Boxing

Fury cosies up with Parker

Joseph Parker may be fighting Tyson Fury's younger cousin but that has not stopped the former world heavyweight champion from taking aim at the Kiwi's UK-based critics.

Parker takes his first step towards cracking the lucrative British market when he puts his WBO heavyweight title on the line against Hughie Fury in Manchester on September 23. And it appears he has some convincing to do judging by the luke-warm reception he's received by some pundits in England.

Mayweather pledges retirement

Australia's Horn, who this month beat Manny Pacquaio to win the WBO welterweight title in Brisbane, has called out the 40-year-old five-division world champion.

But Mayweather ruled out any prospect of a fight with the former Queensland schoolteacher in front of a packed press conference in London on Friday, saying he'll hang up his gloves after facing McGregor on August 26 in Las Vegas.

"This is my last fight," Mayweather said.

"I've just done years and years and years of just fighting and travelling.

Boxer Floyd Mayweather owes US$22 million tax

A notice of a federal tax lien filed against the undefeated fighter nicknamed "Money" shows the balance as unpaid as of March 6.

The document was filed with county officials in Las Vegas in April.

Mayweather's tax troubles come as he gets ready to come out of retirement to fight against Irish MMA star Conor McGregor in August.

The lien for 2015 is just the latest in a series of tax liens filed by the IRS against Mayweather over the past decade.

Mayweather's tax lawyer did not immediately return a request seeking comment on Tuesday.

Pacquiao gracious after controversial Horn defeat

Horn was able to celebrate one of boxing's great shock triumphs at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium as the three judges scored Sunday's fight 117-111, 115-113 and 115-113 in his favour.

CompuBox statistics showed modern-day great Pacquiao, a huge favourite coming into the fight, was more than twice as efficient as his opponent when it came to the percentage of punches landed.

Horn also came close to being stopped in round nine, but Pacquiao nevertheless refused to condemn the decision.

Tim Hague, UFC fighter turned boxer, dies at 33

Hague's sister, Jackie Neil, announced the death in a family statement.

"It is with incredible sadness, sorrow and heartbreak to report that Tim has passed away today,'' the statement said.

"He was surrounded by family, listening to his favorite songs. We will miss him so greatly.''

The match Friday night at the Shaw Conference Centre was promoted by KO Boxing. The Edmonton Police Service said Monday that there has been no criminal investigation into Hague's death.

Joshua changed boxing – Tyson

Joshua retained his IBF heavyweight title and claimed the vacant WBA and IBO straps with an 11th-round stoppage of Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley.

The Briton sent Klitschko to the canvas in the fifth round but appeared set for defeat after the Ukrainian knocked him down a round later.

However, the unbeaten Joshua recovered and hit Klitschko with a penultimate-round barrage that sent the 41-year-old to the deck twice more before the referee called a halt to an enthralling contest.

Marist St Joseph's hope for more Samoan boxing champions

Marist St. Joseph’s club president Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio says the inclusion of boxing in the sports week is part of efforts to promote the sport so that it can become a success.

“We truly see Samoa being able to produce a world champion of their own. It’ll take time, but it’s possible and that is why we are striving to push boxing in our international sports week,” he said.

Other sports to feature in the Marist International Sports Week are netball and rugby league.

Junior Fa hoping for career breakout away from Parker's 'shadow' with major overseas deal

American Di Bella is the former boss of HBO TV's boxing set up and boasts 70 fighters on his books, including WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

But Di Bella says he's excited at the addition of the 27-year-old, who will now be his only other heavyweight fighter besides Wilder.

"Junior has tremendous tools, size, reach - he has power and he has amateur pedigree," he said.

"He has to be developed properly and that's going to be the job for myself and his management to make sure that he is."

Opinion-Boxing Analysis 1:Should Tongan Fā Challenge Sāmoan WBO Champ Parker, Yet?

It may be a courageous step for Fā to push the envelope all the way to the top of the ring, due in part because he had defeated Parker twice in heavyweight title fights in the amateur ranks. But Fā may be biting off more than he could chew envisioning an easy time with Champion Parker.

Samoa predict boxing boom if favourite son Joseph Parker wins WBO belt

Parker fights Mexico's Andy Ruiz in Auckland tonight for one of the most coveted belts in the world, one of the top four in the glamour division.

A win would launch Parker to international stardom and Samoa are ready to cash in.