Boxing is one of the oldest and most beloved combat sports in the world. It is believed that the martial art has been practiced since the prehistoric era. However, evidence for this claim are sparse and dubious. We do know with a certain degree of certainty that the sport was practiced in Ancient Egypt and Greece, whether for athleticism, as a tool of war, or for competitions. It was included in the Ancient Olympics, and still remains in the modern iteration of the Olympics today. When it comes to popularity, no combat sport rivals boxing (though mixed martial arts is slowly creeping in on its predecessor’s popularity). The sport is practiced in gyms all over the world, watched by hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe, and enjoys heavy play when it comes to wagering. Surveys and examinations of online betting sites like this official site have shown that boxing is among the most bet on sports in the world, and certainly the most popular martial art to place wagers on. Over the course of the 20th century, the world was graced with some of the greatest boxers it has ever seen. In this article, we are going to name a few who stood in the spotlight. Sugar Ray RobinsonWidely regarded as the greatest boxer of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson had a professional record of 128-1-2. Out of his 128 victories, 84 were knockouts. He competed between 1940 and 1965, during which time he fought some of the most high-intensity fights in the history of the sport. Robinson’s biggest opponent was Jake LaMotta, who later would become one of his most bitter rivals. They fought a total of six times, of which Sugar Ray won five. In 1990 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and today is remembered as one of the best, if not the best pound for pound boxer of all time. Mike TysonMike Tyson made his debut in 1985, and for the next 20 years absolutely dominated the boxing world. Nicknamed “Iron Mike” and often called the Baddest Man on the Planet, Tyson reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion for three whole years. When he was only 20 years old he claimed his first belt. In doing so, he became the youngest boxer to hold a heavyweight title. Though a great boxer, Tyson’s career is steeped in highs and lows, the most notable of which being his controversial second bout with bitter rival Evander Holyfield. Despite the controversy, Mike Tyson remains one of the best boxers of all time, and has a claim to the number 1 title. Muhammad AliLast, but certainly not least, Muhammad Ali. Equal parts showman and athlete, Muhammad Ali remains, to this day, one of the most recognizable, beloved, respected, and remembered athletes to have ever lived. His fame went passed the ring and made him one of America’s biggest celebrities during his reign. The biggest fights of his career are still fondly remembered and talked about to this day. Some (such as 1974’s Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman) are even considered to be among the greatest fights in boxing’s history.
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Everyone knows that boxing is one of the most injury-prone sports. Most often, athletes injure the face, because most of the blows fall on this part of the body. In addition, hands are also often affected, because athletes strike with their hands. In this article, we will tell you how to save your nose and hands from severe damage. By the way, boxing is one of the most popular casino sports - if you want to make money, try Woo Casino. Here you will get a wide range of vivid emotions and impressions. How to protect your hands from severe damage1. Warm-up before training or fighting This advice applies, rather, to those who practice on their own without the control of a coach. The warm-up takes a very important place in the boxer's training process and allows you to prepare the muscles and ligaments for the main workout and prevent all kinds of bruises, sprains, and other similar injuries. Therefore, it is imperative to warm up before each workout. 2. Bandage your hands To preserve the joints, fingers, and ligaments of the hands, they must be bandaged without fail. This is usually done after a warm-up. 3. Strengthen the joints and ligaments of the hands In addition to bandaging, the joints and ligaments of the hands must be strengthened, as well as the striking surfaces of the hands should be prepared accordingly. Push-ups from the floor on the fingers and fists, working with a rubber expander, as well as various physical exercises that involve the hands or fingers, such as pull-ups, push-ups from the uneven bars, and others, will help. 4. Hit the right way Incorrect position of the fist upon impact is one of the main causes of hand injuries. Strike with the striking surface of the fist that corresponds to this blow. Also, in the last phase of the blow, clench your fist, because. very often, many boxers strike with a relaxed and open fist, which leads to injury. 5. Train with proper gloves Old and broken gloves can also pose a certain danger to your hands, so try not to use old gloves in training. How to protect your nose from severe damage1. Always stretch your nose in training, before sparring or fighting. Surprisingly, the vast majority of not only beginners but also experienced boxers ignore this rule.
To warm up, it is enough to make light circular movements, massaging the tip of the nose and the sides. Gradually increase the speed and strength of the massage. 2. Raise your arms above and lower your head below This simple tip will not only save your nose but also save you from a knockdown or knockout. Your assembled stance should cover your jaw and nose, as well as your liver, spleen, and solar plexus. 3. Don't close your eyes to your opponent's punches Always look at your opponent - this will allow you to adequately respond to his actions and defend properly. 4. Learn to defend first, then hit Strong and spectacular punches and combinations in boxing are, of course, great, but if you don’t know how to defend yourself correctly, then there is a high probability of getting a leg injury or a concussion. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the development of defense, rather than the development of strikes. And the most important advice that can be given to all athletes is that you should not try to treat injuries on your own. Even if it seems to you that you have a minor injury and nothing hurts, it’s still better to see a doctor once again and make sure that nothing threatens your health. By following these simple recommendations, you can maintain your health. It’s ten years since Chinese boxing’s best heavyweight hope entered a ring with Anthony Joshua. The 2012 London Olympics saw AJ take on the man known as Ling Lang with the British fighter earning a points win at the quarter final stage.
Joshua turned professional after winning the Gold Medal in 2012 while Zhang would remain at the amateur level for another two years. Both men are fully fledged pros in the modern day, but their careers have taken completely different paths. Out for Revenge After defeating the American Craig Lewis via a second round TKO in 2021, Zhang Zhilei outlined his plans through 2022. Even as he approaches his 40th birthday, it was clear that the Chinese veteran carried some high ambitions. A title fight in the heavyweight division remains at the top of his list and Zhang has an old rival still in his sights. Memories of 2012 may still be hurting the Asian boxer and he made it clear that he was keen for a rematch against his former amateur British opponent. The one issue for Ling Lang is the fact that Anthony Joshua is not a current world champion. Revenge would be sweet but it wouldn’t earn Zhang the title that he craves. If, however, he can be patient for just a fraction longer, the 39-year-old may get a chance to have a shot at two of his targets. Joshua’s Current Challenges Anthony Joshua lost his heavyweight title at the hands of Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021. Usyk won by a unanimous decision and AJ almost immediately took the opportunity to trigger a rematch clause. Plans for that second fight have been unavoidably delayed but it now looks set for July 2022. Among those who are certain that it will take place are the sportsbooks who have had a market in place for Joshua v Usyk 2 for some time. According to the best sports betting sites in Saudi Arabia and beyond, Usyk is the favourite to win the upcoming bout. The odds are supplied by sources linked to Arabianbetting.com and the market will start to fill up as soon as a fight date is confirmed. There will also be a choice of other bets for the rematch and Arabianbetting.com will post any relevant news and opinion stories in the lead up to the first bell. Any odds updates will also be shown and, if any readers want to get involved in those markets, they are welcome to do so. Each of the sports betting companies mentioned on this site are willing to take on new customers’ subject to eligibility requirements and a secure sign up form. Once that stage is complete, many have generous welcome offers in place. Funds will be needed in order to make an opening bet and there are a number of deposit methods which can facilitate this. As the account moves forward, other sporting markets, mobile apps and in-play betting are set to be among the other advantages. A defeat for Anthony Joshua in this follow up bout could open the door for Zhang Zhilei. It wouldn't be a title fight, but it would offer the experienced Chinese a chance for overdue revenge. Zhang’s Impressive Record After that win over Craig Lewis in November of last year, Zhang Zhilei followed up with yet another victory. This time, he secured a knockout over Scott Alexander at the beginning of May 2022. Overall, Ling Lang has appeared in 25 professional fights. He’s won 24 of them while the other ended in a draw. That’s an exceptional record by anyone’s standards. While it’s true that many will question the standard of some of his opponents, any boxer can only perform against the fighters put in front of them and that’s exactly what Zhang has done. It also suggests that he deserves at least one shot at the big time before he hangs up his gloves. Anthony Joshua is in his sights but there are many other top heavyweights in this division. After such a long and distinguished boxing career, it would be good to see Zhang Zhilei given the chance to prove that he can battle with the best. When you think of the word Asia the first thing that probably comes into mind is a long tradition of rituals and martial arts. Asian people take care of their culture, but they don’t mind some influence from the outside world. That’s why Asians have produced some legendary boxers over the years.
These boxers hold legendary records and come from all over Asia. Some of them focus strictly on boxing while others are Muay Thai kickboxers. Either way, they are amazing athletes that can motivate you to become a future champion yourself. With that in mind, here are some of the best Asian boxers you’ll come across: Flash Elorde Just like in most popular sports, boxing comes with different categories, and when you’re talking about the super featherweight division without mentioning Flash Elorde. This legendary boxer started out early at just 16 years old. He decided to hang his gloves 20 years later but made sure to fill his record with all sorts of achievements. Boxing is one of the most popular martial arts and sports in the world. Millions of people enjoy watching title fights in the comforts of their homes and it’s this kind of popularity that prompts online sportsbooks to cover this sport along with tennis, football, basketball, and others. Sites like www.betstation.com cover a bunch of sportsbooks that come with all these sports. The main thing about them is to enjoy them responsibly. Flash was known for his speedy attacks which were mostly body attacks, but he also knew the fundamentals. He has an amazing record of 89 wins and 33 knockouts on top of that. The height of his career was in 1960 when he took down Harold Gomes and became the super featherweight world champion. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam When it comes to legendary fighters, then you’ll probably think of Wonjongkam also. He took up Thai boxing at the age of 7 like most of his peers. But when he turned 12 he learned how to box properly which lead him to the start of his career. This guy was amazing as in 2001 he managed to knockout Malcolm Tunacao and secure a WBC Flyweight World Championship title. He also took on Daisuke Naito and went on to defend his title against this Japanese contender by taking him down in just 7 seconds. These are only 2 of the many amazing feats that Wonjongkam has over his career. Manny Pacquiao The Pacman is probably the most recognizable fighter in this article and the world. He started as a flyweight only to get titles in 5 weight classes in the future. The thing that sets him apart from the other fighters is that he has quick hands and can knock you out with both of them. But he wasn’t just a volume puncher as he also knew how to move. You can learn a lot about the man by just watching his matches. He makes a legendary Asian boxer and can be your motivational leader if you decide to take on the path of boxing. There is one division in worldwide boxing where Thailand undoubtedly excels, boasting one long-standing world champion, along with two more who could easily claim title belts before too long. Interestingly, all three fight in the lowest possible weight division, the mini-flyweight category, along with all having practiced Muay Thai before focusing on professional boxing. Given the huge success enjoyed by Thai pugilists in the lighter weight divisions, every fighter is avidly followed by fans in their homeland, amidst eternally high expectations. This inevitably translates to fight fans looking for the best options to back their favourites. Thankfully, the latest guide to online sports betting in Thailand via Asiabet covers everything needed. Along with detailed reviews for all the top betting sites available in Thailand, the experts at Asiabet have also focused on which betting companies offer the best odds and promotions, along with providing information and advice about different betting markets. Focusing on professional boxing, let’s take a look at the top trio of Thai fighters in the mini-flyweight division. Thammanoon Niyomtrong The name might not be familiar at first glance, although that’s because this guy tends to fight under a different name in the boxing ring. Aged 31 and known as ‘Knockout CP Freshmart’ in boxing circles, the man from Surin maintains a perfect fight record of 23 wins and zero defeats through an exceptional professional career, since making the switch from Muay Thai. Knockout CP Freshmart is the reigning WBA (Super) mini-flyweight champion of the world, and has held that title since June 2016, when he beat Byron Rojas of Honduras over 12 rounds via unanimous decision. Although he has only achieved 9 knockout victories, the rest of his unblemished record is a testament to great stamina and resilience, able to go the distance. Having last fought in December 2021, Freshmart comfortably defeated Filipino challenger Robert Paradero, winning the bout in just 5 rounds via TKO. This marked a remarkable tenth consecutive defence of the WBA (Super) mini-flyweight title, having previously reigned supreme as WBC Youth World Champion in the same division. Panya Pradabsri Insofar as professional boxing experience is concerned, 31-year-old Panya Pradabsri is hard to top. Along with having participated in more than 200 Muay Thai bouts, this guy is now getting ready for the 39th professional boxing appearance of his career. On 29 March 2022, the Pradabsri versus Menayothin rematch will be that fight, which could prove decisive in the careers of both boxers. Also known to fight under the ‘Petchmanee CP Freshmart’ ring name, Pradabsri has held the WBC mini-flyweight world championship title since November 2020, when he beat Menayothin. This next bout between the pair will be a rematch of sorts, offering the chance to settle some unfinished business, given that last encounter was eventually settle by unanimous decision. Throughout the entirety of his boxing career, since turning professional back in January 2014, Pradabsri has established a record of 23 wins, with 23 via knockout and 14 via decision, along with just the one defeat. That loss came in October 2017 against Xiong Chaozhong, via what proved to be quite a controversial majority decision by the judges. Wanheng Menayothin Despite being oldest of the trio under our spotlight of Thai boxers in this division, Wanheng Menayothin is another vastly experienced professional. The 36-year-old is the former WBC mini-flyweight world champion, also known in some locations as the strawweight division, having established a phenomenal fight record until suffering the first defeat of his career. Menayothin won 54 consecutive bouts following his professional debut in January 2007, going on to win the vacant WBC Youth World title in March 2007, then the WBC interim international title in December 2009, which he defended multiple times. The vacant WBC International Mini-Flyweight (Strawweight) title was won in November 2014, beating Filipino boxer Jeffrey Galero via unanimous decision.
After clocking up a remarkable 18 successful defences of his WBC title, Menayothin eventually met his match in November 2021, when the title was lost to fellow Thai boxer Panya Pradabrsi via unanimous decision. For this reason, the upcoming rematch has created a buzz of excitement in Thailand, as two of their best and most successful boxers do battle again for the title. For a region that is so enshrined in fight sports, it is remarkable at first that there are not many more household names in the annals of Asian boxing history. Though when you think about it, there are so many different available routes to go down if you do have the fighting spirit running through your veins. Muay Thai, kick boxing, MMA to name just three are hugely popular throughout Asia and represent a more natural step for a fighter in, say, Thailand to take than boxing. That said, Asia has still produced some of the best boxers in history and continues to do so. A lot of Asian boxers do not make it into the spotlight until they have achieved success, a fact that makes that journey all the harder, both financially and motivation-wise. One advantage of Asian fighters going under the radar however is fans can get good value at bookmakers, with all boxing odds available of course on any betting app. But let us look at 4 boxers who certainly have made a name for themselves.
Naoya Inoue The only one on our list who is still fighting, Inoue has long been touted as a contender for the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. His record is not far from perfect. 22 fights, 22 wins, 19 coming by way of knockout. All but three of those fights were for a belt. He had already made a name for himself after winning the junior bantamweight belt and defending it seven times, but the fact he had only fought outside Japan once meant he was not receiving the attention an American or European fighter would have been. However, when he demolished Jamie McDonnel, the British title holder, within a round to win the WBA bantamweight strap, it was hard for anyone to ignore him. Since then, he has continued to impress and thrill in equal measure, and has fought in the States and UK. His fight against Nonito Donaire in 2019 was one of the best of the year, and the eagerly awaited rematch looks to be getting closer. At 28, “The Monster” is probably yet to reach his prime, and his awesome power may even increase. In an era when going up and down the weights is rampant, Inoue could clean up not just this division, but several. Manny Pacquiao Unless you have spent time in Pacquiao’s native Philippines it is hard to fathom just how much of a legend he is to his people. In a career that spanned four decades, the southpaw has been an ever present at the very top for almost all of it. Moving up and down an incredible eight divisions, from flyweight to light middleweight, he fought an incredible 72 times, winning 62, losing 8 and drawing 2. His only regret, and those of boxing fans around the world, was that his fight with Mayweather didn’t happen several years earlier. One of the greatest boxers of all time, never mind the greatest Asian boxer of all time. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam In a career that dwarfs even Manny Pacquiao’s, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam is the most successful boxer to come out of Thailand. When he retired in 2018 he had fought 98 times, losing just 5 and drawing 2. 47 of those wins were by knockout, including the 34 second knockout of then flyweight title holder (and another incredible Asian boxer) Daisuke Naito, the fastest knockout in the division’s history. He also held the records for the most consecutive title defences (16) and the record for the most fighters he defended his belt against (again 16). Chris John The Dragon was the fourth Indonesian to win a world title, and held the WBA (Super) featherweight belt for almost a decade, retaining it against 16 different men between September 2003 and April 2013. With a record of 48 wins, 3 draws and just 1 defeat, John is widely regarded as one of the best featherweights ever step into the ring. After being deprived of live action for so long especially in front of crowds, the fights are coming thick and fast through the early part of 2022, including a hugely anticipated all-Asian rematch. Already this month we have seen some incredible fights, controversial decisions as well as the news that Tyson Fury will retire after his upcoming fight with Dillian Whyte, but on March the 19th fights take place across an incredible 5 continents.
Masamichi Yabuki Vs Kenshiro Teraji The fight that will be of particular interest to fans of Asian boxing is the rematch between Masamichi Yabuki and Kenshiro Teraji. Last September’s fight was not only one of the fights of the year, but it also produced one of the shocks of the year. Yabuki went in as a big underdog, but after almost thirty minutes of ferocious action stopped Teraji in the tenth to not only take his WBC junior flyweight belt but also his undefeated record. As anyone who knows anything about boxing, fighters try to hold onto their 0's like their life depends on it. It is unclear how much the unsettled preparation and build up took out of Teraji, the son of Hisashi Teraji and he and his team immediately called for a rematch. One thing we do now, is that if the fight is anything like the first one, it will be one not to miss. Vergil Ortiz Jr Vs Michael McKinson On the same night in Los Angeles, Ortiz Jr and McKinson go head-to-head in what is an eliminator for the WBO welterweight strap in all but name. It is an intriguing match-up between two unbeaten fighters, and a potentially great clash of styles. Ortiz Jr has a perfect record, all 18 of his fights ending in a stoppage, while McKinson has only two KOs in his 21 victories, but what he lacks in devasting knockout power, he more than makes up for with technical ability and ringcraft. Ortiz Jr, ranked number one contender by the WBO, has an average fight length of just 3.3 rounds, so the British number 3 ranked contender’s plan will be to take him into the later rounds. Sunny Edwards Vs Muhammad Waseem It is a similar story on the same night with another intriguing clash, this time in the Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai. Edwards is very possibly not just the most underrated world champion out there at the moment, but also the most technically gifted one. His style is not everyone’s cup of tea, but then, nor was Mayweather’s. Edwards defends his IBF Flyweight title for the third time, against Waseem who comes into the fight on a rich vein of form himself. Last November he won the WBC Silver flyweight belt by defeating Rober Barrera in another fight of the year candidate, and since losing to Mthalane back in 2018 has gone undefeated. It was Moruti Mthalane who Edwards beat to win the world title, in a unanimous points decision, with one judge giving him every round. The Best of the Rest On such a packed night of boxing there is always the danger that some fights fans should definitely be aware of will end up going under the radar. A lot of people are excited about super middleweight Edgar Berlanga, and he faces his sternest test to date when he takes on Steve Rolls at Madison Square Garden. On the undercard of the Edwards Waseem bill, Regis Prograis goes up against Irishman Tyrone McKenna, with both men hoping to put themselves in the running for a title shot. Prograis was defeated for the first and only time in his fight against Josh Taylor, while one of McKenna’s two defeats was at the hands of Jack Catterall, the man who lost to Taylor in such controversial circumstances. Meanwhile, at The Star Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, undefeated lightweight Jacob Ng will take on fellow Aussie, the veteran Billy Dib.
We all know the Asian boxing scene is packed with talented fighters, yet once we focus beyond the middleweight division where Ryota Murata of Japan is reigning WBA champions, the number of genuine title challenges begins to reduce significantly. Nevertheless, there are two Chinese fighters aiming to prove themselves amongst the biggest guys in the ring, seeking out opportunities to edge themselves closer to title shots.
Right now, Olexsandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are the dominant names in the heavyweight scene, enthralling fans around the globe at the prospect of a unification bout, which could come before the end of 2022. The popularity of boxing has arguably never been greater, amongst the best betting sites reviewed by SBO, who focus on which bookies offer the most competitive odds and broadest range of markets. Throughout the entire history of professional boxing, only two Asian fighters have ever claimed a world title in the top two divisions. They are Vassiliy Jirov, who held the IBF Cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2003, and Beibut Shumenov who held the WBA (Super) and IBA light-heavyweight titles until April 2014, losing both belts to Bernard Hopkins. Nevertheless, there are two Chinese fighters with genuine ambitions of changing all that, aiming to make their mark in the heavyweight and light-heavyweight divisions this year. ‘Big Bang’ Zhang Zhilei
Considering the fact Zhang Zhilei remains unbeaten throughout his professional career, the Chinese heavyweight still hasn’t managed to get the title shot he seeks. Boasting an impressive record of 23 wins and one draw, including 18 KO victories, the 38-year-old from Zhoukou in Henan province made his professional debut in August 2014. Since then, every rival has fallen by the wayside until Jerry Forrest in February 2021, which ended in a majority draw.
After beating Craig Lewis in November 2021, needing just two rounds to end that fight against the American boxer, the South China Morning Post suggested that ‘Big Bang’ Zhang has one particular “dream” bout in mind. He apparently hopes to fight stablemate Anthony Joshua, despite the Briton having lost his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles last year, following the surprise defeat against Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine.
Zhang Zhilei apparently wants the chance to face Joshua on home soil in China, if promoters can agree a suitable enough deal, while victory would also strengthen his credentials for a future title shot. At the time of writing, Zhang is currently ranked 8th in the WBO list, although another option being considered is Filip Hrgovic of Croatia, who is 3rd in the IBF rankings. The potential reward would be the chance to become the mandatory IBF challenger.
Currently 13th in the IBF rankings list, the Chinese southpaw really needs to get himself higher in the rankings of all four main boxing organisations, in order to get the heavyweight title shot he craves. The clock is ticking as he gets older and ideally, he would hope to have had at least one title shot before reaching the age of 40. Importantly, the boxing organisations are aware of his marketability, with China remaining largely untapped for hosting top boxing events. ‘Cold Blood’ Fanlong Meng
33-year-old Fanlong Meng has fully earned his ‘Cold Blood’ nickname, given the southpaw from Chifeng has ruthlessly defeated everyone who stood in his path. To date he boasts an impeccable record of 17 wins, with zero defeats or draws to blemish his credentials as a potential future world champion, since turning professional in January 2015.
The pathway to success has been marked by beating quality opponents, achieving notable landmarks in his quest for the biggest prizes in the light-heavyweight division. Meng Fanlong earned his first title in January 2017, beating Gasan Gasanov of to claim the vacant WBO Oriental light-heavyweight title, needing just a single round to demolish his Russian opponent.
In October of 2017, he also took the vacant IBF Inter-Continental light-heavyweight title, needing 10 rounds to eventually beat Emmanuel Danso of Ghana in Macau. Having defended that particular title twice against strong opponents, Fanlong Meng is now number one challenger in the IBF world rankings, whilst also in 8th position of the WBO world rankings. This would suggest the possibility of a title fight sometime in 2022 or early 2023.
According to ESPN boxing reports early in January 2022, the next fight for Fanlong Meng will actually be in the cruiserweight division, amidst negotiations for a bout against Russian veteran Sergey Kovalev in March 2022. This could be the precursor for an eagerly anticipated title shot against another Russian, given that in 2020, the planned title shot against WBC and IBF light-heavyweight champions Artur Beterbiev was cancelled. Chinese Champions?
Few can doubt the credentials of these two superb fighters, although their pathway to title shots has hardly been orthodox. Meng Fanlong certainly ranks highly enough that already, he should be regarded as the mandatory IBF world championship challenger. Meanwhile, the chances of a title bout in 2022 for Zhilei Zhang look slender, although he could push towards becoming mandatory challenger for the WBO belt.
Mixed martial arts fans from around the world will flock to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and tune into broadcasts on January 22 when the eagerly anticipated clash between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane headlines UFC 270. The UFC Heavyweight Championship unification bout serves as the headliner of what should be an epic card. Ngannou, known as The Predator in UFC circles, hails from Cameroon but resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 35-year-old man mountain stands at 6ft 4in tall and tips the scales at some 263lbs. Ngannou has ferocious power and is the hardest recorded puncher in the world. The reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion has a 16-3 professional fight record, with 12 of those victories coming by way of knockout. Ngannou won his first six UFC bouts, which earned him a shot at the title held by Stipe Miocic at the time. The pair fought at UFC 220 in January 2018, with Miocic retaining his title with a unanimous decision. Ngannou lost his next fight, too. Derrick Lewis defeated the Cameroonian giant, again, by unanimous decision. Ngannou got back to winning ways only four months later when he beat Curtis Blaydes via TKO after only 45-seconds. Three more victories followed before Ngannou stood toe-to-toe with Miocic in a rematch for the title. Ngannou knocked Miocic out in the second round to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion. That was in late March 2021, and Ngannou has not fought since, leading to people accusing him of ducking fights. He has no choice but to take on Gane on January 22. Frenchman Gane is a relative newcomer to the MMA scene, making his debut at TKO Fight Night in August 2018. That victory earned him the vacant TKO Heavyweight title, which he defended twice before signing a contract with the UFC.
He made his UFC debut in August 2019 and has since fought seven times in the famous octagon, winning all seven. Gane’s last victory happened at UFC 265 in August 2021. He took on Derrick Lewis for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship, defeating him in the third round by TKO. Gane’s skills earned him the Performance of the Night gong and a shot at Ngannou. This pair of Goliaths know each other’s style, having trained together in Paris, France, for many years. Neither fighter is overly skilled when it comes to their groundwork, so this could turn out to be a good, old-fashioned slugging match. If that is the case, Ngannou has to be the favorite to defend his title successfully. A Clash Of Styles Makes For an Interesting Fight Ngannou has won 14 of his last 16 fights, including four in a row. Ten of his last 11 wins have been knockouts, and his last eight wins have all ended in the first round. Ngannou’s unrivaled power is a massive factor here, especially when 79% of his significant strikes hit an opponent’s head. He only needs to catch Gane with a powerhouse strike, and Gane will likely succumb to his first professional defeat. However, Gane is a clever, tactical fighter with a kickboxing background. The Frenchman mixes up his targets with 44% of his significant strikes being to the head, 26% to the body, and 30% to the legs. Ngannou’s targets are 79% head, 11% body, and only 10% legs. Furthermore, Gane lands 5.37 significant strikes per minute compared to only 2.54 for Ngannou, which is more than double. Gane can grind down Ngannou and frustrate him. He has the speed to avoid Ngannou’s deadly power and counter him. It should be a great fight with conflicting styles. Anyone with Ngannou’s power always has a chance of winning because knockouts only take one punch. Yet if Gane can keep Ngannou at arm’s length, he could take this fight to the judges and win on points. Gane’s average fight time is 15:06 compared to Ngannou’s 5:38. Does Ngannou have the stamina to go all the way against a fighter who lands more than five strikes per minute? That remains to be seen. Manny Pacquiao, also known as PacMan by fans around the world, is a former professional boxer whose record is quite impressive: 62 wins – 2 draws – 8 losses. Over the course of his career, which ended in 2021 at the age of 42, he fought against many famous athletes, including Floyd Mayweather. Millions around the globe watched him with great interest and bet on his greatest matches on sports betting sites like Rivalry. Overall, Manny Pacquiao is a 4-time welterweight world champion. But now that his career is over, he switched completely to a different kind of fight: politics. Manny Pacquiao’s Political Career Manny Pacquiao is currently 43-years-old and serves as a senator of the Philippines. In this country, the Senate is composed of 24 representatives and he is one of them. Arguably, his political career is just as relevant as his boxing career. But few people know about it. Manny Pacquiao entered politics more than a decade ago. In 2010, he was elected to be the representative of Sarangani. He spent 6 years in this role and then he assumed office as a senator. In 2020, after 4 years as a senator, he became the president of PDP-Laban. In 2021, Manny Pacquiao decided that it was time to take his career to the next level and announced his candidacy for the 2022 presidential election of his country. In boxing, Manny Pacquiao was always eager to get better and fight against better opponents. It seems that the same spirit guides him in his political career. However, in his boxing career he didn’t go undefeated. His first loss came in 1996, just one year after his first match. In politics it took him much longer to fight for the title, so to speak, and many regard him as an underdog. But he is, nonetheless, determined to win the fight, as always. Retiring from Boxing To focus on this political fight, Manny Pacquiao retired from boxing completely. He’s not coaching anybody, nor is he leading any organization. Right now, he is entirely focused on politics, because that’s where he feels he can contribute the most. “I just heard the final bell. Boxing is over. I never thought this day would come as I hang up my boxing gloves. This is the hardest decision I have ever made, but I am at peace with it.” - Manny Pacquiao After he announced his decision to stop competing professionally, Pacquiao thanks his fans for all the beautiful memories. And he, no doubt, had many fans all over the world. It’s hard to be a boxing champion for such a long time and fight so many great fighters and not gain any supporters. People love winners and Manny Pacquiao, despite his occasional defeats, was a great winner. And an even greater human being as well. Manny Pacquiao’s Character and Views Manny Pacquiao is a deeply religious man and very down-to-earth. He grew up in extreme poverty, did all kinds of bizarre jobs to survive, and didn’t change over the years, despite the fact that he amassed hundreds of millions of dollars thanks to his boxing career. For a man from a poor country like the Philippines, that’s a staggering amount of money. Being a wealthy man and having experienced great success throughout his life are great assets for his presidential run. It’s obvious that he has no reason to scam anybody and that he would not become corrupted by power. If there’s anyone who can raise The Philippines from poverty and solve some of its biggest problems, it’s definitely he. What isn’t clear at this point is the direction in which he would steer the country. He is so many things in one that it’s difficult to predict his moves. The man obviously loves sports, art, politics, religion, and is also a Senior Master Sergeant. His versatility is extraordinary and it will probably serve him well as president of the Philippines. The current president, Rodrigo Duterte, is also a member of PDP-Laban, but is 3 decades older than Pacquiao and very strict. Pacquiao seems to be a totally different character.
An important aspect that shaped Manny Pacquiao was his religious upbringing. He was initially a Catholic but chose to switch to Evangelical Protestantism. But unlike many politicians, he’s a genuine believer. |