<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="10201630" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="regis-prograis">Regis Prograis</keyword> had an omen ahead of the only loss of his pro career — a knife-edge defeat to Josh Taylor, last year.</li><li>He's now dreaming of big-money fights and hopes to bring a world title bout to New Orleans at a time he hopes the city's NBA side, the Pelicans, reach a playoff spot.</li><li>Prograis fights Juan Heraldez in front of an expected 11,000 socially-distant fans at the Alamodome in San Antonio.</li><li>Victory, he hopes, will tee up a rematch against Taylor, a marquee event against Adrien Broner, or even a big fight versus Teofimo Lopez.</li></ul>American boxer Regis Prograis had an omen ahead of his only loss but is now dreaming of mega fights in New Orleans.Prograis engaged Josh Taylor in a fight of the year contender in 2019, slugging away until he had disfigured the Scotsman so badly his eye had swollen like a baseball. "I really messed that eye up," he told Insider last week.It was one of the most significant <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> matches of the year, bringing together two world champions in the super lightweight division, fighting for the coveted Muhammad Ali trophy for the World Boxing Super Series championship.But hours before the bout, Prograis had an omen. He foresaw that he'd be on the plane, flying back home, next to an empty seat. There would be no world titles and no trophies — just a cold and lonely sadness.Prograis said he "felt empty" in the locker room after the knife-edge decision loss. His omen earlier that day had become his reality."I feel like I won the fight. It was just his night. It was close, I wouldn't say they robbed me … but if it was here, I would have gotten the [win]."I had an omen the day of the fight. I didn't tell anybody. I just had a feeling I was going to get back on the plane without the Muhammad Ali trophy."I had a feeling of being empty, but I knew I wasn't going to lose the fight. And that's exactly what happened. He got the decision, but it was fairly controversial and a close fight that I felt like I won."<h2>It was all a dream; Prograis wants mega-bouts in New Orleans</h2><div type="image" title="Josh Taylor eye" height="617" width="825" msid="78972939" hostid="261"></div>Prograis fights Saturday for the first time since that defeat to Taylor, the only loss in his pro career, taking on Juan Heraldez in a 140-pound match at the Alamodome in San Antonio.It is a Premier Boxing Champions organized event broadcast on Showtime pay-per-view, and will have a partial fan allowance for up to 11,000 people inside the stadium.Though Prograis weighed-in slightly over the super lightweight limit Friday, he told Insider that he wants to continue campaigning in the division until he reclaims a championship in that weight class.He said he has unfinished business at super lightweight before he makes an inevitable move to 147-pounds, where he dreams of bringing big-money fights to New Orleans."I just want to get past Juan Heraldez, then of course they got the Adrien Broner fight out there. Teofimo Lopez has been saying he'd be willing to come up and fight me. There's a Taylor rematch."There's a lot of big money fights out there for me. Huge fights. Whatever comes … the best opportunity, that's the one I'll take. I want to become a champion again at 140 before I go up to 147.Should Prograis advance through the world rankings, one thing he would love to do is bring a championship bout to the 18,000 capacity Smoothie King Center, home of the New Orleans Pelicans NBA team, or the 75,000 seater stadium Superdome, which is where the Saints NFL team plays its home games."Once I get another fight, like Adrien Broner, we could do it at the Smoothie King or the Superdome. I always wanted to fight in either one of those. That's a dream come true for me."Prograis has fought twice in the city's Lakefront Arena, which is a three minute drive from Prograis' childhood home.But fighting in a place like the Smoothie King Center, at a time when the Pelicans franchise is being built around the basketball phenom Zion Williamson, is something the Houston-based Louisianan boxer hopes materializes in the near future."That dude Zion is amazing and very, very explosive. We're glad to have him at the Pelicans. There's a lot of good teams, man, the LA Lakers just won again."Zion, man … he looks unstoppable, so if they can put a good team together, hopefully they can go to the playoffs and win the championship for New Orleans."If the Pelicans reached the playoffs and Prograis brought a money fight to New Orleans at the same time, few would be happier than the 31-year-old."That would be huge. Huge for New Orleans, man. Just try to bring the city back. Everything slowed down because of the corona. A lot of canceled events."The city thrives on tourism and we got to bring that back. If Zion can take them to the playoffs and if I can have a world title fight, that would be equally great."<h2>First Prograis must dispatch Saturday opponent Juan Heraldez</h2><div type="image" title="Zion Wililamson, Pelicans" height="1333" width="2000" msid="78972941" hostid="261"></div>His Saturday bout against the unbeaten 30-year-old fighter Juan Heraldez is only a two-hour drive from his current home in Houston.The event was originally supposed to take place in Connecticut without fans, but has been moved to the Alamodome to accommodate 11,000 people socially-distant around the huge stadium. "It couldn't have worked out better," Prograis told us.He said he struggled to answer questions when reporters would ask about the prospect of no fans, as he feels fan-driven atmospheres make boxing the sport it is, but now there's going to be a fan allowance he's relieved.The coronavirus messed with a lot of Prograis' plans as he's had four fights fall through this year, enduring four training camps. "I've been training the whole time and I can't wait to get back in the ring," he said, exciting to finally be able to punch someone's head in."I've watched a few of Heraldez's fights," he said. "What I take from watching him is I don't think he's on the level I'm on — the world championship level."I've been training like I'm fighting the best fighter in the world, like a maniac, training my ass off."I want to be back at the top, a champion again at 140, before going to 147. That's my mindset."<h2>'I'm the biggest puncher at 140-pounds'</h2><div type="image" title="Regis Prograis, boxing" height="1333" width="2000" msid="78972943" hostid="261"></div>Prograis feels he has two qualities which set him apart from all others in his division — he says he is not only the biggest puncher at 140-pounds, but he also has the greatest ability to withstand shots thrown by his opponents.Heraldez is just "a very normal fighter," according to Prograis."I've been sparring with people I think are way better and of course he's never fought anyone like me before, my defense, my power."It's like the great Mike Tyson said, 'Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.' And I think he's going to come out with a plan of trying to establish things, but the first good shot I land on him, all that goes out the window because it's going to hurt."I feel like I'm the biggest puncher at 140, even as far as statistics go. I'm pretty sure I have the strongest chin, also. Once he hits me and feels like damn, I can't hurt him, it's going to be a reality check and then it will be over from there."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/ramla-ali-meghan-markles-favorite-boxer-makes-pro-debut-saturday-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meghan Markle's favorite boxer, Ramla Ali, makes her professional debut during a Matchroom-promoted event Saturday</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mario-barrios-want-to-trade-punches-the-fighter-i-am-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boxer Mario Barrios will defy his trainers because he's hellbent on providing a fan-friendly fight</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mike-tyson-hits-so-hard-he-could-kill-trainer-said-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Tyson's trainer said he thought the fighter could 'kill somebody' when he first felt his right hook</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/lopez-an-overnight-sensation-after-scoring-a-great-boxing-win-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">23-year-old American Teofimo Lopez becomes a mainstream sporting sensation by scoring one of boxing's great wins</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/saul-canelo-alvarez-situation-is-chaos-showtime-boss-says-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canelo Alvarez could become boxing's greatest free agent, and Showtime's president says he'd 'like nothing more' than to sign him</a>

American boxer Regis Prograis had an omen ahead of his only loss but now dreams of mega fights in his home city

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5db4ca0cdee0191af2351152-2000/josh%20taylor%20beats%20regis%20prograis.jpg" border="0" alt="Josh Taylor beats Regis Prograis" data-mce-source="Photo by Paul Harding/PA Images via Getty Images" data-link="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/josh-taylor-and-regis-prograis-during-the-super-lightweight-news-photo/1178405174?adppopup=true"><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/josh-taylor-and-regis-prograis-during-the-super-lightweight-news-photo/1178405174?adppopup=true">Photo by Paul Harding/PA Images via Getty Images</a>Josh Taylor beats Regis Prograis to lift the Muhammad Ali trophy.</img></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Josh Taylor just decisioned Regis Prograis in a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat battle in London.</li><li>Taylor and Prograis exhibited elite boxing skills and opened up brutal damage on each other.</li><li>Taylor's eye almost closed while Prograis bled heavily from the mouth.</li><li>But the ringside judges gave the teak-tough Taylor the nod, ushering in a new star of the lightweight division.</li><li>With the victory, Taylor becomes the unified lightweight champion, the World Boxing Super Series winner, and a millionaire many times over.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>02 ARENA, LONDON - Josh Taylor defeated Regis Prograis by the slimmest of margins on Saturday, but in doing so becomes a unified lightweight champion, the World Boxing Super Series winner, and a new face of British boxing.Prograis and Taylor were fighting for the right to be the WBA and IBF champions, the World Boxing Super Series winner, and an unbeaten athlete made millions of dollars richer as a result.Both had their styles, evident from the opening bell. Prograis boxed with a distinctive guard in which his left glove protected his chin and his right stayed loose, and he southpaw jabbed Taylor, boxing cute, showing superior activity in the early stages of the contest.Taylor, in contrast, threw less but had superior power, inspiring raucous applause from the partisan crowd whenever he landed a single chin-crunching uppercut. The Briton's defense differed to the American's, keeping both his forearms high to provide a double-gloved shield against Prograis's incoming patter.Through four, it was hard to split a winner. The fight, the merging of two champions, always promised to be a technical affair with elite boxing skills on show, and it did not disappoint on the night with both men setting a high pace.A stamina battle broke out. One decided by who could out-last who. And who could inflict so much misery with their gas-depleting body shots that they'd end up sluggish, with a more porous defense than they had established at the start. Their arms weakening … that defensive guard loosening - an invitation for a quick-fire attack.That man with the endurance, through six at least, appeared to be Taylor, with Prograis struggling to match the higher tempo. Sensing a shift in work-rate, Taylor worked his way into a higher gear, throwing combinations and attacking Prograis with more purpose than he had shown in the first half of the fight.While Taylor asserted an authority on the fight in the middle rounds, Prograis won a vital eighth, meaning the final four rounds could be essential in deciding a winner in what was a tight, edge-of-your-seat thriller with war wounds developing. For Taylor, it was bruising on the right eye - a swelling so large it was close to sealing shut. Prograis, meanwhile, had a busted, bloody nose.See the damage Prograis did to Taylor here …… but see Taylor's superior power here:The championship rounds were kind to Prograis as blood rushed out of his nose like a waterfall of claret decorating his lips. Neither fighter escaped injury free and will likely be waking up for days to come, wandering into their bathrooms bleary-eyed, looking in the mirror and seeing the damage, and cursing each other aloud.But, after 12, despite a competitive fight between two athletes at the top of their game, there was only one winner - Taylor, whose majority decision victory was confirmed by the ring announcer Michael Buffer with scorecards of 114-114, 115-113, 117-112.<h2>World Boxing Super Series champion status propels Taylor to the big time</h2>The World Boxing Super Series is the most prestigious tournament in boxing. Each tournament is worth approximately <a href="https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/275625/what-world-boxing-super-series-and-how-will-it-work-new-tournament-featuring-chris-eubank-jr/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$25 million</a> in prize money for its competitors combined and forces some of the best fighters in the sport into an easily-consumable product for fans, media, and broadcasters.At the end of each season, there are world titles at stake, career-high paydays, and a torso-sized and spiralized Muhammad Ali trophy.It also provides a massive platform for the competition winner to go forth into even bigger fights, with the most famous success story from the cruiserweight edition last year, Oleksandr Usyk, recently moving into the heavyweight division where he is eventually expected to provide a reasonable challenge against the best, biggest, and baddest boxers on the planet - Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury, and Andy Ruiz Jr.Each of those bouts will be worth millions to Usyk, financially teeing up the charismatic and eccentric Ukrainian for the rest of his life.The newest recipient of the Ali trophy, the teak-tough Taylor, has all of this to look forward to. A new potential Usyk who has cleared his division of many of its best competitors, ushering in a new lightweight star.Read more:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/a-journalist-asked-mcgregor-about-the-sexual-assault-investigations-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A journalist was told to 'act like a normal guy' after pressing Conor McGregor on the sexual assault allegations that have been made against him</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-will-conor-mcgregor-fight-in-his-comeback-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor linked with comeback bouts against 4 fighters only weeks after being considered an 'irrelevant' has-been</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-michael-conlan-boxing-revenge-next-fight-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ireland's next top boxer has a rare shot at retribution after losing at the Olympics because of a 'fixed' fight: 'It's personal for my career, my legacy'</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-armed-fighter-nick-newell-returns-to-bellator-mma-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A one-armed athlete returns to Bellator MMA and says he is 'ready to make a statement' in his lightweight fight on Saturday</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jake-hager-laughable-people-think-ex-wwe-guys-cant-fight-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Former WWE superstar Jake Hager laughs in the faces of people who think former pro wrestlers can't fight MMA</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Taylor's Eye 😯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrograisTaylor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrograisTaylor</a> <a href="https://t.co/eZCGSs7AJ4">pic.twitter.com/eZCGSs7AJ4</a>- DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1188222139297648640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">Oof, brutal right hook from Josh Taylor.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrograisTaylor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrograisTaylor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WatchOnDAZN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WatchOnDAZN</a><a href="https://t.co/iFv3BpurAK">pic.twitter.com/iFv3BpurAK</a>- Sporting News Fights (@sn_fights) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1188220343321874433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-famous-sports-logos-hidden-messages-2019-10">10 world-famous sports logos with hidden meanings</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/sMSU7CxL-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

Teak-tough Josh Taylor defeats Regis Prograis despite horror eye injury, winning millions of dollars and the Muhammad Ali trophy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Teofimo Lopez is fighting twice this year for the first time since 2019.</li><li>The super lightweight boxer compared fighting to intercourse, and even said boxing was better.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/teofimo-lopez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teofimo Lopez</a> is back in business, judging by the way he's been talking.The 25-year-old, one of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a>'s brightest stars, returns to the ring Saturday to headline a Top Rank event inside Madison Square Garden in New York City."I'm excited," Lopez told Insider ahead of his super lightweight bout against Sandor Martin. "Like the great Frank Sinatra says, if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere."And this is 'The Takeover' — a new version of everything we're trying to push and promote, and I can't wait to put on a show for everybody."Lopez scored the biggest win of his career in 2020 when he defeated two-time Olympic champion boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko to claim most of the world titles at lightweight, and gatecrash the pound-for-pound rankings.Since then, though, he suffered a shock defeat to George Kambosos, rebounded with a win earlier this year, and is now looking to build some momentum so that he can repeat his championship-winning exploits in his new weight class."Everything has some sort of teaching," Lopez told Insider. "And I love it. I've always been a passionate kid, I've always loved boxing."So, what have I learned from it? I've learned that, yes, my failures are going to be [amplified] more than my successes. I embrace my failures. And my biggest failure is not loving myself enough. I've got to love me more."One thing Lopez is loving right now is his activity. For the first time since 2019 he'll be fighting more than once per year, and he hopes to fight even more frequently next year."Fighting twice a year is better than intercourse," Lopez said. "And I haven't had that feeling since 2019 at Madison Square Garden when I won my first world title," with a knockout over Richard Commey."It feels amazing to fight twice this year. And we're looking to do even more next year — three times in 2023. I need to have purpose," Lopez said.<h2>Lopez wants all the smoke at super lightweight</h2><div type="image" title="Teofimo Lopez." height="1235" width="2000" msid="96142516" hostid="261" sizebytes="67334"></div>Lopez's stated purpose involves seeking out some of the biggest challenges the weight class can offer, like a fight against Josh Taylor in the UK.Lopez also wants a bout against superstar boxers <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/gervonta-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gervonta Davis</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ryan-garcia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Garcia</a>, or even undisputed lightweight champ <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/devin-haney" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Devin Haney</a> should the American invade the super lightweight division."I can't wait for Tank and Ryan to move to 140 so we can make those fights happen," Lopez told us. "We're going to go mop Josh Taylor up in 2023, too."Eventually, Haney and me will fight and I want to be the one who gives him the first loss," Lopez added. "And Regis Prograis against me would be an all-action war."First, though, Lopez has to fight — and beat — Sandor Martin in an event ESPN+ broadcasts Saturday from 4 p.m. PT.

Fighting is 'better than intercourse,' 25-year-old boxer Teofimo Lopez says

<ul class="summary-list"><li>One of the world's best boxers was bullied as a kid.</li><li><keyword id="13257655" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="josh-taylor" source="Orion">Josh Taylor</keyword> said the bullying lasted for weeks but ended when he socked his bully in the face.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/josh-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Josh Taylor</a> was an elementary school kid when he became a victim of bullying that lasted for weeks.His bully would pick on him, mock his smaller stature, until one day, Taylor "plucked up the courage" to sock him right in the face.He was never bullied again by that boy.Through the years, Taylor gravitated toward combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword>. Though he was a black belt in taekwondo, <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> continually called him.It was a tricky sport to answer straight away as <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword> gyms weren't local to him, and so he had to take an hour's ride on the bus to begin training.He's used to doing things the hard way, though. Now a battle-tested, double-hard, unified super lightweight world champion in the pro game, Taylor has run through a gauntlet of top-tier opponents to get to where he is today.He's legitimately one of boxing's best fighters but is yet to truly break through into the mainstream consciousness.That, he believes, is changing."I did it the hard way, the tough way," Taylor told Insider days before he defends his belts against Jack Catteral at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow. "I came up quick, and I came up hard. I never ducked any challenges."He certainly didn't.In just 18 pro fights to date, Taylor has beaten Miguel Vazquez, Regis Prograis, and Jose Ramirez. He won the World Boxing Super Series and has unified all of the major titles in the super lightweight division.Taylor is the undeniable man at 140-pounds."I've a huge, huge set of balls as I took massive risks at times that were pivotal moments in my career. And it paid off."It certainly did.But the way Taylor tells it, it's like he's only just beginning."I've got the right platform behind me now in Top Rank, and I've got Sky Sports over here," in the UK."So, I've got the right platforms at the back of me now, and I never had that before. I'm getting my name out there, on the TV more, getting more well known to the wider public, which is great, coming in at the perfect time of my career."<h2>Taylor fights Catterall on ESPN this weekend</h2><div type="image" title="Things got tense during Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall's weigh-in Friday." height="1420" width="2000" msid="89839787" hostid="261"></div>Taylor fights Catterall on Saturday in an event broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK and ESPN in the US.During their final face-off Friday, things got tense between the pair as they spoke aggressively at close-range, with Taylor throttling Catterall."I definitely won't shy away from a fight if it presents itself," he said earlier this week, regarding a reputation that he's ready to throw hands regardless of whether that fight takes place inside a ring, or out."If it comes to it, I won't shy away from it. But you know, obviously, I'd rather not! I'd rather not fight with anybody. I'd rather keep it in the ring."But if someone obviously attacks me or raises their hands to me, I'm gonna defend myself straight away."Away from boxing, Taylor says he's "relaxed" and doesn't like to have confrontations. "I'm quite a nice person away from boxing."Taylor called Catterall a "good fighter" but has spotted weaknesses in his fighting style that he's ready to exploit."He makes a lot of mistakes, and that's what I believe I'm gonna capitalize on the mistakes that he makes. He makes plenty of them. It's up to me to expose them on Saturday, but I believe I will."He said he had butterflies this week as public life seems to be returning to normal, with the buzz of a live crowd following him at workouts open to fight fans this week.It's what makes Taylor want to perform "whether they're for me, or against me. I just love the extra buzz that a set of fans bring," he said.As for what's at stake or what's next for him beyond Catterall, Taylor was loathe to open up fully."I'm just the down-to-Earth guy who loves what he's doing, and is the best in the world at it. I don't feel like I'm anything special, or big. I just happen to be the best — and I love it."Obviously, I've had one rival in Prograis, but I do think that's what I'm lacking — another rivalry."But there's plenty of fights and fighters coming through both at 140-pounds and at 147-pounds."The target is in the big fights — against Terence Crawford — to really cement my name in the legacy books."

After doing things the hard way, boxing champion Josh Taylor is on the cusp of stardom

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d054a776fc92022e864aa43-820/who%20is%20regis%20prograis%20conor%20mcgregor.png" border="0" alt="Who is Regis Prograis, Conor McGregor" data-mce-source="Instagram / Regis Prograis">Instagram / Regis PrograisRegis Prograis.</img></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Conor McGregor has been warned by the unbeaten boxer Regis Prograis to quit threatening his manager Mark Wahlberg.</li><li>McGregor had previously challenged Wahlberg to a fight for the Hollywood actor's UFC shares.</li><li>Prograis has said enough is enough and if he wants a fight, then he should challenge him.</li><li>Prograis is even willing to sign a two-fight deal that would include a bout in the ring and another in the cage.</li><li>McGregor is yet to respond.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Conor McGregor has been warned by an unbeaten boxer to quit challenging Mark Wahlberg to a fight for his UFC shares.McGregor has not fought since his resounding fourth round loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October, 2018, and has had one demand to get back to the Octagon: an equity stake in the UFC. It is something he pushed for in <a href="https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2016/11/13/13613068/conor-mcgregor-asks-for-ownership-and-equity-ufc-205-mma-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2016</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/trentreinsmith/2017/11/02/ufcs-dana-white-responds-to-conor-mcgregors-request-for-ownership-and-equity-in-the-promotion/#c7399a549ea7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2017</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-wont-retire-on-humiliating-low-opinion-2019-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2019</a>.The Irishman, a hard-punching southpaw with 21 wins against four losses, even challenged Hollywood tough guy Wahlberg to a fight as he wanted the actor's stake in the business.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-deserves-ufc-shares-sylvester-stallone-says-2019-5?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sylvester Stallone said he'd give Conor McGregor some of his UFC shares weeks after the Irishman wanted to fight Mark Wahlberg for his</a>Now, a boxer managed by Wahlberg has said enough is enough. That fighter is the unbeaten American Regis Prograis, a light welterweight puncher from New Orleans, Louisiana.Prograis was largely a national-level fighter before he became world renowned for his victories over Terry Flanagan and Kiryl Relikh in 2018 and 2019, cruising through the acclaimed World Boxing Super Series tournament.Prograis <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/ByssYjuhICc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted an Instagram video</a> telling McGregor to stop calling out Wahlberg, and said he'd have no problem taking the 30-year-old on in the ring, or even in the cage."So, look, I'm hearing that Conor McGregor is trying to fight my man, Mark Wahlberg," Prograis said. "Look here - don't call on no actors, dog. Call out a real fighter."He added: "We'll do a two-fight deal. I'll fight you in the ring first. I'm definitely gonna whoop your ass. Then, I'm going to fight you in the Octagon and I'm gonna whoop your ass in that."Don't call out the actors. Call out a real world champion."Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/justin-bieber-backs-down-from-tom-cruise-ufc-fight-whoop-2019-6?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Bieber backed down from his Tom Cruise UFC challenge: 'He'd whoop my ass'</a>Prograis, the reigning WBA light welterweight world champion, fights Josh Taylor in the World Boxing Super Series final at a date to be confirmed, likely this summer.You can watch the Prograis video right here:<div> <iframe src="//instagram.com/p/ByssYjuhICc/embed/" width="540" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowtransparency="true"> </iframe></div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-american-men-suck-soccer-world-cup-2018-6">The US women's national team dominates soccer, but here's why the US men's team sucks</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/SaEwZba3-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

An unbeaten boxer represented by Mark Wahlberg has issued an Instagram warning to Conor McGregor: 'Don't call out my manager'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Gervonta "Tank" Davis shook off a number of <keyword id="1079193" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Leo-Santa-Cruz">Leo Santa Cruz</keyword>'s shots to score a stunning sixth-round knockout Saturday.</li><li>It was a one-punch knockout that strengthens the American's reputation as a heavy-hitting boxer — a mini Mike Tyson.</li><li>Those close to Davis expect big things from the American fighter.</li><li><keyword id="268411" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Showtime">Showtime</keyword> <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">Sports</keyword> president Stephen Espinoza recently told Insider that Davis will "become one of the two or three faces in this sport."</li><li>Watch the knockout right here.</li></ul>The heavy-hitting American boxer <keyword id="4264214" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="gervonta-davis">Gervonta Davis</keyword> took another big step to superstardom with a horrifying knockout win.A Floyd Mayweather protege, backed by Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe and the Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza, much has been said about the kind of trajectory Davis can enjoy to the top of world <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword>.And on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Davis showed that he is not just a product of promotional hype as he shook off Santa Cruz's shots and knocked the Mexican out with a nasty, sixth-round uppercut.Victory in the 130-pound match ensured Davis retained his WBA titles in the super featherweight and lightweight divisions and enhanced his reputation as a mini Mike Tyson.Mayweather had objected to that moniker this week by saying Davis - nicknamed "Tank" - has other skills aside from his ferocious power."A lot of people don't know that 'Tank''s boxing skill is really better than his power," he said during a virtual press conference.But in front of a socially-distant crowd in Texas, the 25-year-old fighter showed off the thing he does best — and that's forcing opponents to wake up with bruises, headaches, and concussions.Watch the knockout here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1322746263503327232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2020</a></blockquote>Watch an alternative angle of the finish here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1322781885316190208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2020</a></blockquote><h2>Davis is on his way to boxing superstardom if he's not there already</h2>Davis is becoming one of the faces of global boxing.Regis Prograis, who won a third-round stoppage earlier at the same event, told Insider last week that Davis is "a killer … a little killer."Mario Barrios, who secured a sixth-round win, told us: "He's a very intelligent boxer, and very explosive. He's got one-punch knockout power and will walk you into any punch at any time."<div type="image" title="Gervonta Davis knocks out Leo Santa Cruz" height="738" width="1000" msid="78981018" hostid="261"></div>The Showtime executive Espinoza will be delighted that Davis — one of the jewels in the <keyword id="9692340" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="premier-boxing-champions">Premier Boxing Champions</keyword> stable — secured a highlight-reel moment that will be re-shared by the million on social media."The sky is the limit for him with what we've seen over the last year," Espinoza recently told Insider."We've seen him break into two brand new markets in Baltimore and Atlanta that hadn't had boxing, at that level, in decades."It's been a while since we've seen someone at 23, 24 years old that can go throughout the country, Atlanta, Baltimore, Los Angeles, and generate that kind of enthusiasm.""It's some magic," Espinoza told us last month. "Like with Mayweather in his early years, Roy Jones, Tyson. Tyson was easy. He was a bulldozer clearing everything in his path."It's been a while since we've seen someone like "Tank" spring on the scene and position himself to become one of the two or three faces in this sport."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/mike-tyson-roy-jones-jr-annoyed-fighting-2-minute-rounds-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. are annoyed their boxing exhibition will have 2-minute rounds, as they think they're 'for women'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/regis-prograis-on-zion-williamson-pelicans-adrien-broner-title-fight-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American boxer Regis Prograis had an omen ahead of his only loss but now dreams of mega fights in his home city</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mario-barrios-want-to-trade-punches-the-fighter-i-am-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boxer Mario Barrios will defy his trainers because he's hellbent on providing a fan-friendly fight</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ramla-ali-meghan-markles-favorite-boxer-makes-pro-debut-saturday-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meghan Markle's favorite boxer, Ramla Ali, makes her professional debut during a Matchroom-promoted event Saturday</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/lopez-an-overnight-sensation-after-scoring-a-great-boxing-win-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">23-year-old American Teofimo Lopez becomes a mainstream sporting sensation by scoring one of boxing's great wins</a>

Heavy-hitting American boxer Gervonta Davis takes another big step to superstardom with a devastating KO win

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5db550c9dee0193e6576c512-2000/josh taylor black eye.jpg" border="0" alt="Josh Taylor black eye" data-mce-source="Getty Images" />Getty ImagesJosh Taylor.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Josh Taylor beat Regis Prograis on Saturday to become the unified super lightweight champion and the World Boxing Super Series winner.</li><li>But the victory came at a cost. He currently can only see through one eye.</li><li>Taylor was hit with head clashes, causing his eye to swell shut. After, he hardly saw any punches coming, Taylor said at a press conference which Business Insider attended.</li><li>The horror injury blackened completely by the time Taylor addressed the press after his multi million dollar victory. You can see photographs below.</li><li>Regardless, he was all smiles with his world title belts and the coveted Muhammad Ali trophy.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>02 ARENA, LONDON - Photos of Josh Taylor's horror eye injury show how grueling and unforgiving boxing can be, even when you win.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/regis-prograis-josh-taylor-world-boxing-super-series-result-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taylor outlasted Regis Prograis in London's 02 Arena</a> to win the World Boxing Super Series final and multiple championship belts which establishes him as the planet's premier super lightweight boxer.The fight, which topped a Matchroom Boxing card, brought together two elite operators and they exhibited awesome technical qualities early, throwing with abandon and defending with a plan.Neither athlete escaped the city without obvious war wounds. Prograis had a cut above his eye and was bleeding heavily from the nose. The American fighter did not attend the post-event press conference and instead went to a local hospital for routine checks, Business Insider was told.But though Taylor was awarded the win, becoming a millionaire many times over, it was the teak-tough Scotsman who appeared to have the worst injury.Taylor's eye had swollen shut during the fight and by the time he addressed the media after midnight, it had completely blackened.See Taylor's eye below:<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5db554f0dee01935ed6c4012-1998/josh taylor eye.jpg" border="0" alt="Josh Taylor eye" data-mce-source="Business Insider / Alan Dawson" />Business Insider / Alan DawsonTaylor's eye.</div></div></div>"It was pretty easy, a walk in the park … I could have gone another 12 rounds," Taylor said at a press conference which Business Insider attended."The face says it all. It was a hard fight. I got caught with the head, head clashes," he said."From round eight I could hardly see from this eye because of all this swelling. I started getting caught with left hands because I could hardly see anything coming."The last two rounds was fighting on instinct with one eye, really. All tactics went out the window, just heart and determination."Regardless, Taylor did not seem too perturbed at the swelling, and was all-smiles while surrounded by the championship belts and the Muhammad Ali trophy he won on the night by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/regis-prograis-josh-taylor-world-boxing-super-series-result-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">beating Prograis in a memorable battle</a>.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5db55563dee0193f433a19a2-2000/josh taylor eye.jpg" border="0" alt="Josh Taylor eye" data-mce-source="Business Insider / Alan Dawson" />Business Insider / Alan DawsonTaylor was all smiles.</div></div></div>With the win, Taylor moved his flawless record to 16 wins (12 knockouts) and remains unbeaten.Read more:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/a-journalist-asked-mcgregor-about-the-sexual-assault-investigations-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A journalist was told to 'act like a normal guy' after pressing Conor McGregor on the sexual assault allegations that have been made against him</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-will-conor-mcgregor-fight-in-his-comeback-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor linked with comeback bouts against 4 fighters only weeks after being considered an 'irrelevant' has-been</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-michael-conlan-boxing-revenge-next-fight-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ireland's next top boxer has a rare shot at retribution after losing at the Olympics because of a 'fixed' fight: 'It's personal for my career, my legacy'</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/one-armed-fighter-nick-newell-returns-to-bellator-mma-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A one-armed athlete returns to Bellator MMA and says he is 'ready to make a statement' in his lightweight fight on Saturday</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jake-hager-laughable-people-think-ex-wwe-guys-cant-fight-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Former WWE superstar Jake Hager laughs in the faces of people who think former pro wrestlers can't fight MMA</a> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-famous-sports-logos-hidden-messages-2019-10">10 world-famous sports logos with hidden meanings</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/sMSU7CxL-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

Photos of Josh Taylor's horrific eye injury show how gruelling and unforgiving boxing can be, even when you win

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12712166" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="brandun-lee" source="Orion">Brandun Lee</keyword> is one of <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword>'s big punchers in the 140-pound weight class.</li><li>The 22-year-old American has known for a decade that he can knock people down and out.</li></ul>Brandun Lee was just 12 years old when he dropped somebody with a punch for the first time."From a young age I started noticing I had power," the American boxer, now 22, told Insider this week ahead of his 24th pro fight. He takes on Juan Heraldez Saturday at the Dignity Health <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">Sports</keyword> Park in Carson, California.Lee, who is as yet undefeated, is from nearby La Quinta, and is developing a fearsome reputation as a puncher. He's won 21 of his 23 pro <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> bouts to date by knockout.He's been a knockout artist for almost a decade, he told us. That first knock down at 12 developed into pure knockouts by 14.At 15, he was knocking even more people out.When he first realized he had dynamite in his mitts, he switched styles. He was previously a point-based boxer in the amateur system, looking to throw a lot of punches to win each round in a three-round bout.But as a teenager, he got more aggressive, switching to a pro style, he said.Still young for a fighter, it is already paying off for Lee as early this year <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-brandun-lee-scores-third-round-knockout-with-booming-right-2021-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he scored a thunderous finish that roused the ShoBox commentary team</a>.The booming right hand in the third round separated Samuel Teah's senses before he'd even hit the deck.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zqL3scua3g4" frameborder="0"></iframe>For Lee, it was a knockout shot he'd sensed was coming. "I knew he wasn't 100% there and when I connected with another clean shot, I knew he wasn't going to get up," said Lee. "Especially because of the way he fell."The aftermath was "incredible," he added, as he disappeared backstage and felt like he was "on the Moon."He said: "I was so happy as I worked so hard for that and it was my biggest test. I felt like I was maybe overconfident, though, because I was in the locker room and one of the reporters asked me, 'What did you learn from this fight?' And I said, 'I didn't learn anything.'"But that was just the ego speaking because in every fight you learn something, and in that fight I learned that I got caught with a couple jabs, and you have to keep you right hand up, and use head movement."So when I said that, I was just being foolish."<h2>Are punchers born or made?</h2><div type="image" title="Brandun Lee flattens opponents at will." height="1333" width="2000" msid="88213680" hostid="261"></div>Lee has been a heavy hitter for half of his life, and says it's a skill you're born with, rather than one you can just develop."You can't generate power and you can't build power," Lee claimed. "You're either born with it, or you're not. And so I'm blessed to have this speed and power — that's what people keep telling me."Such is Lee's power-punching reputation at home, that friends of his, and strangers who know of him, issue bizarre challenges."Once in a while I get buddies of mine who say, I want to do the body-shot test with you. And I'm like, 'Come on, man.'"I even have random people coming up to me, saying: 'Brandun Lee, can you hit my arm or hit my face?'"He declines the challenge, but mainly because he doesn't want to needlessly risk injuring his hands.<h2>Lee fights Juan Heraldez on a PBC on Showtime card this weekend</h2><div type="image" title="Brandun Lee is one of the most thunderous punchers in his division." height="1333" width="2000" msid="88213682" hostid="261"></div>Lee's opponent Saturday, which kicks off the Premier Boxing Champions on Showtime event, is a Mayweather Promotions fighter called Heraldez.This, Lee claims, is an indication that he cannot underestimate who he is sharing the ring with. "Mayweather Promotions don't sign just anybody," he said.Lee added: "He's fought Regis Prograis. I've watched a lot of film on him and he's a boxer with decent head movement and nice speed."To counter what Heraldez may try once the opening bell rings, Lee said he's been training "everything.""Specifically, we're working with two styles — the puncher's style, and the boxer's style. So I was sparring one guy, 5-foot-8, a straight puncher who just comes forward."And I had two other sparring partners, one guy was 6-foot-3, 17 years old, 160-pounds — a boxer. And another sparring partner was a 140-pounder and an Olympic silver medalist who can turn leftie and rightie."I'm 110% prepared for whatever he brings to the table," he said."I'm expecting the dog to come forward and the sheep to go backward," Lee added, referencing himself as the dog in this instance."He won't fight me one-on-one and man-on-man. He'll try and run circles around me, try and catch me off guard. But whatever he brings to the table, we're 100% prepared for it. And Saturday night — it'll be 24-0."I know I'm stronger than him, I hit harder than him, and more experienced than him. I'm sparring better opposition than him. So even if I do knock him out, it has to be about the way I knock him out."I'm looking to be a world champion in 2022, and a unified champion, and then look up at 147."

American 21-year-old Brandun Lee, one of boxing's most devastating punchers, returns to the ring Saturday

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="4264214" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="gervonta-davis">Gervonta Davis</keyword> secured the biggest win of his career Saturday with an uppercut knockout over Leo Santa Cruz.</li><li>The 25-year-old's victory transcended the sport of <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword> as the former two-weight UFC champion <keyword id="2944528" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Conor-McGregor">Conor McGregor</keyword> marveled at the finish.</li><li>"The young man Gervonta 'Tank' Davis has some serious venom in that backhand shot," Conor McGregor said. "Incredible!"</li><li>McGregor's whiskey business Proper no. Twelve had bought real estate on the Premier Boxing Champions ring, and so the Irishman's brand could be seen on the canvas, in the corner, and on the ropes.</li></ul>Conor McGregor marveled at the "incredible" Gervonta Davis after the American boxer scored a "vicious" knockout win at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday.Insider reported that <a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-gervonta-davis-score-starbuilding-ko-over-leo-santa-cruz-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the heavy-hitting American boxer took another big step to superstardom with his horrifying knockout win</a> over the Mexican fighter Leo Santa Cruz.And it was not long after victory when the former UFC two-weight champion Conor McGregor provided rare commentary on boxing."My lord! What a vicious uppercut that was," McGregor tweeted."Praying for the health and safety of Santa Cruz there. The young man 'Tank' Davis has some serious venom in that backhand shot. Incredible!"McGregor's whiskey brand Proper no. Twelve bought real estate on the Premier Boxing Champions ring, and so the Irishman's brand could be seen on the ropes, the canvas, and in the corner.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1322746892720234501?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2020</a></blockquote>After Santa Cruz recovered from the heavy defeat, <a href="https://twitter.com/leosantacruz2/status/1322773330680664064" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he tweeted</a>: "We didn't get the win, but I'm okay. Tough fight and congrats to Gervonta Davis on his victory."Thanks to the fans for all their support for me and my family."<a href="https://twitter.com/Gervontaa/status/1322784495930658816" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Said Davis</a>: "I'm glad you ok and your dad ok. Thank you for the opportunity to share the ring with a warrior. I'm forever grateful."Victory enhanced Davis' flawless professional boxing record to 24 wins unbeaten (23 knockouts).Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-gervonta-davis-score-starbuilding-ko-over-leo-santa-cruz-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heavy-hitting American boxer Gervonta Davis takes another big step to superstardom with a horrifying KO win</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mike-tyson-roy-jones-jr-annoyed-fighting-2-minute-rounds-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. are annoyed their boxing exhibition will have 2-minute rounds, as they think they're 'for women'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/regis-prograis-on-zion-williamson-pelicans-adrien-broner-title-fight-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American boxer Regis Prograis had an omen ahead of his only loss but now dreams of mega fights in his home city</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mario-barrios-want-to-trade-punches-the-fighter-i-am-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boxer Mario Barrios will defy his trainers because he's hellbent on providing a fan-friendly fight</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ramla-ali-meghan-markles-favorite-boxer-makes-pro-debut-saturday-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meghan Markle's favorite boxer, Ramla Ali, makes her professional debut during a Matchroom-promoted event Saturday</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/lopez-an-overnight-sensation-after-scoring-a-great-boxing-win-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>

Conor McGregor marveled at the 'incredible' Gervonta Davis after the American boxer scored a 'vicious' knockout

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="2185641" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Naoya-Inoue">Naoya Inoue</keyword> advanced his unbeaten record to 20 wins on Saturday with the 17th knockout of his career struck against <keyword id="441450" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jason-Maloney">Jason Maloney</keyword>.</li><li>The bout took place in <keyword id="2349386" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="top-rank">Top Rank</keyword>'s sanitized bubble in Las Vegas and highlights Inoue's reputation as one of the world's best boxers today.</li><li>Mikaela Mayer also featured on the show, outpointing her opponent Ewa Brodnicka to earn the WBO female junior lightweight world championship.</li><li>Watch the highlights of Inoue's seventh-round victory below.</li></ul>Naoya Inoue scored a brutal knockout on Halloween, thumping Jason Moloney in the seventh-round of a Top Rank-promoted event in Las Vegas.One of the best boxers in the world today, Inoue entered the MGM Grand bubble one year after his last outing — one in which he won and claimed the World <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">Boxing</keyword> Super Series bantamweight championship.Against Maloney, he went to work straight away, hitting the Australian with head-popping uppercuts, body-bending straight rights, and a counter left hand which floored Maloney in the sixth round.In the seventh, the finish came when Inoue cracked a precise right into Maloney's face, which buckled his body, weakening his legs, and left him down for the count.Maloney attempted to rise as the referee Kenny Bayless counted over his body but he could barely get to his knees before dizziness overwhelmed him.It was all over. Inoue had won.Watch highlights from Inoue's knockout victory here:<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fp3GXOisTP4" frameborder="0"></iframe>Inoue advanced his professional boxing record to 20 wins unbeaten (17 knockouts) with the win, and said: "The final punch, the finishing punch, I'm very happy and satisfied with that punch." Top Rank founder and CEO Bob Arum said: "The Monster is a special fighter. I haven't seen a young fighter like that in a long time. And credit to Jason Moloney for fighting like a warrior. He gave it his absolute best."Elsewhere on the card, Mikaela Mayer beat Ewa Brodnicka by unanimous decision to win the WBO female junior lightweight world championship.After outpointing her opponent, Mayer said: "I want to unify this division. I won't want to wait around. I want to do it right away. Terri Harper told me to get a belt. Eddie Hearn told me to get a belt."I have the WBO belt now, so let's make that fight happen. I want Terri Harper next."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-gervonta-davis-score-starbuilding-ko-over-leo-santa-cruz-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heavy-hitting American boxer Gervonta Davis takes another big step to superstardom with a horrifying KO win</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-marveled-at-gervonta-davis-after-his-vicious-knockout-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor marveled at the 'incredible' Gervonta Davis after the American boxer scored a 'vicious' knockout</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/mike-tyson-roy-jones-jr-annoyed-fighting-2-minute-rounds-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. are annoyed their boxing exhibition will have 2-minute rounds, as they think they're 'for women'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/regis-prograis-on-zion-williamson-pelicans-adrien-broner-title-fight-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American boxer Regis Prograis had an omen ahead of his only loss but now dreams of mega fights in his home city</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ramla-ali-meghan-markles-favorite-boxer-makes-pro-debut-saturday-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meghan Markle's favorite boxer, Ramla Ali, makes her professional debut during a Matchroom-promoted event Saturday</a>

Naoya Inoue, nicknamed 'Monster,' scored a scary knockout on Halloween boxing against Jason Moloney

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/596cd5dcabc1c8765d8b4c0d-1200/dana-white.jpg" border="0" alt="Dana White" data-mce-source="Michael Reaves/Getty Images" />Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesDana White.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>The UFC boss Dana White has said he's been told Tom Cruise would fight Justin Bieber.</li><li>Yes, really.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories</a>.</li></ul>The UFC boss Dana White said he's been told that Tom Cruise would have no problems fighting Justin Bieber in a cage.A bizarre crossover bout between pop sensation Bieber and Hollywood tough guy Cruise first came about when <a href="https://twitter.com/justinbieber/status/1137880621848584193" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bieber posted a tweet on June 10</a> telling the world that he'd fight him in an Octagon.Bieber even goaded Cruise, 56, by saying if he turned down the challenge then it shows he's "scared" and that he'll never be able to "live it down."The tweet attracted 40,000 comments, 45,000 retweets, and has been liked 224,000 times.But Bieber has since backtracked, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/justin-bieber-backs-down-from-tom-cruise-ufc-fight-whoop-2019-6?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">telling TMZ last week</a> that he was "just playing," it "was just a random tweet," and that he'd need to "get in shape" because Cruise has "dad strength."Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/justin-bieber-backs-down-from-tom-cruise-ufc-fight-whoop-2019-6?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Bieber backed down from his Tom Cruise UFC challenge: 'He'd whoop my ass'</a>Well, it turns out Cruise isn't the playing type. That is according to White, the fight company's president, who said he'd be "an idiot not to make this fight" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fB7v_F5IbA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">during an interview with TMZ on Wednesday</a>."I'm going to tell you something interesting, okay. Lots of people will talk about fighting somebody in the UFC and things like that, whether its NFL players or celebrities or whatever. It happens a lot."Obviously I saw it like everybody else did and I didn't pay much attention to it. It picked up a lot of steam and was everywhere."I'm not going to say any names, but I'm just going to tell you that I got a phone call from a couple of real guys who said that they really do want to do this fight and they believe that Tom Cruise would do the fight. And I told them, I'll tell you this: if that's true, and if everybody involved in this thing really wants to do it, we can talk."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d021d6e6fc9201ec228df23-2000/tom cruise justin bieber ufc.jpg" border="0" alt="Tom Cruise Justin Bieber UFC" data-mce-source="AP Images" />AP ImagesCruise is apparently rising to Bieber's challenge.</div></div></div>There's been a boon of weird fight suggestions in and around the UFC this year, with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-challenged-mark-wahlberg-to-a-fight-over-ufc-shares-2019-4?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor famously saying he'd fight the minority UFC owner Mark Wahlberg</a> for his shares earlier in the year.McGregor has since been warned about the threats by an unbeaten boxer Wahlberg manages and represents, the unbeaten American Regis Prograis, a light welterweight puncher from New Orleans, Louisiana.Prograis challenged McGregor to a two-fight deal - one bout in a boxing ring, and another in a UFC Octagon.Read more: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-warned-by-a-boxer-managed-by-mark-wahlberg-2019-6?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An unbeaten boxer represented by Mark Wahlberg has issued an Instagram warning to Conor McGregor: 'Don't call out my manager'</a>McGregor has had a crossover bout of his own when he took on the undefeated multi-weight champion Floyd Mayweather, losing in the 10th round of a boxing rules contest in 2017.Though the quality of the fight was poor, it remains <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-50-best-selling-pay-per-view-events-boxing-ufc-wrestling-tv-history-2017-8?r=US&amp;IR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of the best-selling events</a> in pay-per-view history.Regardless, White believes a UFC fight between Bieber and Cruise would be even easier to promote."I'd be an idiot not to make this fight, okay," he said. "I didn't think Floyd-Conor was going to happen. Anything is possible. That would be the easiest fight to ever promote in the history of my career." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-american-men-suck-soccer-world-cup-2018-6">The US women's national team dominates soccer, but here's why the US men's team sucks</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/SaEwZba3-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

UFC boss Dana White says he's been told Tom Cruise would fight Justin Bieber

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Meet <keyword id="3560540" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="richardson-hitchins">Richardson Hitchins</keyword>, a 23-year-old American who has the backing of some of the most powerful figures in <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">boxing</keyword>.</li><li>As a kid, Hitchins wasn't a fight fan but regularly watched WWE.</li><li>That changed when he saw Floyd Mayweather appear on a wrestling show, and he became fascinated with the cocky boxer in front of him.</li><li>Within a decade, Hitchins signed pro terms with Mayweather Promotions, had the keys to Mayweather's condo, and was wowing crowds at Floyd's fight club.</li><li>This is the Hitchins story, a young athlete who fights Saturday in a bout broadcast on Showtime.</li></ul>Richardson Hitchins was eight years old when he saw Floyd Mayweather for the first time.It was 2008 and Mayweather had just broken Big Show's nose during a chaotic appearance with the world's leading professional wrestling firm WWE.Hitchins had a boxing-mad grandfather but the young boy had never seen a fight himself.As a kid, he knew all about RKOs, choke slams, and tombstone pile-drivers but probably thought the Philly Shell was something you found at the beach.Mayweather's cockiness and unbeatable aura piqued Hitchins' interest in the sport, and around 10 years later he signed professional terms with Mayweather Promotions, had the keys to Floyd's condo, and was being hailed as a fighter who could have the beating of Errol Spence Jr. - <a href="https://www.insider.com/who-are-the-best-pound-for-pound-boxers-in-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America's best boxer according to Insider</a>.It is quite a journey for Hitchins, a 23-year-old American who excites Mayweather Promotions so much the company keeps inviting the New Yorker back to Las Vegas so it can try and develop him into one of boxing's stars just like its cross-state ticket-seller Gervonta Davis.Hitchins returns to the ring Saturday, fighting Argenis Mendez during the three-bout <keyword id="9692340" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="premier-boxing-champions">Premier Boxing Champions</keyword> event broadcast on Showtime.Ahead of the fight, he told Insider he wants to put on a big show himself, move up the super lightweight world rankings in 2021, and challenge the likes of Mario Barrios for a championship.<h2>Hitchins first met Mayweather four years ago at the Olympics</h2><div type="image" title="Gary Russel and Richardson Hitchins" height="1124" width="2000" msid="79687142" hostid="261"></div>Hitchins, fighting for Haiti thanks to parental heritage, lost to the USA's Gary Russell in a preliminary bout at the 2016 Olympic Games.After that defeat in Rio de Janeiro, Hitchins knew his amateur career had come to an end.He called Sam Watson - a talent manager in California who has the gift of the gab, and is one of the most trusted confidantes to Premier Boxing Champions founder Al Haymon.Hitchins told Watson he wanted to turn professional, but said he only wanted to sign with one firm - Mayweather Promotions."Floyd's at the Olympics right now," Watson told him. "When you see Floyd, call me, and put his security on the phone. I'll get you next to Floyd."Hitchins struggled to believe what he was hearing.Excitement replaced frustration as he forgot about the loss to Russell and focused on meeting the man who he'd seen in WWE all those years ago, and who inspired him to pick up gloves and learn to box in the first place.When he finally saw Mayweather face-to-face, he acted like an unashamed fanboy and brought Mayweather-mania to Brazil all by himself."I see Floyd and I'm like, 'Floyd! Floyd! Floyd! I know Sam Watson! Sam Watson said this! Sam Watson said that! I want to turn pro!'"Mayweather and Hitchins exchanged phone numbers on the spot.<h2>Hitchins was always destined for Mayweather Promotions</h2><div type="image" title="Richardson Hitchins" height="1333" width="2000" msid="79687143" hostid="261"></div>Hitchins told us Mayweather had his eye on <a href="https://www.insider.com/shakur-stevenson-wants-to-become-the-worlds-number-one-boxer-2020-12">Shakur Stevenson</a> at the time, an Olympic silver medal winner in the bantamweight division.Mayweather invited Stevenson out for dinner in Rio. Stevenson apparently asked his friend Hitchins if he wanted to tag along and meet the former five-weight champion."Shakur's like: 'You want to go eat with Floyd?' And I was all: 'What?! Hell yeah!' So we went out to eat with Floyd, and he told us all about the pro game."Hitchins said that although Mayweather didn't know too much about him at first, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe had long identified him as a talent destined for their stable.Ellerbe has been by Mayweather's side for decades, and has since nurtured Gervonta Davis into an emergent star and one of boxing's most popular fighters today.At a press conference ahead of Davis' 2017 fight with Jose Pedraza, which "Tank" later won by seventh round knockout, Ellerbe told Hitchins behind-the-scenes that he should sign terms with Mayweather Promotions."Leonard was saying: 'You need to turn pro with us. I'm going to get you active.'"Weeks later, Hitchins signed a multi-year contract in front of Mayweather, wearing clothes from Mayweather's lifestyle brand, TMT.<h2>Mayweather began marveling at Hitchins' abilities</h2><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BP1pa45BYlr" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Richardson Hitchins (@richardsonhitchins)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Within years, Mayweather began to get increasingly excited about the talent Watson found and Ellerbe secured."Floyd knew I could fight but he didn't know I was special until I fought at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas," Hitchins said."That's when he knew I was going to be a champion, a top guy."This realization came in 2020, with Mayweather now convinced his promotional vehicle had a potential star on its hands. One who could defeat all the best fighters at super lightweight and at welterweight.Mayweather even believed Hitchins could compete with Spence - <a href="https://www.insider.com/errol-spence-jr-writes-boxing-comeback-tale-of-the-year-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the undefeated 147-pounder who wrote boxing's comeback tale of the year</a> when he defeated Danny Garcia a year after wrecking his Ferrari at high-speed.While Gervonta Davis was preparing for his Showtime pay-per-view bout with Leo Santa Cruz on October 31, Hitchins was training in the background.Neither went without Mayweather's attention.After Hitchins had finished one session of sparring, bag-work, and pad-work, he walked out to the Bugatti-laden parking lot where Mayweather ran out after him."He came up to me when we were by my car, looked me in the eyes, and said, 'Do you want me to lie to you, or tell you the truth?'"Hitchins wanted the truth but did not expect to hear what Mayweather was about to say."You're the best boxer in that gym right now," Mayweather said, according to Hitchins."My trainer said, 'What? Floyd, stop playing, there's all the top guys in that gym - everybody.' And Floyd said, again, 'You're the best boxer in that gym.'"I thought he was kind of joking," Hitchins said. "But word got around, and Gervonta's people said, 'Yo, Floyd was watching you spar, and he kept saying, 'Damn, that's Richardson right there and that boy can box!'"<h2>Mayweather told Hitchins he's got the beating of Spence</h2><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CHI87m6nNS_" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Richardson Hitchins (@richardsonhitchins)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Hitchins returned to New York days later. He was firmly on Mayweather's radar, and he was happy.One morning his phone buzzed at 3 a.m. with a message from Mayweather."I'm on my jet and I want to have a private conversation with you," the text said."So, I waited up, he called me, and said, 'I think you can beat all the top guys at 140, compete with all the top guys at 147, and I think you can beat Errol Spence Jr.'"He was telling me how special I was. And that he wanted me to fly back out to Vegas."According to Hitchins, Mayweather went on: "Let's get you back out to Vegas as your fight is in a few months and I don't want you in New York, partying. Stay away from all the bull-s---. I want to get you a house. Come out here."When Hitchins returned, his friend Shakur Stevenson - now a Top Rank fighter - picked him up from the airport as Mayweather was asleep.Stevenson took Hitchins to the boxing manager J.Prince's house, where Mayweather picked him up and took him to the Mayweather Boxing Club.Hitchins apparently begged Mayweather to spar Stevenson, but the veteran held him back and just wanted to see him work-out for a few days first.Mayweather then gave him keys to a condo and they were almost inseparable for his entire stay, training, eating, and watching boxing together."He was just in the gym with me, training me, watching me spar, and even if he wasn't in the gym he'd bring me over to his house," Hitchins said."We'd watch boxing together, talk about what we did that day in sparring, and what I could have done better."He was just very hands-on with me," he said.<h2>Hitchins is targeting future fights with boxing's other young kings</h2><div type="image" title="Richardson Hitchins boxing" height="1333" width="2000" msid="79687144" hostid="261"></div>Hitchins sparred the Matchroom athlete Devin Haney and appeared almost offended when we asked what he had learned from the training sessions."It was iron sharpening iron. It was just … go work - two young fighters sparring each other," he told us. "I didn't learn anything from Devin Haney. At all."Regardless, a future bout with Haney is one Hitchins has his eye on. He also wants to take on other core members of boxing's stacked roster of 25 and under fighters."Teofimo Lopez would be a great fight for me in the future," Hitchins said. "And a fight involving me and Ryan Garcia would be a great fight in the future."Haney, Lopez, and Garcia all compete in the lightweight division, but Hitchins said as they're all young and growing, it won't be long before they join him at the super lightweight limit."I'm comfortable at 140-pounds as of right now, and it's never been a problem to fight at 140."I don't have a nutritionist [yet], and when I'm going to be going away on camps, to get the weight off easier and doing things even more properly, I'll be at 140 for a while."So when those guys come up, those are going to be great fights."<h2>He first fights Saturday against Argenis Mendez</h2><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px); data.width~540;"><div style="padding:8px;"><div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:62.4537037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"><div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIi2Q7uHreH" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank"></a> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by Richardson Hitchins (@richardsonhitchins)<time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime=""></time></div></blockquote>Some young fighters might not focus too much on their opponents. But Hitchins is aware of who he is up against, and has assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the man he'll be sharing a ring with Saturday."I know what Argenis does best. He's got great patience and is a good counter-puncher. But I think he's flat-footed and a lot of fighters he beat are flat-footed."He beat Ivan Redkach, that's a pressure Ukrainian who's flat-footed, and Rob Easter … who, I don't think at the time, is on the level that I'm on right now."What I do know is that Argenis ain't on that top echelon level, and I know I am on that top echelon level."I box champions and have done since a kid, fighting top fighters since a kid, and have sparring matches with top, young fighters."I done fought a lot of top guys, and beat top guys. I bring a lot of experience to the table, too, and I'm focused on what I do Saturday night - I'm a sharpshooter, a sharp boxer, that's who I am."Hitchins is visualizing victory at the weekend and told us his goal in 2021 and beyond is to fight for a world championship."I want to fight Mario Barrios," Hitchins said. "He's young, I'm young, and there's not many people out there for him apart from Regis Prograis and me."But before I worry about Regis Prograis and Mario Barrios, I got to get past Argenis Mendez and whoever else is in front of me after that."Considering the combined muscle of Mayweather and Ellerbe behind him, it would not be a surprise to see him go all the way.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/chris-colbert-young-american-boxers-are-taking-over-the-sport-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chris Colbert says young Americans like him are 'taking over boxing' and will soon force the older heads to step back</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/americas-got-talent-shakur-stevenson-wants-to-worlds-no1-boxer-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">America's got talent: Shakur Stevenson vows to become the world's No.1 boxer</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/errol-spence-jr-writes-boxing-comeback-tale-of-the-year-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Errol Spence Jr. writes the boxing comeback tale of the year as he wins gloriously a year after wrecking his Ferrari at high-speed</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/shawn-porter-fancies-wbo-title-fight-with-terence-crawford-2020-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shawn Porter fancies a fight with Terence Crawford but says he has other welterweight world title options, too</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/weve-entered-a-golden-era-of-boxing-exhibitions-2020-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We've officially entered a golden era of showbiz boxing, and it's all down to Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and Floyd Mayweather</a>

The incredible journey of 23-year-old American boxer Richardson Hitchins, one of Floyd Mayweather's most-treasured students

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Matchroom <keyword id="6362171" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boxing">Boxing</keyword> is ending its 25-year association with Sky in the UK.</li><li>It instead begins a new, five-year deal with DAZN beginning July 31 worth upwards of $100 million.</li><li>Matchroom boss <keyword id="2268473" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Eddie-Hearn">Eddie Hearn</keyword> spoke to Insider ahead of the announcement of the deal.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boxing</a> promoter Eddie Hearn sits in his office at Matchroom HQ, a mansion in a leafy village 30 miles east of London, and looks out to his 15-acre gardens during an interview with Insider.He recalls a landmark series of events he held during a coronavirus-enforced lockdown last year called <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-matchroom-and-eddie-hearn-will-restart-boxing-during-coronavirus-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Fight Camp,"</a> and announces to us that it is happening all over again.Matchroom Boxing held "Fight Camp" on the lawns of an estate which boasts a helipad, a swimming pool, and, on a clear day, views of London's skyline.There were fights, fireworks, and one of the upsets of the year when <a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-povetkin-score-stunning-knockout-of-the-year-contender-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alexander Povetkin knocked Dillian Whyte unconscious for several minutes with a thunderous uppercut</a>.On July 31, for three consecutive weekends, "Fight Camp" and all the pyrotechnics that come with it, returns to Hearn's lawns.This time, though, the look of the events will be different. Fans, for one thing, will be present as the UK finalizes the last leg of its roadmap out of lockdown.Perhaps most notably though, the branding will be different.Gone will be hoardings bearing the logo of Sky <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">Sports</keyword>, and in their place will be that of DAZN. On Thursday, Matchroom announced a five-year deal with DAZN in the UK worth at least £100 million.It has been a long time coming. Matchroom and DAZN have pre-existing broadcast partnerships elsewhere, notably in the United States - a market Hearn yearns to break.But the furthering of that relationship in the UK means Matchroom finishes a 25-year relationship it had with Sky. And though the finances on offer at DAZN were substantial, Hearn told Insider that it's not all about the money."We went with the budget that allowed us to build the fight nights and make the fights that we want to for our schedule and our fighters," Hearn told Insider in an interview ahead of the deal's announcement."And that's so important because the growth of fighter purses is moving much more steeply than the growth of rights fees."To make big fights or fight nights we were too reliant on the pay-per-view model [at Sky]. I stand by the fact we delivered value for money on those nights, but we were still arm-wrestling and asking subscribers to put their hands in their pockets."So this deal, this model, gave us the opportunity to change that."Notable features of Matchroom's new deal with DAZN in the UK, according to Hearn:<ul><li>It will last five years, beginning July 31 with a three-event "Fight Camp" residency at Matchroom HQ.</li><li>It is worth at least £100 million ($141 million). The exact figure has not been revealed.</li><li>Matchroom will be contracted to produce a minimum of 16 UK shows annually, in addition to its global offering.</li><li>There is an increased budget for fight nights, and fighters.</li><li>Matchroom Media, the company's in-house production and content business, will control live production, documentaries, and shoulder programming across Matchroom Boxing's events.</li></ul><h2>This is the second significant deal Matchroom has struck with DAZN</h2><div type="image" title="Eddie Hearn, John Skipper, Anthony Joshua DAZN" height="876" width="1250" msid="83205481" hostid="261"></div>Matchroom has already struck big deals with DAZN in the past, signing a <a href="https://media.dazn.com/en-us/press-releases-us/2018/05/matchroom-boxing-perform-group-seal-boxings-first-billion-dollar-deal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$1 billion deal in the US in 2018</a>.In the subsequent years, Hearn grew his global business substantially and <a href="https://www.insider.com/eddie-hearn-plans-to-conquer-world-boxing-2020-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Insider at the start of 2020 he planned to take over world boxing and stage fights with the sport's biggest names</a>.With world heavyweight champion <keyword id="576793" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Anthony-Joshua">Anthony Joshua</keyword> already on his roster, Hearn set his sights on pound-for-pound king Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, and pay-per-view sensation Manny Pacquiao.A deal with Pacquiao has so far failed to materialize. The Filipino fighter has instead booked a Premier Boxing Champions showdown in July against Errol Spence Jr.But Hearn has developed a strong relationship with Alvarez, and appears to be the Mexican fighter's promoter of choice right now.Hearn confirmed to Insider that this month's UK-specific deal with DAZN is in the nine-figure ballpark, but he was unwilling to talk about specifics, citing a potential mistake three years ago."I'd love to tell you how much it was because I'm very proud of it," Hearn said."When we went into America and signed that billion dollar deal, I felt like we needed to make that noise. Whether that was a mistake or not, I don't know. But when you need to break a market, when nobody knows who you are, you need to make a splash."Here in UK boxing, we have an extremely dominant position within the marketplace, and we just need to go about our business. Yes, it's a huge deal financially that will mean our fighters are extremely well-rewarded for that fact, but it also enables us to make the big fights."We've been arm-wrestling with fans over pay-per-view for the last few years. Is pay-per-view worth £20 ($28), or is it not worth £20. And a lot of fights that you saw across that model will now sit as part of your DAZN subscription (currently £1.99 / $2.82 per month)."In terms of value for money for fight fans, this is a complete no-brainer. For us, it was a decision that made sense."The DAZN deal is for Matchroom's boxing events only. Its deal with the Professional Darts Corporation remains intact, with elite darts staying on Sky Sports.Hearn said he could have retained his boxing schedule with Sky, as he says he has a good relationship with many executives there, and is comfortable. But the sheer size of the DAZN contract prised him from that comfort zone."Comfort is not something that sits well with me," he said. "And that's why we took this huge opportunity."<h2>Matchroom and DAZN begin their UK boxing business July 31</h2><div type="image" title="Fight Camp, Matchroom boxing, Eddie Hearn" height="750" width="1000" msid="83205482" hostid="261"></div>"Fight Camp was just the most incredible project last year," Hearn said of a four-event run that helped restart boxing in the UK after a coronavirus-enforced hiatus."We've just been nominated for a couple of awards, which was great. And I've just been looking at the garden in front of me which was where the ring was, there were no fans, but this year there will be fans."The cards will be incredibly souped-up, and that will kick-off our UK offering for DAZN with those three weeks starting July 31."It is a good flagship event to get underway and then there'll be huge events for the rest of the year."An Insider source with knowledge of the situation told us that Anthony Joshua has one fight remaining on his separate broadcast contract with Sky, so the heavyweight champion will fight his next opponent on Sky Box Office in the UK.But other athletes like Whyte, who had otherwise been on Sky Box Office, will now fight on DAZN.With more money available for fights and fighters, Insider asked whether we could see standalone, non-Matchroom matches compete on Matchroom shows under the DAZN banner, something that has happened before.Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis competed in the World Boxing Super Series final at a Matchroom show in London two years ago, for example.Hearn even bid for the Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr. bout when it went to auction. He lost out, with American streaming platform Triller landing the rights to that match with an industry-shattering $6,180,000 bid."When we went to America there was always a fascination to sign as many fighters as you can," said Hearn."You get a huge pool of fighters. Some you realize don't deliver subscribers, and some do. On another hand you can have a purse bid scenario where you bring a fight to your platform on an individual basis. So there's going to be a lot of that."The key focus for us is our existing fighters, and also the ability to bring major fights to the platform."As a market-disrupting streaming service, DAZN has been criticized by broadcasting and boxing executives in the US for putting its shows online, rather than showing them on TV as is traditional. Execs have accused Matchroom and Hearn of hiding fights by putting them on the streaming serviceInsider asked Hearn about these criticisms, and if they have merit."I'd look at the numbers DAZN has now in the US, and even the numbers in the UK, across three really big fight nights," he said, citing Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders' separate bouts with 'Canelo' Alvarez, and Ryan Garcia against Luke Campbell."And in America we recently had Devin Haney against Jorge Linares and the numbers there are outperforming other outlets that are airing boxing. Historic outlets that have been doing so for years and years."Hearn told us viewing habits have changed, and are continuing to change. "The way people are digesting content is changing, and moving much more aggressively towards streaming."In terms of content we've got to make the right partnerships with other outlets as well that perhaps a traditional broadcaster would be too scared to do, or too institutionalized to do. DAZN are really clever about what they do," Hearn said, pointing toward a documentary about Alvarez which aired on the BBC before his May fight with Saunders."That's a great example of how to be clever and creative with content to drive subscribers. These people [at DAZN] are at the absolute cutting edge of what they do."<h2>What this deal means for boxing's best-known faces</h2><div type="image" title="Saul Canelo Alvarez boxing Billy Joe Saunders" height="1022" width="1500" msid="83205483" hostid="261"></div>Joshua has one more fight remaining on his deal with Sky. That bout will be shown on Sky Box Office, the company's pay-per-view platform.But Matchroom has deals and relationships with boxing stars all around the world including Olympic gold medallist Katie Taylor, Japanese star Hiroto Kyoguchi, and of course, Alvarez - boxing's No.1 attraction."These are four fighters with different nationalities, and that's a real indication of where we want to go," Hearn said."A.J. is by far the biggest star in the UK, and arguably the biggest name in boxing globally. Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez is the biggest name in America, and arguably the biggest name globally. Katie Taylor is the biggest female fighter in the sport of boxing. And Kyoguchi is a huge star in Japan."We've got so many fighters from different nationalities and we are truly a global promotional business. It's very important for us to pick up those key names in important markets."Having conclusively beaten Callum Smith and Saunders in recent super middleweight world championship unification bouts, there will come a time when Alvarez has exhausted Matchroom's stable of fighters at 168-pounds.There is already a clamor for Alvarez to begin competing against the best Premier Boxing Champions athletes in and around that weight, with Jermall Charlo, David Benavidez, and Caleb Plant all capable of offering different tests for him.But those PBC boxers have separate broadcasting relationships with Showtime Sports and Fox Sports in the US.So could we see an agreement where all broadcasters are happy? To make a September 18 bout involving Alvarez and Plant, would Fox get the rights to air the fight in the US, with DAZN securing the global and UK rights?"Of course, it's always important for DAZN to have the global rights for the shows," Hearn told us. "But there will be situations where a fight will take place, whether that's a purse bid or because it couldn't be made elsewhere with a broadcaster in one market. DAZN are the only global broadcaster for boxing in the world. That makes them unique."It looks like Canelo's next fight will be against Caleb Plant, and that will be for the undisputed super middleweight championship. And hopefully we can land that on DAZN."Since I've been promoting [Canelo], we've done three fights now on DAZN and they've all been huge successes that have delivered huge subscription numbers, and we'll be doing what we can to bring that undisputed fight on DAZN in September."<h2>Hearn had a chip on his shoulder to be as successful as he could be</h2><div type="image" title="Saul Alvarez, Eddie Hearn, and Billy Joe Saunders" height="828" width="1250" msid="83205484" hostid="261"></div>Matchroom's unique selling point when it comes to boxing includes an ability to host stadium fights around the world (the UK, Saudi Arabia, and the US), entering multiple territories internationally, and securing landmark broadcasting deals.It is a leveling up of where Matchroom's boxing business had been prior to when Hearn took the helm, and he told us it's because he had a chip on his shoulder.Matchroom had long been his father Barry's business, playing a key part in British boxing in the 1990s. As soon as he entered the family trade, Eddie always wanted to one-up his dad and be a success in his own right."The only way I can only be successful in my own right is to do outrageous things," he said."With what we've done in boxing over the last 10 years, I think I've achieved that. And I've done a lot more than he achieved. Breaking America was something he never did, and didn't put much focus on that."And, in the UK, the size of this DAZN deal, making our own decisions. It's a very difficult decision with us with DAZN. We've been with Sky for 25 years for boxing, and they've been a tremendous partner but an opportunity arose for our business, our fighters, and our fans that we could not turn down."It gives us an opportunity to completely re-build and grow the sport in this country to another level - the product, the noise, the production. Everything. And, with DAZN's growth globally of the boxing product it aligns so well with us when it comes to new markets. You've seen it with the US, Italy, Spain. We're about to announce a move into another new market in the next few days."There are three major players in the sport of boxing - Premier Boxing Champions, Top Rank, and Matchroom, and Hearn said Matchroom will strategize ways it can become "the dominant global force in boxing.""They're tremendous promotional companies," Hearn said of PBC and Top Rank, but said that "none operate globally apart from Matchroom.""In America, I agree it's a three-horse race between Matchroom, ESPN [Top Rank], and PBC. And we've still got a lot of work to do. But, globally, you can't compare the three organizations."We are consistently delivering events in key markets. They're great companies, as well, but I feel we're head and shoulders above those two globally. And we continue to battle away with them in America."Finishing, Hearn said: "DAZN is a streaming giant when it comes to sport but for us, in boxing, to have one platform where we can talk consistently to fans about how this is the destination where you can see our events and our fighters - that is so unique."Normally you'd sell individual rights to 30, 40 different territories to different broadcasters. Here, all our messaging can be so simple and it's a really unique offering for fight fans - I'm super excited."

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