Forgotten man Deontay Wilder can shred heavyweight scene with signature KO against Robert Helenius
Observe the heavyweight landscape before you. In the background lies Anthony Joshua, Britain’s fallen heavyweight hero, beaten once again. In the foreground, perhaps unnervingly close and paying no respect to your personal space, is Tyson Fury, bleating about his compatriot’s alleged cowardice and beckoning forward old foe Derek Chisora, who is lumbering into frame. Not enjoying the scenery?
Squint, and spy, if you can, Deontay Wilder. That’s right, there he is, somewhere before the horizon but not yet over the hill – a glove on one hand and remote in the other, ready to detonate the very scene that you and the rest of boxing’s fandom finds so distasteful.
Beside the American, who turns 37 next week, is Robert Helenius, whose exact role in this picture is as yet undetermined. On Saturday night, he will journey to New York with Wilder for a main-event contest at the Brooklyn Center. From the moment of depature to the moment of arrival, the Swedish-born Finn will stand firmly in Wilder’s blast radius, with many expecting the 38-year-old to be eviscerated. Consider, however, that Helenius might not be the victim that he is currently being portrayed as.
Forgotten man Deontay Wilder can shred heavyweight scene with signature KO
Even at 36, the former champion has the ability to reinvigorate the division
Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall undercard: Who else is fighting this weekend?
A landmark night for women’s boxing will play out at the O2 Arena in London this Saturday, as old foes Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall clash to crown an undisputed middleweight champion.
The pair met in the ring as amateurs, with Briton Marshall outpointing her American rival, who is out for revenge in their rematch this weekend – a month after the fight was postponed following the death of the Queen.
Shields, 27, carries the WBA, WBC, WBF and IBF middleweight titles into the O2 Arena, while Marshall, 31, puts the WBO belt on the line.
Who is fighting on Shields vs Marshall undercard this weekend?
All you need to know about this weekend’s fight card at London’s O2 Arena
Deontay Wilder maintains Anthony Joshua fight is ‘biggest in the world’
Deontay Wilder still believes that a potential encounter between the American heavyweight and Anthony Joshua would be “the biggest fight in the world”.
A fight between Wilder and Joshua, two of the world’s leading heavyweights, is yet to materialise.
The pair came close to a unification bout four years ago, but negotiations between the two then-undefeated fighters failed to result in agreement over terms for a fight.
Deontay Wilder maintains Anthony Joshua fight is ‘biggest in the world’
The American heavyweight takes on Robert Helenius in New York this weekend
Floyd Mayweather claims he was paid $1m to take Deji phone call over exhibition negotiation
Floyd Mayweather has claimed that he was paid $1 million (£892,635) to take a phone call and open negotiations with Deji Olatunji.
The undefeated 45-year-old has agreed to an exhibition match against the British YouTuber, who has a 1-0 record as a professional.
Mayweather and Deji will meet in Dubai on 13 November, continuing a series of exhibition fights for the former five-division world champion since concluding his 50-0 professional career in 2017.
Floyd Mayweather paid $1m to take phone call to negotiate Deji exhibition fight
The pair are set to meet on 13 November in Dubai
Mikaela Mayer vs Alycia Baumgardner: Bad blood, glory and why ‘women always have to do more’
After a turbulent week, boxing is desperately clinging to Saturday’s timely all-female card. It’s a tonic for the sport after the doping episode that prompted the collapse of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn, and fans will treasure a bill that includes four classy fighters facing off in two mouthwatering scraps at the O2 Arena.
It would be hypocritical to emphasise just the pure matchmaking and fierce competition, as the bad blood provides an enticing element to the sport and quickly sparks chaos once that first bell sounds. Mikaela Mayer vs Alycia Baumgardner, as chief support to Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall, offers the right amount of all of those ingredients required for a tremendous fight with the super featherweights poised to collide and unify the division.
Mayer vs Baumgardner: Bad blood, glory and why ‘women always have to do more’
Mayer and Baumgardner are poised to settle their feud and unify the super-featherweight division at the O2 on a monumental night for women’s boxing, writes Jack Rathborn
Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall: Boxing set for era-defining night as ‘women show the men how it’s done’
Boxing will get the cleansing enema it needs this weekend when four of the finest female fighters compete for seven world titles at the O2 Arena.
The brilliant all-female card was originally scheduled for the O2 last month, but was dropped 24 hours after the Queen died; three of the four boxers in the two world title fights returned to their homes in America.
A new date was found, the full card was put on notice and after some gentle relaxation, everything is set for Saturday night. It is a great testimony to the promoters, Boxxer, for their direct actions and assurances. I was convinced that one of the two exceptional world title fights would fall victim to circumstances. The men would have fallen down like feathers in the wind and started suing.
Shields vs Marshall: Boxing’s era-defining night as ‘women show men how it’s done’
The women’s game will display world-class fights as superstars collide at the O2 Arena
‘I’m next in line’: Mikaela Mayer eyes super fight with Katie Taylor after Alycia Baumgardner grudge match
Mikaela Mayer has set her sights on a fight against Katie Taylor next should she emerge victorious in her grudge match with Alycia Baumgardner on Saturday.
The IBF and WBO super-featherweight world champion looks to unify the division against her compatriot, who holds the WBC crown, as chief support to Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall, in the historic all-female card at The O2.
But after missing out on facing Taylor throughout a fine amateur career, which saw Mayer represent the United States at the Rio Olympics, a step up in weight to battle the legendary Irishwoman is top of her goals beyond this weekend.
‘I’m next in line’: Mikaela Mayer eyes super fight with Katie Taylor in Ireland
Mayer vs Baumgardner: Mikaela Mayer wants Katie Taylor ‘next’
The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings
The boxing landscape is arguably as intriguing as it has ever been.
The past few years have seen heavyweight epics for the ages between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, they have seen Saul “Canelo” Alvarez establish himself as the face of the sport in the eyes of many fans, and they have seen frequent displays of technical brilliance from champions in lighter weight classes.
There have been upsets, title unifications, and there has been no shortage of drama – Anthony Joshua’s defeats by Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk standing out as prime examples.
Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall will be a fight for the ages
After Claressa Shields’s clinical dismantling of Ema Kozin in Cardiff, with 10 brutally one-sided rounds inviting awe and grimaces in equal measure, a more competitive duel erupted at ringside. Throughout the course of the fight, Savannah Marshall had sat in the front row with an expression of theatrical boredom, at one stage even pretending to fall asleep. But as the pair came face-to-face in front of the cameras, their longstanding animosity quickly ignited as a shouting match featured all the grand predictions and angry threats that form the fabric of any legacy-defining bout.
It is a tantalising prospect, and undoubtedly one of the best fights to be made in boxing. Shields is a two-time Olympic gold medallist and holds three of the recognised middleweight world titles. She is an astonishing talent, who perhaps fairly proclaims herself as the greatest female boxer in history, despite still being only 26 years old. Her only defeat as an amateur came way back in 2012, in the build-up to the London Games. It was inflicted by the harder fists of Marshall, who never achieved such distinction as an amateur but now holds the only belt out of Shields’s reach.
It is a rivalry riven with intrigue and hostility. There is an underlying respect for one another’s ability, but also a personal dislike. For Shields, that defeat remains the only blemish on a path she’s blazed through the sport. And as she fielded questions shortly before midnight in Cardiff, the Michigan native was typically bullish. “I haven’t been impressed with any of Marshall’s fights,” she said spikily. “I think her getting a few easy opponents and a few knockouts have really fed her ego the wrong way. She doesn’t know how to be a world champion. I’m glad the confidence is up the roof because I’m going to beat it out of her.”
Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall would be a fight for the ages
The pair will settle their longstanding rivalry this summer in a historic bout for the undisputed middleweight title
Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields exchange verbal blows ahead of showdown showdown
Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall produced fireworks in a war of words at the weigh-in for their middleweight world title unification fight on Saturday.
The American, who holds three of the world titles at the weight, vowed to knock out the Briton, with the pair putting their ‘0’ at risk entering the bout with matching 12-0 records.
On the historic all-female card, Shields is bullish over her chances and eager to win in emphatic fashion.
The 27-year-old from Michigan told Sky Sports: “This is my third undisputed match. I’ve actually been here before. I’m super excited for tomorrow. I’m going to get the job done.
Verbal blows traded as Savannah Marshall prepares for Claressa Shields showdown
The pair will headline the first all-female boxing card at The O2 on Saturday
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