List of All Articles with Tag 'boxing'

YouTube star KSI returns to the ring on Saturday, fighting boxer and businessman Joe Fournier at the O2 Arena. KSI (real name Olajide Olatunji) has taken on Logan Paul twice in the past and most recently fought gamer FaZe Temperrr, winning via knockout in January. His rematch with Paul – a win that followed their initial draw – is the only professional bout of his career, with the rest having been exhibitions. Meanwhile, fellow Briton Fournier has a 9-0 professional record and lost an exhibition bout with former world champion David Haye on points in 2021. The 40-year-old got his start in the fitness industry before moving into nightclub business. KSI, 29, is facing his most credible opponent by far this weekend, in another exhibition fight. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is it? The event will take place on Saturday 13 May at the O2 Arena in London. The main card is scheduled to begin at 7.15pm BST (11.15am PT, 1.15pm CT, 2.15pm ET), with the main event due at approximately 9.40pm BST (1.40pm PT, 3.40pm CT, 4.40pm ET). How can I watch it? The event will be available on Dazn pay-per-view, priced at £19 for existing subscribers. New customers can purchase the event for £19, too, while receiving one month’s access to the streaming platform. How much are the fighters earning? No earnings for this fight have been disclosed, but KSI is said by Draft Kings to have made around $1million last August when he beat Swarmz and Luis Alcaraz Pineda on the same night. He looks likely to earn a similar amount for his fight with Fournier, whose purse – based on those of KSI’s recent opponents – could be around $400,000. Full card (subject to change) KSI vs Joe Fournier Deji vs Swarmz Salt Papi vs Anthony Taylor Tennessee Thresh vs Paigey Cakey Viruzz vs DK Money Little Bellsy vs Lil Kymchii Who is KSI fighting next? KSI’s next fight is not yet scheduled, but for some time he has been exchanging words with Jake Paul in hopes of arranging a bout. KSI fought Logan Paul, Jake’s older brother, to a draw in an amateur fight in 2018, before outpointing the American in a professional rematch a year later. Logan Paul went on to fight boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition contest in 2021, while Jake has been much more active – going 6-1 as a pro after stopping KSI’s brother Deji in his amateur debut in 2018. Last time out, in February, 26-year-old Paul suffered his first loss, a points defeat by Tommy Fury. The YouTube star is now set to box ex-UFC fighter Nate Diaz in August. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Jake Paul threatens to ‘fire’ employee for bothering Nate Diaz at press conference Conor McGregor shoves Michael Chandler in trailer for The Ultimate Fighter Mark Zuckerberg wins first jiu-jitsu tournament, takes home multiple medals KSI, from ‘endearing’ class clown to YouTuber who has changed the face of boxing Who is KSI fighting after Joe Fournier? How to watch KSI vs Fournier online and on TV this weekend

YouTube star KSI returns to the ring on Saturday, fighting boxer and businessman Joe Fournier at the O2 Arena. KSI (real name Olajide Olatunji) has taken on Logan Paul twice in the past and most recently fought gamer FaZe Temperrr, winning via knockout in January. His rematch with Paul – a win that followed their initial draw – is the only professional bout of his career, with the rest having been exhibitions. Meanwhile, fellow Briton Fournier has a 9-0 professional record and lost an exhibition bout with former world champion David Haye on points in 2021. The 40-year-old got his start in the fitness industry before moving into nightclub business. KSI, 29, is facing his most credible opponent by far this weekend, in another exhibition fight, but who’s next for the YouTuber? Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is KSI vs Fournier? The event will take place on Saturday 13 May at the O2 Arena in London. The main card is scheduled to begin at 7.15pm BST (11.15am PT, 1.15pm CT, 2.15pm ET), with the main event due at approximately 9.40pm BST (1.40pm PT, 3.40pm CT, 4.40pm ET). How can I watch it? The event will be available on Dazn pay-per-view, priced at £19 for existing subscribers. New customers can purchase the event for £19, too, while receiving one month’s access to the streaming platform. How much are the fighters earning? No earnings for this fight have been disclosed, but KSI is said by Draft Kings to have made around $1million last August when he beat Swarmz and Luis Alcaraz Pineda on the same night. He looks likely to earn a similar amount for his fight with Fournier, whose purse – based on those of KSI’s recent opponents – could be around $400,000. Full card (subject to change) KSI vs Joe Fournier Deji vs Swarmz Salt Papi vs Anthony Taylor Tennessee Thresh vs Paigey Cakey Viruzz vs DK Money Little Bellsy vs Lil Kymchii Who is KSI fighting next? KSI’s next fight is not yet scheduled, but for some time he has been exchanging words with Jake Paul in hopes of arranging a bout. KSI fought Logan Paul, Jake’s older brother, to a draw in an amateur fight in 2018, before outpointing the American in a professional rematch a year later. Logan Paul went on to fight boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition contest in 2021, while Jake has been much more active – going 6-1 as a pro after stopping KSI’s brother Deji in his amateur debut in 2018. Last time out, in February, 26-year-old Paul suffered his first loss, a points defeat by Tommy Fury. The YouTube star is now set to box ex-UFC fighter Nate Diaz in August. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Jake Paul threatens to ‘fire’ employee for bothering Nate Diaz at press conference Conor McGregor shoves Michael Chandler in trailer for The Ultimate Fighter Mark Zuckerberg wins first jiu-jitsu tournament, takes home multiple medals When is the KSI vs Fournier fight? Start time, undercard and more KSI, from ‘endearing’ class clown to YouTuber who has changed the face of boxing How to watch KSI vs Fournier online and on TV this weekend

Before KSI, there was Olajide Olatunji – “JJ” for short. Before the YouTuber, gamer, rapper, boxer, promoter and energy drink magnate, there was the affable class clown in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. “I remember we did a production of Sweeney Todd,” one of his schoolmates tells The Independent. “He played the judge, and when he died at the end, he was twitching and doing the worm across the stage. Everyone was in stitches. He was funny, a nice guy – everybody liked him for that. He was popular, but not like, ‘I’m the s***’; he was confident but also a nerdy, endearing, sweet guy.” With those qualities, JJ was tailor made for YouTube, where he launched his channel ‘KSIOlajideBT’ in 2009 – four years after the platform’s inception. Fifteen years old at the time, JJ quickly garnered a following by filming himself playing Fifa – the famous football video game – at his parents’ house in Watford. His bewitching cackle was a key feature in each upload. “He always had that very distinctive laugh,” his schoolmate recalls. “I remember that. He would laugh at something during morning registration, and the teachers would be like, ‘JJ, please!’” By the end of 2009, Olatunji had amassed 1,000 subscribers. That number had tripled by the end of 2010, and Olatunji’s growth accelerated at a startling pace in 2011, as he reached 150,000 subscribers, and in 2012, when he crossed the million mark. JJ had become KSI – standing for ‘Knowledge Strength Integrity’ – and he would soon become arguably the most famous YouTuber in Britain. “When he started getting big on YouTube, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone,” this schoolmate says, “but you’d hear from certain people that knew him: ‘Oh, he’s definitely got a bit of an ego now. He’s not as sweet anymore, there’s an arrogance there, he talks about himself a lot. He used to be more engaged when he would talk to people.’” If the YouTube venture “made sense” to his peers, then so did his next move, when he released his first rap song in 2015. “I remember he’d written a rap to learn every element on the periodic table, and all the teachers were so impressed,” his schoolmate adds, but it was singing about supercars, after dropping out of school, that demonstrated how drastically KSI’s life had changed. His debut single “Lamborghini”, featuring P Money, peaked at No 30 in the UK chart. It has since been followed by numerous EPs and two studio albums. KSI’s next endeavour was less predictable, however. KSI ushers in the era of ‘influencer boxing’ “He was so sweet that no one would’ve said, ‘Oh, he’s gonna fight when he’s older,’” says his schoolmate. “When he did, it was like: ‘Oh, jeez. Well, I guess he can, so who’s gonna stop him?’” Popularity is not the synonym for likeability that some think it is, and KSI has long had his detractors. Wisely, however, he began to weaponise a widespread desire to watch him get punched in the face. In 2018, KSI fought in his first amateur boxing match, beating fellow British YouTuber Joe Weller via TKO inside three rounds, following a build-up that saw KSI mock his opponent for opening up on experiences with depression. KSI later apologised for his comments. Next for the Briton was Logan Paul, who in some ways appeared to be his American equivalent, and the pair fought to a draw in a sold-out Manchester Arena. The fight did a reported 1.3 million pay-per-view buys, leading to a professional rematch in 2019 – held at Los Angeles’ famed Staples Center, streamed on Dazn, promoted by Eddie Hearn, and won by KSI on points. Fighting on the undercard were world champions Billy Joe Saunders and Devin Haney, the latter of whom defends his undisputed lightweight titles against Vasily Lomachenko this month. The dynamic was disconcerting for most boxing fans, who accused the YouTubers of making a mockery of the sport, yet pop star Justin Bieber was present as the likes of Haney and Saunders were exposed to an entirely new audience – one that they would have otherwise never reached. Hearn, the most recognisable promoter in boxing, recognised that. Alongside Paul and the American’s younger brother Jake, KSI had ushered in the era of ‘influencer boxing’. KSI flourishes as new-age entrepreneur KSI, for his part, has mastered the art of self-promotion, but he is now trying to turn that outwards, too. Now 29, with more than 30 million subscribers, seven billion views and a reported net worth of over $25m, KSI returned to boxing in August. At London’s O2 Arena, he stopped rapper Swarmz and pro boxer (in loose terms) Luis Alcaraz Pineda on the same night. Notably, the event was the first staged by Misfits Boxing – a promotion created by KSI in partnership with the established Wasserman Promotions and streaming platform Dazn. Another more unlikely partnership followed, as the mutually antagonistic KSI and Logan Paul launched the energy drink Prime together. For reasons that – beyond the international awareness of the YouTubers – are difficult to discern, the drink flooded through the nation and off shelves, selling out in many stores and ultimately being banned in some schools in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and South Africa. It has, however, attracted sponsorship deals with Arsenal FC, the UFC and WWE, with KSI appearing alongside Paul at this year’s WrestleMania. Trying the drink on Heart radio, Gordon Ramsay said: “Oh, Jesus. It’s like swallowing perfume. What would I give it out of 10? A zero.” KSI came under starker criticism just last month for his use of a racial slur in a YouTube video, which led the 29-year-old to apologise and visit a Mosque in Bradford – an effort to educate himself on the matter. “There’s no excuse, no matter the circumstances,” he wrote on Twitter. “I shouldn’t have said it and I’m sorry. I’ve always said to my audience that they shouldn’t worship me or put me on a pedestal, because I’m human. I’m not perfect, I’m gonna mess up in life, and lately I’ve been messing up a lot.” Fighting into the future Fans will hope that KSI’s preparations for his next fight will keep him out of such trouble, though his progress has been gradual. His form is lacking, but his power is impressive. This weekend, he will test his attributes against Joe Fournier. The 40-year-old, a former pro boxer with a 9-0 record and an exhibition defeat by David Haye in 2021, got his start in the fitness industry before moving into the nightclub business. Perhaps those are areas for KSI to conquer one day; it would not be a surprise. For now, however, his boxing endeavour takes priority and takes him back to the O2 Arena. JJ had his school in stitches during a rendition of Sweeney Todd; KSI will hope to have Fournier’s head in stitches come Saturday night. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More KSI vs Fournier live stream: How to watch fight online and on TV this weekend Mark Zuckerberg wins first jiu-jitsu tournament, takes home multiple medals Why is BT Sport being rebranded to TNT Sports? Eurosport merger explained When is the KSI vs Fournier fight? Start time, undercard and more How to watch KSI vs Fournier online and on TV this weekend What is an exhibition fight and how is it different to a professional bout?

A bloodied John Ryder rocked the canvas after being sent tumbling by Canelo Alvarez in the fifth round. A fast, crisp combination from the Mexican superstar appeared to satisfy a feverish crowd at his Guadalajara homecoming. And then the Briton summoned immense courage, despite a brief, yet uncertain stare into the abyss of the Akron Stadium. The echo of trainer Tony Sims’ advice and encouragement seemed to fix Ryder’s concentration to beat the referee’s count and then fend off the belligerent force of Canelo with a knockout in sight. Plan A had been left in pieces with precious seconds between rounds frittered away after cotton buds momentarily stemmed the flow of blood from his nostrils to his mouth, following a suspected broken nose suffered in the third round. But as Canelo licked his lips, eager to snatch a morale-boosting stoppage to gain valuable momentum for a rematch against Dmitry Bivol, Ryder grappled, closed the distance and left his rival and 50,000 fans frustrated across seven more gruelling rounds. The outcome was never in doubt as Canelo sauntered to a unanimous decision, with the judges returning cards of 120-107, 118-109 and 118-109 to ensure the undisputed super-middleweight world championship remains in Mexico. Yet Ryder validated his own worth and perhaps banished a layer of agony from a career that has included, to many, a cruel defeat by Callum Smith in 2019 - his only previous shot at a world title. There is no trinket to remember this brave effort either, yet Ryder clearly belongs at this level. And after rising from the canvas, the 34-year-old even put together a flashy combination of his own, pairing a left uppercut with a left hook to force the Canelo truck back into reverse. “Ryder has realised he’s a world-class fighter,” said promoter Eddie Hearn following the contest. “He’ll wake up and enjoy himself. He busted his nose, he won rounds later on, it was a fantastic effort, he didn’t look for a way out.” So what next for Canelo? This was scarcely more momentum after victory last time out against the faded force of the once ferocious Gennady Golovkin, who still closed hard to show signs that the Mexican, too, is past his prime. But Canelo’s pride may yet take him back to 175 pounds against the naturally bigger Bivol. His chances of revenge increase at super-middleweight, where the Russian appears bewitched by the prospect of glory at a second weight, which would bring an experience yet to be tasted given the politics involved at light-heavyweight with compatriot Artur Beterbiev: Supremacy. The clamour for a clash with David Benavidez at 168 pounds only grows louder, with the Mexican-American dispatching one of Canelo’s previous victims in Caleb Plant with added finesse. But just like Joe Calzaghe and Carl Froch in the past, two fighters from different generations might never share the ring together. Such is Canelo’s desire to chase greatness, you sense his mind is made up with Bivol eventually lured into a rematch under the same terms by the exceptional riches available. Yet his 12 rounds with Ryder can serve a purpose when he embraces the rare position of the underdog. “Everybody knows, we want the rematch with Bivol,” Canelo said after seeing off Ryder. “Same rules, same everything, I just want it in that way.” Canelo would be wise to learn from Ryder’s battling qualities. Against Bivol, he will need them. Read More Canelo Alvarez vs John Ryder full scorecards revealed Broken, bloodied and ultimately beaten but John Ryder earned huge respect John Ryder took on the full power of Canelo Alvarez and emerged an unlikely hero John Ryder took on the full power of Canelo Alvarez and emerged an unlikely hero KSI vs Fournier: Start time, undercard and everything you need to know How to watch KSI vs Fournier online and on TV this weekend

The blood still dripped from John Ryder’s broken nose as he sat down to address the throng of media gathered in the bowels of the Estadio Akron just before midnight local time. The bone had shattered in the second round when Saul “Canelo” Alvarez landed with a sharp right hand. Three rounds later he was dropped heavily as he gulped back a steady flow of his own blood in order to keep breathing. “I felt it go instantly,” Ryder said, wiping blood off the table in front of him. “It threw me for a couple of rounds but it is what it is.” Despite all that, Ryder made it through all 12 rounds of his challenge for the Mexican icon’s four super-middleweight belts on a night he will never forget as long as he lives. It was a performance that led Canelo to label Ryder as the best of the eight British men he now holds wins over. By the time Canelo had made that evaluation at his press conference in the early hours of Sunday morning, Ryder was already back at the fight hotel, battered, bruised and with a bandage strapped around his nose but surrounded by the friends and family who made the trip. He would by then have seen the hugely positive response to his gutsy performance from across the boxing world. And, although the north Londoner had suggested pre-fight that he would only keep fighting as long as he was winning, Ryder has vowed to box on after enhancing his reputation in defeat. “I think I’ll carry on,” he said. “I got a lot of enjoyment out of that fight, although I got a busted nose. Ultimately, though, I’ll sit down with the team and my family and just evaluate. “I’ve got no regrets, I just could have done without getting hit with that punch in the second round, then things could have been different. But I’m just happy I live to see another day and fight another fight. I’m sat here looking like an absolute victim with my nose in plaster but, listen, I’ve dared to dream and I’ve come up short. “The overriding feeling is that I’m gutted but I’ll sit down now with my team and see where we go from there. “Coming away with a win was the ultimate goal, going the distance isn’t. I made a fight of it for a while but on the scorecards it wasn’t that close. Moral victory? Maybe, yeah. But I came here with a dream and I didn’t achieve it. “I’m just gutted. I’ve put so much into the sport over the last few years and haven’t always got the rub of the green. I came here with a dream but I fell short – that’s boxing. I won’t be the first and I won’t be the last.” It looked as though Ryder could be on the verge of a stoppage in the fifth round when a straight, hard one-two combination sent him staggering back against the ropes and then onto the canvas. But the man known as the Gorilla says it was the spirit of another famous British super-middleweight that got him through the crisis. “It’s all that time I’ve spent with Nigel Benn,” said Ryder, who trains alongside the former world champion’s son Conor in Tony Sims’ gym. “I just thought to myself ‘what would Nigel Benn do? He’d come out swinging. He’d probably knock him out though. I didn’t do that, unfortunately. Listen I’m in the gym around great fighters and idols so I could pull from the best in the business.” Canelo had predicted during fight week that he would be able to get rid of Ryder inside six rounds and even said he’d retire from boxing if he was beaten at the Akron Stadium. And Ryder believes his inability to find that stoppage is evidence the 32-year-old is in decline after 63 fights as a professional. Of Canelo, Ryder added: “He was very good but I think he is past his best but he still had enough in his tank tonight. “Why is he past his best? Because he couldn’t get me out of there. His plan was to stop me and he didn’t. I know I took a great shot in the fifth round but I came back swinging and had some good rounds after that.” But Canelo only smiled when he was later told of Ryder’s assessment. “For them it’s a win not getting knocked out, right?” the Mexican said. “But we need to give him credit. He came to fight. His preparation was very good, and I respect the fight he did. “He’s strong. He did everything in the ring, and that’s what I expected. I saw him fighting with the other guys, and he’s tough. I think he’s the best British fighter I’ve faced.” This was Canelo’s first fight back in his home town of Guadalajara since 2011 when he beat another Brit, Ryan Rhodes, across town at the Arena VFG. He has since evolved into a genuine boxing superstar and the biggest attraction in the sport. On this Cinco de Mayo weekend, more than 50,000 people packed inside the stadium, where Mexican top-flight team Chivas play their home games. And, although he failed to get the stoppage he craved, Canelo said: “Tonight was more than I even expected. I’m just proud about fighting here with my people and bringing this kind of fight for them. They deserve it, and it’s more than I expected.” Now Canelo will look ahead to his second date of the year, Mexican Independence Day which falls on 16 September, and confirmed that he hopes to secure a rematch with Dmitry Bivol who beat him 12 months ago. “That’s my goal this year,” he said. “But you know, if that fight doesn’t happen – we’ll see – but that’s my goal this year.” Read More Frustrated Canelo Alvarez must take valuable homecoming lesson from gutsy John Ryder The shadow of Dmitry Bivol looms over Canelo vs Ryder Blood, beers and tears: What to expect from Canelo’s homecoming, 12 years in the making John Ryder took on the full power of Canelo Alvarez and emerged an unlikely hero The sporting weekend in pictures Canelo Alvarez vs John Ryder full scorecards revealed

YouTube star KSI returns to the ring on Saturday, fighting boxer and businessman Joe Fournier at the O2 Arena. KSI (real name Olajide Olatunji) has taken on Logan Paul twice in the past and most recently fought another YouTuber in FaZe Temperrr, winning via knockout in January. Meanwhile, fellow Briton Fournier has a 9-0 professional record and lost an exhibition bout with former world champion David Haye on points in 2021. The 40-year-old got his start in the fitness industry before moving into nightclub business. KSI, 29, is facing his most credible opponent by far this weekend. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is it? The event will take place on Saturday 13 May at the O2 Arena in London. The main card is scheduled to begin at 7.15pm BST (11.15am PT, 1.15pm CT, 2.15pm ET), with the main event due at approximately 9.40pm BST (1.40pm PT, 3.40pm CT, 4.40pm ET). How can I watch it? The event will be available on Dazn pay-per-view, priced at £19 for existing subscribers. New customers can purchase the event for £19, too, while receiving one month’s access to the streaming platform. Full card (subject to change) KSI vs Joe Fournier Deji vs Swarmz Salt Papi vs Anthony Taylor Tennessee Thresh vs Paigey Cakey Viruzz vs DK Money Little Bellsy vs Lil Kymchii Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Jake Paul threatens to ‘fire’ employee for bothering Nate Diaz at press conference Conor McGregor shoves Michael Chandler in trailer for The Ultimate Fighter Mark Zuckerberg wins first jiu-jitsu tournament, takes home multiple medals

YouTube star KSI returns to the ring on Saturday, fighting boxer and businessman Joe Fournier at the O2 Arena. KSI (real name Olajide Olatunji) has taken on Logan Paul twice in the past and most recently fought another YouTuber in FaZe Temperrr, winning via knockout in January. Meanwhile, fellow Briton Fournier has a 9-0 professional record and lost an exhibition bout with former world champion David Haye on points in 2021. The 40-year-old got his start in the fitness industry before moving into nightclub business. KSI, 29, is facing his most credible opponent by far this weekend. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is it? The event will take place on Saturday 13 May at the O2 Arena in London. The main card is scheduled to begin at 7.15pm BST (11.15am PT, 1.15pm CT, 2.15pm ET), with the main event due at approximately 9.40pm BST (1.40pm PT, 3.40pm CT, 4.40pm ET). How can I watch it? The event will be available on Dazn pay-per-view, priced at £19 for existing subscribers. New customers can purchase the event for £19, too, while receiving one month’s access to the streaming platform. Full card (subject to change) KSI vs Joe Fournier Deji vs Swarmz Salt Papi vs Anthony Taylor Tennessee Thresh vs Paigey Cakey Viruzz vs DK Money Little Bellsy vs Lil Kymchii Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Jake Paul threatens to ‘fire’ employee for bothering Nate Diaz at press conference Conor McGregor shoves Michael Chandler in trailer for The Ultimate Fighter Mark Zuckerberg wins first jiu-jitsu tournament, takes home multiple medals What time does KSI vs Fournier start this weekend? Jake Paul threatens to ‘fire’ employee for bothering Nate Diaz Joyce vs Zhang rematch set to thwart Tyson Fury fight

Jake Paul threatened to ‘fire’ one of his employees on Tuesday, during a press conference for the YouTuber’s fight with Nate Diaz. YouTuber Paul has gone 6-1 as a professional boxer in recent years and is due to box Diaz, a former UFC star, in August. At the first press conference for that fight, a ‘reporter’ said to 38-year-old Diaz: “Nate, I’m actually a boxer myself, and I’ve been trying to get into this undercard. “I’m just wondering if you think I could fight your brother Nick [also a former UFC fighter]. If he’s anything like you, I think I’d beat his f***ing a**.” Diaz replied: “Brother, what? Are you just gonna walk away on the streets or some s***? You know all my homeboys see you right now? That was stupid. You deserve your a** whipped.” The reporter revealed himself to be “Derek from Betr Media”, a company run by Paul. Paul, 26, intervened, saying: “He works for my company. I’ll handle that later, I’ll fire him later. I’m sorry about that, Nate. Derek, shut up.” Derek later took to Betr’s Instagram page to share a video, in which he said: “I would like to apologise for the question that I asked at the Jake Paul and Nate Diaz press conference. “I would especially like to apologise to my boss Jake Paul, and I definitely want to apologise to Nate Diaz. Nate, please don’t hurt me, but if you do, I definitely deserve it. “Having said all this... Nick Diaz, the contract has been sent.” Nate Diaz made bond last month after turning himself in to police in New Orleans, where an arrest warrant was issued after the American was filmed seemingly choking out a man in the street. Diaz is best known for his fights with Conor McGregor in 2016. Diaz fought the Irishman on short notice in March of that year and submitted the former dual-weight champion, before losing to McGregor on points in their August rematch. Diaz last fought in the UFC in September, submitting Tony Ferguson before leaving the company. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Nate Diaz makes $10,000 bond after turning himself in to police amid battery charge Amanda Serrano returns with Heather Hardy rematch on Paul vs Diaz undercard UFC’s Tony Ferguson arrested following car crash in Hollywood Joyce vs Zhang rematch set to thwart Tyson Fury fight New date revealed for delayed Eubank Jr vs Smith rematch The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings

Joe Joyce has activated a rematch clause to fight Zhilei Zhang again, thwarting the Chinese heavyweight’s rumoured bout with Tyson Fury. Joyce suffered the first defeat of his professional career in April, losing to Zhang via TKO in the sixth round in London. That result put Zhang in the conversation of potential opponents for Fury’s next fight, but “Big Bang” is now due to box Joyce again. Joyce’s manager Shane Watson told Talksport on Tuesday (9 May) that the Olympic silver medalist had activated a rematch clause, adding: “The first fight was what it was. Joe knows how to put it right. “We spoke about an interim fight, but Joe made it clear he wanted the rematch as soon as possible. This shows how Joe will take any top heavyweight on at any time.” Joyce, 37, stopped Joseph Parker in his previous fight and also holds a stoppage win over Daniel Dubois, but the Briton lost the WBO interim title with his defeat by Zhang. That result has cost Joyce a potential fight with Oleksandr Usyk for the time being. Meanwhile, WBC champion Fury has also been rumoured to take on Andy Ruiz Jr next, before a potential clash with Usyk at the end of the year – a bout that would crown an undisputed heavyweight champion. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Laureus award winners and Crouch meets Lasso – Tuesday’s sporting social Joe Joyce targets second Zhilei Zhang showdown after activating rematch clause New date revealed for delayed Eubank Jr vs Smith rematch

Jake Paul and Nate Diaz had a staredown to promote their upcoming fight.

Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Smith will square off on 1 July, as a delay to their rematch was confirmed on Tuesday. Smith stopped Eubank Jr in Round 4 in January, and it was announced in April that the Britons would clash at the AO Arena in Manchester again on 17 June. However, ESPN reported on Monday (8 May) that Smith had suffered an injury, which would likely delay the middleweight rematch by a matter of weeks. That news was confirmed by Boxxer, which will promote the rematch, on Tuesday (9 May). “It’s just an old injury niggle flaring up,” said Smith, “but I want to take the time to let it heal up so that I can enter the ring at 100 percent on fight night. A 100 percent Liam Smith beats Chris Eubank Jr every day of the week and twice on Sunday.” Smith, 34, and Eubank Jr, 33, fought each other in January after the latter’s planned bout with Conor Benn fell through. Eubank Jr and Benn were due to box one another in October, almost 29 years to the day after their fathers’ second and final clash, but it was revealed on fight week that Benn had failed two drug tests in the lead-up to the catchweight bout. Benn’s return is still up in the air; the British Boxing Board of Control has stripped the 26-year-old of his licence, while UK Anti-Doping has suspended the Briton. However, the WBC did clear Benn of ‘intentional doping’. Eubank Jr will take a professional record of 32-3 (23 knockouts) into his rematch with Smith, whose pro record stands at 33-3-1 (20 KOs). Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More John Ryder took on the full power of Canelo Alvarez and emerged an unlikely hero Frustrated Canelo Alvarez must take valuable homecoming lesson from gutsy John Ryder Mark Zuckerberg wins first jiu-jitsu tournament, takes home multiple medals