1. Big Baby Miller Confronts Anthony Joshua
.@BIGBABYMILLER calls out @anthonyfjoshua during the #JoshuaPovetkin faceoff. pic.twitter.com/IGFwq7lOuz
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) July 17, 2018
On a day where Bellator and Matchroom Boxing came together to help usher in the launch of DAZN in the United States and officially announce Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin’s clash in September, it would be Jarrell “Big Baby” Miller who stole the show.
Miller would arrive late to the function, following announcements and introductions for all of the fighters competing for Matchroom and Matchroom USA beginning in September, including Jessie Vargas. The Brooklyn born Boxer would storm the venue and head straight to the stage and confront Joshua in an attempt to slot himself as the heir apparent after Povetkin.
Speaking exclusively to FIGHT SPORTS, Miller would claim that he’s done being nice.
“Being politically correct all the time is not working,” the Brooklyn heavyweight said. “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed, and its time I start putting everybody on-notice.”
While Joshua may not be “next on the menu” for Big Baby, he hopes that he and the British world champion, face off next.
“Hopefully he doesn’t chicken out like a punk.”
When asked about Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn getting him a contract for a fight between the two, Miller claimed “Eddie Hearn is a magician, he’ll show you this and poof, he’ll be gone… Show me the contract and we’ll see.”
“I’m not here for all the bright lights or the bulls****, I wanna punch him in his mouth.”
Speaking exclusively with FIGHT SPORTS before leaving back to London, Joshua would cut to the quick towards Miller.
“He’s just a little b***h”, Joshua calmly claimed. “And when I deal with him I hope he eats a slice of humble pie, and takes himself back to the gym. Does what he does best and lift weights, because he’s not a boxer.”
“He doesn’t have the pedigree as an amateur or professional to come on stage running his mouth.”
2. Mayweather Tops Forbes List Of Celebrities
Following the cash cow that was his fight against Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather landed atop the Forbes list of richest celebrities.
Mayweather hauled in $285 million pre-tax income over the past year, around $50 million more than the second on the list, George Clooney.
Mayweather’s brief return to boxing would net a gate of $55,414,865.79 from 13,094 tickets sold and 137 complimentary tickets per the Nevada State Athletic Commission .
The fight would also net 4.3 million domestic pay-per-view buys, second all time to Mayweather’s win over Manny Pacquiao.
TOP TEN LIST
1 Floyd Mayweather $285 mil
2 George Clooney $239 mil
3 Kylie Jenner $166.5 mil
4 Judy Sheindlin $147 mil
5 Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson $124 mil
6 U2 $118 mil
7 Coldplay $115 mil
8 Lionel Messi $111 mil
9 Ed Sheeran $110 mil
10 Cristiano Ronaldo $108 mil
It’s been nine years since we’ve last seen Manny Pacquiao get a stoppage win, but Malaysia and the rest of the world got to see the Pacquiao of old.
Pacquiao knocked down Lucas Matthysse three times en route to a seventh-round TKO victory to win the WBA “regular” welterweight title. The win was Pacquiao’s first by stoppage since he stopped Miguel Cotto in the 12th round of their fight all the way back in 2009.
The eight-division started the fight well, establishing his speed and jab to control the entire fight as his pace. Pacquiao’s first knockdown came about 30 seconds into the third round when Pacquiao tagged Matthysse with a right jab, followed by a left uppercut. Pacquiao would follow it up in the fifth round when one of his punches shook Matthysse to the point he had to take a knee at the end of the round.
But the end didn’t come until late into the seventh round. Just like with the first knockdown, Pacquiao’s left uppercut hit Matthysse on the button, knocking him down once more. Once Matthysse spat out his mouthpiece midway through the 10-count, referee Kenny Bayless stopped the contest.
4. Anderson SIlva Could Return In November
Silva was handed a one-year suspension from USADA earlier this week for a failed test dated October 26th of 2017. Silva’s failure came from tainted supplements from a Brazilian compounding Pharmacy, and were not listed on the label of the supplement bottle.
Silva’s suspension is retroactive to Nov. 10, 2017, which means he can return to the Octagon by November 10th, 2018.
“I am vindicated,” Silva said in a statement given to ESPN by Silva’s team.
“The past nine months have been extremely difficult. I felt like my career and everything I had worked so hard for was dying and my future was hanging in the balance. I knew in my heart that I had done nothing wrong and fully cooperated with USADA during their inquiry to prove it. Today I have a renewed energy. My legacy is restored. I can focus on getting back into the ring and the next chapter of my life after fighting.”
5. Whittaker Out Until 2019 With Hand Injury
Robert Whittaker may have walked out of UFC 225 as middleweight champion, he won’t be walking into the Octagon for a while.
Whittaker, who took a split decision victory over Yoel Romero in June to retain his title, fractured his hand in first round of the fight, told Ariel Helwani that he won’t be able to return until February due to physical therapy.
“It’s still only several weeks from surgery so I’m still working on it,” Whittaker said. “I can’t even start a rehab process yet, it’s more of just letting it heal and letting it set properly first before I can even implement that.
“They put a plate and some screws (in it). People don’t know this but also I did ligament damage in my left hand but obviously the attention was drawn to the broken one. . .
“I definitely won’t be ready before next year. My hand rehab – both hands – I have to get to 100% with my hands before I can start rehab. The healing process has to be done before I can even start a rehab program and then I need strengthen my hand up to 100%. Then, one I’m a 100% percent, I’d like to get a little bit of training done.
“Realistically, I’m looking at like February of next year.”