The Week: Benn finds an unlikely rival in Davis, Froch finds an even unlikelier rival in Fury’s dad, and boxing mourns the loss of Anaguchi and Weathers
By Declan Taylor
Wednesday, January 31
REALLY APPEALING
As the longest month in the history of humankind finally came to a close, Eddie Hearn revealed that a doping saga which has somehow lasted even longer than that is now close to a resolution too.
As Conor Benn’s latest fight week ticked over into hump day, his promoter Hearn told talkSPORT that the latest appeal in the boxer’s clomifene case will take place some time in the first half of February. Let’s hope for a resolution there. Out in Sin City, Benn and Saturday’s opponent Peter Dobson came face-face in front of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Benn called him a pussy.
Elsewhere, the latest big-budget Saudi promo video dropped, with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk mocked up like cowboys galloping through a western scene as one of the Peaky Blinders provided a voice over. Then it all went a bit mental and a couple of airborne pirate ships crashed into each other. There was a metaphor in there somewhere.
On the subject of the Saudi capital, stick with me here, the EBU ordered Daniel Dubois to face the 32-2 Belgian Ryad Merhy for their vacant heavyweight title. Ryad Season indeed.
Thursday, February 1
GREATNESS
On Thursday, as confirmed by his manager Matt Luber, the actor Carl Weathers, who famously portrayed Apollo Creed in the Rocky films, died peacefully in his sleep. He was 76.
The news struck a chord for the many of us with a deep affinity for the Rocky films and led to an outpouring of messages on social media. A statement from his family read: “Through his contributions to film, television, the arts and sports, he has left an indelible mark and is recognized worldwide and across generations.”
Meanwhile, his old mate Sylvester Stallone said: “Carl Weathers was such an integral part of my life and succes. When he walked into that room and I saw him for the first time, I saw greatness.”
Later on Thursday, it was confirmed that for the first time ever, a single fight would be shown simultaneously on three different pay-per-view platforms with Sky, TNT and DAZN all set to show Fury-Usyk in the UK. Yet more proof, if it were needed, that what the Saudis want the Saudis get.
And on the subject of heavyweights with previous experience of the Kingdom, it was Thursday when the WBC ordered a fight between their No.2 rated Frank Sanchez and their No.4 Agit Kabayel in what has the makings of a very entertaining tear-up.
Mr. T, Carl Weathers and Sylvester Stallone attend the “Rocky III” press conference on March 27, 1981 at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Friday, February 2
RIP KAZUKI ANAGUCHI
On Friday the boxing world was rocked by the desperate news that Japanese southpaw Kazuki Anaguchi tragically died as a result of the injuries he sustained during his fight with Seiya Tsutsumi on December 26.
The 23-year-old was knocked down four times during the contest, which featured on the undercard of Naoya Inoue’s victory over Marlon Tapales, and he was later rushed to hospital after passing out. He underwent emergency surgery due to the subdural hematoma sustained but he never regained consciousness.
Top Rank, Anaguchi’s US promoter, said: “Top Rank joins the boxing community in mourning the passing of Kazuki Anaguchi. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Such news never fails to put things like sport into perspective, including Friday evening’s late confirmation that Fury’s scheduled February 17 clash with Oleksandr Usyk had to be postponed due to a cut sustained by the Englishman in sparring. A photograph released by Queensberry confirmed the news while later a video of the uppercut which caused it also started to circulate.
In London, Dan Azeez turned up late for the weigh-in ahead of Saturday’s Wembley fight with Joshua Buatsi – and then came in nearly three pounds under the limit. Buatsi, the challenger, looked strong at 174lb.
Saturday, February 3
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
After months of trying, Azeez and Buatsi finally got it on while simultaneously on a busy Saturday evening, over in Las Vegas, Conor Benn beat Peter Dobson on points.
But a few hours earlier, Tyson Fury and Turki Al-Alshikh had appeared alongside each other on a Zoom call as part of the MMA Hour show to officially confirm that a new date has already been rubber-stamped for the undisputed heavyweight fight. Fury and Usyk, they said, will now meet on May 18 in Riyadh with no event taking place on February 17.
Al-Alshikh, who wore sunglasses and even started shadow boxing at one point, also revealed that if either man pulls out of the new date, they must pay the other $10m.
“We have delayed it until the 18th of May and I guarantee for both of the fighters $10m if someone escapes from the fight,” he said. “And that’s $10m not from us – but from their own money.”
Also, as part of his appearance on the special edition of the MMA Hour, Al-Alshikh also confirmed that Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol will meet in Riyadh on June 1. And on the undercard, the proposed 5 v 5 card between Matchroom and Queensberry will take place.
Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol
Sunday, February 6
THINK TANK
Despite calling out the likes of Mario Barrios, Devin Haney and Chris Eubank Jr after his victory on Saturday night, a new name entered the chat on Sunday in the form of Gervonta Davis.
Last week it was reported that Davis, who knocked out Liam Walsh in London back in 2017, would be boxing for in the UK for the second time this summer and this Twitter interaction might have opened the door to a dance with Benn.
“The way you looked last night,” Davis Tweeted. “Give me three weeks & a weekend in Turks and yo ass is grass!” Benn then replied challenging Davis to fight him next, while also calling him an oompa loompa, a munchkin, a little shrimp and a little rat during a series of Tweets.
Davis then screenshotted a conversation with Eddie Hearn via direct messages during which the promoter asked: “You interested in this fight with Conor?” Davis sent back a thumbs up emoji and asked “what we doing, Eddie?”
And Benn was not the only son of a British boxing legend to catch a few strays from an American star on Sunday as Shakur Stevenson responded to a suggestion of a fight with Campbell Hatton by saying: “I would punch him so many times Ricky would grab the towel hisself and toss it in the ring.”
All of this on the sabbath no less. Whatever happened to just watching Heartbeat and having a roast dinner?
Monday, February 5
FROCH V FURY
It says much about the current position of our sport that Monday’s two main news items were about doping and an unlicensed fight between two retired boxers.
Firstly, John Fury, the 59-year-old father of Tyson and an 8-4-1 (1) boxer during the 80s and 90s, called out Carl Froch for a fight at Wembley Stadium this year. “You and me,” Fury said. “Wembley Stadium, 93,000 crowd. I’m up for that my friend. You don’t like me, let’s see what you’re going to do about it. Hater vs Top Father, that’s what we will call this.”
Think the title needs some work but that did not stop the Sauerland Brothers tweeting: ‘Watch this space. Misfits Boxing offers incoming.’
Elsewhere, there was a statement released by the WBO that essentially declared that any of their champions would be subject to strict liability when it comes to failed drugs tests.
“In the event any WBO champion (male or female) tests positive for any banned substances, it is not necessary that the WBO demonstrate intent, fault, negligence, or knowing use on the fighter’s part considering that it is the fighter’s duty to ensure that no prohibited substances enter his/her body. Fighters are fully responsible for any prohibited substances found to be present in their body”.
John Fury (Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Tuesday, February 6
THE REIGN IN SPAIN
A tanned Tyson Fury returned to his home in Morecambe and uploaded a video of himself, with stitches visible above his eye. “Back to reality,” he said. “Back to the school runs, back to the real life stuff. Can’t wait to get back into training camp in Saudi and absolutely smash it.”
Meanwhile, over in Valencia, Oleksandr Usyk threw open the doors to his Spanish training camp to the global media and held court at a press conference to speak for the first time since the postponement of his initial date with Fury.
“I sacrificed a lot,” Usyk said. “I sacrificed all the dates we used to spend with my family; new year, Christmas, my birthday, my son’s birthday and of course the birth of my daughter. I was supposed to be with my wife, waiting for her to give birth to my daughter.
“I’m not judging anyone but we have to treat this seriously. It’s a very important and well-anticipated fight for the whole world and we have to treat this professionally and spend every minute that we are in the ring with attention and respect to our opponent.
“To judge someone for his mistakes is a weakness. I feel very well. And even if someone is trying to play me, he is playing by my rules.”
