Boxing

Eddie Hearn and his company, Matchroom Boxing, are suing Jake Paul and seeking over $100 million in damages for defamation, claiming the YouTube star-turned-boxer damaged their reputation in a recent interview.

The lawsuit states that Paul "made outrageously false and baseless allegations" when he accused Hearn of paying off judge Glenn Feldman in a bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua in August, per TMZ Sports.

Joshua lost by split decision.

"Glenn Feldman shows up in Saudi and scores Anthony Joshua to win the fight when everyone who watched the fight said it was not a split decision," Paul said, before adding, "Clearly, this guy is getting paid money by Matchroom Boxing."

Paul also claimed that Feldman was paid off by Hearn's Matchroom Boxing in an April fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. Taylor defeated Serrano by split decision.

Hearn has denied the allegations, calling them "outlandishly false." According to his lawyer, Frank Salzano, Hearn is suing for over $100 million in damages:

"Both legally and ethically there is a clear line separating opinion from defamatory lies. Jake Paul knows that, and he purposely crossed that line when he wrongly accused Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn of fixing fights."

"Nonetheless he was still given an opportunity to retract his defamatory statements and refused to. Now he will face the legal consequences of his actions as Matchroom and Mr. Hearn will be seeking damages in well excess of $100 million given the value and goodwill attached to the Matchroom business and the harmful nature of Mr. Paul’s comments."

Hearn threatened to sue Paul earlier this week, saying the only way he wouldn't file a lawsuit was if he got an apology from the 25-year-old, via MMAFighting.com:

“I hate all that but at the end of the day sometimes you’ve got to teach these people. You’ve got two options really — you can chin him or sue him. I’m not around him, I’m not going to chin him anyways. I hate it but it’s like it’s so idiotic and it’s actually disrespectful to the sport that he knows nothing about.

“Firstly he says ‘why does Eddie Hearn keep using these judges?’ I don’t use any judges. The commission selects all judges and various commissions around the world. By the way, Glenn Feldman is one of the best judges, speak to anyone in the sport. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. To make those allegations, really it pissed me off and actually upset me. It’s actually led me to take it further.”

Hearn, a British boxing promoter, promotes and has promoted the likes of Joshua, Usyk, Canelo Álvarez and Gennady Golovkin. He also promoted Logan Paul's fight against YouTube personality KSI in November 2019.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. said YouTube star Jake Paul wouldn't even have a puncher's chance if he stepped in the boxing ring opposite super middleweight champion Canelo Álvarez.

Paul previously stated his long-term goal is a 2024 battle with Álvarez, but Mayweather suggested in an interview with TMZ Sports on Friday the YouTuber should stay in his own lane.

"He'll get f--ked up by Canelo," Mayweather said. "There is no way. He'll get demolished. For what he's doing, as long as they keep getting YouTubers and keep putting him in there with MMA guys that's kind of over the hill, he's going continue to shine. So, I'm proud of him. I'm not really upset."

Paul has exceeded most expectations since starting his boxing career with an exhibition victory over fellow YouTube sensation Deji Olatunji in 2018.

The 25-year-old Cleveland native turned pro in 2020 and has rattled off victories over YouTuber Ali "AnEsonGib" Al-Fakri, former NBA player Nate Robinson and a pair of MMA fighters, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, who he's defeated twice to reach 5-0.

Next up is an Oct. 29 showdown with one of the greatest UFC fighters in history, Anderson Silva.

It'll be the toughest test of Paul's young career, but it still won't answer the one key question he continues to face: How would he perform against a classically trained, lifelong boxer?

That hurdle would likely need to get jumped multiple times before he comes anywhere close to stepping in the ring with Álvarez for an actual fight. An exhibition contest would be a different set of circumstances.

Mayweather is right, though. If Paul and Canelo faced off right now in an actual boxing match, it wouldn't be a fair fight. It would be a lopsided onslaught in favor of the Mexican superstar.

That's not a knock against Paul either. It's just the reality of someone with six total fights on their resume taking on one of the generation's greatest boxers.

It would be like comedian Kevin Hart, a four-time NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP, trying to beat LeBron James one-on-one. Just because you thrive in one environment doesn't mean it's possible to take down a master of the craft.

How Paul performs against Silva, who has four boxing matches under his belt, will be a fair indication of his progress and could help prove whether he's ready to face an actual boxer.

A meeting with Álvarez, who beat Gennady Golovkin in a trilogy fight last weekend, is still likely many moons away regardless of next month's result, though.

Shakur Stevenson is set to fight Robson Conceição on Friday night, but he won't be doing it as a world champion.

Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) was stripped of the WBC and WBO super featherweight titles after failing to make the 130-pound weight limit Thursday. He weighed in at 131.6 pounds, while Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) tipped the scales at 129.6 pounds.

Despite the prospect of losing his titles and also potentially having the fight called off, Stevenson declined to make another attempt at getting under the weight limit.

The 25-year-old explained his decision on Twitter, citing his health and a planned move to the lightweight division:

The two sides were able to come to a purse agreement to keep the fight alive, per ESPN's Mike Coppinger. For Stevenson, Friday's contest is simply a chance to showcase his skills against a tough veteran opponent. He cannot regain the titles with a win.

Conceição, 33, is still eligible to claim the belts if he scores an upset.

Stevenson vs. Conceição Fight Info

When: Friday, Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. ET (main card)

Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey

TV: ESPN (US), Sky Sports (UK)

Live stream: ESPN+

Odds: Stevenson -1700 (bet $1,700 to win $100), Conceição + 900 (bet $100 to win $900)

Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

Preview, Predictions

As expected, Stevenson is a heavy favorite to win on Friday. The inability to make weight would be cause for alarm in many cases, but he has been teasing a move to 135 pounds for months now. This failure on the scales might not signal a lack of preparation like it does in so many other cases.

Even so, the New Jersey native can't afford to be overconfident. He still has an undefeated record to protect, and he'll want to impress against Conceição so that he can send a message to the star-studded lightweight division, which includes Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr., among others.

If Stevenson's last fight is any indication, he should be able to handle whatever Conceição throws at him.

In April, the southpaw dominated Oscar Valdez over 12 rounds to retain his unified titles. His defense was excellent against the aggressive Mexican, as he snuffed out attacks with ease and lined up his countershots.

He also did well on offense, scoring a knockdown in the sixth round and using his length and speed to pick apart Valdez. For the methodical, risk-averse Stevenson, it was one of his more entertaining outings.

Conceição fought Valdez in September 2019, losing a controversial decision. While some felt the Brazilian deserved a win, it wasn't a dominant, wire-to-wire display like the one Stevenson put together. He started off the match brightly, but the later rounds were muddied.

It seems Stevenson has done his homework, as he's expecting a similar pattern on Friday.

“I think his weakness is he has more of an amateur style, where he’s a front-runner," he told Anson Wainwright of The Ring. "I think he starts off fast, but as the fight goes on, he slows down and then I’ll take over. I don’t think he can do anything to stop me. I think it’s a great fight, but I’m on a whole different level."

Conceição, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, believes Stevenson isn't fully aware of his capabilities and is looking past him.

“Shakur is definitely underestimating me,” he said through a translator, per Keith Idec of Boxing Scene. “That’s gonna be the biggest mistake of his career, underestimating a man like me, who’s really willing and hungry to win. He never really faced anyone like me, an athlete of this caliber, and that’s gonna be his downfall.”

There is indeed a chance Stevenson isn't completely focused on this fight given the failure to make weight and his focus on transitioning to lightweight. But as long as he's at least close to his peak, he should be able to win this fight, even if he has to slow things down and make it boring.

Conceição is a tough, smart boxer, but he lacks the kind of power that might give other fighters an edge against the American.

With the backing of a hometown crowd and a spotless record to protect, look for Stevenson to safely navigate a tough first few rounds before taking control and winning the fight handily on the cards.

Prediction: Stevenson by unanimous decision

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Professional boxer Isiah Jones, who took first in the 2016 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions' middleweight division, was shot and killed on Monday in Detroit. He was 28 years old.

Wayne County, Michigan prosecuting attorney Kym Worthy announced that Jones' older brother, 30-year-old Timothy Lyman, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

The shooting allegedly occurred following an argument between Jones and Lyman, who authorities said shot his brother in the face before fleeing the scene at the 9300 block of Stout Street in Detroit. Lyman was arrested two days later and arraigned on Thursday, per Kara Berg of the Detroit News.

Jones' ex-trainer, Roshawn Jones, spoke with Berg after word of the champion boxer's passing broke.

"He had two kids, a boy and a girl, and he needed to support them in any way he can by not being in the streets," Jones said. "So he chose boxing to help him take care of his family."

The trainer also spoke about the boxer's character in comments he made to Brett Kast of 7 Action News.

"Isaiah was a hardworking individual. He was determined," Roshawn Jones said. "He was strong. He was a great father.”

Jones added more about his former pupil.

"He set the tone for everybody. He was the hardest working person in the gym and he's just a great overall guy," Jones said. "He was a great guy, great family man, loved his kids and he did the best he could to provide for his children."

Isiah Jones went 52-2 during his amateur career and 9-7 during his professional stint, per Ryan Songalia of The Ring. He notably fought three times at "The Bubble" in Las Vegas' MGM Grand when Top Rank produced cards for ESPN after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic era. Jones also fought on the Canelo Alvarez-Callum Smith undercard.

Roshawn Jones has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the boxer's funeral expenses, with anything extra going to his children.

Shakur Stevenson will be stripped of his WBO and WBC featherweight titles after failing to make weight ahead of his matchup with Robson Conceição on Friday, per ESPN's Mike Coppinger.

Conceição will still be eligible to claim both titles with a win.

Stevenson said Thursday on Twitter that he's no longer capable of hitting 130 pounds:

The undefeated Stevenson (18-0) is facing a fine from the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, and potentially some of the $3 million fight purse he's set to earn. Friday's event is taking place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Per Coppinger, "Top Rank is attempting to find a solution so Stevenson and Conceição can still fight in the ESPN main event."

The 33-year-old Conceição (17-1) will have his second title shot on Friday. In Sept. 2021 he lost by decision to Oscar Valdez, who had tested positive for a banned substance in the lead-up to the fight but was still allowed to participate.

Valdez would go on to lose to Stevenson and Conceição beat Xavier Martinez, putting Stevenson and Conceição on a collision course.

Stevenson, 25, is one of the rising stars in the sport, so missing weight Thursday and the loss of his titles is unlikely to derail his career in any significant way.

A move to the lightweight division always seemed like the natural progression for Stevenson's career. The circumstances of that transition weren't ideal heading into Friday's fight, but he'll be one of the main draws in his new weight class if he continues on his current trajectory.

Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. told Charlotte Daly of the Daily Mail on Wednesday that he was in "talks" with Conor McGregor to stage a rematch in 2023, either as a professional bout or an exhibition.

McGregor quickly responded on Instagram, writing "✌️ #notinterested" alongside a picture of him hitting Mayweather with an uppercut.

Mayweather won the first matchup between the two in 2017 by 10th-round TKO. It was McGregor's first professional boxing match after he won both the UFC's featherweight and lightweight championships.

Since fighting Mayweather, however, McGregor is just 1-3 in the Octagon, with losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier (twice).

McGregor, who has spent the past year-plus away from fighting as he recovers from a broken leg suffered against Poirier in July 2021, said in May that he plans to return to both boxing and the UFC in the future.

"Boxing is my first love in combat sports. I had such a great time the last time I was out there," he told Sky Sports at the Monaco Grand Prix. "Obviously, my return will be in the Octagon for UFC—that story is far from over. In fact it's just being written; it is just the beginning. But, boxing, for sure I will grace the squared circle again in the future."

Mayweather, meanwhile, said he would prefer to face McGregor in an exhibition fight.

He told Daly:

"I am not into fights where I am going to take any real punishment. So, guys like McGregor and guys that don't really hit hard such as YouTubers or UFC guys, I don't really mind colliding with those kinds of individuals but nothing where I am going to put myself in a position where I am going to harm myself or hurt myself."

That, of course, presumes the two will actually face off again. It's unclear if Mayweather was just fishing to gauge both McGregor's interest in a rematch and public intrigue in such a fight, or if McGregor was denying his interest as a publicity stunt or as a negotiation tactic.

It's boxing—most of the drama and fireworks happen before the punches are thrown. That phenomenon is tripled anytime either Mayweather or McGregor are involved. So despite McGregor's response Wednesday, don't be surprised if this story doesn't go away.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is tentatively planning for a rematch with Conor McGregor in 2023, he confirmed to Charlotte Daly of the Daily Mail.

"We don't know if it's going to be an exhibition or a real fight," Mayweather said. "But there's been talks of both. I would prefer an exhibition."

The boxing legend added he's "not into fights where I am going to take any real punishment."

Left unspoken was how the 45-year-old may also want to avoid putting his unblemished 50-0 record at stake.

Since earning a TKO victory over McGregor in 2017, Mayweather has limited himself to unofficial exhibitions. He has fought Tenshin Nasukawa, Logan Paul and Don Moore, and the Michigan native will box MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura on Sunday.

McGregor, meanwhile, has seen his fortunes in the Octagon take a hit. Since fighting Mayweather, he has lost three of his last four fights in UFC. The 34-year-old has been out for more than a year since his last bout, when he suffered a broken tibia against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

Tim Simpson, McGregor's manager, told MMA Junkie's Farah Hannoun and Mike Bohn in August his client's leg was "still healing," so his return to competition won't come until 2023.

An exhibition against Mayweather would allow McGregor to cash a big paycheck while putting less stress on his surgically repaired left leg.

Their full earnings were never confirmed, but Mayweather and McGregor were guaranteed a purse of $100 million and $30 million, respectively, in 2017. That didn't include their shares of the live gate and pay-per-view revenue.

For McGregor, the dilemma is probably whether he wants to commit to an event that will extend his MMA hiatus. He's fallen to 11th in the lightweight rankings, and he isn't getting any younger.

If McGregor wants to be a UFC champion again, then he may have to prioritize a return to the Octagon over a more lucrative venture with Mayweather.

The undercard of Jake Paul and Anderson Silva will feature another battle between a YouTube personality and a former MMA fighter.

Mikhail Varshavski, who is best known online as Doctor Mike, will take on Bellator veteran Chris Avila in a four-round boxing bout, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN. The match will take place before the Paul-Silva main event on Oct. 29 in Glendale, Arizona.

"As a practicing physician, I've taken an oath to 'do no harm,' but when those 'exam' gloves come off and the boxing gloves slide on: all bets are off," Varshavski said in a statement. "With one win under my belt, I'm hungry to add more. And this pro-fight with Chris Avila could be just what the doctor ordered."

Doctor Mike has over 10 million subscribers on YouTube, but like Paul, he has recently made a transition to boxing. The 32-year-old beat fellow internet personality iDubbbz in an amateur bout last May and he will now make his professional debut.

Paul also started his boxing career in celebrity bouts, beating AnEsonGib and former NBA player Nate Robinson before moving on to MMA veterans Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley.

Avila, 29, has been a professional MMA fighter since 2014, producing an 8-9 career record. After back-to-back losses in Bellator, he bounced back with a pair of first-round knockouts in North Iowa Fights. He has since transitioned to boxing, beating Anthony Taylor by majority decision in Dec. 2021.

The fight card, produced by Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, will also feature a bout between Ashton Sylve and Braulio Rodriguez.