Author: quyen1

Viddal Riley will be stepping through the ropes at the O2 Arena on Sunday night, where he’ll be basking in the glow of the lights and the gaze of the cameras, bringing to his childhood dream to life.

But, it’s not always been glitz and glam for the 26-year-old. He grew up in a ‘difficult environment’, lived under the watchful eye of his strict parents and thought about walking away from the sport due to financial restraints.

Speaking ahead of his fight with Mikael Lawal on Sunday night, Riley told Mail Sport: ‘Tottenham was a very difficult environment to grow up in but a very close community. There were a lot of strong personalities. People who are struggling, people who are desperate so it creates a tough environment.

‘My mum and dad did a very good job of being those strict parents in that environment because it was so easy to be let off the leash. They were very good at saying, no you’re not going to do what you want. You’re going to do this.

‘When I got to my late teenage years, it got to a point where they can’t control you as much. So, I was getting in bits of trouble during that time. It made me realise why they were like that.

Viddal Riley will be stepping through the ropes at the O2 Arena on Sunday night, where he’ll be basking in the glow of the lights and the gaze of the cameras, bringing to his dream to life

Mail Sport sat down with Riley at his gym to discuss his childhood, career and goals

Riley had his hands wrapped for the first time at the age of six and his now a professional

‘When they were being like that I thought it was unnecessary but when it stopped I was getting all sorts of trouble so I thought maybe they are right. So yeah, it was a really difficult environment.’

Riley’s early years in Tottenham laid the foundation for his journey into the world of boxing. He took up the sport at the age of four and began fighting at just six years old.

However, it wasn’t the love affair he had hoped for. Riley spoke about how the early pressure and rigorous training overshadowed the joy of boxing, causing him to burnout.

He found it hard to balance his social life and the intense commitment boxing demands – ultimately falling out of love with the sport and walking away from his dreams just over nine years ago.

‘I think I started too young. I think I started at an age when the rewards weren’t life changing so as much as I was winning the nationals every year and getting selected to be part of the England team my life wasn’t changing.

‘They are all very prestigious things that I look back on with great pride but at the time I was thinking, it’s not changing anything for me. I could go and do something that I would see immediate chance with.

Riley is also known for his online presence having 1.2million subscribers on YouTube alone

Riley took a break from boxing but returned after watching Lawrence Okolie at the Olympics

‘I just got bored of hearing “this sets you up well for further down the line”. Obviously they were wise words that were coming from wise people but part of being a kid is that instant gratification. I wanted to feel all the titles I had won.

‘So yeah, I just thought let me try something else. Let me do something else with my time. But, then when I realised I should get back into it, was probably at the perfect time. Because when you had been a few years into resuming, that is when you do start to see those rewards. You do see a difference.’

He went on to add: ‘It’s definitely the mental side. Physically, you’re a kid. You’re young, you don’t have any issues, you could fly off a building if you wanted too and recover.

‘Mentally, it’s the discipline and the focus that is required when you are first exposed to so many distractions. I started at six years old, which is obviously very young. But, you don’t have any freedom as such.

‘You’re more directed and told where you are going to be until you develop into your teenage years when you have your own friendship groups and they have interests. You want to be a part of what they are doing and then whatever you have committed to become a nuisance.

‘I’m trying to think of a better word but I am just going to go with nuisance. It becomes a nuisance because you’re thinking, I can’t go here because I’ve got training, I can’t do this because I’ve got to run. So, when the rewards aren’t satisfying you, it’s very hard to make those sacrifices.’

Riley is friends with YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI and trained his for his first boxing match

Riley joined KSI on a trip to Las Vegas and ended up being signed by Mayweather Promotions

After falling walking away from the sport, Riley was forced to take up a retail job. It certainly wasn’t his passion but the unexpected turn provided him some life-long friends.

‘I went straight into working full-time. My mum was like, well, you better do something if you’re not going to University and if you’re not fully focused on boxing. So, I picked retail. The easiest one to get into most of the time.

‘So I worked in retail and I worked in Night Tale in Oxford Street, Oxford Circus. I also worked at JD Sports. I had an interest for trainers and sports so I thought if I am going to do any sort of job I have to have at least some sort of care for it.

‘I ended up meeting a lot of life long friends through those jobs. It was a blessing, it lead me to so many things. I also got my PT qualification during that time. I am always someone who is going to do something even if I am not boxing.

‘I can’t just be alive and sit still, I will always find something to do. But, boxing just keep dragging me back in.’

Riley returned to the ring after watching Lawrence Okolie compete in the 2016 Olympic Games. The social media sensation found Okolie’s performance underwhelming and said it was a catalyst for propelling him back into the sport.

Riley said he was surprised by how ‘calm’ KSI was he first met the YouTuber (pictured together)

Riley is unbeaten in his professional career, having successfully won all 10 of his bouts

‘I remember I was working, I was doing fine but I was watching the Olympics.  I wanted to check who was there in my weight as I know that’s the weight I would be at if I was there.

‘When I watched Lawrence [Okolie] competing I thought, I definitely could have made the Olympics. Lawrence was a lot less experienced than me at the time. He got into the sport recently, he worked really hard and he was inspired by AJ at the 2012 Olympics then was at the 2016 Olympics.

‘I just thought, I know I am better than you. I have been doing it a lot longer than you, but with some focus and dedication you are at the Olympics. So, if I put some hard work and dedication in, with the head start I have on you, I must become something.

‘Surely I can do something. That’s why I was motivated after that to get back in the gym and not waste all those years of investment when he has shown what you can do in just four.

‘I was annoyed at myself because I believe if I had of stayed on it, it wouldn’t have allowed the avenue for him to go because I should have been there. I would have been working on being there for a much longer period of time.

‘Yeah it was frustrating and I just thought, I am going to waste this if I don’t go back now. I think I went back just at the right time.’

Despite forging his own career in boxing, Viddal Riley gained widespread attention when he played a pivotal role in training KSI for his highly publicised bouts against Joe Weller and Logan Paul.

Riley knocked Jone Volau down during their fight at the OVO Arena Wembley on June 11

Riley became the English cruiserweight champion after securing a unanimous decision win over Nathan Quarless

Speaking about how he first met KSI, Riley said: ‘I trained a lot with KSI’s friends. They all lived in the same place and word just spread around the building that they’ve got a PT and that they’ve seen this improvement etc everyday.

‘But, that didn’t matter to him because he already had a PT. My purpose came when he was going to have a boxing match against Joe Weller. That was announced at the end of 2017 to take place at the beginning of 2018.

‘So, only when he needed my knowledge for boxing was when he was like I will check out what you guys are saying. He just came down to the gym and we did one session, two sessions, three sessions and then the fight got confirmed.

‘We just had a training camp building up until February. He performed really well but non of us at the time realised what it would develop into. At that time there was no crossover world. It was a one off event. I didn’t want to be a boxing coach. I just thought I was trying this guy for a one off event. I will give him everything until that point and then I will move on and go back to doing what I was doing.’

Riley went on to describe what KSI was like behind closed doors. He said: ‘KSI was a lot calmer than I expected. I think the personality he has on his channel is very different to the person you know personally.

The 26-year-old (pictured at his gym above) enjoyed an easy night against Quarless at York Hall in Bethnal Green and took one step closer to securing his own legacy as a fighter

‘I was just shocked at how chill he really was. He listens extremely well. when he puts his mind to something he really dives in and dedicates himself to it. That’s why he’s had all the success he has had.

‘We gelled really well from the jump. He was my big brother in situations and when it came to boxing and how to navigate that world, I was his big brother. We had a really good relationship. We used each other’s knowledge in our respective areas to help each other get where we wanted.’

Riley continued to work closely with KSI and accompanied the YouTuber on a life changing trip to Las Vegas. But, little did Riley know, he wouldn’t be returning to the UK.

Instead, he uprooted his life and moved permanently to Las Vegas after signing with Floyd Mayweather‘s company ‘Mayweather Promotions’ after impressing CEO Leonard Ellerbe during sparring.

‘I was away shadowing KSI. He paid for the flight for me and still to this day, that was something that changed my life. I had never had anyone pay anything for me to that scale. He decided to book a business class return flight to Vegas – which to me is crazy. But, he did it.

‘I felt like I had to make the most of it. They only thing I could do to justify it is go there and represent well. He’s going in the gym saying this is my trainer and he’s the one that taught me.

‘So, I can’t go in there and get beaten up – I might have been out of a job! So I went in there and put my best boots on. I had a few good sparring sessions. I have a good sparring session with Andrew Tabiti who as the top cruiserweight at the time in the US.

‘I did well against him, it was only three rounds but I had shown enough for them [Mayweather Promotions] to say come and work with us. Lets see if we can build something out of you.

‘I remember thinking, do I sign with Mayweather Promotions, move to Vegas as a 21 year old or do I keep striving for the Olympics. I thought, hell yeah I am moving to the strip.

‘I said I am moving to the strip and that I was going to make this work in the desert and in the sun and have a brand new experience. I don’t regret doing it. At that time it was like just do it.

‘It just doesn’t happen, you don’t get calls saying “hey I am one of the best boxers ever, do you want to sign for me”… ah no I am good bro thanks. You are not doing it!’.

However, Riley’s love affair with Las Vegas didn’t last long. The social media star decided to give up his life on the strip and return to England after a series of injuries and government shutdowns due to Covid tainted his experience.

‘A lot was missing. Family being one of the main things, you know, just that freedom of knowing where you are, and knowing where you can go, how you can spend your spare time.

‘Even having your cousins down the road. You know, it was just a lot of things that I took for granted, we’re gone. What made it even more difficult was the fact it was during the pandemic. So my family couldn’t even travel to see me. So I just felt like I was stuck there.

‘From a boxing side of things, I just needed my dad to coach me again. I didn’t think so, which is why I went for it. I thought he had taught me enough and that someone else could build off that and that they’d get through to me. But when I was there, I realised that no one gets through to me how he gets through to me.

‘He coaches me in a way where it does set it into my mind. And I think without that, I knew I wouldn’t be the same fighter and I could feel myself becoming worse as a fighter. So, I had to move back. I dropped everything, spent a ton of money, inconvenienced a lot of people and moved back.’

Riley is looking to extend his professional record to 11-0 when he takes on Lawal at the O2 Arena on Sunday evening

When asked why he felt his dad was able to get through to him in a way no other coach has managed, Riley said: ‘He’s my parent you know. In the long and short of it he’s had to get through to me for multiple things in my life at different times.

‘Boxing is just another section of that. He he’s had to teach me everything in life. Even in the beginning he had to tell me to pee here or wherever. He’s found a way to get through to me.

‘Walk like this, talks like this, even simple things. Simple life lessons is what they are and boxing is just another lesson. So the same way he learned how to get those things through to me, he’s learned to get boxing through to me. He said right if I’m going to teach Viddal boxing, and it has to be like this, this is how he learns.’

Riley is looking to extend his professional record to 11-0 when he takes on Lawal at the O2 Arena on Sunday evening.

A bloodied Tim Tszyu has been cruelly denied in his quest to emulate his legendary father Kostya by becoming a unified world boxing champion after a sapping loss to towering American Sebastian Fundora.

Suffering his first defeat in 25 fights, Tszyu surrendered his WBO super welterweight belt and missed the chance to claim the vacant WBC strap at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which would have placed him among the sport’s elite.

Tszyu lost the fight in a split decision, with the judges scoring the fight 116 -112, 115-113, 112-116 in favour of Fundora.

The unlucky Australian’s fight derailed at the end of the second round when he was struck by the elbow of the 197cm tall Fundora, opening up a huge gash on his head.

Furious fans and pundits believed the fight should have been stopped shortly afterwards, including former world champ and Australian boxing legend Billy Dib.

‘This is ridiculous. This fight needs to be stopped. The amount of blood being lost is dangerous,’ Dib posted on X.

Tim Tszyu was cut by an accidental elbow early in the bout with Fundora

Some fans and pundits believe the bout should have been stopped then, like former world champion Billy Dib and ex pro boxer Gabriel Rosado

Boxing commentator and presenter Ben Damon was also shocked the fight went on.

‘No point having a doctor if they aren’t willing to stop a fight when one man has been hit by an axe. Unbelievable this wasn’t stopped at the end of 2,’ he posted.

Former pro boxer Gabriel Rosado also felt Tszyu was hard done by, saying the fight doctor or referee should have called a halt.

‘It’s not fair to Tszyu to fight with an injury caused by an illegal blow,’ he said.

But Tszyu was gracious in defeat.

‘Look, I told you, I’m an old throwback fighter whatever circumstances. I couldn’t see but all credit belongs to the man who won tonight,’ Tszyu said.

‘These things happen. The momentum was rolling. I was swinging hard in the first rounds and then ‘boom’, you’re blinded completely.

‘But, look, this is boxing. This is part of the sport and it happens.

‘Congratulations to Fundora – he’s the new king at 154 (pounds).’

The world champion had dominated the opening exchanges, putting his tall-timber opponent on the back foot with some heavy right-hand blows.

Despite blood pouring down his face, Tszyu was cleared to continue by the fight doctor but Fundora took advantage of the Australian’s lack of vision to level the score.

With both fighters covered in blood – Fundora’s nose was also gushing – the Australian continued to search for a way to bring the battle to an early end.

Fundora played it smart by trying to attack Tszyu’s head while the Sydney warrior, using his gloves to wipe the blood from his eyes, was unable to connect in his usual fashion.

With Fundora edging ahead, the fight doctor again checked the cut at the start of the seventh round but gave the green light for the bout to go on.

Both fighters were covered in blood throughout most of Sunday’s contest

Fundora used his range well and managed to get the points decision over the Aussie

Like a gladiator, Tszyu battled on as he hunted a knockout blow but, hindered by the blood flow, he was unable to stop the Californian.

Fundora’s win sees him join his younger sister Gabriela as a world champion after she captured the IBF flyweight world title earlier this year.

‘We’ve been praying for this moment a long time,’ Fundora said, adding that he wasn’t surprised by Tszyu’s courage.

‘I’m just happy Tim Tszyu gave me the opportunity and my dream came true.

‘He’s a world class fighter. He was a world champion for a reason. The way I won my belt, it’s an honour to share the ring and make history with him.’

A win for Tszyu would have meant that he and his father Kostya joined Leon and Corey Spinks as only the second father-and-son duo to become unified world boxing champions.

The towering American thanked Tim Tszyu for giving him the chance

He was also looking to set up a mega fight against either pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford or former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr, with a pay cheque of $US10million ($A15.3million) on the table.

‘Look, I’ll bounce back,’ Tszyu said.

‘I showed up still, no matter what (injury I had), and I always bring the fight.

‘I was given one week (to prepare), no excuses, but I’ll fight whoever, whenever.

‘Even Errol Spence, who’s here. I’ll fight him as well.

‘Even Terrence Crawford, man. You want a good scrap, You know who to call?’

Tszyu’s defeat ended a miserable 24 hours for Australian boxers with Liam Wilson and Michael Zerafa also losing their world-title fights on a huge weekend in the US.

The highly-anticipated title fight between Frazer Clarke and Fabio Wardley was put into doubt after thieves stole the ring from a van.

Clarke and Wardley will finally settle their differences at the O2 Arena on Sunday night, with the latter’s British and Commonwealth titles on the line.

Similar to many big fights in the UK, Ringcraft, owned by Mike Goodall, will set up the ring for this bout.

However, Goodall took to social media to reveal that a van that contained half of the ring was stolen overnight.

He posted: ‘Identical sprinter to this stolen early hours of this morning 30/3/24 from hotel car park Canning Town area London …..contains half a boxing ring for Sunday nights Sky show Reward for Return.’

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Frazer Clarke and Fabio Wardley will finally settle their differences at the O2 Arena on Sunday

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The fight was thrown into doubt when a van containing half of the ring was stolen overnight

The missing half of the ring was not found but the show will fortunately still go ahead after Goodall revealed he has a replacement.

‘Still missing unfortunately, caused us a lot of problems, but we’ve got there in the finish,’ he said on Saturday evening.

Goodall then added: ‘Good job I’ve got another ring identical.

‘So once we got it to London with a few blood, sweat and tears, all built in The O2, ready to rumble. The show must go on.’

Clarke will hope to keep hold of his unbeaten record but Wardley, who hold a 16-0 record, believes the pressure is on his opponent.

‘I think he’s feeling the pressure of it all,’ he declared.

‘He’s even eluded to it a little bit. I think he’s used a lot of energy in the build-up to this fight, he used a lot of energy even in fight week.’

Canelo Alvarez insists he has no interest in watching Jake Paul face Mike Tyson this summer after branding their exhibition ‘more show than fight’.

Paul, the YouTuber-turned-fighter carving out a career for himself in professional boxing, is set to take on former heavyweight champion Tyson in a controversial bout that is being screened live on Netflix on July 20.

It marks a sensational return to the ring for ‘Iron’ Mike, who will be 58 when climbing back through the ropes – although his showdown with the 27-year-old appears an exhibition given there will be no judges at ringside scoring it.

The pair will also be wearing 16-ounce gloves instead of the traditional 10-ounce used in pro fights.

And given the relaxed rules around it, Canelo has no plans to tune in for Paul vs Tyson.

Canelo Alvarez insists he has no plans to watch Jake Paul take on Mike Tyson this summer

Paul is set to take on heavyweight icon Tyson in a controversial bout live on Netflix on July 20

But four-weight world champion Canelo believes the contest is ‘more show than fight’

‘Not at all, not at all,’ the four-weight world champion told TMZ Sports when asked if he will watch the fight. ‘No, nothing.’

‘I think it’s more show than fight.’

Two-minute rounds will be in place when Paul steps into the ring with Tyson in Texas, instead of the usual three-minute rounds. The only way either man can win the fight is by knockout.

The majority of the rules – other than the glove weight – are the same as when Tyson took on Roy Jones Jr in a similar exhibition bout in November 2020.

The boxing legend locking horns with a fighter 30 years his junior has sparked outrage in the boxing and sporting community, with promoter Eddie Hearn recently declaring the bout ‘sad’ in an interview with Mail Sport.

‘For me it’s really sad because Mike Tyson was one of my idols growing up, and to see him fighting at 57, 58… but I also understand that a lot of people are going to tune in and watch,’ Hearn told Mail Sport.

‘It’s an entertainment event, Netflix, great to see them involved in boxing. I think it will do really well. But it’s just not really one for me.’

In a shocking turn of events, Tyson Fury survived a third-round knockdown to eke past Francis Ngannou via split decision on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

One judge scored it 95-94 for the former UFC heavyweight champion but was overruled by tallies of 96-93 and 95-94 for Fury.

Fury’s WBC heavyweight title was not on the line in the 10-round boxing match.

Ngannou (0-1 in boxing), 37, a native of Cameroon, was making his pro boxing debut in his first fight since January 2022, and Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs), 35, of Manchester, England, was installed as a 14-1 favorite to win the match and move onto an undisputed heavyweight championship fight versus Oleksandr Usyk.

That fight is already signed and planned for Dec. 23 in Riyadh, but it’s unclear if the match will happen on that date.

“It will be our next fight, guaranteed,” Fury said.

Relive all the action and how the fight played out.

Sebastian Fundora, blood still sprayed all over his long torso, soaked in the biggest victory of his career when Errol Spence Jr. stepped through the ropes.

Fundora, the 6-foot-5 ½, 154-pound “Towering Inferno,” just pulled off the upset with a split-decision win over Australian star Tim Tszyu to capture two junior middleweight titles on Saturday in Las Vegas inside T-Mobile Arena.

It’s a fight Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) wasn’t even a part of until 11 days out, when he received the call to replace Keith Thurman, who ruptured his biceps.

Fundora, 26, broke his nose in the opening round and lost the first two on all three scorecards. But when Tszyu leaned over to attack toward the end of Round 2, he collided with Fundora’s left elbow, suffering a big cut on his hairline that didn’t stop bleeding.

“Boom, you’re blinded completely,” said Tszyu, the son of Hall of Fame boxer Kostya Tszyu. “This is boxing and this is part of the sport. Congratulations to Fundora, he’s the new king of 154.”

As the new ruler of the junior middleweight division, Fundora will have bountiful, lucrative options. The fight that makes the most logical sense is an immediate rematch with Tszyu.

After all, it was a close fight, and Tszyu faced trying circumstances with a gruesome cut that spooled blood into his eyes for the duration of the fight. It was also a thrilling fight, one that desperately calls for a return bout.

Tszyu was forced to adjust to Fundora, a far different opponent than Thurman, on 11 days’ notice. Fundora, meanwhile, was preparing for Serhii Bohachuk, a fighter who owns a style and frame similar to Tszyu’s.

Tszyu gave Fundora a shot at his title and deserves a chance to exact revenge. It’s also what the fans called for on social media after the bout. But this is boxing, and as in life, fairness has nothing to do with it.

Tim Tszyu, left, suffered a cut in Round 2 and lost a split decision to Sebastian Fundora on Saturday. Esther Lin/PBC
It’s no accident Spence was ringside and immediately thrust into the ring just two months after he underwent cataract surgery. Clearly, there were at least plans in place for Spence to fight the winner. All three boxers fight under the PBC banner.

And if it’s not going to be Tszyu, it should be Terence Crawford who receives the first crack at Fundora. As the WBO’s “super” champion at 147 pounds, Crawford was able to position himself for a mandatory shot at a new weight, and it’s expected the fight with Fundora will be ordered this week.

Fundora now owns two belts, and if he wants to fight Spence, he can vacate the WBO strap and still defend the WBC title.

“It’s time to get it on,” Spence said. “He gotta face the big dog now. … He got a pretty good height, but we’ll see. We’ll break him down like we always do.”

Elsewhere at 154 pounds, there’s Uzbek Israil Madrimov, who won the WBA title last month with a TKO victory over Magomed Kurbanov. Madrimov, between his athleticism and power, appears to be a formidable fighter.

Vergil Ortiz Jr., too, now resides at 154 pounds. He’ll fight for the second time at junior middleweight April 27 vs. Thomas Dulorme. There’s also the IBF title, whose vacancy will be filled by a Jack Culcay-Bakhram Murtazaliev fight on April 7 in Germany.

Jermell Charlo remains ESPN’s No. 1 boxer at 154 pounds — for now — but he’s no longer the undisputed champion. In fact, he has yet to compete at junior middleweight since he defeated Brian Castano in a May 2022 rematch.

As Tszyu said, Fundora is the “new king of 154,” a shocking development after he was KOed by Brian Mendoza in an upset last year. And if everything plays out as it should, Tszyu will land his deserved rematch next. Just don’t count on it. — Mike Coppinger

Pitbull adds new dimension to stacked 140-pound division

As Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz said in the ring following his dominant beatdown of Rolando Romero Saturday night, he is now a player at 140 pounds.

Or did you miss the WBA junior welterweight belt he took from Romero with his eighth-round stoppage?

“There is going to be a Mexican champ at 140 pounds for a long time,” said Cruz (26-2-1, 18 KOs), of Mexico City.

Might there be a unified champ at the weight class? Should that be Cruz’s next goal?

Teofimo Lopez holds the title for the WBO, while Devin Haney holds the WBC strap. A fight with Subriel Matias, the IBF’s champ, could be a great matchup that could tap into the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Plus, it’s a division boasting the likes of Ryan Garcia, Lopez, Regis Prograis and Jose Ramirez.

Then there’s the matter of Gervonta Davis, the WBA’s lightweight champ. “Tank” handed Cruz his most recent defeat five fights ago, by unanimous decision, on Dec 5, 2021, in Los Angeles. That was for the WBA’s “regular” lightweight title.

“I don’t have anything to say to Gervonta, really,” Cruz said. “He can [say] whatever he wants, but we silenced the doubters tonight. If he isn’t scared, let’s go for the rematch.”

And of Garcia, who has his own fight with Haney upcoming?

“Ryan Garcia can say whatever he wants,” Cruz said. “I’ll make him eat all the trash he talks, just like I did with Rolly.”

After Cruz’s performance against Romero, he’s in position to create his own immediate path.

“I’m very happy and humbled to win this title for my family and for Mexico,” he said. “I was prepared for this. I wasn’t here to just fight; I was here to terminate him. I did my talking right here in the ring.

Tyson Fury has explained why he believes Francis Ngannou should be thanking him ahead of his battle with Anthony Joshua.

Last year, Francis Ngannou shocked the world. While he wasn’t able to defeat Tyson Fury in his boxing debut, he certainly gave him a scare. He dropped ‘The Gypsy King’ and, in the eyes of many, should’ve gotten the win on the scorecards.

RELATED: UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones weighs in on upcoming boxing match between Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua

Either way, he put himself on the map in the squared circle. Now, this Friday, he’ll have another chance to cause an upset when he battles Anthony Joshua.

Ahead of that collision, Fury gave his thoughts on the bout and why he believes ‘The Predator’ owes him a great deal.

Fury’s Ngannou view

“I think it’s a great fight,” Fury said. “When I was fighting Ngannou it was ‘a mismatch’ and it was ‘a bulls— fight,’ but it is what it is and styles make fights.”

“I’m not sure what people expected of the man before that,” Fury added. “I know it was supposed to be a 1000 to 1 shot and he was useless and he couldn’t fight and all that. But he proved everyone wrong, so … fantastic for him. I put him on the map, made him a multi-millionaire. And now I’m making him even more money. So he needs to thank me, he needs to get on his knees and kiss my feet, doesn’t he? For what I’ve done for him.”

Quotes via MMA Mania

Regardless of what you think about Tyson’s remarks, nobody can deny the impact that bout had on raising Ngannou’s stock.

Would you be interested in seeing a rematch between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou? If it happened, would you favor Francis to get the win? Let us know, BJPENN Nation!

Things got wild between Francis Ngannou and boxing champion Tyson Fury earlier today.

‘The Predator’ is currently set to collide with Anthony Joshua this Friday night in Saudi Arabia. For Francis Ngannou, the bout will be the second boxing match of his career. The PFL heavyweight famously made his debut last October, in a ten-round bout against Tyson Fury.

‘The Gypsy King’ famously entered that bout a massive favorite, and understandably so. However, the brash-talking boxer was actually knocked down, and cut in the bout. Unfortunately for Francis Ngannou, Tyson Fury still emerged with a split-decision victory.

Still, the loss was impressive enough for Francis Ngannou to get a second high-profile boxing match. This weekend, he will face the red-hot Anthony Joshua, in a DAZN pay-per-view main event. ‘AJ’ is entering the fight riding a three-fight winning streak, and is hoping to get a crack at Tyson Fury with a victory.

The British champion was even in attendance for the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou press conference earlier today. The ever-talkative Tyson Fury even decided to speak up during the presser and taunt the former UFC champion. He stated from the crowd that he would have no problem beating Ngannou in the cage, as well as the ring.

RELATED: FRANCIS NGANNOU REVEALS THE FIGHT HE WANTS AFTER ANTHONY JOSHUA: “I STILL HAVE THOSE THREE NAMES”

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou get into it over potential boxing rematch

That interruption led the normally stoic Francis Ngannou to absolutely tear into Tyson Fury. At the press conference, the PFL heavyweight stated that he planned to defeat Joshua, then ‘The Gypsy King’ again. While Ngannou hears Fury’s talk of an MMA fight, he’s aware that it’s just talk.

“I’m really intending to get a lot of major victories, like this.” Francis Ngannou stated at the press conference earlier today when he was interrupted by Tyson Fury in the crowd. “Like Tyson, one more over Tyson. I had the first one over him, and I’m intending to have the second one. He’s been b*tching about it, but it’s true. You’re going to sleep in the octagon again, and I’m going to wipe the ring with your ass again.”

He continued, “There was blood in the ring, and it was from your pants. I told you, your only chance is in the boxing ring, with the boxing rules. When you step out of ring, you better stay five meters away when you start talking your s*it. If I lose it, you’re going to have a really bad time my friend. Respect the fact that boxing is protecting you, and the rules of boxing are protecting us.”

“Without that, you are nothing in front of me.” Francis Ngannou concluded speaking to Tyson Fury. “I’ll beat you every day, and twice on Sunday.”

What do you make of this boxing news involving Tyson Fury? Are you excited for Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou?

Lineal heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury badly wants Francis Ngannou again.

‘The Gypsy King’ is currently in Saudi Arabia, to watch Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou up close. For Tyson Fury, he has a history with both men. While he’s never held the ring with ‘AJ’, the two have been British rivals for years now. The same cannot be said for the other man in tonight’s boxing event.

Last fall, Tyson Fury fought Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, in a ten-round boxing match. The build to the fight was quite friendly, as the two crossover stars didn’t have some heated rivalry or anything like that. However, the two have developed quite a feud since then. Look no further than their heated shouting match at a press conference earlier this week.

In their boxing match last October, Francis Ngannou dropped and nearly stopped Tyson Fury. However, the boxer was able to recover after an early knockdown and claim a split-decision win. If Ngannou defeats Anthony Joshua later tonight, fans will get to see him rematch ‘The Gpysy King’.

That’s what Tyson Fury is hoping for. In a recent interview with DAZN, the heavyweight boxing champion was asked about Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou. There, he stated that he hopes the PFL star wins so that he can beat him. In the interview, Fury also accused Ngannou of letting money change him, as he’s no longer the humble man he was before boxing.

RELATED: DRAKE MAKES $615,000 BET ON ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. FRANCIS NGANNOU: “BETTING ON A SCARY MAN”

Tyson Fury previews Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou boxing match

“I want ‘AJ’ to give him a beating right?” Tyson Fury responded to a question in an interview with DAZN when asked about Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury. “Because of how he [Ngannou] conducts himself now that he’s made a few quid. It’s crazy how money can change people. He was very humble when I fought him and now he’s all this cocky guy, or whatever. For that, I’d like him to win so I can smash his face in when I fight.”

He continued, “Let’s face it, I had a s*it performance last time. I’m not going to go into the reasons because I have reasons but I’m not going to make excuses. I never do. I just want to get him in there, and give him a good hiding. For that, I hope he wins so I can punish him. But, I also want ‘AJ’ to punish him, if he can.”

“But if he can’t, I’ll get into there and punish him again.” Tyson Fury concluded, speaking about Francis Ngannou. “Beyond that, beyond boxing, after I’ve done Usyk twice, and if Ngannou wins, I’ll give him a good hiding. I want to go into the cage with him, with small gloves on. 100%, because he was chatting s*it yesterday that boxing protects me. I don’t think so, I think I’ll smash his face in the cage.”

What do you make of these comments? Do you want to see Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou again?

Tyson Fury was in attendance for yesterday’s highly anticipated heavyweight boxing match between Francis Ngannou and Anthony Joshua.

Fury (34-0-1), the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, had of course served as Ngannou’s first professional boxing opponent last October. Despite being an enormous betting underdog, ‘The Predator’ shocked the world by knocking down ‘The Gypsy King’ and taking the fight all the way to the judges’ scorecards. Although he wound up suffering a split decision defeat, the former UFC champion’s stock only rose in the controversial setback.

Given his success against Tyson Fury, many fans expected that Francis Ngannou (17-3 MMA, 0-2 Boxing) would have a good chance of upsetting former WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (28-3) when the pair squared off in last night’s headliner in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Unfortunately for MMA fans, Ngannou’s second professional boxing appearance did not result in another Cinderella story. Instead, Joshua was able to make ‘The Predator’ look like a novice, dropping the former champion on two occasions before eventually putting him out cold with a right hand late in Round 2 (see that here).

It was a devastating knockout loss, one that head many fellow MMA fighters voicing their concerns for the health of the former UFC heavyweight kingpin.

Tyson Fury, who is scheduled to meet Oleksandr Usyk this May for the undisputed heavyweight crown, shared his thoughts on Francis Ngannou’s performance during a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani:

“There’s a lot of people who have not got the guts to go and chase their own dreams,” Fury said (h/t MMAMania). “And it’s usually people who are not successful who hate on very successful people. So for people who want to criticize Francis Ngannou for getting knocked out try boxing yourself. It’s a tough game.

“I would just say to Francis that he believed in his dream and followed it. He made a sh*t ton of money, which is fantastic to support his family. And he had a great journey. Keep going if he wants to box. He’s still undefeated as a champion in MMA. He can go back into MMA and destroy that world again.”

Do you want to see Francis Ngannou continue in the sport of boxing following last night’s nasty knockout loss to Anthony Joshua?

Tyson Fury is insisting that Deontay Wilder is ‘by far’ a bigger puncher when compared to Francis Ngannou.

Fury and Ngannou headlined a boxing event billed as the ‘Battle of the Baddest’ at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last October. In what was Ngannou’s boxing debut, it would ultimately be Fury who would emerge the victor by split decision.

‘The Gypsy King’ has a current boxing record of 34 wins (24 by knockout) and no losses in the ring.

Although Fury was knocked down by ‘The Predator’ and was previously knocked down by Deontay Wilder, the British champ was still able to be victorious against both and is willing to share who packs more of a punch in the ring.

It was during a recent interview with ‘The Stomping Ground’ that Tyson Fury reflected on his fight with Francis Ngannou last October and compared his power against that of Deontay Wilder:

“Deontay, by far. Francis Ngannou is a big puncher, but I wasn’t really troubled by any of his punches. It wasn’t like it was dynamite every time he hit me and I was wobbled or anything, no. Just one shot to the back of the head and that was it.”

Concluding Tyson Fury said (h/t MMANews):

“Wilder is still the biggest puncher I’ve ever been in the ring with, by a mile.”

Deontay Wilder has a record of 43 wins (42 by KO) and 3 losses in the ring.

So, there you have it, Wilder packs a bigger punch than Ngannou – at least according to Fury who obviously has some up close and personal insight.

Tyson Fury is currently scheduled to fight Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday May 18th at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which will air exclusively on ‘TNT Sports Box Office’. Usyk is sporting 21 wins (14 by KO) and no losses in the ring.

Will you be watching on the 18th of May? Both fighters have yet to experience their first loss in the ring. Who will you be putting your money on?

Share your thoughts in the comment section PENN Nation!