Boxing has been put into perspective this past week. Petty squabbles, demands and even scoring controversies pale into significance as Russia continue to violently attack Ukraine. The horrors of war are being played out 24/7 on our screens with lives of all age being lost every day.
Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and former lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko have returned home to take up arms and join the fight against the Russians. The people of Ukraine are in the thoughts of the team here at Boxing Social every day.
So, as we carry on with our daily lives the wheels of boxing continue to turn as well. Below is a selection of news stories you may have missed. Welcome to this week’s Hooks and Jabs.
Tyson Fury believes his April 23 fight against Dillian Whyte will do two million pay-per-view buys in the UK. The WBC heavyweight champion was talking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour after seeing the Wembley Stadium fight sell out.
“They’re coming to see The Gypsy King return,” said Fury. “I’m going to cut down Dillian Whyte like a hot knife through butter.”
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After his trip to London to see Lawrence Okolie defend his WBO cruiserweight title Mairis Briedis has a new date for his next fight. The IBF champion’s rearranged bout against Jai Opetaia will now take place on May 11 in Australia. A win for the Briedis could lead to a unification against Okolie later this year.
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Joseph Parker says his manager is continuing to negotiate a fight for him against Britain’s Joe Joyce. Boxing Social spoke to the former WBO heavyweight champion at the Fury-Whyte press conference this week.
“David Higgins is in negotiations at the minute trying to work on a deal that everyone is happy with,” said Parker.
“Joe’s a good fighter got a good engine on him. Tall, rangy, solid does a lot of damage in the ring. If we get it locked in, I’ll take with both hands and I back myself 100%.”
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Lee Selby must go to Argentina and win if his dreams of becoming a two-weight world champion are to carry on. The former IBF featherweight title holder lost out to George Kambosos Jr in 2020 which then took the Australian to New York and a famous win against Teofimo Lopez to become WBA, IBF and WBO champion. Selby will face Gustavo Lemos in an IBF lightweight final eliminator on March 26 in Buenos Aires. Victory will see the Welshman in a great position to face Kambosos once again.
“Trust me. I’m ready and hungrier than ever to secure that world title shot,” said Selby.