Eddie Hearn claims Tyson Fury ‘only cares about money’ as Francis Ngannou fight approaches
According to Eddie Hearn, Tyson Fury’s upcoming fight with Francis Ngannou shows that the “Gypsy King” only cares about ‘money’. WBC heavyweight champion Fury will box Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, in Saudi Arabia on 28 October, after talks collapsed between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year. Usyk holds the remaining major titles at heavyweight, meaning a clash between the Ukrainian and Fury would have crowned an undisputed champion – the first in the division since 2000. Instead, Usyk will defend his belts against Daniel Dubois on 26 August, before Briton Fury boxes Ngannou. “Tyson Fury turned down the Oleksandr Usyk fight,” Hearn, who promotes Anthony Joshua, told Piers Morgan on TalkTV. “[He turned down] the most important fight in boxing to fight an MMA fighter, who’s never had a [boxing match] before in his life, in Saudi Arabia. “We’ve got to be honest, Tyson Fury cares about one thing only: the money.” Ngannou, 36, is widely seen as the most devastating puncher in mixed martial arts history. The Cameroonian’s professional record stands at 17-3, with 12 of his wins having come via knockout. Of those KO victories, eight took place in Round 1 – with three having been achieved inside the first minute. He vacated the UFC heavyweight title this year while leaving the company over a pay dispute, before signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) – a rival of the UFC. As part of his deal with the PFL, Ngannou is allowed to box on the side, which he will do against Fury before making his PFL debut in 2024. Hearn went on to criticise Fury’s resume, saying of the 34-year-old: “He’s beaten Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder (twice), that’s his wins. “He needs to beat Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, and then we can talk about him – as I believe he is – as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.” Fury last fought in December, stopping Derek Chisora late to go 3-0 against his compatriot and retain the WBC title. The result also kept Fury unbeaten as a professional. Meanwhile, Ngannou last fought in January 2022, outpointing former teammate Ciryl Gane to retain the UFC heavyweight title. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Why Fury vs Ngannou may tarnish the Gypsy King’s legacy forever Oleksandr Usyk recites poem and rap as Daniel Dubois vows to ‘unleash hell’ on champion Anthony Joshua slammed by Carl Froch for criticising ex-coach Rob McCracken The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings Tyson Fury seeks UFC star’s help ahead of Francis Ngannou fight Muhammad Ali’s ‘comedy’ fight shows Fury vs Ngannou isn’t the joke you think it is
1970-01-01 08:00
Jude Bellingham responds after clashing with Lisandro Martinez over pre-season tackle
Jude Bellingham has no hard feelings after being caught by a controversial challenge from Lisandro Martinez during a pre-season friendly between Real Madrid and Manchester United. The England midfielder squared up to the Argentine after being scythed down towards the end of the first half. Despite a shoving match, Bellingham insisted “the little tiff” will stay on the field and described his opponent as a “brilliant player”. “I came in at half-time, F-ing this, F-ing that. But when he came over and said all the best when he came off, I really respected it,” the 20-year-old explained. “He’s a great competitor, a great player.” Read More Declan Rice says he ‘feels at home’ at Arsenal as he explains reasons for transfer Watch: Ben Stokes reacts as Barbie song interrupts press conference Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney meets Man United boss Erik ten Hag
1970-01-01 08:00
UFC 291 card: Poirier vs Gaethje and all fights this weekend
This weekend, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje will go head to head in a rematch five years in the making, as they headline UFC 291. When the lightweights clashed in 2018, Poirier stopped his fellow American to win an entertaining bout, and the pair are expected to produce more fireworks this weekend, as they fight to crown a new ‘BMF’ champion. The ‘baddest motherf*****’ title was first – and last – seen in 2019, when the now-retired Jorge Masvidal beat Nate Diaz to become the inaugural champion. Masvidal’s teammmate Poirier will now look to claim that vacant belt in this rematch with Gaethje, who is a former interim lightweight champion like his rival. In the co-main event this weekend, former light-heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz welcomes Alex Pereira to the division, in the latter’s first fight since losing the middleweight belt in April. Elsewhere, there are plenty of exciting match-ups on the card. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? UFC 291 takes place at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday 29 July. The early prelims are set to begin at 11.30pm on Saturday (3.30pm PT, 5.30pm CT, 6.30pm ET), with the regular prelims following at 1am BST on Sunday 30 July (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then due to begin at 3am BST on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How can I watch it? The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Odds Poirier – 10/13; Gaethje – 11/10 Blachowicz – 10/11; Pereira – 10/11 Full odds via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Main card Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje 2 (lightweight – vacant ‘BMF’ title) Jan Blachowicz vs Alex Pereira (light-heavyweight) Stephen Thompson vs Michel Pereira (welterweight) Tony Ferguson vs Bobby Green (lightweight) Michael Chiesa vs Kevin Holland (welterweight) Prelims Trevin Giles vs Gabriel Bonfim (welterweight) Derrick Lewis vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima (heavyweight) Roman Kopylov vs Claudio Ribeiro (middleweight) Jake Matthews vs Miguel Baeza (welterweight) Early prelims CJ Vergara vs Vinicius Salvador (flyweight) Matthew Semelsberger vs Yohan Lainesse (welterweight) Miranda Maverick vs Priscila Cachoeira (women’s flyweight) Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Tom Aspinall finally banishes ghosts of the past with UFC London triumph UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year ‘The Rock’s shoes can go f*** themselves’: UFC fighter hits out at company’s sponsors Conor McGregor pays emotional tribute to Sinead O’Connor after singer’s death Michael Bisping: ‘The challenge of coming back to grapple appeals to me’ What time does UFC 291 start this weekend?
1970-01-01 08:00
Australia has won the toss and will bowl first in the final Ashes test against England
Australia has won the toss for the first time this series and opted to bowl in the fifth and final Ashes test against England
1970-01-01 08:00
Denmark, lacking Women's World Cup experience, carries confidence into England match
Going into this year’s Women’s World Cup, the entire Denmark national team had played in a World Cup for a combined zero minutes
1970-01-01 08:00
Ukraine eases its sports boycott policy to compete against some Russians ahead of Olympics
Ukraine has signaled it will no longer bar its athletes from competing against Russians who are taking part in sporting events as “neutral athletes."
1970-01-01 08:00
Portugal knocks Vietnam out of Women's World Cup with 2-0 victory in group stage
Telma Encarnacao scored one goal and assisted on another as Portugal defeated Vietnam 2-0 on Thursday in the Women’s World Cup
1970-01-01 08:00
Declan Rice says he ‘feels at home’ at Arsenal as he explains reasons for transfer
Declan Rice has said he “feels so happy” to be at Arsenal, as he settles into Mikel Arteta’s squad. The England midfielder has also insisted he will take his £105 million price tag in his stride, having joined from London rivals West Ham earlier this month. “So far I’ve only been here 10 days... but I feel so happy here, I feel at home,” Rice said. “I don’t feel like the new person at all. We’re only in pre-season, the season hasn’t started yet and I’ve got this feel-good factor. That’s the reason I joined Arsenal.”
1970-01-01 08:00
Singapore Airlines profit nearly doubles on robust travel demand
(Reuters) -Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) reported a record first-quarter net profit on Thursday, nearly doubling, boosted by strong demand for
1970-01-01 08:00
Conor McGregor pays emotional tribute to Sinead O’Connor after singer’s death
Conor McGregor has paid tribute to his ‘friend’ Sinead O’Connor, following the singer’s death at the age of 56. O’Connor’s passing was confirmed in a statement by her family on Wednesday (26 July), though no cause of death was disclosed. The Dublin-born musician’s death comes just 18 months after her son Shane, 17, committed suicide. O’Connor, most famous for her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” (released in 1990), sang during McGregor’s walkout at UFC 189 in July 2015, and her compatriot paid tribute on Wednesday. “The world has lost an artist with the voice of an Angel,” McGregor wrote on Twitter. “Ireland has lost an iconic voice and one of our absolute finest, by a long shot. And I have lost a friend. “Sinead’s music will live on and continue to inspire! Rest In Peace, Sinead you are home with your son I am sure.” O’Connor sang “The Foggy Dew” at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas as McGregor walked to the Octagon to face Chad Mendes. McGregor knocked out the American in the second round to win the interim UFC featherweight title. The Irishman’s entrance that night (which you can watch below) is widely considered to be the most iconic walkout in UFC history. McGregor, 35, would go on to become undisputed featherweight champion later in 2015, before becoming the UFC’s first ever dual-weight champion by winning the lightweight title in 2016. O’Connor changed her name to Shuhada’ Sadaqat in 2018 after converting to Islam, but she continued to perform under her birth name. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More ‘It isn’t good’: Sinead O’Connor’s heartbreaking final video just days before her tragic death Michael Bisping: ‘The challenge of coming back to grapple appeals to me’ UFC 291 live stream: How to watch Poirier vs Gaethje online and on TV this weekend
1970-01-01 08:00
Saudi Arabia's path to 2026 World Cup starts in qualifying group with Jordan and Tajikistan
Saudi Arabia’s path to the 2026 World Cup being played in North America will start in a first qualifying group drawn Thursday with neighboring Jordan, Tajikistan plus either Cambodia or Pakistan
1970-01-01 08:00
Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: Australia host Nigeria as USA deny Netherlands in thriller
A second-half goal from co-captain Lindsey Horan allowed the United States to battle back for a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in a thrilling Women’s World Cup clash. The fiercely fought re-run of the 2019 final lived up to its billing as the Dutch enjoyed the ascendancy in the first half before hanging on when the Americans found their groove in the second. The Dutch struck first through a fine shot from midfielder Jill Roord in the 17th minute and the USA went in at halftime trailing in a World Cup match for the first time since 2011. Horan answered for the four-times champions from a Rose Lavelle corner in 62nd minute, making a great run to the near post to power an unstoppable header past Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar. Elsewhere, co-hosts Australia resume their World Cup campaign against Nigeria in Group B, following Ireland’s elimination at the hands of Canada. Australia, who remain without Sam Kerr, will book their place in the knockout stages with a win against Nigeria, who held Olympic champions Canada to an opening draw. Follow the latest World Cup scores, updates and news in today’s live blog Read More Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup? Ireland ‘heartbroken’ as Canada comeback reveals World Cup lesson
1970-01-01 08:00
