a former Olympic Gold medalist from the London 2012 Games and remains unbeaten in the professional ranks across 24 fights and has famously twice beaten the best Britain has to offer in Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois since 2021.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Usyk vs Deontay Wilder ‘possible, don’t count him out!’

Speaking to TNT SPORTS, Usyk once revealed that it was a British star who inspired his style in the ring back in his amateur days – Prince Naseem Hamed.

“When we were amateurs, we copied his [Naseem Hamed] movements. And we were under pressure in the gym because we were not allowed to do so. They were telling us that it looked like we were losing our concentration, and our focus, like we were out of control. But I kept doing it, even during competitions.”

Sheffield’s Prince Naz remains a legend of the sport and someone who was as captivating inside the ring as he is out of it. His unorthodox style, flamboyant showboating and wildly extravagant ring entrances always got the world talking, and he held multiple featherweight world championships between 1995 and 2000 and ended his career with a record of 36 wins from 37 fights with 31 coming by knockout.

Usyk is also a man of style who has a likeable character and often brings a sense of fun to training, though he is always hugely focused in the ring, which is why he is a three-time undisputed champion across two divisions.

He has recently been called out by a fellow unbeaten heavyweight in Agit Kabayel.

CELEB NEWS

“Gorgeous”: How Duchess of York romantically pursued Tiger Woods after…See more

15-time major champion Tiger Woods, still active if not for an injury, captivated the world’s attention during his celebrated come-up in the golf world in the late 1990s.

And According to new book, ‘Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York’ by Andrew Lownie, he had a fan in the royal family.

The famous golfer enjoyed a publicized friendship with Sarah Ferguson, the 65-year-old Duchess of York who married Prince Andrew in 1986 before the pair separated in 1992.

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According to the book, before Woods began a troubled relationship with his future wife Elin Nordegren, he was one of a slew of American male celebrities — including John F. Kennedy Jr, George Clooney, and Kevin Costner — who Ferguson allegedly pursued.

It is claimed she told her friend and longtime media personality Piers Morgan of her interest in Woods, calling him “gorgeous,” before supposedly flying 1,500 miles to try to woo him following her separation from Prince Andrew.

On a similar trip, Ferguson allegedly looked for JFK Jr. ““On a trip to New York, Fergie asked her staff to find out if John F Kennedy Jnr…was in town and, discovering where he was, she invited him for drinks or dinner at her hotel, which he accepted.” Lownie’s book reads.

Ferguson never met Kennedy, but did meet Woods. The pair ended up as friends, and shortly after, she was pictured with the celebrated golfer as he won the Byron Nelson Tournament in 1997.

She also supported Woods as he battled back from a littany of injuries and off the course issues to surprisingly capture the 2019 Masters title.

“Never have I been more proud,” Ferguson wrote on Instagram in support of her friend. “Good days and bad days, Tigers’ heart is loyal, steadfast, and he is an amazing friend.”

Woods was married to Nordegren — who he met when she nannied for fellow golfer Jesper Parnevik — from 2004 to 2010. The pair has two children together: Samantha (18) and Charlie (16).

Their divorce was the subject of ample media coverage as Woods admitted to infidelity. Nordegren eventually started dating former NFL tight end Jordan Cameron, with whom she has three further children.

Woods, 49, is currently dating Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr. (the son of President Donald Trump). The couple announced the relationship on Instagram and called for “privacy” in a post receiving over 500,000 likes.

The Telegraph says a representative for the Duchess of York declined to comment.

CELEB NEWS

Amanda Balionis and Rory McIlroy impact…See more

Amanda Balionis and Rory McIlroy’s immense impact on CBS Sports has been laid bare after the network reported its most-watched golf season in the last seven years.

Over the course of the PGA Tour season, CBS has been front and center for some of the biggest moments that the sport has to offer. McIlroy’s historic win at The Masters — coupled with Balionis’ raw and authentic coverage — have delivered record-breaking viewership numbers and generated immense excitement around the company.

According to a press release, CBS’ golf coverage averaged 2.969 million viewers in 2025 — marking a whopping 17% increase from last year and the best since 2018. 14 of the 19 Final Rounds broadcast on the network, meanwhile, experienced a year-over-year viewership increase.

READ: Rory McIlroy could be banned from exploiting PGA Tour loophole and threatened with action

Most recently, the Wyndham Championship — during which long-time CBS commentator Ian Baker-Finch called Cameron Young’s winning putt on hole No. 18 — enjoyed its most-watched Final Round in five years with an average of 1.951 million viewers.

As Balionis noted, however, the success that CBS has enjoyed this year if it weren’t for Baker-Finch, who laid down the foundation over 19 years with the network before announcing his retirement from broadcasting.

Taking to Instagram, Balionis bid an emotional goodbye to Baker-Finch while filming from the CBS set. It’s been an incredible year,” she began.

“And I’d be remiss if I didn’t say the biggest storyline — at least for us on Golf on CBS — is that today we are saying a final farewell to our friend Ian Baker-Finch.

“He is retiring to spend more time with his family, with his wife, Jenny, with his grandkids. And we’re so happy for him, but of course, we are sad for us.

“Nineteen years with CBS — pretty incredible stuff. Thirty years in broadcasting total, and then of course a major champion, elite golfer, all before that.”

In a separate tribute video, Balionis added: “Ian, we are all going to miss you so much. From the moment that I started with this team, you have led with so much kindness and compassion.

“I am also going to miss the dad jokes. But most of all, I am going to miss every Saturday and Sunday, knowing I can count on seeing you and your smiling face, and bringing so much joy to our entire crew.”

Following a decorated playing stint that included a major championship win in 1991, Baker-Finch pursued a second career as a broadcaster. While the 64-year-old has made appearances on multiple networks over the last 30 years, he eventually found a permanent home with CBS upon joining them as an analyst in 2006.

“Whatever you think of Ian Baker-Finch being in your home the last thirty years, and I know it’s a great feeling having him as a friend from far away,” Baker-Finch’s CBS colleague Jim Nantz said.

“Whatever you thought he was like, it’s ten times better. He’s one of the the great people all of us at CBS will ever know.”

CELEB NEWS

[VIDEO] Serena Williams joins a viral TikTok trend after a refreshing mist while…

Serena Williams joins a viral TikTok trend after a refreshing mist while sightseeing through Niagara Falls

Serena Williams was doing her thing: vacation, family, and a peaceful tour through one of the world’s most breathtaking natural wonders.

Dressed in a pink raincoat and dark sunglasses, she boarded the boat that sails through the mist of Niagara Falls, never imagining that minutes later she’d star in one of the funniest videos she’s ever shared online.

It was one of those moments when everything seems under control. Some tourists were admiring the view, others taking photos. Serena was calmly holding her daughter, enjoying the scenery. Then came the whistle. The one that signals the boat is heading straight into the heart of the mist.

@serena

Well, that was entertaining🫠💦😂 #niagarafalls

♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN 🇬🇧

READ: (VIDEO) Serena Williams’ new look turns heads and starts a conversation about weight loss

The key moment came with that sound, sharp and loud, the one many recognize as the prelude to chaos. Serena, eyes wide in surprise, grabbed her raincoat as if that could stop what was coming. In the next shot, already holding her daughter, the water poured down and both ended up laughing while a viral TikTok song played in the background.

Unforgettable moments

The video was part of a social media trend where people share funny or unexpected reactions. But when Serena Williams joins in, the result becomes even more epic. Her expression, her scream, and her laughter said it all. Sometimes the simplest things are the most unforgettable.

Fans quickly filled the comments with messages like “In Canada it is called Maid of the Mist. Is it called Lady of the Mist on the USA side?”, “That was one wild ride, Niagara Falls never disappoints!” and “It’s the most awesome experience!” Because seeing a world champion soaked and smiling isn’t something you witness every day.

With every video, Serena reminds us that life can be joyful too. Even though she’s no longer on the court, she’s clearly happy. No rackets, no trophies this time. Just laughter, water everywhere, and an adventure her daughter will never forget.

GOLF

Rory McIlroy could be banned from exploiting PGA Tour loophole and threatened with action

Rory McIlroy has been warned he may not be able to skip the FedEx Cup’s first playoff for much longer, after he elected not to play in one of the three legs.

The reigning Masters champion is the only player from a field of 70 that won’t be taking to the course for the £15million event at TPC Southwind this week.

Peter Malnati, a player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board, admitted that he was “very” concerned that a top star such as McIlroy would not be competing. With three wins this year, the Northern Ireland star has already found himself in second place behind Scottie Scheffler in the rankings and has no sporting reason to play beyond an ambition to win the tournament.

JUST IN: Tiger Woods Breaks Recent Silence for Message To Retiring Golf Staple

He has already secured a place in the second playoff event, the BMW Championship, though he could still drop in the season-long standings.

When asked if players could be punished in the future for missing playoff events, Malnati replied with a thinly-veiled threat: “I think there is stuff in the works and I’ll leave it at that.”

But Webb Simpson, a fellow player director on the tour board, appeared to have no issue with McIlroy’s decision.

“I think it’s too hard of a thing to make guys have to play. We’re still a sport where you can play when you want to play,” Simpson said.

“I knew I couldn’t fall more than one spot and I thought losing one stroke at East Lake was worth a week of rest because I was toast. I don’t know Rory’s reason but I totally get it. It’s a hard to thing to fix.”

McIlroy is far from the first player to skip such an event. Tiger Woods did so in both 2007 and 2019, citing fatigue and an oblique strain on those occasions.

In 2007, Woods withdrew from the inaugural FedEx Cup event but went on to win the final two playoff events and claim the first cup.

McIlroy’s decision should not come as a surprise to tour chiefs, however, having signalled his intention to pull out nine months ago. “I finished, basically, dead last there (last) year, and only moved down one spot in the playoff standings,” he said in November.

Penalties may be enforced for players who follow in McIlroy’s footsteps moving forward, but Jordan Spieth, who was a former tour player policy director, thinks that such absences will remain uncommon.

“You might have one or two guys do that for an event but I don’t think it will become a thing because they are still huge events against the best players in the world,” Spieth said. “I think they’re trying to figure out how to make sure you don’t skip both of them and ideally neither of them.”

GOLF

Tiger Woods Breaks Recent Silence for Message To Retiring Golf Staple

In case you were wondering the sort of impact Ian Baker-Finch had on the golfers he covered for 30 years, his departure prompted Tiger Woods to make a rare statement.

Baker-Finch made the somewhat surprising announcement recently that he was retiring from his on-course broadcasting work. The former Open Championship winner carved out a very successful broadcasting career with the last 19 years coming as a staple of CBS Sports’ coverage of the PGA Tour.

Ultimately, though, he decided to walk away to spend more time with his family. While he noted in an appearance recently on Golf Channel that he and the network couldn’t come to terms on a new contract, he also said he knew it was time to do other things.

READ: Why Tiger Woods is in Hot Seat Over Empty Promises as PGA Tour’s Negotiations With LIV Golf Break Down

Ian Baker-Finch Opens Up About Retirement Decision

“I always knew that I’d know when I felt like it was the right time,” he said on “Golf Central” ahead of the tournament. “I’ve been mulling over the decision for quite a while now this year. My contract was up, I know I’d love to stay in so many ways … this year was my 41st time at those events 9(Masters, RBC Heritage, etc.) as a player and announcer and I said ‘You know, that’s too long.’ There’s other things to be done. I’ve lost a few friends, unfortunately, rest their souls, and I’m 65 at the end of the year and figured it was a good time to step away and go do something else.”

IBF’s final appearance came at the Wyndham Championship where he was showered with the praise and admiration he’s earned after a wonderful run in golf media. He has been synonymous with some of the game’s biggest tournaments and moments, and his passion for the sport mixed with high-level knowledge made him a comforting, entertaining piece of the golf-watching experience for three decades.

Tiger Woods Praises Ian Baker-Finch for 30 Years of Memories

Woods acknowledged as much with a farewell message as Baker-Finch’s career came to a close.

“Congrats Finchy for 30 incredible years behind the microphone,” Woods said in a tweet during the final round. “You brought insight into things that the viewing audience could understand and relate to. From all of us – thanks for the memories.”

While recovering from yet another injury, Woods has largely stayed quiet. The 15-time major champion has tweeted just three times for something other than a partnership or sponsorship since April. The first was to congratulate Rory McIlroy on the career grand slam, the second was to welcome Brian Rolapp as the Tour’s new CEO and the third was to give IBF his flowers.

Woods’ message was just part of the well-deserved sendoff. CBS celebrated Baker-Finch during Cameron Young’s runaway win Sunday, giving his coworkers time to wish him the best. Frank Nobilo, Trevor Immelman and Jim Nantz all spoke emotionally about their respect for their teammate.

“Whatever you think of Ian Baker Finch being in your home the last 30 years,” Nantz said to close the segment, “and I know it’s a great feeling having him as a friend from far away whatever you thought of him from far away, it’s 10 times better.”

BOXING

EXCLUSIVE: Usyk vs Deontay Wilder ‘possible, don’t count him out!’

Oleksandr Usyk’s newly appointed team director, Sergey Lapin, has confirmed to WBN that a high-stakes clash with former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder remains a realistic option, depending on what unfolds next in the division.

Following Usyk’s dominant rematch victory over Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, Lapin exclusively told WBN that they won’t shut the door on facing the American knockout artist.

Usyk vs Wilder is a Realistic Option
“A fight with Wilder is potentially possible, but it all depends on the circumstances,” Lapin explained. “At the moment, he’s not even a mandatory contender.”

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While Wilder has suffered defeats in three of his last five bouts, including a devastating trilogy finale against Tyson Fury, Lapin believes the former champion still carries real danger.

“Wilder remains one of the most powerful punchers in boxing, but it’s clear he’s at a crossroads,” he said. “Still, it would be a mistake to count him out — he’s unpredictable, and that makes him dangerous.”

Usyk, now 2-0 against Dubois after shutting out the Brit in London, has a packed mandatory schedule that includes bouts with WBO number one Joseph Parker, WBC challenger Agit Kabayel, and Kubrat Pulev for the WBA.

Wilder’s Legacy and the Road Back to Contention
However, if a gap opens in the rotation, Wilder’s name is firmly in the conversation.

Lapin’s comments signal that Team Usyk is still open to marquee fights outside the mandatory queue, especially if they bring high drama and global intrigue.

Whether Wilder can earn his way back into contention or force his way in through the Saudi promotional machine again remains to be seen.

Victory over Tyrrell Herndon last month failed to set the world alight, and Wilder knows another win – and a higher profile one at that – is needed to reignite his fire in the top division.

WBN has long championed Wilder as a realistic opponent for Usyk, who has defeated every other significant name in the division. Other than Wilder, retirement seems more likely than anything else for the undisputed champion.

BOXING

‘Too old’: Tyson Fury makes shock retirement U-turn weeks after Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua admissions

Tyson Fury continues to flip-flop on retirement.

‘The Gypsy King’ hung up his gloves for a fourth time in January following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

However, he reversed his decision five months later when he told assembled media in Istanbul, Turkey, that he wanted a third crack at Usyk.

JUST IN: “That’s What We Were Told”: Major Update Revealed On Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr Rematch

Anthony Joshua’s name was then thrown into the mix, and for just over a month, Fury maintained his conviction to fight again.

Alalshikh even informed talkSPORT on the night of Usyk vs Daniel Dubois that there was a three-fight deal being trashed out with Fury.

But in typical fashion, the Mancunian has since changed his mind once again.

Asked by Sky Sports when he will return to the ring during a visit to Doncaster Racecourse, Fury replied: “Never.

“Too old, look at my beard, all grey. Boxing is a young man’s game.”

As with most things that come out of Fury’s mouth, his latest comments should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The Brit is 36 years old and proved in his duels with Usyk that he still has miles left on the clock.

For now, at least, it seems the plan is for Fury to box Joshua next year following a tune-up fight.

“Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury next year, we are trying to do it and we are thinking about it,” said Alalshikh during a recent appearance on ‘The Boxing Voice’.

🗣️ "Boxing's a young man's game"

Tyson Fury appears to have distanced himself from a comeback to the ring 🥊 pic.twitter.com/EDMYSvtP8P

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 3, 2025

“I need to have for each one tune-up fight first.

“Why? Because they are both coming off losses. It’s to build it up.”

Joshua has been heavily linked with a fight against fellow Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka.

Meanwhile, Fury’s interim bout remains unclear.

The two-time world heavyweight champion won’t be able to return to action until he has wrapped up the filming for the second season of ‘At Home with the Furys’ and his Netflix documentary.

Once those projects have been completed, his next outing should become clear.

Uncategorized

“That’s What We Were Told”: Major Update Revealed On Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr Rematch

Though a date was reported for the Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr rematch, fans are becoming more and more convinced that the fight won’t happen.

A second bout is justified following the first, where ‘Tank’ Davis retained his WBA Lightweight World Title via majority draw.

Many felt Roach deserved the win, as in the ninth round the 30-year-old champion took a knee and retreated to his corner during the action. This was not ruled a knockdown by referee Steve Willis. If it had been, and the cards remained the same otherwise, Davis would have been served the first defeat of his career.

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Both men declared their interest in a rematch, and a date this month was widely reported. However, speaking to Mill City Boxing, Roach’s father and trainer Lamont Sr delivered bad news to fans waiting to see the return fight.

“We ain’t heard nothing about no later date yet. We was told it could get pushed back a week or two, but then that went away too. It pretty much wasn’t happening right then.”

Asked how he and his son are dealing with the situation, he said that they were staying ready for whatever comes their way.

“You just can’t rush into nothing. You got to see what’s out there, what’s the best path going forward. We’ve just got to be patient and make the next move one of your best … We’re staying ready for anything so if they come back and say we’ve got this, or this date available, we’re not too far. We can’t peak too much. It’s a tricky situation, it’s tough, going from one of the biggest fights in boxing to the unknown.”

Finally, Roach Sr said that he feels a rematch this year is highly unlikely.

“I mean, I don’t see it happening no time soon this year unless something dramatic happens, or there would’ve been a date out there by now. We’ll see. You never know. All [Davis’] details, what’s going on with him – it ain’t nobody’s business to know everything that’s going on in his personal life, but it did affect us so we do need to know our path. It’s tough, but we’re dealing with it.”

It has been radio silence from Davis, who has also been called out by Jake Paul and Manny Pacquiao for spectacle fights. Hall of Famer Tim Bradley believes the Baltimore puncher may have given up on the sport.He was arrested last month.