Boxing

Vasiliy Lomachenko has heard the trash talk from Teofimo Lopez and his father, so he's looking forward to shutting them up whenever the bout happens.

British boxing great Nigel Benn revealed on Instagram one of his brothers Mark has died of coronavirus. "My brother Mark passed Away 2day (Covid 19), as we all were growing up Mark was the Joker of the Benn house hold," he wrote. Benn -- whose 23-year-old son Conor is a promising pugilist with an unblemished record -- was one of seven boys but lost his older brother Andy when he fell out of a window aged just eight.

The IBF's mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev said he will donate half of his purse from the world heavyweight title fight against Briton Anthony Joshua to help medical workers fight the "devilish" coronavirus. "I will donate 50% of the money I earn from the match with Joshua to the tireless heroes in the fight against the coronavirus," Pulev told German daily Bild on Sunday. Last month Pulev said the fight would take place "towards the end of the year" due to the outbreak and that he would have no problem fighting without spectators in attendance.

Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title defence against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev has been officially postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, promoters Matchroom Sport announced Friday. The British champion was due to put his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts up for grabs against Bulgarian challenger Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on June 20. "Anthony Joshua’s defence of his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight world titles against mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev scheduled to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday June 20 has been postponed," said a Matchroom statement.

The world heavyweight title fight between Briton Anthony Joshua and the IBF's mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria originally scheduled for June 20 has been postponed, promoters Matchroom Boxing said on Friday. Joshua's defence of his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO was set to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the coronavirus pandemic has brought global sport to a standstill with no events taking place in the United Kingdom.

Former world champion Amir Khan said Friday that he is eager to end his boxing career with a lucrative bout against ring great Manny Pacquiao or in an all-British contest with Kell Brook. The 33-year-old Khan, who won his last bout with a fourth-round victory over Billy Dib in Saudi Arabia in July, had reportedly been considering retirement, but he is determined to go out with a flourish against high-class opposition. "I have a couple of fights left in me -- one or two at least," said Khan, speaking to promoter Eddie Hearn via Instagram on Friday.

A Russian national boxing team coach has tested positive for the coronavirus after returning home from Olympic qualifiers cut short in London last month. Anton Kadushin, who works with Gleb Bakshi, the 2019 world champion in the middleweight class, wrote on his Instagram page on Thursday that he had tested positive for the virus. The head of Russia's boxing federation, Umar Kremlev, said in a statement on its website that the situation was under control and that Kadushin had a mild case of the virus.

Anthony Joshua wants to face Tyson Fury in a world heavyweight unification fight if he has to settle for just one bout this year due to the coronavirus. Joshua is scheduled for a title defence against Kubrat Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20, but the pandemic means that date is likely to be postponed. If the delay goes on beyond the summer leaving Joshua with room for only one contest in 2020, promoter Eddie Hearn said the WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO champion hopes his opponent can be WBC belt holder Fury for an all-British showdown.

Tyson Fury says he will never tire of beating Deontay Wilder in anticipation of his third fight against the American heavyweight, even though his potential all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua is on hold for now. Following a controversial draw in December 2018, Fury overpowered Wilder in Las Vegas in February, beating him in seven rounds. Wilder has activated the rematch clause in his contract, delaying the possibility of a hugely anticipated unification bout between WBC champion Fury and Anthony Joshua, who holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

British boxer Billy Joe Saunders had his boxing license suspended Monday after publishing a social media video in which he appeared to condone domestic violence amid the coronavirus outbreak. The British Boxing Board of Control said it has investigated Saunders' comments and decided to suspend his license under the regulations for misconduct.

Dillian Whyte's heavyweight clash with former world champion Alexander Povetkin has been rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic but British promoter Eddie Hearn said boxing could return behind closed doors in June. Matchroom Boxing on Monday confirmed the postponement of all their events scheduled for May, including bouts involving Whyte, Ireland's Katie Taylor and British fighter Dereck Chisora. "In line with the BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control) and government guidelines relating to COVID-19, Matchroom Boxing have postponed all events scheduled to be taking place in May," it said in a statement.

Boxing chiefs suspended WBO super-middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders' licence on Monday after he offered men advice on how to hit their female partners during the coronavirus lockdown. The British fighter released a video on social media using a punchbag to describe how to "hit her on the chin". A brief statement from the governing body said: "The British Boxing Board of Control, having considered comments made by Billy Joe Saunders on social media, have suspended his boxer's licence pending a hearing under the board's misconduct regulation, at a time and venue to be confirmed as soon as possible."

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) said in a statement that Saunders' license would be suspended until a hearing could be arranged under its misconduct regulations. Saunders had filmed himself punching a bag in a barn and advising "dads, husbands and men with girlfriends" how to deal with their female partners during the coronavirus lockdown. Saunders apologized for the video on social media over the weekend and again on British radio station TalkSPORT on Monday, when he also pledged to donate 25,000 pounds ($31,000) to domestic abuse charities.

WBO super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders had his licence suspended by Britain's boxing authorities on Monday after a social media post in which he advised men how to hit their female partners during the coronavirus lockdown. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) said in a statement that Saunders' licence would be suspended until a hearing could be arranged under its misconduct regulations. Saunders had filmed himself punching a bag in a barn and advising "dads, husbands and men with girlfriends" how to deal with their female partners during the coronavirus lockdown.

Legendary world champions Bernard Hopkins and "Sugar" Shane Mosley will have their inductions to the International Boxing Hall of Fame postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Both US fighters were to have been enshrined along with the complete Class of 2020 on June 11-14 in ceremonies at the facility in Canastota, New York, which has temporarily closed due to the deadly virus outbreak. Instead, the 2020 inductees will be included in a double ceremony with the 2021 inductees on June 10-13, 2021, the Hall announced in a website posting.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame has canceled its Hall of Fame weekend in June because of the coronavirus pandemic. Executive director Ed Brophy said Sunday that this year's class will be honored at the induction ceremony in June 2021. The Class of 2020 includes the first female honorees in Barbara Buttrick, Christy Martin, and Lucia Rijker, along with Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez, ''Sugar'' Shane Mosley, Frank Erne, and Paddy Ryan.

British world champion boxer Billy Joe Saunders was forced to apologise Saturday after a video emerged of him handing out advice to men on how to attack women if domestic arguments occur during tense coronavirus lockdowns. WBO super middleweight champion Saunders, 30, is seen in the video giving tips on how to react if "your old woman is....coming at you, spitting a bit of venom in your face". Saunders apologised if he "offended any women".

Several members of Russia's national boxing team have posted online pictures or videos that appear to show them flouting self-isolation rules imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, social media posts reviewed by Reuters show. The Russian national boxing team returned home last week after an Olympic qualification tournament in London was halted on March 16 because of the rapidly spreading virus. Two Turkish boxers and one coach tested positive for the coronavirus after returning home from the event.

The International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force on Thursday questioned claims from Turkish officials that it facilitated the spread of coronavirus by allowing this month's qualifying tournament in London to go ahead. The Boxing Road to Tokyo tournament, featuring competitors from across Europe, started on March 14 but was suspended after just three days. Eyup Gozgec, president of the Turkish Boxing Federation, was scathing about the tournament in the British capital.

Organisers of a suspended Olympic boxing qualifying tournament in London hit back at accusations of irresponsibility on Thursday after two Turkish competitors and a coach tested positive for coronavirus on returning home. The International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force (BTF), who organised the event after last year's suspension of world boxing body AIBA, wished those concerned a speedy recovery. "Some news reports appeared to draw a connection between the affected participants and the Boxing Road to Tokyo European qualifier held in London," it said in a statement.

Former boxing world champion Amir Khan has become the latest sportsman to help in the fight against the coronavirus, offering his wedding venue for use by Britain's National Health Service. Khan is ready to hand over the keys to the 60,000-square-feet (5,600-square-metre) venue in his home town of Bolton as concerns grow over bed shortages. Former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have given health workers free access to their hotels in Manchester.

The IOC said Thursday it is “not aware of any link� between an Olympic boxing tournament it oversaw in London this month and positive coronavirus tests for people who were there. The Turkish boxing federation said a boxer and a trainer now have the virus after attending the Olympic qualifying tournament, which was stopped on March 16 after three of the scheduled 11 days. In a statement, the International Olympic Committee said it was “not possible to know the source of infection.�

Khan is developing the building as a wedding hall, but he didn’t hesitate when he saw the need for more hospital beds.

World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has placed himself in self-isolation following a meeting with coronavirus victim Prince Charles. Chales, the eldest son and heir to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, is showing mild symptoms of coronavirus and is self-isolating in Scotland, officials said on Wednesday. It remains unclear when Charles caught the illness but on March 9, he spent the day with the Queen, prime minister Boris Johnson and stars of sport and entertainment -- including Joshua -- at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

Amateur boxing's international governing body (AIBA) should be able to complete its reforms and have its suspension lifted before the Tokyo Games are held in 2021, a Russian boxing official who also holds a position at AIBA said on Wednesday. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year suspended AIBA, the International Boxing Association, over issues surrounding its finances and governance and took over the boxing competition and qualification for the 2020 Olympics. With the Games being postponed to 2021 because of coronavirus outbreaks worldwide, AIBA could be in a position to retrieve its status before the Olympics, said Umar Kremlev, president of Russia's Boxing Federation and chairman of AIBA's market commission.

Britain's Fury stopped American Wilder in the seventh round of their Feb. 22 rematch in Las Vegas to capture the WBC title and remain undefeated from 31 fights, after battling Wilder to a draw in their first encounter in 2018. Wilder called for a rematch but with Las Vegas casinos shut and travel from Europe to the U.S. suspended in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, Arum said there is no way the fight can go forward as scheduled at the MGM Grand.

The anticipated third bout between heavyweights Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder will be pushed back from July 18 due to the coronavirus pandemic and possibly rearranged for October, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN on Tuesday. Britain's Fury stopped American Wilder in the seventh round of their Feb. 22 rematch in Las Vegas to capture the WBC title and remain undefeated from 31 fights, after battling Wilder to a draw in their first encounter in 2018. Wilder called for a rematch but with Las Vegas casinos shut and travel from Europe to the U.S. suspended in an effort to slow the spread of the virus, Arum said there is no way the fight can go forward as scheduled at the MGM Grand.

The third fight in Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder's heavyweight rivalry has been postponed as the coronavirus pandemic grips the United States and Britain, ESPN reported on Tuesday. Britain's Fury, who dethroned unbeaten WBC champion Wilder with a dominant victory in seven rounds last month, had been due to defend his crown in Las Vegas on July 18.

Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev, the IBF's mandatory challenger, said he saw no problem in fighting Briton Anthony Joshua for the world heavyweight title in a match without spectators. The 38-year-old former European amateur super-heavyweight champion Pulev, known as "The Cobra", said he was ready to face Joshua whenever the organizers decide. Last week, he told Bulgarian media the fight, scheduled to take place on June 20 at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium in London, would be postponed by several months due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev, the IBF's mandatory challenger, said he saw no problem in fighting Briton Anthony Joshua for the world heavyweight title in a match without spectators. The 38-year-old former European amateur super-heavyweight champion Pulev, known as "The Cobra", said he was ready to face Joshua whenever the organisers decide. Last week, he told Bulgarian media the fight, scheduled to take place on June 20 at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium in London, would be postponed by several months due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The coronavirus pandemic could force many boxers to leave the sport for financial reasons, leading British promoter Eddie Hearn said on Monday. Hearn, whose Matchroom Boxing promotes world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, told the BBC that those fighters starting out in the sport or at the bottom of the ladder faced tough times. "If this drags on to September, October, November, December, we'll have fighters that have not boxed this year," said Hearn.

“If you are a leader, you have to be a front-liner,’’ Pacquiao told the Manila Bulletin. “You have to lead people and let people see that you are with them. I grew up poor. I know what they feel.�

Hearn, who manages Joshua, also floated the idea that a blockbuster bout for the undisputed world heavyweight title with Tyson Fury might take priority in the event of a long postponement. "Right now, for us, we're fighting Kubrat Pulev, June 20, and it could be July 25, but everything is uncertain at the moment, whilst the country and the world tries to contain this pandemic," Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn told Sky Sports.

Promoter Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title defence againt IBF mandatory challenger Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in June has not been postponed yet due to coronavirus, despite the opponent suggesting it would be moved. Hearn, who manages Joshua, also floated the idea that a blockbuster bout for the undisputed world heavyweight title with Tyson Fury might take priority in the event of a long postponement. "Right now, for us, we're fighting Kubrat Pulev, June 20, and it could be July 25, but everything is uncertain at the moment, whilst the country and the world tries to contain this pandemic," Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn told Sky Sports.

Briton Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title defence against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev will be postponed by several months due to the coronavirus outbreak, the IBF's mandatory challenger said on Thursday. The 38-year-old former European amateur super-heavyweight champion Pulev said the fight would probably take place at the end of the year instead of June 20 at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium in London as scheduled. The 62,000 seater stadium was no longer available after European soccer's governing body UEFA postponed the European Championship to 2021, which means that any rescheduled Premier League fixtures could now run into the summer.

Roger Mayweather, a two-time world champion turned trainer and uncle of unbeaten boxing great Floyd Mayweather, has died at the age of 58. "My uncle was one of the most important people in my life inside and outside of the ring," said Floyd Mayweather, who was trained by his uncle for much of his illustrious career. Roger Mayweather, who had struggled with diabetes, won world titles at super featherweight and super lightweight, earning 59 wins in a near-20-year ring career that included notable fights against Julio Cesar Chavez and Pernell Whitaker.

Roger Mayweather, a former world champion who also trained his nephew Floyd Mayweather Jr., has died at the age of 58. Floyd Mayweather announced the death in a statement on Tuesday. Roger Mayweather had been ill with diabetes and other long-term health issues.

Roger Mayweather, trainer to nephew and champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, has died at 58, U.S. media reported on Tuesday. Before becoming a legendary cornerman, the Grand Rapids, Michigan native was a champion in his own right. "The Black Mamba" held the WBA and lineal super featherweight titles in the mid-1980s and the WBC light welterweight title later that same decade.

Four-division champion Alvarez was scheduled to face off against England's Billy Joe Saunders in a super middleweight unification bout on May 2 in Las Vegas but that fight is expected to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) is still expected to fight Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) before meeting Golovkin for the third time, the website said, citing multiple sources. After battling to a disputed draw in their first bout, four-division champion Alvarez defeated IBF and IBO middleweight champion Golovkin in their rematch on a points decision that many thought could have gone the other way.

Mexican Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Kazakhstan's Gennady Golovkin have agreed terms for a third fight, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 12 at AT&T Stadium near Dallas, the Athletic reported on Tuesday. Four-division champion Alvarez was scheduled to face off against England's Billy Joe Saunders in a super middleweight unification bout on May 2 in Las Vegas but that fight is expected to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) is still expected to fight Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) before meeting Golovkin for the third time, the website said, citing multiple sources.

Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title defence against Kubrat Pulev could be delayed until July due to the chaos caused by the coronavirus, promoter Eddie Hearn said on Tuesday. Joshua is due to fight Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20. All top flight football matches have been suspended until early April at the earliest due to the pandemic, causing speculation that the season will be finished in the summer.

Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title defence against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium on June 20 could be postponed to July due to the coronavirus outbreak, promoter Eddie Hearn said on Tuesday. The bout would have been after the Premier League season finished but, with soccer on hold and European championship soccer finals postponed to 2021, any rescheduled fixtures could now run into the summer.

Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight title defence against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur's stadium on June 20 could be postponed to July due to the coronavirus outbreak, promoter Eddie Hearn said on Tuesday. The bout would have been after the Premier League season finished but, with soccer on hold and European championship soccer finals postponed to 2021, any rescheduled fixtures could now run into the summer.

European Olympic boxing qualifiers in London were suspended on Monday over coronavirus fears despite an earlier decision to hold the event behind closed doors. The Boxing Road to Tokyo event, which started on Saturday and was scheduled to run until March 24, will be stopped after the evening session. Subsequent Americas and final world qualifiers, scheduled to take place in May, have also been put on ice.

The advertising hashtag on the ring apron declared #LondonisOpen but European boxers chasing Olympic slots at a Tokyo 2020 qualifying event went about their business behind closed doors on Monday. For many competitors, from countries as far afield as Azerbaijan and Armenia and European nations in lockdown as they battle the virus, the absence of an audience was of little concern. For others, such as Britain's Charley Davison who beat Ireland's Carly McNaul in her opening flyweight bout, it came as more of a blow.

Authors James Patterson and Kwame Alexander are teaming up on a book for young people about Muhammad Ali. “Becoming Muhammad Ali� is being called a “biographical novel� by the rival imprints JIMMY Paterson Books and HMH Books for Young Readers, which will jointly publish the book and announced it Monday. “Becoming Muhammad Ali� comes out Oct. 5.