Eddie Hearn has shared what really happened between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury after the Gypsy King gatecrashed a reception held by Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment Turki Alakshikh ahead of Friday’s ‘Knockout Chaos’ clash.
The Cameroonian heavyweight is preparing to fight Hearn’s fighter Anthony Joshua in the showpiece bout in Riyadh, but his old foe Fury stole the spotlight when he confronted him at Alalshikh’s house on Tuesday evening.
Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that Fury had accused Ngannou of calling him a ‘coward’, which the latter denied, but warned the Briton: ‘If we ever fight in the street or anywhere else outside the boxing ring, you will be in serious trouble’.
The explosive war of words between the two fighters took place in front of a glittering crowd including Saudi-based footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hearn was also there to witness the fracas, telling Mail Sport that the brouhaha had been ‘scary for a while’.
Eddie Hearn opened up about the stand-off between Francis Ngannou (right) and Tyson Fury (centre-right) at Turki Alalshikh’s house (centre)
The Gypsy King cut a fractious figure when he accused Ngannou of calling him a coward
Also in attendance at the glittering reception was Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo
‘He was on great form this week, Tyson Fury, obviously not fighting this week,’ Hearn said.
‘I feel like I didn’t know if what happened in the room stayed in a room, but there’s already been some reports about Fury letting his feelings be known to Ngannou, which is true. He did stick it on him.
‘And it was a little bit scary for a little bit scary for a while, a lot of big men in that room last night.’
But Hearn’s fighter, true to form, stayed out of the fray, with the promoter noting that he was ‘sitting in the corner, just observing’ the scene he described as ‘very surreal’.
‘It’s become almost tradition here in Saudi Arabia that a couple of nights before the fight, we go to His Excellency’s house,’ Hearn said of Tuesday night’s reception. ‘And all the fighters from the card are in one room.
Eddie Hearn reveals what really happened between Fury and Ngannou
The Matchroom promoter seemed relived that Anthony Joshua had stayed above the fray
AJ kept himself to himself, chatting briefly to fellow fighters Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker
Fury is not fighting during his stint in Saudi Arabia and instead preparing for his blockbuster clash with Oleksandr Usyk
‘So yeah, definitely unique. And it’s almost like a last show of respect before it’s war time on Friday.’
Also taking part on Friday’s card are Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, on the heels of the New Zealand heavyweight’s victory against Deontay Parker in the city last December, both of whom AJ chatted to – but the 34-year-old swerved a confrontation with one much-discussed future opponent.
‘AJ kept himself to himself, Fury didn’t talk to him,’ Hearn confirmed. ‘He had a chat with Zhang, obviously he’s friendly with Parker.
‘But yeah, (Fury) was causing a little bit of mischief but he was on good form. He was on very good form, and looked well, looked very fit considering now there’s quite a bit of time to the fight, but he seemed very motivated to meet (Oleksandr) Usyk on May 18.’
Also in the room was Hearn’s great rival – and Fury’s promoter – Frank Warren, head of Queensberry Promotions.
But relations have cooled somewhat between the two rivals with the rise of big-money, efficiently organised fights in Saudi Arabia forcing the pair together.
Hearn noted ‘worryingly’ that the pair might now have something close to a friendship.
The 34-year-old and his Cameroonian opponent will meet in ‘Knockout Chaos’ on Friday night
Hearn also shared details on his increasingly warm relationship with rival Frank Warren (left)
‘I better not tell my old man (founder of Matchroom Sport Barry Hearn), they really didn’t get on either, but my dad always said to me, “you’ll really enjoy Frank’s company” and I do.
‘The first thing he said to me when I saw him this week was, “what a win for your boy in New York”. We share a passion for boxing, we love the sport, we love the game, we love the business, we love to win.
‘Although we’re friendly and coming together, the five-v-five (Queensberry vs Matchroom five-fight card) will be vicious out of the ring because we’re desperate to win.
‘I can’t lose to Queensbury and vice versa, so it’s gonna be it’s going to be really competitive and fun, and we’ve got a lot planned for the launch of that massive event.’
Victoria Beckham looked in great spirits as she enjoyed a night out with her girlfriends in Miami on Monday.
The former Spice Girls singer, 49, took to her Instagram Story as she shared a snap with a group of pals enjoying dinner and drinks as they let their hair down on a girls’ night out in the Florida city.
The mother-of-four and her friends were also joined by Harper, 12, with the youngest of the Beckham brood attending the fun evening.
Victoria looked stylish in a black denim jacket as she sat beside her daughter and model Isabel Grutman.
She was also joined by pals Sarah Blundell, Jasmine Hollowday and Mariel.
Victoria Beckham, 49, enjoyed a girls’ night out with daughter Harper, 12, and her pals Mariel, Sarah Blundell, Jasmine Hollowday and Isabel Grutman (L-R) in Miami on Monday
Victoria captioned the post: ‘Girls night out! Kisses from Miami!!!’ (sic)
It seems the fashionista is including Harper in her social occasions more frequently after the 12-year-old also attended a Vogue event with her mother.
The pair enjoyed some quality time together as they joined the women at Vogue magazine for a lunch and talk last week.
Victoria looked sensational for the event as she donned a chic white suit from her upcoming Spring/Summer collection.
Pairing the suit with a simple black leather belt, she and Harper perfectly complemented each other, as her daughter donned an all black floor-length dress.
The youngest of the Beckham brood smiled in the snap with her mum, while Victoria also shared it on her story with the caption: ‘Love u so much #Harper Seven!!!’
She captioned her main post: ‘Special day with #HarperSeven and the #Vogue100 ladies @TheWebster!! Thank you @VogueMagazine, my friends and @lhd!! Kisses from Miami xx
‘I’m wearing my #VBSS24 white suit, coming soon to VictoriaBeckham.com and 36 Dover Street!!’
It seems the fashionista is including Harper in her social occasions more frequently after the 12-year-old also attended a Vogue event together last week (pictured)
The former Spice Girls singer looked sensational as she donned a chic white suit for the event from her Spring Summer collection launching next year
Victoria and husband David have been busy lately after four sixths of the Beckham clan joined former President Barack Obama at a charity event last week.
The couple took their youngest children Cruz, 18, and Harper to meet Obama while throwing their support behind his charity, The Obama Foundation, where they shared sweet snaps from the meeting.
The couple posed for the images alongside the former POTUS alongside gushing captions lauding him for his work with the charity.
David took to Instagram to pen: ‘I was Honoured to spend time with @BarackObama in support of the incredible work the @ObamaFoundation is doing to empower the next generation of leaders around the world…
‘A towering example of grace and humility, it was so inspiring to hear about the innovative projects that are changing young lives and improving communities…
‘Thank you Mr President it was a privilege to hear you speak with such passion and conviction.’
Victoria added: ‘Such an honour to welcome and host @barackobama in support of the incredible work the @obamafoundation is doing to empower the next generation of leaders around the world…
‘Thank you for all that you do to change young lives and improve communities. Thank you Mr President.@Davidbeckham’.
Showbiz royalty met with political royalty on Thursday, when four sixths of the Beckham clan joined former President Barack Obama at a charity event
Red Bull’s majority owner has reportedly sent a family member – dubbed the ‘Thai spy’ – to keep tabs on the Christian Horner scandal and the wider company.
The ‘spy’ has been taking a detailed look at each department after flying in to the company headquarters in Salzburg, as per BILD.
There are fears the Thai ownership could be poised to make sweeping changes as the ruling family have typically been hands-off until now.
Horner and the direct F1 team work from a base in Milton Keynes.
He has been mired in a scandal following accusations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a female employee ahead of the 2024 season, though an internal investigation cleared him.
Red Bull’s majority owner Chalerm Yoovidhya (right) has ‘sent a spy to Red Bull’s HQ in Austria’
Yoovidhya’s family member ‘spy’ is reportedly taking a detailed look at each department
Hundreds of messages allegedly from Horner – some sexual – were spilled to the media and F1 powerhouses, but Red Bull affirmed he would not be sacked and his accuser has been suspended.
Chalerm Yoovidhya owns 51 per cent of Red Bull and has a staggering personal fortune in the region of £26.3billion, as reported by Forbes last year.
His family are reckoned to be the second-richest in Thailand.
According to BILD, they are ready to assert more dominance over how Red Bull’s F1 operation is run.
Company founder Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian billionaire who died in 2022, previously held enormous sway over the team.
Upon his passing, Horner said: ‘He was an incredible man and he loved Formula One. We owe him a great deal as a team.’
With Mateschitz no longer around, the Yoovidhya are reportedly interested in stepping up their involvement, hence the flying visit.
Previously they would just make the occasional visit to races.
The scandal surrounding Horner has been a PR disaster for F1 and many high-up figures have spoken of the need for the situation to be resolved quickly.
Horner, husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, is under enormous pressure at Red Bull amid the ‘sex text’ scandal after a female employee accused him of ‘inappropriate behaviour’
The 50-year-old team principal was exonerated of wrongdoing after a Red Bull investigation and his accuser was suspended, but she has since launched an appeal
The woman at the centre of the Red Bull texting scandal launched an appeal against the company’s findings exonerating Horner last week.
An internal inquiry involving a KC cleared him of wrongdoing last month and he remained in charge for the opening two races of the season.
Horner, husband to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, is also due to be in post for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday.
But he is facing further pressure with news of the appeal, which has been lodged with parent company, Red Bull GmbH, in Salzburg, rather than with the Milton Keynes-based racing team.
The woman, who has been suspended on full pay, has recently changed lawyers – a precursor to her latest legal move.
Reba McEntire Is against Calling Her Kids ‘Stepchildren’ — She Would Fly Home after Concerts to Take Son to School
Apart from her career successes, Reba McEntire is a loving mother who saw her five stepkids as her own. The singer disliked whenever they were called her stepchildren. Simultaneously, she bonded with her only son and would fly from her concert venue to another city to take him to school in the morning.
Reba McEntire, often referred to by her first name, Reba, is a talented powerhouse who has contributed immensely to the country music genre. No wonder she is described as “the Queen of Country.”
Over the years, this amazon has built a successful career thanks to her consistency and passion for music. She has topped billboard charts and sold about seventy million tracks worldwide.
Reba McEntire in Nashville circa 1976. | Source: Getty Images
Interestingly, she is also an actress and owns different businesses, including a clothing line. Reba may be called the “The Queen Of Country,” but she is also the Queen of her life and knows how to control her affairs, particularly motherhood.
The country crooner is a doting mom to her only son and shows nothing but genuine love to her stepkids. Despite her two failed marriages, she maintained a non-toxic relationship with her exes and their kids.
Her motherhood duty is one she holds dearly. Consequently, Reba influenced her son, Shelby Blackstock, who also lives an incredible life, career-wise and personally.
Shelby was the product of her long-term marriage to Narvel Blackstock. Although he did not walk on the same path as his mother in terms of career, he made history in his desired profession.
This shows that the apple did not fall far from the tree. But apart from inheriting his mother’s exceptional work ethic to make a mark, he is also blessed with a mother who values family.
Reba McEntire Meeting Her Stepkids
Reba had always fancied having a close relationship with her family. During her teenage years, she looked out for her sister, Alice. She wanted to matchmake Alice with Charlie Battles, but he later became her first husband.
Amid her busy career, Reba remained humble and loving to her family, including her ex-husband’s kids, Coty and Lance, from Battles’ and Brandon, Chassidy, and Shawna, from Narvel. In 2010, she admitted, “I claim them all.”
Shelby Blackstock and singer Reba McEntire at the 50th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 2, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. | Source: Getty Images
Reba and Battles met in 1971, and according to her autobiographical “Reba: My Story,” it was in the rodeo scene. When she saw him, she quickly mentioned him to her sister.
Following their meeting, Reba began to crush on him. Although he was ten years her senior, a married man with two kids, her feelings remained intact, and when he finally divorced, they proceeded to a courtship.
At the time, Reba was still in college and had barely launched her music career. Still, she carried on with the romance.
Reba McEntire, Narvel Blackstock, and son Shelby Blackstock at the 28th Annual People’s Choice Awards. | Source: Getty Images
In her book, she noted that their relationship should have ended as soon as it began, but it was impossible at the time as she found him impressive.
Battles was reliable in times of need. For example, when she lost her grandfather, he provided a shoulder to lean on. Also, he displayed his protective nature during a confrontation with her ex-boyfriend.
Five years after their first meeting, the duo tied the knot. However, their marriage faced increased tension as time passed, and the once attractive characters became shortcomings.
Reba was formerly excited about her husband’s protective attitude, but it transformed into verbal abuse, and he became controlling, especially as her fame heightened.
Eleven years after their marriage, the singer decided to end it. Instead, she considered following her passion and doing what she felt was best.
At the same time, Reba had become close to Narvel, her newest recruit, after firing her manager. It took some time for the singer to get noticed, so she restructured her band, employing Narvel.
Reba McEntire and husband Narvel Blackstock and their son Shelby at the premiere of “A Walk To Remember” at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, Ca. Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2002. | Source: Getty Images
The duo became close but worked professionally for some years before becoming romantically involved. A few months after Reba’s divorce, he also ended his marriage with Elisa Gayle Ritter, the mother of his three kids.
In 1989, Narvel married the singer in a blissful wedding ceremony in Lake Tahoe. The following year, the duo welcomed their only child, Shelby.
Unlike her first marriage, her second was peaceful. They were like minds in the music business and supported each other, making it easier for her career to reach its peak.
With Narvel navigating her career through his management, Reba produced chart-topping songs and her “My Kind of Country” album under MCA Nashville Records that catapulted her to the world stage.
This was barely the beginning; Narvel stirred her towards Hollywood. She complied by featuring in Kevin Bacon’s “Tremors” and later a sitcom bearing her name “Reba.”
The pair continued to record success stories with her studio records, thanks to her supportive manager-husband and open-mindedness.
Producer Narvel Blackstock and Reba McEntire at the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards at AT&T Stadium on April 19, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. | Source: Getty Images
This power couple remained solid until 2015 when they shocked the world with news of their divorce. First, they separated for several months before proceeding with a divorce.
A close friend of the couple mentioned that during the years, they grew apart owing to Reba’s busy schedule.
Sources later confirmed that Narvel pulled the plugs on their marriage. However, despite falling out of love, the former couple maintained their professional relationship.
Reba McEntire Is an Admirable Mom
Amid her busy career, Reba remained humble and loving to her family, including her ex-husband’s kids, Coty and Lance, from Battles’ and Brandon, Chassidy, and Shawna, from Narvel. In 2010, she admitted, “I claim them all.”
Indeed, she has remained supportive and even refers to their kids as her grandkids. However, the country star revealed that she was heartbroken following Brandon’s divorce from pop star Kelly Clarkson.
A source claimed she was “torn” by their separation because she “adores” their kids and Clarkson. The insider added:
“She loved Brandon and Kelly like her own, she refuses to pick sides, but she’s afraid of how contentious it’s getting.”
Although there might have been a few glitches, like Brandon’s nasty divorce battle, all five of her stepkids ultimately have successful careers and personal lives.
Country singer Reba McEntire and her son Shelby in the Broadway musical “Annie Get Your Gun.”| Source: Getty Images
Coty, her first stepchild, was a former wrestler who now resides in his ranch home in Waco, Texas. According to his Facebook page, he is also in a relationship with Amy Huffman.
His younger brother, Lance, has managed to stay away from the spotlight, and nearly nothing is known about his personal life or profession.
Reba’s third stepchild, Shawna, also lives a very private life. Unlike her siblings, Brandon, she refuses to follow in their father’s footsteps and only shares her details with friends and family.
Brandon, a well-known talent manager, is the most famous of the brood. He shares four kids with his ex-wives.
First, he was married to Melissa Ashworth, with whom he shares Seth and Savannah, and later, Clarkson, mother to River Rose and Remington.
The singer’s last stepdaughter, Chassidy, is one of the closest to her. Although she maintains a low-key lifestyle, in the past, she has been spotted next to Reba at different events.
Like his stepbrother, Reba’s only son has a remarkable career. He is a successful race car driver who has competed in top races. Shelby is also a family man who married Marissa Branch in 2022.
During an interview, the couple publicly pledged their commitment to their marriage, noting that they intend to create a legacy despite life’s challenges.
Through his life’s decisions, Shelby honors his mother, who is exceptionally proud of the man her son became. But it was only possible due to his upbringing.
Fame and fortune never got in the way of teaching her son values and preventing him from being spoiled. While recounting her motherhood journey, she shared:
“I’m very proud of him. He’s always trying to improve and do better. His daddy did a great job too…Shelby is a gift from God to me. We’re very close. I was a very self-centered person to a degree before Shelby…there’s a little character who you are given the job to protect and nurture and teach.”
Reba invested time in teaching her son. However, she never allowed him to win when they played a game, except he genuinely earned the victory.
Although she employed nannies, the singer often flew whenever she was away from home to get him to school and pick him up.
Today, mother and son are inseparable. Their story continues to inspire young female celebrities that having a career should not interfere with parenting because time lost can never be regained.
Trevor Bauer will be making his second appearance against an MLB team in this Spring training period
Trevor Bauer (Image via Imago)
With the regular MLB season now less than 10 days away, the pace in the free agency market has picked up. On Monday night Blake Snell became the latest free agent to find a new home. One player who is yet to find a team though is Trevor Bauer.
The former Los Angeles Dodgers star is currently a free agent and is still looking for a team. Despite this, he has pitched this month, something the other free agents have not. Now Bauer is gearing up to face the New York Yankees in an exhibition game this upcoming Sunday.
The 2020 NL Cy Young award winner recently joined the Asian Breeze organization and played a game against his former team. This marked his first pitching appearance on U.S Soil in over three years. Now he will be playing for a Mexican team, Diablos Rojos.
Unlike Asian Breeze, this won’t be his only appearance for the Mexican side. In a statement released on social media, Trevor Bauer informed that he will be playing in five games between April 11 and May 8. These games though will likely not be against MLB teams as the season will be up and running by them.
Related: 2x Cy Young winner Blake Snell agrees MASSIVE two-year, $62 million deal with SF Giants
Will any MLB team sign Trevor Bauer?
Since the sexual assault allegations came to light against him, Trevor Bauer has found himself away from MLB action. Having served his suspension, he is now eligible to play in the league again. The only problem for him now is, no team has shown any genuine interest in him.
Despite the calls from his former teammate Mookie Betts earlier, teams have not come forward and tried to get him on a free. This has led to a question: will any team sign him? Trevor Bauer (Image via IMAGO)
The answer to this huge question lies in the hands of team owners. There could be some team who might want to get him onboard. However, given the allegations against him, teams have been a little hesitant to do so.
Recently, Bauer opened on this and offered himself to teams for free. The 33-year-old is still optimistic that he can be a part of a pitching rotation.
I’ve also agreed to pitch 5 games for the Diablos between April 11 and May 8 in lieu of a traditional spring training period...This will help me stay in game shape and I’ll be able to join a rotation immediately if or when an MLB offer comes.
Trevor Bauer on X.
A strong outing against the Yankees could ignite interest from teams which could attract them to him. It will be interesting to see how he does in this exhibition game on Sunday, March 24th.
With Blake Snell no longer an option, speculations are rising on whether the New York Yankees will sign Jordan Montgomery and bring him back to the Bronx
Jordan Montgomery (L) and Blake Snell (R) [Image via Imago]
Thе Nеw Yоrk Yankееs, a tеam knоwn fоr gоіng aftеr thе bеst рlaуеrs, arе іn a bіt оf a dіffіcult роsіtіоn. Thеe team recently lost out on Blakе Snеll, a player they were looking out in the offseason. This has led to many wondering whether the Bronx Bombers will now purse their former star Jordan Montgomery after this.
Since leaving the team, Montgomery has made a name for himself. He also played a vital part in the Texas Rangers’ Wоrld Sеrіеs winning run last season and is currently thе numbеr оnе startіng ріtchеr that’s avaіlablе fоr tеams tо sіgn. Thе Yankееs wantеd tо sіgn Snеll, but hе dеcіdеd tо jоіn thе San Francіscо Gіants іnstеad.
However, accоrdіng tо Jоn Hеуman of the New York Post, thе Yankееs arеn’t surе іf Mоntgоmеrу wants tо jоіn thеm.
The Yankees will continue to pursue starting pitching but their options are limited, particularly since they are even less confident Jordan Montgomery, the top remaining free agent, is interested in returning to The Bronx.
Jon Heyman on Jordan Montgomery coming back to the Yankees via NY Post.
This leaves the Yankееs in a dire situation and the injury to ace pitcher Gerrit Cole, further increases the pressure on the New York outfit. The other options the team could look out for are Michael Lorenzen and Mike Clevenger, who just like Montgomery are still unsigned.
Thеrе arе sеvеral tеams that arе іntеrеstеd іn sіgnіng Jоrdan Mоntgоmеrу. Thе Tехas Rangеrs, whеrе Mоntgоmеrу рlaуеd last уеar, mіght want hіm back іf thе рrіcе іs rіght. But Chrіs Yоung, thе gеnеral managеr оf thе Rangеrs, has saіd that thеу’rе nоt рlannіng оn sіgnіng anу bіg рlaуеrs bеfоrе thе start оf thе sеasоn. Jordan Montgomery (Image via Imago)
Thе Lоs Angеlеs Angеls arе anоthеr tеam that mіght want tо sіgn Mоntgоmеrу. Thеу didn’t managе tо kеер Shоhеі Ohtanі, thіs оffsеasоn and are still looking for a suitable replacement. However, Artе Mоrеnо, thе оwnеr оf thе Angеls, has saіd that hе’s рlannіng оn sреndіng lеss mоnеу оn рlaуеrs fоr thе uрcоmіng sеasоn. Thіs would also makе іt hard fоr Montgomery to sign with them.
Other teams that are reportedly interested in him are Bоstоn Rеd Sох, thе San Francіscо Gіants, and thе Chіcagо Cubs. However, with the Giants landing Snell, they will likely pull out of this.
Sоmе experts believe thе Rеd Sох arе thе mоst lіkеlу tеam tо sіgn Mоntgоmеrу. Meeting the demands of him could be the only obstacle the Boston side may face. As thе 2024 MLB sеasоn gеts clоsеr, іt wіll bе іntеrеstіng tо sее whіch tеam Mоntgоmеrу dеcіdеs tо jоіn in the end.
Guenther Steiner hopes Red Bull ‘put an end’ to the row engulfing Christian Horner, with the team principal’s ‘sex texts’ scandal overshadowing the start of the Formula One season.
Red Bull team boss Horner was accused of ‘coercive behaviour’ by an unnamed female employee before he was cleared by a lawyer hired by the motorsports team to investigate.
However, the woman has since launched an appeal against the outcome after she was suspended by the team for giving ‘dishonest’ evidence.
The Formula One circus is rolling into Melbourne this weekend for the third race of the season but Horner’s off-track drama remains the topic of conversation, and former Haas boss Steiner hopes that the saga will end soon.
Guenther Steiner hopes there is an ‘end’ to the Christian Horner scandal soon
Horner (right) has been under the spotlight amid a ‘sex texts’ scandal
Reflecting on the mood inside Red Bull, he told ABC Sport: ‘In the higher ranks of the company, there will be… some people rethinking what they want to do,’ he said.
‘I hope that for the sake of Formula One … they put an end to it … and we move on.’
Steiner has picked up work as a television commentator since being relieved of his duties by Haas over the off-season, and will be in the paddock for the Albert Park race this weekend.
He is taking his time away from the cut and thrust of the sport to consider his next move.
‘I don’t know if I want to be back as a team principal,’ he admitted.
‘Maybe setting up a new team, for the new era of Formula One … that could be an opportunity.’
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson asked YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul one question in a new video ahead of their fight.
“Day three, you still wanna f**k with me?” Tyson said at the end of a montage of his training for the July 20 bout that was shared on X, formerly Twitter.
Paul replied, “Yes, yes I do.”
Tyson, 57, began training last week for his clash against Paul, 27, which will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Netflix will broadcast the fight.
Tyson has shared clips of his training on X each day.
“It’s day one, the fun has just begun,” he said in his first one:
“Day two, getting ready for you,” he warned in the second:
On day four, Tyson said Paul “don’t know what you got in store.”
Tyson’s last exhibition fight in November 2020 was a split draw with Roy Jones Jr. when Paul was on the undercard. Paul’s professional record is 9-1 with his only loss coming last year to Tommy Fury, the former United Kingdom “Love Island” star who won via split decision.
Eddie Hearn has shared what really happened between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury after the Gypsy King gatecrashed a reception held by Chairman of General Authority for Entertainment Turki Alakshikh ahead of Friday’s ‘Knockout Chaos’ clash.
The Cameroonian heavyweight is preparing to fight Hearn’s fighter Anthony Joshua in the showpiece bout in Riyadh, but his old foe Fury stole the spotlight when he confronted him at Alalshikh’s house on Tuesday evening.
Mail Sport reported on Wednesday that Fury had accused Ngannou of calling him a ‘coward’, which the latter denied, but warned the Briton: ‘If we ever fight in the street or anywhere else outside the boxing ring, you will be in serious trouble’.
The explosive war of words between the two fighters took place in front of a glittering crowd including Saudi-based footballing superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hearn was also there to witness the fracas, telling Mail Sport that the brouhaha had been ‘scary for a while’.
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Eddie Hearn opened up about the stand-off between Francis Ngannou (right) and Tyson Fury (centre-right) at Turki Alalshikh’s house (centre)
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The Gypsy King cut a fractious figure when he accused Ngannou of calling him a coward
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Also in attendance at the glittering reception was Al-Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo
‘He was on great form this week, Tyson Fury, obviously not fighting this week,’ Hearn said.
‘I feel like I didn’t know if what happened in the room stayed in a room, but there’s already been some reports about Fury letting his feelings be known to Ngannou, which is true. He did stick it on him.
‘And it was a little bit scary for a little bit scary for a while, a lot of big men in that room last night.’
But Hearn’s fighter, true to form, stayed out of the fray, with the promoter noting that he was ‘sitting in the corner, just observing’ the scene he described as ‘very surreal’.
‘It’s become almost tradition here in Saudi Arabia that a couple of nights before the fight, we go to His Excellency’s house,’ Hearn said of Tuesday night’s reception. ‘And all the fighters from the card are in one room.
Eddie Hearn reveals what really happened between Fury and Ngannou
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The Matchroom promoter seemed relived that Anthony Joshua had stayed above the fray
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AJ kept himself to himself, chatting briefly to fellow fighters Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker
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Fury is not fighting during his stint in Saudi Arabia and instead preparing for his blockbuster clash with Oleksandr Usyk
‘So yeah, definitely unique. And it’s almost like a last show of respect before it’s war time on Friday.’
Also taking part on Friday’s card are Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, on the heels of the New Zealand heavyweight’s victory against Deontay Parker in the city last December, both of whom AJ chatted to – but the 34-year-old swerved a confrontation with one much-discussed future opponent.
‘AJ kept himself to himself, Fury didn’t talk to him,’ Hearn confirmed. ‘He had a chat with Zhang, obviously he’s friendly with Parker.
‘But yeah, (Fury) was causing a little bit of mischief but he was on good form. He was on very good form, and looked well, looked very fit considering now there’s quite a bit of time to the fight, but he seemed very motivated to meet (Oleksandr) Usyk on May 18.’
Also in the room was Hearn’s great rival – and Fury’s promoter – Frank Warren, head of Queensberry Promotions.
But relations have cooled somewhat between the two rivals with the rise of big-money, efficiently organised fights in Saudi Arabia forcing the pair together.
Hearn noted ‘worryingly’ that the pair might now have something close to a friendship.
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The 34-year-old and his Cameroonian opponent will meet in ‘Knockout Chaos’ on Friday night
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Hearn also shared details on his increasingly warm relationship with rival Frank Warren (left)
‘I better not tell my old man (founder of Matchroom Sport Barry Hearn), they really didn’t get on either, but my dad always said to me, “you’ll really enjoy Frank’s company” and I do.
‘The first thing he said to me when I saw him this week was, “what a win for your boy in New York”. We share a passion for boxing, we love the sport, we love the game, we love the business, we love to win.
‘Although we’re friendly and coming together, the five-v-five (Queensberry vs Matchroom five-fight card) will be vicious out of the ring because we’re desperate to win.
‘I can’t lose to Queensbury and vice versa, so it’s gonna be it’s going to be really competitive and fun, and we’ve got a lot planned for the launch of that massive event.’
Anthony Joshua is currently ranked as No 28 on Forbes’ list of the World’s Highest-Paid Athletes for 2023 having earned a whopping £41million ($53m).
Despite that, his net wealth is set to rise again over the coming years thanks to Saudi Arabia’s influence in boxing.
This Friday, the British heavyweight boxer is set to take home another massive payday following his fight with Francis Ngannou at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
In fact, even before he steps into the ring, the 34-year-old is set to pocket an eye-watering £39m ($50m).
That’s nearly quadruple the base purse he took home following his first meeting with Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where Joshua pocketed £10m ($12m) plus 60 per cent of the pay-per-view (PPV) revenue, while his opponent took £3m ($3.8m) of the pre-PPV purse.
Anthony Joshua (left) will pocket an eye-watering £39m for his fight against Francis Ngannou (right) on Friday night
There is much talk that Joshua could stake a claim for a world title fight if he beats Ngannou
Equally, the former UFC star currently sits 10th in the WBC rankings, but could move back to fighting in MMA
Since Saudi Arabia have has stepped into the boxing market, fighters like Joshua, Usyk and Fury have been able to profit from much larger bigger purses.
Joshua’s first bout in the Middle Eastern state came back in 2019, where he recovered his IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles from Andry Ruiz Jr.
That fight broke records amassing a whopping 1.6m PPV buys with Joshua walking away with a big cheque and his world heavyweight titles after having lost them to Ruiz in their previous bout.
For boxers, the financial benefits of fighting in Saudi Arabia are clear to see, with Tyson Fury taking home £39m ($50m) following his bout against Ngannou during their ‘Battle of the Baddest’ clash late last year – with the former MMA star claimign £8.2m ($10m).
Yet, while Joshua is set to receive one of the biggest paydays of his career, his fight vs Ngannou remarkably does not see him go top of the rankings of boxings biggest paydays.
Here, Mail Sport looks at some of the biggest paydays made by fighters without PPV earnings in boxing history.
Joshua’s (right) first fight in Saudi Arabia came when the former world champion defeated Andy Ruiz (left) in their second bout
Ngannou (left) troubled Tyson Fury (right) during their fight in October, knocking him to the canvas in the third round
10. Anthony Joshua (£20m) vs Alexander Povetkin – 2018
Back in 2018, Joshua defended his heavyweight belts against Povetkin, knocking the Russian fighter down twice in the seventh round of their bout to claim a TKO victory.
The fight took place at Wembley Stadium in London, with the British fighter netting £20m ($25m) before PPV sales, according to The Express.
Povetkin would also take home a nice pay check of £6m ($7m) for the fight.
Joshua (right) knocked Alexander Povetkin (left) to the canvas twice during their fight in 2018
9. Tyson Fury (£22m) vs Deontay Wilder III – 2021
Fury called a time on his long-standing feud with Wilder after claiming an 11th round knockout in what was one of the best fights of 2021.
In fact, the pair put on such a show that it won Ring Magazine’s award for Fight of the Year.
Despite that, both boxers walked away with their pockets well lined, with the bout generating approximately 900,000 PPV sales worldwide.
According to The Sun, the Gypsy King was guaranteed to have earned £22m ($27m) for the fight, plus 60 per cent of the PPV sales.
Wilder, meanwhile, is said to have taken home £15m ($11m) as well as the remaining PPV take.
Fury banked a base check of £22m for his trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder in 2021
8. Evander Holyfield (£23m) vs Mike Tyson II – 1997
Holyfield and Tyson stepped into the ring for the second time in 1997, re-igniting their much anticipated feud, after the former had come out of retirement to shock Tyson and secure victory.
When the pair met again one year later in 1997, Holyfield was guaranteed £23m ($30m) for the fight, while Tyson took home £11m ($15m) before PPV sales.
The fight wasn’t without drama either, with the bout being stopped at the end of the third round after Tyson had bitten off a piece of Holyfield’s right ear and was subsequently disqualified.
Talk of a trilogy fight had subsequently arisen in 2021, but that fight never materialised, with Holyfield claiming that Tyson had turned down a £19m ($25m) offer to step into the ring once again, per talkSPORT.
Evander Holyfield (right) picked up a hefty paycheck during his fight against Mike Tyson, but lost a part of his ear in the process
7. Canelo Alvarez (£27m) vs Sergey Kovalev – 2019
This was a huge bout for the WBO light heavyweight championship, with Kovalev failing to retain his belt after he was knocked out by the Mexican fighter in the 11th round at the MGM Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
Alvarez also picked up a pretty nice pay check on the night, taking home £27m ($34m) before factoring in PPV sales.
It comes after he signed what is the richest contract in sports history with DAZN, that will tie him down to the streaming site for five-years in a deal worth £287m.
He is contracted to fight 11-times during that period, with each fight set to net him around £27m.
Canelo Alvarez (right) is currently contracted to DAZN on a deal that will see him earn £27m per fight
6. Floyd Mayweather (£32m) vs Canelo Alvarez – 2013
Mayweather and Alvarez collided in a huge match-up in 2013, with the pair squaring off at a 152-pound catchweight.
Marketed as ‘The One’, Mayweather went on to defeat the former undisputed super middleweight champion over 12 rounds via a majority decision.
While the fight garnered a ton of PPV sales, Mayweather was guaranteed £32m ($41.5m) before the fight, with Alvarez taking £3.93 ($5m) before the fight, according to The Guardian.
Floyd Mayweather (left) and Alvarez (right) did battle in 2013, with the former winning and picking up a guaranteed £32m
5. Tyson Fury (£39m) vs Francis Ngannou – 2023
According to reports from Derek Chisora, who was speaking on Fight Hub TV, Fury reportedly banked himself an eye-watering £39m ($50m) before PPV sales for his ‘Battle of the Baddest’ fight vs Ngannou .
It was a testing fight for the Manchester boxer, though, who was knocked down by the UFC champion during what was a thrilling exhibition of boxing that saw Ngannou establish himself in the WBC rankings.
Fury (right) and Ngannou’s (left) bout at last year’s ‘Battle of the Baddest’ saw the Gypsy King reportedly earn a whopping £39m before PPV sales
4. Anthony Joshua (£39m) vs Francis Ngannou – 2024
Joshua is set to earn approximately £39m according to The Independent when he meets the UFC champion in the ring on Friday afternoon.
It is one of the biggest paydays of his career and he is likely to take home a lot more than that, depending on how many PPV sales this fight does.
Joshua (left), will also earn £39m for his fight against Ngannou (right) on Friday night in Saudi Arabia
3. Anthony Joshua (£47m) vs Andy Ruiz II – 2019
Joshua’s first fight in Saudi Arabia was perhaps one of the most lucrative fights of his career.
He enacted revenge on Ruiz, but also picked up a check of £46m ($36m) on the night, thanks in part to the site fee Eddie Hearn had secured to fight in Diriyah.
That was reportedly around £31m ($24m), according to The Independent, with Ruiz earning more than £10m ($12m) before PPV sales.
But it is not his biggest payout with Joshua (right) netting a whopping £46m during his second fight vs Ruiz (left)
2. Floyd Mayweather (£78m) vs Conor McGregor – 2017
McGregor swapped the Octagon for the ring as he attempted to inflict the first defeat of Mayweather’s career in what was dubbed ‘The Money Fight’.
The pair did battle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in one of the greatest cross-over fights, with ‘Money’ extending his fight record to 50-0.
And despite suffering defeat, the former UFC champion netted a hefty paycheck from the fight of around £23m – not including a share of the £325m PPV revenue.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed in 2022 that Mayweather wanted another bout against the Irishman, after he had earned a whopping £78m from their previous bout, according to talkSPORT.
Mayweather and McGregor took to the ring in 2017, with the former defending his unbeaten record and picking up a whopping £78m before any PPV sales were accounted for
1. Floyd Mayweather (£223.5) vs Manny Pacquiao – 2015
Mayweather was crowned Forbes’ highest paid athlete in 2018 having made his millions prize fighting some of the best boxers in the world, including Pacquiao.
After around six years of feuding, the pair finally squared off in a mega fight, that, according to DAZN, was worth a whopping £678m.
The ‘Fight of the Century’ didn’t quite live up to its name with Mayweather beating Pacquiao to retain his undefeated status in what was a thrilling clash of two of boxing’s greatest stars in Las Vegas.
The ‘Fight of the Century’ underwhelmed but from a financial perspective, both Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao came away much richer, with Mayweather netting £223.5m
The fight, which took six years to make, brought in audiences from around the world and earned around £333m in PPV buys.
But it was ‘Money’ Mayweather who took away a huge pre-PPV check of £223.5m, while Pacquiao claimed £122m for the fight, per DAZN.
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