Author: quyen1

UFC champion turned boxer Francis Ngannou is working out for up to nine hours a day and loading up on ‘clean, exotic foods’ ahead of his blockbuster fight this week, his trainer revealed to DailyMail.com.

Ngannou, 37, is set to face off against British former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on March 8 and has spent the last few months working out two to three times a day for as long as three hours each.

The Predator’s head coach, two-time world boxing champion Dewey Cooper, told DailyMail.com that Ngannou is ‘very disciplined’ and ‘self-motivated’ going into the all-star matchup after shocking the world with a stellar performance in his boxing debut against the unbeaten Tyson Fury.

‘It’s going to be electric,’ he said.

And though Ngannou has a varied palate, the fighter is an ‘exotic eater’ who prefers ‘very clean, gourmet’ meals packed with fish, chicken, greens, and a rainbow of spices.

But the 6ft4in, 257-pound heavyweight does like to cheat with a slice of cheesecake every now and then.

Francis Ngannou (left) with his trainer, two-time world boxing champion Dewey Cooper. Cooper said The Predator’s next fight is ‘going to be electric’

Ngannou is gearing up for his next big fight this weekend against British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua

The matchup comes several months after Ngannou was defeated by British heavyweight Tyson Fury, which Cooper insists was an unfair ruling.

‘He honestly beat Tyson Fury to have it taken from us by the judges,’ he said. ‘No one does what he did. No one expected him to even compete with the great Tyson Fury that night.’

‘We had a grueling camp for Tyson Fury. He worked very hard. And it’s going to be the same for this fight.’

‘He’ll have fought two of the three best heavyweight boxers in the world in his first two fights. This has never been done before. That is an enigma.’

‘He’s feeling confident. He’s feeling good. He knows he can do the entire 30 minutes of the fight.’

Cooper said that he feels specially equipped to lead Ngannou to victory, calling himself a ‘lifetime martial artist.’

He started his more than 30-year fighting career with Muay Thai kickboxing at age nine, followed by professional fighting in both boxing and kickboxing.

This included 25 professional boxing fights and three professional MMA matchups. He also won two world championships and was inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame in 2008.

‘I’m like a Renaissance man when it comes to fighting,’ he said. ‘I was honestly born to do this.’

‘This is truly my passion. I don’t think there are many guys who are more energetic and more motivated than I am.’

Cooper and Ngannou sparred earlier this week to prep for Ngannou’s fight against Anthony Joshua

This upcoming matchup comes months after Ngannou suffered defeat against Tyson Fury (on the ground), which Cooper insists was an unfair ruling

Cooper is also the president of Team Combat League, the first combat pro sports league featuring both male and female fighters.

Cooper said that Ngannou has been in a 12-week training camp since the Fury fight, which includes two to three training sessions per day, six days a week. These can last anywhere from an hour and 45 minutes to three hours.

‘He’s working out a lot right now. We’re trying to get maximum work in right now to really load the body and get him prepared,’ Cooper said.

These include high-intensity sparring exercises to increase his stamina and endurance. On conditioning days, there are ‘a host of drills that he has to do.’

Many of Ngannou’s conditioning moves are ‘high-frequency explosive plyometric exercises.’

Plyometrics involve short, intense bursts of activity focused on building strength, coordination, agility, and flexibility, according to Harvard University. These usually target lower body muscles.

Common examples of plyometrics include side jumps, jump rope, and forward hops.

When he’s not working out, Ngannou is fueling up with a mix of lean meats, fish, greens, and spices, Cooper told DailyMail.com

‘I beat you everyday and twice on Sunday’ – Ngannou to Fury

Cooper noted that Ngannou’s routine often involves medicine ball thrusts, push ups, box jumps, squats, ladder drills, high-knee drills, hills, and lateral leaps.

‘There are so many things we do,’ he said. ‘It’s a very, very grueling regimen. Not many people can train the way he trains.’

‘Every day is important. Every workout is crucial.’

In between training sessions, Ngannou focuses on helping his body heal up with stretching, muscle massages, and a dip in the jacuzzi.

The length of training camp depends on when fights are announced. For example, camp to prepare for the Fury fight lasted roughly 16 weeks, while this camp was 12 weeks.

When he’s not working out, Ngannou is fueling up with a mix of lean meats, fish, greens, and spices.

Lean meats like chicken and turkey are crucial for building and maintaining muscle, as they’re packed with protein.

When protein is consumed, the body breaks it down into amino acids, which are used to repair and rebuild muscle tissue that becomes damaged during intense exercise.

Additionally, a 2021 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that compounds in dark leafy greens called nitrates improved vascular and muscular function.

Spices like turmeric have also been shown to quell muscle soreness and stress.

Cooper also hinted that Ngannou often picks traditional Cameroonian dishes, such as beef tail, black bean and mango rice bowls, and fufu, which is made from the starchy root vegetable yuca.

‘He’s a very exotic eater,’ Cooper said, nothing that Ngannou prefers ‘clean, gourmet’ food.

Cooper didn’t specify how many calories Ngannou is taking in every day, but it could be significantly higher than the generally recommended 2,000-calorie daily limit to keep up his 6ft4, 257-pound physique.

Joshua’s team revealed in 2018, for example, that the fighter consumes anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 calories, depending on how close he’s getting to a fight.

However, massive 6ft9, 265-pound heavyweight Fury only gets about 2,700 to 3,200 calories, his nutritionist George Lockwood previously told DailyMail.com.

‘You’re burning a lot of calories. A lot of energy is being exhausted,’ Cooper said.

Ngannou does, however, like to cheat every now and then with a slice of cheesecake, though he’s largely ‘very responsible’ during camp.

‘This is hard work. But it doesn’t matter how you feel, it’s what you do,’ Cooper said. ‘And he pushes hard, and we do out very best to motivate and push him hard.’

‘He has the right mentality, the right personality, and that’s why he’s so great.’

Anthony Joshua has spent four days in a pitch black room as part of a bizarre training schedule.

Joshua, who is the former WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight world champion, last entered the ring against Robert Helenius at the O2 Arena in London back in August.

This week, it was reported that Joshua spent £2000 on a darkness retreat.

Joshua spent four days in a room alone with no light at all.

On Monday, the 34-year-old wrote on social media: “Myself and [my friend] are about to embrace the darkness and solitude for four days (separate rooms).

“Isolated with nothing to do except relax and clear the mind while being immersed in infinite darkness.”

The darkness retreat is a method of meditation to help athletes be alone with nothing but their thoughts and has been used before by NFL star Aaron Rodgers.

Speaking about his experience, Rodgers told McAfee’s YouTube podcast: “It was a great reset for me, for my body and my mind. Maybe a little bit longer than I needed. I feel like by the time I got to the fourth day, I was like, ‘Alright, I’m ready to come out’.”

Since his victory against Helenius, Joshua has been linked with a bout against American Deontay Wilder but nothing has so far materialised.

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In a career that included Olympic Gold and multiple world titles, Joshua has revealed he has one or two regrets.

He told Men’s Health: “Wake up, get on with your day, train. After losing fights, you question yourself and start realising the mental side is as important.

“I would have been more disciplined. I don’t know if that would have made me better, but I would have done things more professionally.”

As product placement goes, it doesn’t get much better than the Super Bowl. 

A communal TV experience shared across all 50 American states and beyond, this year’s event  – won by Kansas City Chiefs for the third time in five years – is expected to break global viewing records, surpassing the 115million viewers who watched in 2023. 

No surprise, given NFL games have made up an impressive 93 of the top 100 broadcast programs across the United States over the last year. 

That kind of attention brings in big money, big brands and even bigger celebrities – as Sunday evening’s star-studded assortment of commercial breaks illustrated. 

Indeed, companies have forked out close to $7million a piece for a 30-second spot in the hope of capitalising on the commercial buzz with a series of high-profile celebrity endorsements. 

Only a Super Bowl could encourage Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez to flog donuts, Sir Anthony Hopkins to play a lower league football mascot and the classically trained Patrick Stewart to climb a ‘mountain of entertainment.’ 

But who else featured during Sunday night’s extravaganza? Here is a roundup of this year’s standouts.

Ben Affleck featured in a new ad for Dunkin’ Donuts during Sunday evening’s Super Bowl

The actor’s close friend Matt Damon also stars in the comedic  advert, during which they gatecrash a recording session conducted by Affleck’s wife Jennifer Lopez

JLo, Ben Affleck, Tom Brady and Matt Damon star in Dunkin’ ad

Lopez doesn’t look happy upon catching sight of her husband and his invading entourage

DUNKIN’ DONUTS 

Dunkin Donuts has finally unveiled their full Super Bowl ad featuring Ben Affleck trying to start his pop music career in a rather hilarious fashion.

After numerous teases over the past week featuring influencer Charli D’Amelio, Dunkin Donuts has released their full Super Bowl spot during the first half of the big game.

The earlier teases showed the 51-year-old actor and filmmaker trying to break into the music biz, though the full ad revealed who was helping him along the way, including his childhood friend Matt Damon.

The ad spawned mixed reactions from fans on social media, with some calling it the best of the night and some calling it ‘cringe’ during the game, which the Kansas City Chiefs won 25-22 over the favorited San Francisco 49ers in overtime.

The ad begins with Lopez, 54, in a recording studio, with a bejeweled custom Dunkin’ cup at her side, while Jack Harlow tries to talk Affleck out of it.

‘I don’t think you should do this,’ Harlow says, though Affleck explains why he has to do this.

‘Last year she came to my work. Now I’ve gotta show her what I can do,’ Affleck insists, while, inside the studio, JLo is told that Affleck is here… which she’s not happy about.

The ad begins with Lopez in a recording studio, with a bejeweled custom Dunkin Donuts cup at her side, while Jack Harlow tries to talk Affleck out of it

Affleck bursts through the door stating, ‘What up, Brooklyn! For your consideration, here comes the Boston Massacre,’ Affleck says, as Lopez closes her eyes in disbelief

Ben Affleck and Jack Harlow star in Dunkin’ Super Bowl ad

A banner unfurls behind Affleck as he reveals his group is called The Dunkings, revealing that he has NFL legend Tom Brady on the keyboard

Fat Joe arrives and leans over Lopez, who is still in disbelief, as Damon riffs off his famous Good Will Hunting line and says, ‘How do you like those… donuts… I’m so sorry’

Affleck bursts through the door stating, ‘What up, Brooklyn! For your consideration, here comes the Boston Massacre,’ Affleck says, as Lopez closes her eyes in disbelief.

A banner unfurls behind Affleck as he reveals his group is called The Dunkings, revealing that he has NFL legend Tom Brady on the keyboard.

Affleck adds that his ‘partner’ needs no introduction as he throws it over to a downtrodden Matt Damon, who says, ‘Sometimes it’s really hard to be your friend.’

Affleck adds, ‘You said you were gonna support me?’ before Affleck and his Dunkings break into the song.

Fat Joe arrives and leans over Lopez, who is still in disbelief, as Damon riffs off his famous Good Will Hunting line and says, ‘How do you like those… donuts… I’m so sorry.’

Affleck adds, ‘You had to see it, but I forgive you. Lay us on the track,’ as Brady asks, ‘Are we gonna be on the album?’

Lopez adds, ‘We talked about this,’ as Affleck adds, ‘That’s cold. You’re blinded by those pinstripes,’ referring to his Boston Red Sox’s rival the New York Yankees.

He adds, ‘There goes Babe Ruth’ as he walks into the bannr, while JLo says Tom Brady can stay as the others leave.

Outside, Damon tells Affleck, ‘Remember when I told you I’d do anything for you? This is anything,’ as Affleck responds, ‘Chill, they’re naming a drink after us,’ as the ad comes to an end.

VERIZON 

Beyonce surprised fans by teasing forthcoming new music as she stunned in a Verizon Super Bowl ad on Sunday

Beyonce stars in the Super Bowl commercial for Verizon

The 42-year-old music icon — who attended the big game alongside other notable stars — moved through various personas in the minute-long commercial

Beyoncé surprised fans by teasing forthcoming new music as she stunned in a Verizon Super Bowl ad — for which she reportedly received a $30million payout — on Sunday.

The 42-year-old icon — who attended the big game alongside other notable stars — moved through various personas in the minute-long commercial, attempting to ‘break the internet’ with over-the-top performances.

It comes after days earlier the phone company teased the singer’s appearance in the advert with two brief bits shared on social media.

In one clip, actor Tony Hale squeezed lemons behind a lemonade stand and said: ‘Hold up, she wants me to squeeze all these lemons by myself? This better work.’

The clue was a reference to the pop star’s 2016 surprise Lemonade visual album.

And just like she did in eight years ago, the Grammy-winning musician blew fans away on Sunday as she dropped two new singles.

His son is a budding chef who often shares his culinary creations on social media.

And on Sunday, David Beckham, 48, once again proved Brooklyn isn’t the only chef in the family as he gave fans a glimpse at his skills while making a cottage pie.

The famous family’s matriarch Victoria, 49, was left swooning as she took to Instagram to show off the former footballer rustling up the meal ahead of her family coming over for dinner at their £12m Cotswolds home.

She gushed that the ‘chef is fit’ as she watched David, who was drinking a bottle of Stella, chop vegetables and cook up mince before spooning mash potato on top.

The fashion mogul explained: ‘Tonight my family are coming over and David is cooking for 12 people’, to which he replied: ‘I’m going safe with a cottage pie and as your family are coming over I deserve a drink, I love your family’.

David Beckham, 48, once again proved son Brooklyn isn’t the only chef in the family as he gave fans a glimpse at his skills while making a cottage pie at the family’s Cotswolds home ahead of a visit from Victoria’s family on Sunday

Victoria, 49, took to Instagram to show off the former footballer rustling up the meal ahead of her family coming over for dinner, as David enjoyed a beer and  Victoria had a glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Poking fun at herself, Victoria then added: ‘At least your cooking and not me. I think everyone is happy your cooking’.

In another clip, Victoria offered to help David which he quickly shut down the idea, ‘absolutely not’ so the mother-of-four decided to pour herself a ‘glass of wine’.

Just before the former athlete put the cottage pies into the oven, Victoria told him he should ‘start up a catering company’ as the food looked ‘very impressive’.

He added: ‘Yeah cause I have so much time.’

The couple were joined for the family meal by two of their children, Romeo, 21, and Harper, 12, while Brooklyn, 24, and Cruz, 18, spent time together in Los Angeles.

Victoria beamed as she held up a glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape red wine while sat at their long lavish dining room table.

David kept comfortable in a white tee, a bright yellow hat and a pair of white slippers as he got to work on showing off his culinary genius.

She gushed that the ‘chef is fit’ as she watched David chop vegetables and create the mince before spooning mash potato on top

In another clip, Victoria offered to help David which he quickly shut down the idea, ‘absolutely not’ so the mother-of-four decided to pour herself a ‘glass of wine’

Just before the former athlete put the cottage pies into the oven, Victoria told him he should ‘start up a catering company’ as the food looked ‘very impressive’

The couple were joined for the family meal by two of their children, Romeo, 21, and Harper, 12, while Brooklyn, 24, and Cruz, 18, spent time together in Los Angeles

Earlier in the day Victoria cheekily poked fun at husband David as he stripped off for an ice bath at their Cotswolds home

Earlier in the day Victoria cheekily poked fun at husband David as he stripped off for an ice bath at their Cotswolds home.

He took to Instagram on the weekend to reveal he was spending the morning out in the cold as he posed in his outdoor spa.

Clad in just a pair of white briefs and a beanie hat, the father-of-four filmed himself shivering away while in his ice bath, which are said to ease sore muscles and kickstart the immune system.

Victoria couldn’t help but notice something in the snap, however, as she shared it to her Stories and added: ‘Keeping his hands warm [peanuts emoji].’

She also couldn’t resist commenting on his post after David captioned the snap: ‘Self Care Sunday. 3 degrees in here today , perfect for a Sunday rest day @victoriabeckham can I get a HOT CHOCOLATE ☕️ with a Nespresso shot ☕️ sorry Victoria just said “what’s the magic word” PLEASE.’

Ever the promoter, David’s mention of Nespresso was a nod to his recent collaboration with the coffee giant.

Victoria poked fun at his skimpy pants as she responded in jest: ‘As you asked so nicely and r just wearing your tighty-whiteys [sic].’

Tyson Fury’s voice was completely different before his throat was permanently damaged from a punch and it sounds very weird to hear.

Fury is well known for his iconic voice as he’s trash-talked his way to the top of the heavyweight division, capturing the WBC title.

But if you haven’t followed his career from an early stage, then you might not know about his speaking voice when he was a budding prospect.

Ahead of making his professional debut on the undercard of Carl Froch vs. Jean Pascal in 2008, Fury spoke at a press conference, revealing a totally different voice to now. You can watch the footage below.

These days the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ speaks with a raspy, husky tone due to a direct result of being punched in the throat during a sparring session with light-heavyweight fighter Ty Mitchell back in 2015.

He explained his voice change during an interview on The MMA Hour.

“It wasn’t always like this though, this isn’t my original voice,” he told Ariel Helwani.

“If you go back and look at interviews from like 2010 onwards right up until about 2016, I didn’t have this voice.

One of my good friends, Ty Mitchell… We were sparring and he hit me in the throat real hard and I developed a blood clot in my throat.

“It messed around with my vocal words so this is why I talk like this now… Some would say it’s quite sexy, I’ve been told.”

Getty

Fury’s whole look and voice has completely changed since 2008, but he’s become famed for his new style.

This weekend, Fury will enter the ring with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou will go head-to-head in a money-spinning £55million heavyweight bout this Friday with plenty riding on the evening for both men.

Joshua is looking to continue re-climbing the division rankings and secure his fourth win in a row following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, while Ngannou is again looking to impress as he makes the jump from the cage to the ring.

Having lost in controversial fashion to Tyson Fury in his debut, Ngannou will once again aim to prove that he belongs when he takes on Joshua in Riyadh, with AJ, one of the world’s best, a pretty big target.

It could be argued that the fight is signifying, in some ways, the pinnacle of combat sport. But it wasn’t a simple journey for either man to get there, with both enduring many hurdles in their climbs to stardom.

As the pair put together their final preparations ahead of their highly-anticipated bout, Mail Sport takes a long at the lives of the two men, and how they made it to where they are today.

Anthony Joshua (left) and Francis Ngannou (right) will go head-to-head in a money-spinning heavyweight bout this weekend

Joshua is looking to continue climbing the rankings and secure his fourth victory in a row

Ngannou, meanwhile, will look to carry on shocking the world having come close to upsetting Tyson Fury last year

Anthony Joshua & Francis Ngannou face off ahead of March clash

Sporting starts

Joshua’s sporting talent was always there, and it initially looked like football would be his path of choice before he became a bricklayer.

‘I remember him turning up for about three training sessions under (coach) Richard Smith at the time,’ a former team-mate shared in 2022. ‘He was taller than everyone else, but skinny.

‘He was really athletic and quick, definitely rapid. Skill wise, he wasn’t amazing, but he was decent. He could go at people.’

Joshua has a rosier-tinted view of his achievements on the pitch, referring to himself as a ’41 goals a season’ striker in his playing days, and remains a committed football fan and player with friends.

By the time Joshua turned 18 in 2007, however, even semi-professional football was off the cards and the fighter was working as a bricklayer while he saw out college.

Joshua always looked like he would pursue a career in football before taking up boxing in his late teens

By the time he had turned 18, however, a career in football was out of the question and the heavyweight was working as a bricklayer

Nagnnou was willing to sacrifice it all to become a boxer. He left his country of birth and family to do just that, ending up homeless with no money.

Despite wanting to be a boxer, Nagnnou trained at the MMA Factory and made his debut in the sport in 2013 just three months after starting training. In early 2014 he had won his first heavyweight tournament, joining the UFC in 2015.

It was there he ran riot, securing six straight victories before losing his heavyweight championship opportunity against Stipe Miocic in 2018.

Re-climbing the division, however, he knocked out the very same man in 2021 to win the belt, defending it against Ciryl Gane and finding himself on top of the sport.

When his contract expired in January 2023, he was stripped of his title after the two parties failed to reach an agreement on a new deal, and he turned to boxing.

Ngannou had chased a career in boxing before taking up MMA and signing with the UFC

He became UFC heavyweight champion at the second time of asking before calling it quits with the company

Outside the ring struggles

Joshua became a household name aged 22 when, at London 2012, he won one of Great Britain’s gold medals at the Olympics.

Just a few years before that, though, he had experienced various run-ins with the police. Aged 20, having taken up boxing in his late teens, AJ found himself on remand in Reading prison.

He has been vague about the specifics of why, dubbing it ‘fighting and other crazy stuff’, but the sentence could have been significant and he was facing up to 15 years in jail.

Joshua rose to success after winning boxing gold at the 2012 Olympics in his home city of London

He was let go with the caveat of having to wear an electronic ankle monitor and was handed a chance at boxing success, only to have been pulled over for speeding while donning a Team GB tracksuit in 2011.

A search of his kitbag found eight ounces of cannabis, and he was charged with possession with intent to supply, again finding his career hanging by a thread.

A guilty plea led to a 12-month community order and 100 hours of unpaid work to go with a suspension by the Olympic committee just months out from the home games.

Joshua later attributed the boxing ban and arrest to his success at London 2012, success that launched him to stardom, money, and becoming one of the most well-known household names in the country.

It was his former trainer, Rob McCracken, who got the youngster reinstated in time to compete. The situation ‘forced me to grow up and respect my responsibilities’, Joshua said after his 2012 success.

He was arrested and charged with possession with the intent to supply when pulled over wearing his Team GB tracksuit

Anthony Joshua admits to being in a GB tracksuit when stopped for drugs

Nagnnou, meanwhile, faced adversity that wasn’t self-inflicted in quite the same way.

His parents divorced when he was just six years old and he held firm to reject the advances of local gangs to offer him support, starting work at the age of 12 in a sand quarry to support his family.

Chasing his boxing dream, he moved to France from Cameroon as a young adult having taken up boxing as a 22-year-old.

Arriving in Paris at the age of 26, Ngannou was homeless, sleeping rough as he chased his dream and maintained faith that he could achieve it, describing the ordeal as ‘an opportunity’.

That came after he spent two months in a Spanish prison for illegally crossing the border.

He slept in a car park for two months with just a sleeping bag, volunteering at a homeless shelter chopping vegetables, and the foundation director of the shelter, Khater Yenbou, introduced him to his friend Didier Carmont, and it was only up from there.

Ngannou, meanwhile, found himself homeless having arrived in France from Cameroon at the age of 26

He spent two months in a Spanish prison having been arrested for illegally crossing the border

Success in boxing

And so we come full circle. Two extremely different stories, different journeys, but two men who will meet in the middle of a boxing ring this weekend.

For Joshua, it was the usual method. Win the Olympics. Turn pro, rise up the ranks. He secured expected wins before a statement victory against Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in 2017.

He was then at the top of the tree, and, with Tyson Fury not competing and Oleksandr Usyk yet to join the heavyweight division, the man with a target on his back.

Joshua turned pro immediately after his 2012 success and rose through the ranks quickly

He unified the WBA, IBF, IBO, and WBO belts following victory over Joseph Parker in 2018

Frank Warren discusses the pressure on Joshua and Wilder

Victories against Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin followed. It was Andy Ruiz Jr up next in New York, which is when Joshua’s career was turned upside down when he was stopped in round seven.

A rematch victory put him back on track and a mega fight against Usyk saw the Ukrainian win via unanimous decision. The rematch was the biggest fight of Joshua’s career – he again lost.

Since then, Joshua has portrayed somewhat of a different character. Less jokey, more focused. Victories against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin have followed.

It remains unclear what the goal is. An all-British mega fight against Fury will be a hope until either man retires. Deontay Wilder remains an option despite his loss to Parker. Maybe even a third match against Usyk.

Ngannou came close to upsetting Tyson Fury on boxing debut having returned to the sport from MMA

There is plenty riding on Friday’s bout for both men in regards to the heavyweight division

First though he must get past Ngannou. An MMA juggernaut who came arguably the closest anyone has to beating Fury on debut.

Ngannou’s professional boxing career came late. He’s 37 and only joined the Professional Fighters League in 2023.

He will return to MMA. But he’s also a boxer now. He’s facing some of the biggest names, and could well upset one of the sport’s best on Friday.

UFC legend Chuck Liddell believes he would beat Mike Tyson in a street fight and claims the boxing icon only has a puncher’s chance.

Both Liddell and Tyson dominated their respective combat sports during their prime. Liddell reigned over UFC’s storied light-heavyweight division while Tyson ruled boxing’s heavyweight division.

But what would happen if they were to brawl in the streets?

Well, Liddell fancies his chances of beating Tyson in a street fight.

“In a street fight, I’d win,” Liddell said. “I mean, he’s got a puncher’s chance. He’s got a chance to catch me coming in. But other than that, it’s over.”

The 52-year-old scored some devastating knockouts inside the Octagon, from thrashing Tito Ortiz to stopping Randy Couture.

He last fought in November 2018, where he was knocked out by Ortiz under the Golden Boy MMA banner.

Liddell announced back in March in an interview with TMZ that he was calling time on his MMA career once again.

Tyson, on the other hand, was crowned boxing’s undisputed heavyweight champion back in 1987 at the age of 20, before retiring in 2005 after losing to Kevin McBride.

‘Iron Mike’ made a stunning return to the ring in November 2020 for an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr., which ended in a draw.

In an interview with GQ, the 55-year-old said he could never have become a UFC superstar.

“I don’t know what I would do in the UFC, because I watched the UFC a couple of times, and I watched these guys step on people’s feet,” he hilariously explained.

“And I have the worst feet in the world, and if somebody stepped on my feet, I would totally tap out and just give up.

“It would be a no-brainer.”

Tyson did once step into the cage to referee an MMA fight in Manchester, England.

The fight lasted one round when Diego Gonzalez tapped out to Terry Etim’s triangle choke just 59 seconds into the bout, leading to Tyson raising his hand and declaring him the winner.

Liddell vs. Tyson in a street fight – who would win? Let us know what you think.

Tommy Fury has addressed his fiancée Molly-Mae Hague’s behaviour at his boxing match against KSI.

Former Love Island runner-up and professional boxer Fury took to the ring on 14 October to settle his differences with YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI at the AO Arena in Manchester.

After six rounds, Fury was announced as the winner via a unanimous decision, which KSI subsequently labelled a ‘robbery’.

There were plenty of famous faces dotted around the packed out arena, along with brother Tyson, who leapt up in celebration upon hearing the judges’ decision.

Wife-to-be Molly-Mae was also in attendance, but the 24-year-old admitted she let herself down during the event.

Speaking on her YouTube channel, she said: “I more than anything slightly embarrassed myself as Tommy’s support system at the fight because honestly my head was on the ground the whole entire fight.

“I physically could not lift up my chin to look at the ring and watch the fight. I don’t know what happens to me in those situations.

“I feel like I kind of let myself down. I really wanted to be a stronger support system for him.”

But, even though she struggles to watch Fury fight, the Manchester-born boxer said it’s still ‘amazing’ having her there.

“At the end of the day, having her there is amazing,” he told LADbible.

“But I also understand that there are some fights that she doesn’t want to come to because who wants to see their partner have a fight? It’s very nerve-wracking.”

Fury continued: “I’m in that zone and I don’t see anyone else outside of the ring when I’m fighting so, it is what it is.

“She knows how happy it makes me and that’s the reason why she tolerates it.

“We’ll see if she’s got the nerve to come again; I don’t know.”

Fury also addressed if his nine-month-old daughter Bambi, whom he shares with Molly-Mae, will ever come to his fights when she’s older.

“I don’t think Bambi will ever come to one of my fights,” the dad-of-one shared.

“I don’t really think it’s a place for a boxer’s own kids.

“Maybe when she’s a lot older and if I’m still boxing she can come and see what her dad does, but it’s not something I’m really concerned about at the minute.”

Victoria Beckham suffered a ‘clean break’ to her foot after recently falling over during a work out, her husband David revealed on social media on Thursday.

The fashion designer, 49, recently revealed her Valentine’s Day got off to a bad start when she took a tumble in the gym and was left icing her foot.

Sharing an update on her condition, David, 48, revealed: ‘Apparently my wife’s little accident in the gym was a clean break… [sad face]’

David shared a photograph of Victoria’s foot strapped up in a medical boot as she recovers from the injury.

On February 14, the mother of four revealed the day had got off on the wrong foot as she shared pictures of a painful injury to her Instagram Stories.

Victoria Beckham suffered a ‘clean break’ to her foot after recently falling over during a work out, her husband David revealed on social media on Thursday

Sharing an update on her condition, David, 48, revealed: ‘Apparently my wife’s little accident in the gym was a clean break… [sad face]’

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The couple, who had shared a slew of loved-up snaps to their respective pages, led the celebrity Valentine’s tributes on social media.

But after sharing smitten snaps of her former pro footballer husband, Victoria revealed that she had taken a tumble in the gym and was icing her foot.

Sharing a picture of her foot – complete with a pink pedicure – covered in a bag of ice, she wrote: ‘Happy Valentine’s Day to me… fell over in the gym!!!’

Seemingly less concerned about his wife’s injury, David poked fun at the size of her toe, writing: ‘How big is your toe? Wow I never noticed that before.’

As well mocking Victoria, David also shared a series of smitten photos with his wife of almost 25 years as the commemorated the romantic holiday.

The former footballer described Victoria as an ‘amazing wife, mummy and best friend’.

Victoria was previously pictured wearing a boot back in 2018 when she revealed she had suffered a small stress fracture on her foot.

She wrote at the time: ‘Thank you for all the lovely messages, a small stress fracture, just needs some rest! #itsnotideal’.

On February 14, the mother of four revealed the day had got off on the wrong foot as she shared pictures of a painful injury to her Instagram Stories

The couple, who had shared a slew of loved-up snaps to their respective pages, led the celebrity Valentine’s tributes on social media

It comes just days after Victoria’s Spice Girls bandmate unfollowed her and David on Instagram – as the fall-out from the scandal enveloping her husband Christian turns toxic.

Geri, 51, unfollowed all the Beckhams over the weekend on Instagram. She still follows Emma Bunton and Mel C, and was not following Mel B previously in any case.

A source explained: ‘There have been hundreds of fall outs between Geri and Mel B over the years, not least when Mel let slip that she and Geri had slept together a few years ago.

‘But Geri has never had a problem with the Beckhams until now.

‘You get different accounts of what is going on from different people but the bottom line is that she seems to be taking Christian’s problems very hard.

‘All of the girls have reached out to her but she’s not felt able to engage with them. She is devastated and it’s possible that she feels that the Beckhams could have given her – and Christian – more public support.’

Geri also unfollowed Red Bull star Max Verstappen, however later appeared to have a change of heart when she re-followed David, Victoria and Max sometime later.

This indicates some extraordinary infighting, with F1 insiders saying that the current allegations, relating to alleged bullying and ‘inappropriate behaviour’ made by a female colleague appear to be part of a ‘power struggle’ within the team.

Red Bull principal Horner denies all allegations and says that he is ‘confident’ of clearing his name. He gave evidence to an investigation last week but it is not clear when that will be concluded.

A Parisian mansion that was Karl Lagerfeld’s party palace for 30 years is at the centre of a bitter battle to find a new owner.

Situated on the capital’s Left Bank, 18th-century mansion Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo is synonymous with glamour, having provided a sumptuous backdrop to a number of runways, including Victoria Beckham spring/summer 2024.

The state of Gabon purchased the property in 2010 for almost €100million, with the intention of it acting as a base for a Gabonese diplomatic mission and economic bureau in France.

However, it is thought to have been used as a private residence by the Bongos, the controversial dynasty that ruled Gabon, west Africa, for five decades before they were overthrown in August 2023 in a military coup.

As a result, the Gabon junta seized the mansion last summer and have since made the decision to list it for €200million to finance infrastructure.

The 18th-century mansion Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo is synonymous with glamour

Despite a third of the country’s 2.3 million population living in poverty, Bongo was one of the wealthiest heads of state in the world.

But Omar Bongo, who was the second president of Gabon for nearly 42 years until his death in 2009, and his son Ali, who succeeded him, are being accused of swindling tax payers’ money to purchase the private property in France.

The family is under scrutiny in a criminal investigation for allegedly taking a share of hundreds of millions of euros from deals involving Gabon’s raw materials, particularly oil, according to the French media.

Named after the aristocratic Corsican family who owned it until 2010, Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo underwent a significant renovation by some of France’s leading interior designers – under the direction of Gabon’s ambassador to Paris.

The property provided a sumptuous backdrop to Victoria Beckham’s spring/summer 2024

The private residence belonged to the Pozzo di Borgo family until 2010

Karl Lagerfeld is pictured inside his ‘party palace’ Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo

A grand ballroom is decorated with gold panelling and opulent chandeliers

The coveted venue hosted various catwalk shows, including Victoria Beckham and Marni, during Paris Fashion Week spring/summer 2024 last month.

But now, the residence has become a source of embarrassment for the former French colony.

General Brice Oligui Nguema, a military officer serving as Transitional President of Gabon, is said to have made the decision to put the property on the market.

Situated in the Rue de l’Université, Paris, the hotel was Karl Lagerfeld’s primary residence for almost 30 years.

Hôtel Pozzo di Borgo has been listed for €200million

The luxurious residence features jacquard wallpaper, patterned rugs and original oil paintings

Golden panelling and opulent mirrors adorn many of the walls

The Marni spring/summer 2024 catwalk was held at the hotel last month

The former artistic director of Chanel rented up to 1,000sq/m in the mansion and decorated it in an opulent 18th century style.

A number of glamorous parties were held within its walls, including one celebrating Nicole Kidman’s Chanel No 5 advertisement in 2004.

During this time, the mansion was owned by Philippe Pozzo di Borgo, a Corsican French businessman who was also the director of Pommery.

The property also played host to Vivienne Westwood’s eccentric spring/summer 2010 show during Paris Fashion Week.

A sweeping staircase is lined with royal blue and gold carpet

The hotel played host to Vivienne Westwood’s spring/summer 2010 show

Grand chandelliers feature in every room of the private residence

The Gabon junta seized the mansion last summer and have since made the decision to list it for €200million to finance infrastructure.

Several of the country’s wealthiest people, including Bernard Arnault, founder of the luxury goods giant LVMH, have been approached, according to Glitz Paris.

Despite potential interest from buyers, there is hesitation to deal with the leaders of a denounced coup, as Western governments, including Britain, have criticised the situation.