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Former WWE Women’s Champion shows off bold new look during hiatus

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The Women’s Division on WWE SmackDown appears to be focused on Charlotte Flair and Damage CTRL at the moment, which could be why it’s been almost a month since Asuka has wrestled on the blue brand.

The Empress of Tomorrow has appeared at live events recently, wrestling Women’s Champion Iyo Sky, but it seems that she has made a drastic decision while on hiatus.

Asuka recently updated her Twitter to show several images of her with a new, shorter haircut. Throughout her career, she has been known for her colorful locks, which now appear to be much shorter than they once were.

This could be just the change that Asuka has been seeking to push her character forward with a new look.

Will Asuka be the one to dethrone Iyo Sky on WWE SmackDown?

Asuka and Iyo Sky have quite the history, and with rumors swirling that Kairi Sane could be set to make her return to WWE in the near future, many fans believe that Asuka could be the one to finally dethrone Sky.

Iyo Sky has been pushed hard on SmackDown since her Money in the Bank win, and as the SmackDown Women’s Champion, she has looked unstoppable. With Damage CTRL in her corner, it’s hard to imagine anyone will be able to neutralize the two women long enough to get to Sky and her championship.

Asuka was the champion a few short weeks ago before her loss to Bianca Balair at SummerSlam, which was also when Sky decided to cash in. It’s easy to imagine that The Empress of Tomorrow will be the one to seek revenge and take back the title that she lost only moments before Sky’s cash-in.

 

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BOXING

Anthony Joshua admits Conor McGregor baffled him as boxing star sets record straight

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anthony joshua

Anthony Joshua has admitted he was confused by Conor McGregor’s issue with KSI last month.

The Brit was too strong for Robert Helenius, brutally knocking down his opponent in the seventh round of their showdown at the 02 Arena.

In the aftermath of their fight, McGregor made his way into the ring and appeared to have some issue with KSI.

Joshua, at the time, could be heard saying ‘nah, that’s my guy’ while he defended the YouTuber.

And the 33-year-old has now admitted he was surprised by McGregor’s actions, insisting he had ‘no idea’ what the beef was about.

“I went around the ring and I bumped into Conor McGregor on my victory lap,” he said.

“He’s a personality, he’s a very big character, so I stopped off, we spoke, I had a sip of stout and I was on my way, so respect to him.”

The Watford-born boxer added: “I just didn’t understand what this beef was about and obviously I know KSI, so I wasn’t going to be like, ‘Yeah, f*** KSI’.

“I know KSI so I’m not going to start throwing slurs at him, that’s my guy, so what’s going on.”

KSI made his name by becoming one of the biggest YouTubers on the planet.

He’s since become a boxer, with a win over Logan Paul the highlight of his career in the sport so far.

McGregor hasn’t elaborated on why he seemed to confront the 30-year-old after Joshua’s bout with Helenius.

Yet the 35-year-old called out KSI last month, revealing he’d love to challenge him to a bare knuckle fight.

“I know your man KSI is in the crowd,” McGregor told DAZN’s Ade Oladipo.

“He couldn’t box eggs if he worked in an egg boxing factory.

“So if he wants to get in here I’ll give him a fight in bare knuckle if he wants.”

Joshua is currently looking to agree a fight with Deontay Wilder following his win over Helenius.

And promoter Eddie Hearn recently provided an update, telling IFL TV: “Talks are ongoing. We are still in the same position of a January fight.

“If we don’t conclude that fight and they about moving it to February or March, we will probably fight in December.

“Wilder is talking about fighting in October, but it’s already September now.”

He then added: “He will wait to fight Wilder in January.

“He’s training now. He wants to fight in December.

“If they turned around and said, ‘Let’s do the Wilder fight in December’ he’d do it.

“But everybody is talking like it’s happening, but until it’s happening it ain’t on.

 

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BOXING

Sean O’Malley Makes Stunning Promise On Gervonta “Tank” Davis Fight

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gervonta tank davis

Sean O’Malley has made quite the guarantee in regards to a potential fight against boxing champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

Davis’ stock has been rising in the boxing world. That star power grew further with his seventh-round knockout victory over Ryan Garcia back in April. While reports have been swirling about a possible rematch between “Tank” and Issac Cruz, O’Malley has thrown his name out there as a potential opponent for Davis sometime down the road.

JUST IN:Gervonta Davis Net Worth: Career Earnings, Salary, Biggest Fight Purse, Endorsement Deals & Boxing Record Of ‘Tank’

Davis’ trainer, Kenny Ellis, told ES News that his fighter would whoop O’Malley in the first round. Ellis’ comments were in response to the “Sugar” show claiming he would KO “Tank” in a boxing match. Ellis also said MMA fighters don’t know how to perfect punches the way boxers do.

O’Malley has responded to Ellis on the “TimboSugarShow,” promising that the fight with Gervonta Davis will happen at some point.

“I do know how to f****** punch, by the way if you guys didn’t know that,” O’Malley said. “I got a decent right hand, I got a pretty good left hand. Dude, I f****** rocked Petr [Yan] with a left hand, dropped Petr with my right hand, then dropped Aljo [Aljamain Sterling] with my right hand. So, I can throw a punch or two. That fight’s gonna happen some day, I swear to f****** God, dude. When I have these feelings, like these true deep feelings, like I’m gonna be world champ, I would tell anybody, look them in the eyes and tell them that ’cause I knew it was gonna happen. I have that same feeling about fighting Gervonta. Like, it’s gonna f****** happen.”

O’Malley went on to say that he can picture the fight happening inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Sugar’s” coach Tim Welch opened the possibility that “Tank” may not take O’Malley seriously, which will lead to him hitting the canvas.

READ MORE:Gervonta Davis Was Supposed To Face Superstar Years Ago – And It Could Still Happen

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BOXING

Anthony Joshua’s final drug test results released after opponent tests positive

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anthony joshua

Two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua was forced to face Robert Helenius after Dillian Whyte failed a drugs test, only for the Finn to only test positive after the fact.

Anthony Joshua has returned negative tests for his VADA testing after BOTH of his opponents for last month’s O2 Arena fight tested positive in the build-up.

Joshua ended up fighting Robert Helenius on short notice after Dillian Whyte had tested positive for a banned substance, knocking the card down from pay-per-view to a standard DAZN fight. But disaster struck after his seventh round knockout when Helenius as well tested positive, causing further controversy over the event.

JUST IN:Anthony Joshua drops cryptic message

Both men have protested their innocence, while Joshua has remained relatively quiet on the issue after the fact. It was the latest in a string of stories regarding drugs in boxing, but the Brit has tested clean, as with the rest of his career, and is expected to move on to a showdown with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia next year.

A tweet from the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, who administered the testing for his fight, tweeted today: “Congratulations to Anthony Joshua for successfully completing VADA Testing through his August 12, 2023 bout.” The also tagged Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith, Shaun Palmer and the British Boxing Board of Control.

Earlier this week, after telling the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel that Joshua wanted the statement out, Hearn read the following from a text exchange between the two: “Thank you for the extra attention you take making sure all fighters are brought to the light [who are doping]. Without Matchroom Sport these things are being overlooked.”

Both Whyte and Helenius have denied that they knowingly took any performance enhancing drugs, with Helenius saying in a statement: “I want to say something very clear in my own words right now with absolutely no exception. I did not use any performance enhancement now or ever. I have been tested my entire career.

“I was just told that I tested positive for the presence of a non-steroid substance in my system and I wanted to send an immediate direct message to Anthony Joshua and boxing fans that I didn’t cheat and never would. I volunteer to work with VADA and the BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control) to do whatever it takes to clear my name.”

In a statement released last week, Joshua’s promoter Matchroom said: “Today, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) hos Informed Matchroom and the British Boxing Board of Control that Robert Helenius has returned an adverse analytical finding as port of a random anti-doping protocol.

“Helenius was voluntarily tested on Friday, August 11 before the heavyweight fighter’s defeat by Anthony Joshua in London on Saturday, August 12. The result was made known to Matchroom today. Matchroom defers to the relevant regulatory authorities on next steps. We vehemently continue to support voluntary anti-doping testing. We are committed to promoting a clean and fair sport for all athletes. We will not be making any further comment.”

Whyte released a lengthy statement after his fight had been cancelled with Joshua, saying: “I am shocked and devastated to learn of a report by VADA of adverse findings relating to me. I only learned of it this morning and am still reacting to it. I have also just seen that the fight is being cancelled without having any chance to demonstrate my innocence before the decision was taken.

“I can confirm without a shadow of doubt that I have not taken the reported substance, in this camp or at any point in my life. I am completely innocent and ask to be given the time to go through the process of proving this without anybody jumping to conclusions or a trial by media.

“I insisted on 24/7 VADA testing for this fight, as I have done voluntarily and at my own expense for all of my fights for many, many years. This is not the first time that I have been reported as having an adverse finding for a substance which I have not taken, and as I did last time I will again prove that I am completely innocent.

“In the meantime, all I can do is express my extreme disappointment to boxing fans, who will miss out on what was sure to be a great event.”

READ MORE:Anthony Joshua branded “unprofessional” for drinking Conor McGregor’s stout after win

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BOXING

Tyson Fury’s dad fears he will suffer severe injuries in Francis Ngannou fight

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mike tyson

John Fury is worried about his son Tyson’s safety as he takes on the ferociously hard-hitting Ngannou, who is being trained by Mike Tyson, in Saudi Arabia on October 28 in his ring return.

Tyson Fury’s dad John has admitted that he is worried for his son’s safety when he gets in the ring with hard-hitting UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Fury and Ngannou will compete in a ten-round non-title fight to crown the unofficial ‘baddest man on the planet’ on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia under standard professional boxing rules. The Cameroonian has never boxed before, but is known to be one of the hardest punchers in the world and was UFC heavyweight champion until he left the promotion at the start of the year.

JUST IN:Robert Helenius denies doping for Anthony Joshua fight

And the elder Fury has claimed that he feels even in victory that his son will have suffered some gruesome injuries over the ten rounds given Ngannou’s power. Another ace up the sleeve of Ngannou is that he has enlisted Mike Tyson to train him for the bout, who the boxing champion was named after.

“I hold him in the highest esteem and the highest regard,” Fury said of Ngannou while speaking to Seconds Out via Freebets.com. “He’s world champion at his game, he’s taking on the best in the world, taking it seriously and I do believe he’s going to bring the smoke. I’m expecting Tyson to come out with a broken leg or a broken arm.

“He’s not going to come out unscathed and I’m glad they’re paying him well because if they weren’t paying him well I wouldn’t put him in against Francis Ngannou. He’s going to get knocked about, Tyson, and he knows that, exhibition my backside – they’re going to kill each other them pair.”

The elder Fury is also wary of having the legendary former champion Mike Tyson in the opposite corner, given his expertise after decades atop the sport. Video footage has been released of the pair working out intensely in recent months, and his long-time striking coach claims that Ngannou has added even more power to his game ahead of the fight.

“Bare in mind he’s got Mike Tyson there and he wants to impress Mike Tyson,” Fury explained. “And then Tyson [Fury] has got an ego as big as Morecambe so the stage is set for a battle royal. He couldn’t have a better mentor in his camp than the great Mike Tyson, I’m sure Mike will show him the boxing moves he needs.

“That’s why Tyson, my Tyson, will take it seriously because of who he’s got around him. And even if he never had Mike Tyson in his corner he’s still a dangerous operator he’s got power, raw power and probably hits harder than Deontay Wilder, I saw him in a clip the other day nearly knock a man over the top rope with an uppercut.

“He’s a dangerous dude, 6’6 or 6’7 of raw muscle and I’ve seen him working out, he’s got a bit of speed as well. Speed, power, strength, bodily strong. It’s set for an action-packed night and it’s making me nervous now thinking about it because it’s my son and I don’t want to see him get hurt.

“These broken bones keep coming to mind, and if he gets in the way of the uppercut we’ll have to sow his head back on. I hope not but let me tell you, Tyson ain’t the best in the world for nothing and if he crosses over, the Tyson I know my son could probably even get in the octagon.”

READ MORE:Mike Tyson: McGregor Went 10 With Mayweather, Why Can’t Ngannou Give Fury a Capable Fight?

 

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BOXING

Boxing star Anthony Joshua reveals what he ‘got’ from meeting Verstappen

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anthony joshua

Boxer Anthony Joshua has said that Max Verstappen is a unique character in the world of sport.

Verstappen won his home race at the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend, his ninth consecutive race win, equalling the record for the most amount of consecutive Formula 1 victories.

With victory, he also took a step closer to winning his third consecutive world championship title and is looking in supreme form.

A former world champion in boxing, Joshua knows a thing or two about what it takes to be at the top of an elite sport, and he had some kind words to say about Verstappen.

“I get the privilege as an athlete, of meeting so many unique people and I take so much from them, whether they are doctors or whether they are people that are doing everyday jobs,” he told Sky Sports’ F1 show

JUST IN:Anthony Joshua drops cryptic message

“Everyone has got a story, and with Max, what I got from him is confidence and also relaxed in his ability. When you know, you just know. He doesn’t overthink anything.”

It’s not the first time Verstappen’s confidence has been praised. He’s a very self-assured individual who seems to be able to switch on his concentration every time he flicks down the visor.

He has now won 11 of the 13 races so far this season, and isn’t showing any signs of stopping there.

His 46 career race wins already puts him fifth in the all-time standings for F1 victories, and he is only 25.

Who’d bet against him breaking into the top three and overtaking former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel’s 53 race wins before the end of the season?

READ MORE:Anthony Joshua drops cryptic message

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BOXING

Roman Reigns’ rumored next-year opponent set to return to WWE SmackDown next week

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roman reigns

Roman Reigns is almost guaranteed to headline next year’s WWE WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, with Cody Rhodes most likely being his opponent once again. The American Nightmare will be returning to Reigns’ hunting ground next Friday ahead of a possible match between the two.

The two met at WrestleMania 39 earlier this year, where Cody Rhodes almost did the unthinkable. However, Solo Sikoa stopped the former AEW star from finishing the story. The two megastars have been kept off each other’s tracks since their last meeting, with Cody being embroiled in a long feud with Brock Lesnar while Roman Reigns has been dealing with dissension within his family.

However, multiple sources have reported that WWE is once again planning a showdown between the two at The Showcase of the Immortals next year. While there is still a long time for the buildup to start, Cody Rhodes disclosed on social media that he will be present on SmackDown next week.

It should be noted that The American Nightmare may just be present on the blue brand for a dark match and may not make an appearance on TV programming at all. Rhodes is also set to appear on Grayson Waller’s talk show at Payback. The rising star is a part of the SmackDown roster and it won’t be surprising if their segment at the upcoming PLE leads to a match next Friday.

Roman Reigns is still the end goal for Cody Rhodes in WWE

Cody Rhodes made it clear upon his return to WWE that he is back to ‘finish the story’ and win the title that always eluded his father. With Roman Reigns currently holding the prestigious championship, The American Nightmare has stated on multiple occasions that his end goal is still to usurp The Head of the Table.

The former AEW star came fairly close in his first attempt, but The Bloodline’s numbers advantage proved too much for him in the end. However, the heel faction collapsed a few months later, and Jimmy and Jey Uso are no longer there on Roman Reigns’ side, which could be the difference maker in a potential match between Rhodes and The Tribal Chief.

 

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BOXING

“Expect Liv Morgan to Return” – WWE Payback Brings the Perfect Opportunity for Former WWE Champion to Make Her Much Awaited Return

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Liv Morgan

WWE Payback is now just a sleep away, and the pro wrestling fans aren’t able to keep their calm for the upcoming event. While the match card for the PLE looks quite exciting, a long-awaited return on Saturday can make the show even more successful.

While a number of highly anticipated returns can take place at Payback, the event is probably the perfect opportunity for a former WWE Champion to make her much-awaited return. The name in this anticipation is none other than the crowd-favorite Liv Morgan.

Recently, a pro wrestling lover suggested an interesting storyline for the former Women’s Champion’s return, and it looks really fascinating. As shared on X by the WWE fan, “I expect liv Morgan to return and try to help Raquel win the title.”

JUST IN:Anthony Joshua Gives Dubois a Chance To Win, But Feels It’s a “Tough Ask”

It must be noted that Raquel Rodriguez is set to challenge Rhea Ripley for the Women’s Championship on September 2 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But, The Eradicator will probably have her partner, Dominik Mysterio, at ringside, and it will work as an advantage in Rhea’s favour.

As Raquel and Liv were former tag team champions, so there’s a high possibility that Morgan can make her return to even the odds for her friend. If Rodriguez can dethrone Rhea Ripley with some help from Liv, it’ll be a really memorable moment for the former partners.

Liv Morgan injury status and WWE return timeline

While Morgan’s return at Payback can be a spectacular moment, it’s important to remember that she has been away from WWE television due to Rhea Ripley only. As Liv was scheduled to fight The Mami on the July 24 episode of RAW, the Women’s Champion viciously attacked her before the start of their encounter.

READ:Tyson Fury changes Mike Tyson’s famous phrase to send warning to Francis Ngannou

Following this attack, it was reported that the fan-favorite star was suffering from a legitimate shoulder injury,probably need more time to recover.

On the other hand, not disclosing details about Morgan‘s injury can even be a strategy by the Triple H-led promotion to keep Liv’s return a surprise for WWE fans. It’ll be interesting to see if pro wrestling lovers will finally get to see the former champion make her highly anticipated return at Payback or not!

 

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BOXING

Tyson Fury changes Mike Tyson’s famous phrase to send warning to Francis Ngannou

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mike tyson

Boxing icon Tyson once spoke about how everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth and Fury referenced the phrase in a warning sent to Ngannou.

Tyson Fury has tweaked Mike Tyson’s iconic phrase about getting punched in the face to threaten Francis Ngannou.

Heavyweight champion Fury is currently preparing for his first fight of the year as he takes on former UFC champion Ngannou in a crossover bout on October 28 in Saudi Arabia. Fury’s WBC belt won’t be on the line in the fight as Ngannou isn’t ranked by the sanctioning body, but the fight will still go on both men’s professional records

Boxing legend Tyson is training Ngannou for the fight and will be in his corner on the night. The former undisputed heavyweight kind once famously said before his fight against Evander Holyfield: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth” and Fury quoted this by writing to Ngannou: “Everyone has a plan until….these Lancaster Bombers hit you square in the face come fight night.”

JUST IN:Mike Tyson takes verbal swing at Floyd Mayweather for claiming to be greater than Muhammad Ali

Fury has been criticised for fighting Ngannou as many fans were expecting an undisputed heavyweight title clash to take place between him and Oleksandr Usyk. Ngannou, who left the UFC in January, has been told that Fury will wipe the floor with him but he recently fired back at those writing him off before he even steps foot in the ring.

“People will always have things to say when you are doing things that people are not used to and afraid of. My whole life I have been having this story, when I grew up in Africa and said ‘I am going to be a professional fighter’ people thought I was crazy. I didn’t find a gym until I was 22 years old, that’s when I started boxing for the first time,” Ngannou said on Mike Tyson’s Hotboxin’ podcast.

Boxing icon Tyson once spoke about how everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth and Fury referenced the phrase

JUST IN:Networth Of Mike Tyson 2023

“People were like ‘Ok, this guy is losing his mind’. If there were three of me in my family and if I was a small guy they could take on, they would have put me in a psychiatric centre. They really thought I was losing it, they never believed in me. Late or not, here we are. It’s never late.”

Fury hasn’t fought since stopping his familiar foe Derek Chisora in their un-wanted trilogy fight last December. Ngannou, who has been calling for a fight against Fury for years, made the last defence of his UFC title against Ciryl Gane last January and was sidelined for a year after the fight because of multiple knee injuries.

 

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Tyson Fury changes Mike Tyson’s famous phrase to send warning to Francis Ngannou

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Boxing icon Tyson once spoke about how everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth and Fury referenced the phrase in a warning sent to Ngannou.

Tyson Fury has tweaked Mike Tyson’s iconic phrase about getting punched in the face to threaten Francis Ngannou.

Heavyweight champion Fury is currently preparing for his first fight of the year as he takes on former UFC champion Ngannou in a crossover bout on October 28 in Saudi Arabia. Fury’s WBC belt won’t be on the line in the fight as Ngannou isn’t ranked by the sanctioning body, but the fight will still go on both men’s professional records

Boxing legend Tyson is training Ngannou for the fight and will be in his corner on the night. The former undisputed heavyweight kind once famously said before his fight against Evander Holyfield: “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth” and Fury quoted this by writing to Ngannou: “Everyone has a plan until….these Lancaster Bombers hit you square in the face come fight night.”

JUST IN:Mike Tyson takes verbal swing at Floyd Mayweather for claiming to be greater than Muhammad Ali

Fury has been criticised for fighting Ngannou as many fans were expecting an undisputed heavyweight title clash to take place between him and Oleksandr Usyk. Ngannou, who left the UFC in January, has been told that Fury will wipe the floor with him but he recently fired back at those writing him off before he even steps foot in the ring.

“People will always have things to say when you are doing things that people are not used to and afraid of. My whole life I have been having this story, when I grew up in Africa and said ‘I am going to be a professional fighter’ people thought I was crazy. I didn’t find a gym until I was 22 years old, that’s when I started boxing for the first time,” Ngannou said on Mike Tyson’s Hotboxin’ podcast.

Boxing icon Tyson once spoke about how everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth and Fury referenced the phrase

JUST IN:Networth Of Mike Tyson 2023

“People were like ‘Ok, this guy is losing his mind’. If there were three of me in my family and if I was a small guy they could take on, they would have put me in a psychiatric centre. They really thought I was losing it, they never believed in me. Late or not, here we are. It’s never late.”

Fury hasn’t fought since stopping his familiar foe Derek Chisora in their un-wanted trilogy fight last December. Ngannou, who has been calling for a fight against Fury for years, made the last defence of his UFC title against Ciryl Gane last January and was sidelined for a year after the fight because of multiple knee injuries.

 

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