With highly-anticipated rematches, terrible tattoo bets and reignited rivalries, it’s been another busy week in the world of boxing. Here are five boxing stories you might have missed.
Josh Warrington Set For September Rematch With Mauricio Lara
Josh Warrington will have the opportunity to avenge his sole professional defeat when he takes on Mauricio Lara at the Emerald Headingley Stadium on September 4, live on DAZN.
Mexico’s Lara pulled off an upset of the year contender when the pair first met back at the SSE Arena in Wembley back in February, ruthlessly stopping ‘the Leeds Warrior’ with a ninth round TKO.
The previously undefeated Warrington’s shock defeat to Lara sent shockwaves through the 126lbs division and brought the former IBF featherweight world champion’s unification plans to a grinding halt.
“It’s been an up and down period, time for reflection and to reassess myself, said Warrington.
"I’ve watched the first fight a dozen times, I’m mentally and physically prepared for Mauricio. It won’t be the same result, I want revenge. It’s going to be a huge event in Leeds, I can’t wait to get back in there and rewrite the script. It’s nothing personal, just business. September 4th we get back on track to the top.”
In the co-main event in Headingley, ‘Bray Bomber’ Katie Taylor will put her undisputed lightweight crown on the line against her IBF mandatory challenger Jennifer Han.
Jake Paul And Tyron Woodley Make Tattoo Bet At Press Conference
There’s far more on the line than just pride when YouTuber Jake Paul takes on former UFC star Tyron Woodley at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio on August 29.
The pair have made a gentleman’s bet that the loser of the bout will have to get a tattoo as a forfeit. Paul had previously tried to goad Woodley into a winner-takes-all bet with the fight’s purses at the first meeting between the two, with Woodley unwilling to agree to the deal. But now they’ve come to terms on a bet that won’t leave the loser out of pocket.
“So how about this, let’s make a new bet right now,” Paul said to Woodley on stage at Tuesday’s press conference.
“Let’s make a new bet - if I beat you, you have to get ‘I love Jake Paul’ tattooed on you. But if you beat me, I get ‘I love Tyron Woodley’ tattooed on me and you have to post it on your Instagram feed”
“Y’all think I should do it?” Woodley replied, questioning the media in attendance, before shaking hands on it with 'the Problem Child.'
Paulie Malignaggi Targeting Former Sparring Partner Conor McGregor?
Former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi has insisted that he would be open to a boxing match with his former sparring partner Conor McGregor.
The feud between the American boxer and Irish MMA star has been brewing for a few years now, with Malignaggi briefly acting as a sparring partner for McGregor in the build-up to the Notorious’ bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2017.
Following McGregor’s defeat to Poirier on Saturday night at UFC 264, the ‘Magic Man’ wasted no time in calling out the 33-year-old, although he believes it’s a fight his potential opponent would never take.
Speaking on SiriusXM Boxing, Malignaggi said, “I wouldn't put it past anything but I don't think Conor McGregor is ever going to want to fight me.
"The only way that I'd fight Conor McGregor is if it's winner-takes-all at this point.
"At this point he's got everybody convinced he's better and there's more than enough money in the pot.
"He makes more money fighting me than anybody else other than maybe Jake Paul.
"So, I don't see him taking that kind of deal, so there's probably not going to be a fight."
Joe Joyce And Tony Yoka To Reignite Olympic Rivalry?
2016 Olympic super-heavyweight finalists Joe Joyce and Tony Yoka could be going head-to-head once again, according to Top Rank boss Bob Arum.
France’s Yoka earned a disputed points win over the Juggernaut in Rio five years ago to claim the gold medal, and the pair could be on a collision course to face each other in the professional ranks.
The two have established themselves as top heavyweight contenders since turning pro, with neither having tasted defeat, and both look likely to be in the frame for a world title shot in the near future.
Arum, who promotes Yoka, told Sky Sports that he would like to showcase his heavyweight talent in the UK soon, stating, "We will have guys like Tony Yoka coming over, maybe to fight Joe Joyce."
Before he can face his old amateur rival, Joyce is in action against Carlos Takam on July 24.
Manny Pacquiao Takes Swipe At Mayweather Ahead Of Spence Showdown
Earlier this week, Floyd Mayweather offered his services to Errol Spence Jr ahead of the American’s showdown with the 50-0 star’s former foe Manny Pacquiao in August.
The Filipino fighting legend however, who was beaten by Mayweather when they met in 2015, says that Spence doesn’t need any advice from the self-proclaimed ‘Best Ever’ as he thinks he’s already a better fighter than Floyd was.
"You know actually Errol don't need to have advice from Mayweather, because I believe that Errol is better than Mayweather," said Pacquiao at a press conference.
"I think he will teach Mayweather how to fight toe to toe."
Spence took Pacquiao’s praise with a pinch of salt, explaining, "It is a great accomplishment [Pacquiao's praise], but like I said before, Manny Pacquiao is the kind of guy who will walk you to sleep.
"He will give you a lot of compliments and gratitude and things like that, and then as soon as the bell rings, he will be jumping all over you, so you know how I take it."
