Only one prospect brought back a medal in the 2024 Paris Games from boxing—21-year-old Omari Jones. The Orlando resident won a bronze medal but squandered his chances for gold losing to Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev in the semi-finals of the welterweight division. However, months after the games came to a close, Jones has achieved a new milestone.
Before the Olympic Games, Jones’ resume was already a star-studded wonder, with a gold medal from the Czech Republic Grand Prix and the 2023 GeeBee International Tournament held in Helsinki, Finland. He even clinched a silver medal in the 2021 Elite World Championship held in Belgrade, Serbia.
However, after the games, he redirected his focus to his education. The Orlando resident was attending Valencia College majoring in business. It appears he has completed his associate degree from the college, marking another major milestone in his journey outside the boxing ring. To celebrate this achievement, the 21-year-old shared his excitement on social media, expressing his pride in reaching this important goal.
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“I finally walked across the stage today completing my Associates Degree and I am now a proud graduate of Valencia College,” Jones wrote on Instagram while sharing some pictures of himself in his academic regalia. “While training for my boxing career and chasing Olympic Glory while traveling the world. I made sure to find a way to get the job done.”
Despite his success in boxing, Jones has maintained that education has been a big part of his life.
Omari Jones reveals future after Olympic medal in boxing
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While appearing in an interview with Boxing Scene, Jones spoke about the importance of education in his life. “I feel like education was instilled in me since a child,” he said. Following in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Jones claimed he always knew he would do something after school, “even if I don’t know for what.”
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“Even if I don’t get a masters [degree] and all of that, I’m going to get some type of degree after high school,” he noted. Describing his future plans, the 21-year-old revealed owning a clothing brand, which he was inspired to start after listening to J.Cole. “I want to be able to look at contracts and run my website and my business that I have now with my clothing brand and stuff.”
That being said, it appears Omari Jones has a bright career ahead of him, as he completed his associate’s degree. As for when Jones may turn pro, the 21-year-old claims he hasn’t decided yet. What did you think about Jones’ recent achievement?
The Denver Broncos secured a thrilling 41-32 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Monday, getting one step closer to their spot in the NFL playoffs. But before the game, Jake Paul stirred up buzz by announcing on social media that he would be presenting Monday Night Football on ESPN. Unsurprisingly, fans had plenty to say about Paul’s unexpected role.
Jake Paul is riding high after his unanimous decision victory over legendary boxer Mike Tysonlast month in Texas, a bout that streamed live on Netflix. Since then, ‘The Problem Child’ has been dominating headlines, with a growing list of fighters challenging the Cleveland native to step into the ring. While speculation swirls about his next opponent, Paul’s recent involvement with Monday Night Football has sparked significant criticism from fans.
Cleveland Browns lose as Paul gets involved with MNF
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Turning to Instagram, Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions wrote, “Jake Paul presents Monday Night Football on ESPN…👀🏈,” while sharing a clip to promote the announcement. Meanwhile, on the field, the Denver Broncos pulled off a hard-fought win against the Cleveland Browns despite allowing an astonishing 497 passing yards from quarterback Jameis Winston.
The Broncos capitalized on game-changing plays, including pick-sixes by linebacker Nik Bonitto and nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillian. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix also delivered a standout moment with a jaw-dropping 93-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr., securing Denver’s victory in a high-stakes matchup.
Regardless, fans wasted no time reacting to the Instagram post, flooding the comment section with a mix of excitement, skepticism, and criticism.
Fan hopes Jake Paul doesn’t start playing in the NFL
The announcement came as somewhat of a surprise, but the reactions from fans—not so much. One user outright insulted Paul. “You have homeless people in LA looking more fresh than this dude all that money and he cant take time to take care of himself,” the user wrote. Notably, Paul himself is a Cleveland native, but his support didn’t help his team secure the win.
The next user highlighted the obvious. “Cleveland lost too,” the user wrote. It’s worth noting that in 2022, Jake Paul signed a contract with Cleveland Browns, and joined the NFL franchise’s social media team.
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Meanwhile, this user suggested people can hate him all they want, but the reality is he is doing big things. “Can hate em all u want he doin big things,” the user wrote. His fight and win over Mike Tyson is among those achievements.
via Imago
Sport Bilder des Tages Boxing: Jake Paul vs Andre August Dec 15, 2023 Orlando, Florida, USA Jake Paul gets ready to fight Andre August at the Caribe Royale Orlando. , EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xNathanxRayxSeebeckx 20231215_nrs_fo8_00023_
Someone else gave a new nickname to ‘The Problem Child.’ “You mean Fake Paul,” the user wrote. Notably, there were allegations that the Tyson fight was staged, but there is no evidence to support these claims.
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Another user put forth their concerns with Paul’s involvement with the NFL. “I hope he’s not planning to play football,” the user wrote. However, with the kind of fame Paul has gathered in boxing, it’s unlikely he would want to move to a different sport.
That said, it appears despite Jake Paul getting involved with MNF, fans didn’t quite like the update. However, the bigger question is, what did you think about it? Did you watch the game?
Taiwanese officials withdraw Lin from the event in the UK to ‘avoid further harm’ to the Paris 2024 gold medallist.
Taiwan’s Olympic boxing gold medallist Lin Yu-ting has pulled out of an international competition in the United Kingdom after the organisers questioned her gender eligibility, Taiwanese sports officials have said.
Lin, who along with Algerian boxer Imane Khelif was the target of a gender row at the Paris Olympics, was due to compete in the World Boxing Cup Finals in Sheffield starting on Wednesday.
The new competition was organised by World Boxing, which was founded in 2023 and boasts about 55 members, including Taiwan.
It was to be Lin’s first international competition since Paris, but she withdrew after World Boxing questioned her eligibility, Taiwan’s Sports Administration said in a statement on Wednesday.
“She is female, meets all eligibility criteria, and successfully participated in the women’s boxing event [in Paris], winning a gold medal,” the statement said.
“Unfortunately, as World Boxing is newly established and still navigating the development of its operational mechanisms, it lacks the clear regulatory policies of the IOC that ensure the protection of athletes’ rights,” it said, referring to the International Olympic Committee.
“Additionally, World Boxing’s medical committee has yet to establish robust confidentiality procedures to safeguard the medical information submitted by Taiwan regarding Lin Yu-ting.”
Lin had offered to undergo a “comprehensive medical examination locally” in the UK but World Boxing did not agree, the statement said.
To avoid further “harm” to Lin, her coach and Taiwanese sports officials “decided to withdraw from this event proactively”.
Lin had arrived in the UK a few days ago and pulled out of the event on Tuesday, Hsieh Chi-ying from the Sports Administration told the AFP news agency.
Lin and Khelif were thrown out of last year’s world championships – which was run by the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) – but they were cleared by the IOC to compete in Paris.
IBA’s Kremlin-linked president, Umar Kremlev, claimed in a chaotic news conference that the two women had undergone “genetic testing that show that these are men”.
The IOC leapt to the defence of both boxers, with president Thomas Bach saying they were born and raised as women, and have passports saying that. Neither is known to identify as transgender.
Lin, who went on to win the gold in her women’s final, was dubbed “Taiwan’s daughter” by both local media and President William Lai Ching-te.
Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said the government would “actively strive to protect and secure” Lin’s rights to take part in future international competitions.
Arabella Del Busso has been flaunting her wealth on Instagram in recent weeks, after she was jailed for stealing $52,000 from her last employer as a receptionist.
The disgraced footy WAG, 32, served only five months at Dillwynia Women’s Correctional Centre in Sydney’s west and walked free on July 12.
Now, the reality TV contestant and ex-girlfriend of NRL star Josh Reynolds has been posing it up in designer heels at her ritzy skyscraper apartment.
Arabella shared images to her socials recently which saw her sitting naked on a white throne as she flaunted a pair of Christian Louboutin heels worth $1,395.
She kept her modesty by crossing her legs and covering her breasts with a boxing champion belt and later her white boxing gloves.
‘Give a girl the right shoes… and she can conquer the world,’ Arabella captioned one of the photos.
Arabella Del Busso, 32, (pictured) has been flaunting her wealth on Instagram in recent weeks, after she was jailed for stealing $52,000 from her last employer as a receptionist
She captioned a second similar photo a week later with: ‘This is my world… And you’re just living in it.’
Arabella was also seen posing in very racy black lingerie on her sky-high balcony in mid-October.
The raunchy set featured several sheer panels and a halter neck attached to the bra by a ring.
‘Out of sight… but on your mind,’ she wrote alongside the picture as she struck a sultry pose on her balcony in broad daylight.
Arabella’s most recent post came on Thursday as she took a mirror selfie in her lavish bathroom.
With a massive circular bathtub situated behind her, the jailbird snapped a photo as she modelled yet another saucy black lingerie set.
Arabella has been happily flaunting her lavish lifestyle and showing off her post-prison physique as the lingerie model prepares to step back into the boxing ring.
The SAS Australia star took to Instagram in September to share two images of her very fit form as she posed in her training gym in a one-piece leotard.
Arabella shared images to her socials recently which saw her sitting naked on a white throne as she flaunted a pair of Christian Louboutin heels worth $1,395
‘Happy Hump Day,’ she captioned the cheeky full-length selfie that showed off her behind.
The Melbourne native, who is recognised in the boxing sphere as Lil Bellsy, proudly displayed the remarkable amount of muscle she has gained since incarceration.
‘If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it then I can achieve it…’ she captioned the video of herself working hard with a trainer in the same boxing gym.
In the comments on the video, she also informally announced her plans to get back into the competitive sport.
Responding to a fan who asked if ‘Queen B’ has plans to get back in the ring, Arabella hyped up her followers by answering: ‘The Queen is returning, clear your schedule.’
She added that she’s looking to be back in competitions by ‘the end of the year’.
The SAS Australia star walked free from Dillwynia Women’s Correctional Centre, in Sydney’s west, after 5am on Friday, July 12.
Soon after Arabella’s release, she met with Secrets of the Underworld podcaster Neil ‘The Muscle’ Cummins to record an exclusive interview for his ‘bad girls’ series.
Arabella’s most recent post came on Thursday as she took a mirror selfie in her lavish bathroom
In it, she revealed how she managed to stay in shape behind bars and used personal training as a way to ‘form bonds’ with the other inmates.
The former WAG, who is most infamous for faking pregnancies to her ex, NRL star Josh Reynolds, also said some of the women dubbed her ‘jail Barbie’.
‘I was doing boxing training with some of the girls, exercises, and I was using my hands as pads,’ Arabella said on the podcast.
‘Nobody judged you—depending on what you did. They were good with me and I was good with them. I never once started a fight.
‘They were absolutely loving it and it was good to see, to know that I was able to give them something in there that they can’t have.’
Arabella said she was using full water bottles, staircases, and body weight exercises like squats to maintain her fitness in the absence of any actual gym equipment.
Mark Borkowski is the public relations maestro who has worked with everyone from Mikhail Gorbachev to Diego Maradona to Jim Rose, an American exhibitionist who used to hang weights from his penis. Borkowski also helped Ian Botham recreate Hannibal’s walk across the Alps with elephants, and, for his sins, was the mastermind behind Cliff Richard’s Saviour’s Day reaching Christmas No 1, despite minimal radio play. So who better to talk about the biggest sporting stunt of the year, Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul, which will be streamed into 300m homes via Netflix this weekend?
Instinctively, as I told Borkowksi, I hate the idea. Most boxing fans do. It sells a myth that wasn’t even close to being a reality in 2004, let alone 2024: namely that Tyson is one of the most ferocious warriors alive, not a 58-year-old who lost 26lb in May after an ulcer flare-up that left him throwing up blood and defecating tar. It risks Tyson’s boxing reputation and his health. And, Netflix’s lavish promotion aside, it feels more like a sham or a circus than a genuine sporting event.
But I may be wrong. Certainly Borkowksi thinks so. He believes the fight is straight out of the playbook of PT Barnum, the greatest showman of all and a curator of the absurd and extraordinary, who instinctively knew what the public wanted long before they did. And that it will cut through to the masses.
“Barnum understood how to engage the crowd – the great herd, the great unwashed,” he says. “This fight is about opportunism. It’s about creative thinking. And it is already generating the oxygen of publicity, which is always an indication that something is going to be very successful.”
As Borkowski points outsays, the fightit taps into two big markets: Boomers and Gen Xers, who grew up watching Tyson, as well as the younger generations who worship Jake Paul, many of whom will want to watch.
“A lot of people, particularly boys, project themselves into male influencers like Paul,” he says. “In some ways, they are their best mates – whether it’s watching them play Call of Duty, or seeing the Jackass-influenced generation of pranksters doing outrageous things on social. So they will be watching this. And so will those who grew up with Tyson in his prime. So while purists might sneer, there’s a market for this. And Netflix knows it.”
But it’s not entirely sport, is it? Borkowksi doesn’t demur. But he is not sure that it matters, as long as the fight – in the early hours of Saturday, UK time – delivers in some way. “The root of this fight is absolutely that of World Wrestling Entertainment,” he says. “It’s a fusion of sport and entertainment. You feel that part of it is staged. Will anybody get seriously hurt? I doubt it, given they are wearing 14-ounce gloves. So it is more WWE than WBA.”
Inflatables of Jake Paul (left) and Mike Tyson in New York this month. Photograph: Jimin Kim/Sopa Images/Shutterstock
He then delivers the ultimate endorsement. “I’d be only too pleased to come up with something like this,” he says.
Borkowksi isn’t alone in believing Netflix is on to a winner. Adam Kelly, the president of media of the global sports rights agency IMG, feels much the same way. And, having worked closely with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Al Haymon to help promote and stage Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor in 2017, he sees Tyson versus Paul as having similar crossover appeal.
Kelly’s starting point is that in a world where TV ratings are falling, sport is absolutely bucking the trend with record ratings for the NFL, Olympics, the Euros and the Women’s NBA. So naturally the media and tech giants such as Netflix and Amazon are starting to focus more on live sport, using it to drive subscriptions and sell products. And given their business acumen, would you dare bet against them?
“This fight is much bigger than boxing,” he says. “This is the road, and the road map, that’s going to prove the model for Netflix when it comes to sport.”
Kelly predicts that Tyson vs Paul “will be one of the biggest fights there’s ever been broadcast”. Why? Because of a combination of Netflix’s huge subscriber base, the ability of its algorithm to nudge people towards new content, and the intrigue surrounding the fight.
And he has a message for purists, who turned their noses up at Mayweather against McGregor and continue to roll their eyes at influencers such as Paul in their sport. “These fights have encouraged new fans, and led to a fresh wave of interest in boxing,” he insists. “If boxing only appeals to a hardcore fan base, with technical fights, eventually it will die. Because its audiences will age, and then they’ll die.”
It is a warning that applies to all sports. “You have to be constantly looking to build your audience,” says Kelly. “And that means making a product that specifically appeals to people who are not your current fans. Unless you’re doing that, you’re on a shrinking iceberg.”
I don’t disagree. But I still flinch when I hear Netflix promoting the fight in Arlington, Texas, as the “biggest name in social media against the biggest name in boxing”, or when I see Muhammad Ali’s former manager Gene Kilroy tell Tyson recently: “This is the strongest I have ever seen you.” This is not just brazen hype. It is deluded nonsense.
It brings to mind that old adage, often misattributed to Barnum, of there being a sucker being born every minute. Barnum is also claimed to have once said: “Every crowd has a silver lining.” Which, when it comes to this uneasy spectacle, seems somewhat apposite.
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Ice hockey is one of the most unique sports in existence because of one specific rule that allows fighting as a way to settle disputes. However, this does carry a penalty in the form of a temporary expulsion, but it is not very severe compared to the damage that athletes can do to each other while punches are flying.
Last night, there was an eagerly awaited ‘rematch’ between two heavyweights who were looking forward to it. Dylan McIlrath and Matt Rempe dropped their gloves at center ice at 2:37 of the first period of the game between the Washington Capitals and the New York Rangers, and settled their differences. Both teams belong to the AHL (American Hockey League), the league that is one step below the NHL.
Fan disrespectfully throws an elderly person’s hat on the ice during hockey game
The fight drew cheers from the excited fans in attendance at Capital One Arena. Facing off were two old foes who had last fought during the 2022-23 AHL season. That fight was ruled to have been won by McIlrath and this one too, as Rempe ended up bloodied and took more blows.
Why do they fight and why is it allowed?
This type of action is quite normal in North American ice hockey and at the same time unthinkable in other sports where, if it were to occur, it would lead to a harsh sanction. Why do they occur and why are they allowed? While contact is normal in this sport, the frenetic nature of hockey means that the referee overlooks some actions or simply sees some illegal body checks or stick checks. The fights stem from these situations in order to settle them. Players are free to settle their disputes with their fists.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was very clear on this at the time, stating that fighting “can prevent other injuries in a fast-paced, physical and emotional game”. And former professional player Brandon Prust is in complete agreement: “If they eliminate fighting, I guarantee more players will get hurt because of the increased body checks on the ice.”
Steven Stamkos, until last year a Tampa Bay Lightning forward and this season with the Nashville Predators, has no doubts: “I think it’s necessary and healthy,” he said. It goes without saying that fighting is an essential part of professional games and is governed by NHL rules. Moreover, 98% of NHL players surveyed say they do not want to ban fighting in hockey.
Codes and rules about fights
There are codes and rules that dictate who can fight and for what reasons. It just so happens that there are fewer fights in the postseason, when teams are focused on winning the championship, and this is where you could say that players adhere to an unwritten code.
But there are some rules that are written down and they are extensive. In the first instance, it should be noted that more than one fight is allowed at the same time and, that said, there is a wide variety of scenarios and hence the section 46 of the rules is broad. One of the most notable is rule 46.11, often called the ‘instigator rule’. While any player who fights automatically receives a major penalty of five minutes, the player who started the fight is subject to additional penalties under this rule. It should also be noted that actions are stopped by the referee when a player falls to the ground or if he considers that they have been ‘distributing’ for too long. Hockey and bare knuckle.
The rules also specify penalties for less common situations, such as players jumping off the bench to start a fight, or fights taking place off the playing surface. Also if team personnel other than players, such as coaches, are involved.
It has been quite a last few months for Aakash Sangwan. After impressive performances at left-back for Chennaiyin FC in the last two seasons, the 28-year-old signed for FC Goa and has now earned his first-ever India call-up. Sangwan has three sessions in the blue training jersey so far, the first one in Kolkata followed by two more in Nam Dinh, Vietnam, where India have come to face the hosts in a friendly on October 12. Every new day feels like a dream for the Bhiwani boy. “The first call-up to the national team is always special as everyone desires to play for India at least once in their lives. So, it means a lot,” said Sangwan, who shares his room with former Chennaiyin FC teammate Farukh Choudhary as quoted by the AIFF official website. “The experience so far has been great. I can see why most of these players have been a part of the national team for so long, everyone here is confident and sure about their abilities. I want to contribute to the team as much as I can in whatever way possible so that we can move forward in the right direction,” Sangwan added. It was just over a week ago when Sangwan discovered he would be on the plane to Vietnam, thanks to a text that left him confused at first, and then pleasantly surprised. “Well, someone sent me a congratulatory text and I couldn’t make out what the wish was for. Then when I went online I saw the list of probables and realised why I got the text. It was a surprising as well as a joyous moment,” he shared. What’s not surprising for Indian football fans is Sangwan’s inclusion in the national squad. Dishing out consistent performances in the ISL in a highly-competitive position like left-back and making to the national team where several names like Subhasish Bose, Akash Mishra, Jay Gupta, and Naorem Roshan Singh have played at the position in the last year, just goes to show the level he has acquired. It’s a unique situation, but Sangwan has the same head coach and the majority of the coaching staff at his club FC Goa, and the national team, which in some way, has made adjusting to the India camp easier for him. “One thing I can say about the coaching staff is that they are honest and direct people. Good or bad, they will tell you directly to your face. Coach Manolo’s relationship with me is just as good as he has with every other player in the national team and FC Goa,” he said. Just over two years ago, Sangwan was an I-League player for RoundGlass Punjab FC, hoping to make a big move. Chennaiyin FC came calling and after 10 assists in two seasons for the Marina Machans, the doors to the Indian national team have opened up. “I believe it’s the constant learning and growing day by day that helped me gain these recent step-ups in my career. I will keep trying to do what I have always done – and that is giving my best and learning from every situation, whether good or bad,” he said. Sangwan’s footballing journey began in Bhiwani, a town in Haryana renowned for producing world-class boxers. But Sangwan’s sporting journey began with his feet – at the age of 10 when he joined a local coaching academy at the Bhim Stadium with his two elder brothers. “Until 16 years of age, I played in every open tournament possible in Haryana. Then my family shifted to Panchkula and I started training at the Sector 17 Ground in Chandigarh. For the next few years, I played inter-university tournaments and the Santosh Trophy,” he said. Then, Minerva Punjab FC happened, which opened Sangwan’s doors to professional football. He was part of the club’s senior team from their very first season in the I-League and made his debut in April 2017. In the 2017-18, Minerva won a historic I-League title, bringing Sangwan his first major trophy. “I spent multiple years at Minerva. From coming on as a substitute to eventually becoming a regular in the first eleven. I later played for Churchill Brothers and RoundGlass Punjab FC before making it to the ISL,” he concluded.
‘The Phenom’ hasn’t fought in the last 18 months and fans could be forgiven for assuming that the 47-year-old is done with fighting – but they’d be mistaken.
Belfort hopes to spearhead a new combat sport that will combine MMA and boxing rules to create the ultimate viewing experience for fans.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Vitor Belfort wants Tommy Fury to help him launch a new sport
Tommy Fury is the man he wants to face in the sport’s historic debut.
“If I can point to one fight that really interest me today, Tyson Fury’s brother,” Belfort told Inside Fighting.
“I would love to fight him with gloves where I’d be able to grab and get a hold of him.
“I always wanted to bring what’s next with a vision of combat sports.
“Boxing is a great thing, but if you can bring a sport where you can bring the best of both sports with one ruleset, I think people will have the fight of their lives.
“That is what I’m looking to present to the combat sport fans… The problem is a lot of people don’t want to risk what they have. People are very afraid of risking what they have rather than looking to the future and seeing it as an investment.
“The future of combat sport is bringing MMA and boxing under one ruleset together.”
John Fury and Tommy Fury. IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
Vitor Belfort has deep respect for Tommy Fury and his family
Fury has spoken about becoming a boxing world champion, but he’s spent his entire career to date competing on reality TV shows and facing off against influencer boxers.
The 25-year-old boasts a perfect 10-0 record and holds wins over KSI and Jake Paul but often faces unfair comparisons to his former heavyweight world champion brother.
Belfort is a big fan of ‘TNT’ and thinks he would make the perfect dance partner.
“The story of the Fury family, I really have so much respect for this family,” he explained.
“You know, coming from the father to Tyson and Tommy. Tommy is a great athlete, he defeated Jake Paul. Of course, he’s much younger than me but that [fight] would be an honour.
“For me, I’m at a stage of my life where I don’t want to compete against someone I don’t admire or I don’t see a level of how we can make something to bring to the masses and [multiple] generations.
“One year before he was coming to this Earth, I was a world champion.
“My dream is to put this sport together where we would be able to fight with rules that combine MMA [and boxing]. I’m not gonna elbow. I’m not gonna doing anything besides punching, but I would be able to grab him in the clinch, punch in the clinch and dirty box.
“It takes one person to say yes so we can become the biggest history fight for years from today. He would be a guy I would love to have the honor to step in the ring and do something like that with.”
YOU didn’t have to be Angelo Dundee to realise you were watching an immense talent when John Conteh won the middleweight gold medal at the 1970 Commonwealth Games.
But I had no idea as I saw him brilliantly outbox a Tanzanian in the final in Edinburgh that the 19-year-old kid from Kirkby was about to evolve in a few years into JC Superstar.
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John Conteh was the David Beckham of his eraCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Because of his outstanding ability, knockout-handsome film star looks and cheeky Merseyside charisma, it was no surprise he was made financial offers to turn pro he couldn’t refuse.
Four years later he was ready to challenge Argentine Jorge Ahumada for his WBC world light-heavyweight title, at Wembley’s Empire Pool.
Conteh delivered a superb points victory — it was the peak performance of his life.
Everything was on display, his considerable skills, speed of thought and movement, brutal punching, plus heart and desire to bring the title to Britain.
It was only Ahumada’s teak-tough chin that got him through the 15 rounds.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the most momentous moment of Conteh’s nine-year career, he is being honoured with a star-studded tribute lunch organised by the London Ex- Boxers Association at Holborn’s Connaught Rooms on October 20.
When LEBA secretary Ray Caulfield announced the event in June, there were those who wondered if it would attract a large enough crowd.
But when the £125 tickets went on sale, within a matter of days all 400 had been snapped up. And Conteh, at 73, was involved in yet another sell-out.
Frank Bruno, Michael Watson and David Haye will pay homage to one of our all-time great fighters, along with celebrities from football and showbiz.
In the 1970s John was one of this country’s most famous sporting personalities — the David Beckham of his era.
Sky Sports forced to apologise after boxer swears in live TV interview
Immediately after he had beaten Ahumada, it was the start of a celebrity lifestyle that eventually led to his downfall.
Conteh’s marketability saw his face staring out from the front covers of magazines and advertising hoardings.
He was a guest on Parkinson and every other TV chat show and made appearances at functions nationwide.
As you went down the escalators of every London underground station there were pictures of a near-naked John modelling men’s underwear.
He was also a regular at Tramp, then Mayfair’s most fashionable nightclub.
Unfortunately, excessive drinking led to him becoming an alcoholic — which is why sadly he only realised 50 per cent of his potential.
Arguably, John’s greatest winning fight was overcoming his drink disease.
He never hid away from his problems and hasn’t touched alcohol for nearly 40 years, which must be an inspiration to fellow sufferers.
What I love about my favourite Scouser is that he always has time for young and old who want selfies or simply to have a chat.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are the present-day darlings of boxing fans — it would be interesting to know if they will still be sought after in 50 years.
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John Conteh during “Rocky Balboa” London Premiere in 2007Credit: Getty
Actor Brian Tyree Henry, director Rachel Morrison and actor Ryan Destiny on the set of The Fire Inside.Sabrina Lantos/Amazon MGM Studios
It would not be inaccurate to call the Toronto International Film Festival the Olympics of the movie business. Like the best athletes, filmmakers spend large chunks of their lives training, lining up sponsors, and sweating the details of their craft, all in the hopes of making it to the TIFF podium. Perhaps even snagging that gold, a.k.a. the People’s Choice Award, Toronto’s vaunted Oscars bellwether.
Yet it takes a certain intensity to even attempt that journey – the kind of raw and unwavering commitment that director Rachel Morrison and actress Ryan Destiny know perhaps all too well as the pair sweated to get their new sports drama The Fire Inside from the mat of production to the arena of a TIFF world premiere.
“This film is a story of resilience, and making it was an act of resilience,” says Morrison, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer behind the 2017 drama Mudbound,who makes her feature directorial debut with this big-hearted biopic of American Olympic boxer Claressa “T. Rex” Shields. “Claressa was an incredible role model here, too – her strength as a human is what helped me keep going and fighting for this movie.”
This isn’t the kind of typical marketing hyperbole, either. Morrison was just two days into shooting the film (originally titled Flint Strong) in Toronto in 2020 when the pandemic hit, immediately shutting down production. More than two years passed before the film would get rolling again, this time under a new studio (MGM taking over from Universal) and with a new co-star (Brian Tyree Henry plays Shields’ coach Jason Crutchfield, a role originally held by Ice Cube).
The Fire Inside is a film as much about being the best as it is about the struggle waiting to show the world what the best even looks like.Sabrina Lantos/Amazon MGM Studios
“I definitely have a more positive outlook on it now, because at the time I felt like it was the worst luck. But I think I needed it – I don’t know if back then I was as ready as I thought I was,” says Destiny, who plays Shields from age 17, when the wannabe fighter rose from a no-frills gym in the blighted city of Flint, Mich., to take on all comers at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. “The fact that the film came back for a second round made me go even harder in my performance and drop into it more completely and vulnerably.”
Neatly and accidentally, the challenges of making The Fire Inside dovetail with the film’s ownunique structure and themes, which set the movie apart from the crowded canon of underdog sports cinema. Adapting the 2015 documentary T-REX by Zackary Canepari and Drea Cooper, screenwriter Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) – who was initially set to direct the film before handing the reins to Morrison – tackles the expected athletic triumphs before diving into the more complicated reality of what comes after the promises of Wheaties boxes fade. This is a film as much about being the best as it is about the struggle waiting to show the world what the best even looks like.
“Making the film was a real reflection of the film itself – we literally had to make it twice in some ways, just as Claressa had to fight on the global stage twice to be seen,” says Morrison, wearing a hat emblazoned with the word “GRATEFUL” in all-caps. “Things happen for a reason. And now there is something so right about releasing a movie about the aftermath of the Olympics in the aftermath of the Olympics, in a great year for women’s sports, too.”
Director Rachel Morrison and actress Ryan Destiny sweated to get their new sports drama The Fire Inside from the mat of production to the arena of a TIFF world premiere.Sabrina Lantos/Amazon MGM Studios
Shields herself was along for much of the journey, with her and Jenkins becoming Morrison’s favourite “phone-a-friends.”
“I had Claressa pretty much on speed dial, but it was more like me asking her specific questions: What were you listening to when training? What were you and Jason talking about in that moment?” recalls Morrison.
The director herself would also become a one-woman support network for her young star.
“Rachel felt like my lifeline – we built such a strong relationship as we were going through the same thing at the same time,” says Destiny, a native of Detroit who delivers the kind of breakthrough performance that recalls a young Michelle Rodriguez in the 2000 drama Girlfight. “I don’t think that’s a common thing, for a director to have that much communication with their actors. She was very open and honest throughout the entire process.”
Part of that process included making sure that Flint itself was represented – even if most of the film was shot in and around Toronto.
Neatly and accidentally, the challenges of making The Fire Inside dovetail with the film’s own unique structure and themes, which set the movie apart from the crowded canon of underdog sports cinema.Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios
“When you make movies, you always have to pick your battles, but the one thing I couldn’t let go of was shooting Flint for Flint. Any day that we came in under time for shooting, that was money for the Flint piggy bank,” says Morrison, who shot almost all of the film’s exterior city shots in the actual Michigan locale.
“Flint is such a special place, and the people there have so much pride. There’s a specificity to it that nowhere else can recapture.”
As The Fire Inside heads to TIFF this weekend, Morrison must now reckon with a different kind of bout, one playing appropriately enough inside herself: Should she continue on the path of directing, or return to the world of cinematography?
“I’m a storyteller first, but what’s happened lately is that I didn’t have any idea how much a director has to fight for something to come to be,” Morrison says. “Now that I have a platform, I can use it to bring a film into the universe. I’ll fight for any story that I believe in and that is additive in the world somehow, whether that’s as a director or director of photography.”
Spoken like a tried-and-true champ.
The Fire Inside world premieres at TIFF on Sept. 7, 2:30 p.m., Royal Alexandra Theatre, with additional screenings Sept. 8, 3:30 p.m., Scotiabank; Sept. 13, 12:30 p.m., Scotiabank; and Sept. 15, 12:35 p.m., Scotiabank.
