Tag: Boxing
Jake Paul Named 2021 Breakout Boxer Of The Year By Sports Illustrated
Jake Paul has taken over the world of boxing over the last year.
Jake Paul has been one of the biggest attractions in boxing since making the transition. Is he a “real boxer”? Can Paul compete with actual fighters? Will he ever win a championship? At this point, it does not matter. Jake Paul has become a big figure in the sport and has been named Sports’ Illustrated’s Breakout Boxer of the Year.
Paul burst onto the scene as a YouTube sensation and has built an incredible following on social media. He has continued these antics since making his transition to boxing and it has only helped his intrigue. In 2021, Paul picked up three victories, two via knockout, in three bouts.
“To think about how all the things that happened in the fashion that it all happened. It’s just sort of mind-blowing,” Jake Paul told SI.
The year began for Paul in April when he took on Ben Askren, a former UFC fighter who was critical of Paul’s ability as a boxer. This was a knockout victory for Paul. He then defeated Tyron Woodley twice before the year ended. In August, it was a victory by split decision for Paul before the two met again in December.
Tommy Fury was scheduled to be Paul’s next opponent before he was forced to back out due to an injury. Paul was looking for an opponent and Woodley decided to step in and Woodley did not hesitate. Despite having little time to prepare, Woodley would accept the rematch and was quickly knocked out.
Since December, there has been plenty of speculation on who will be Jake Paul’s next opponent. Anderson Silva opened as the favorite and this would take the competition level up a notch for Paul. This has been a point of emphasis from critics since he began boxing. At this point, it is unknown when Paul will step in the ring again or who it will be against.
At this point, there are not many boxers who have taken over the sport like Paul. The list of opponents is not impressive but that is the norm for athletes beginning their careers. Paul comes with a high price tag and this makes him a marketable figure. Not to mention his overall presence on social media. His promotional company, Most Valuable Promotions, will run his fights and he has even signed other fighters. This includes Amanda Serrano.
Recently, Jake Paul has been feuding with Dana White, who called out Paul to take on one of his fighters if drug tested. Paul responded by saying he would quit boxing if White followed some stipulations including higher pay for fighters and long-term healthcare. Nothing has come from this just yet.
What we do know is that Jake Paul has taken over the world of boxing and there is no end in sight. Whether you like him or not, it cannot be denied that Paul has value and a huge audience. This is something Paul, along with his brother Logan Paul, understand and know how to work. For his overall presence in the sport, Paul has earned an honor from Sports Illustrated.
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Watch Iranian Hulk Fight Group Of Men In Preparation For Martyn Ford Boxing Match
Image via @sajadgharibiofficial Instagram
Iranian bodybuilder, Sajad Gharibi aka “Iranian Hulk,” prepares for a boxing match with colossal 6-foot-8-inches, Martyn Ford.
Instead of David vs. Goliath, picture two Goliath’s going head-to-head in a blood-soaked onslaught. Well, the blockbuster fight between Sajad Gharibi and Martyn Ford may make this come to fruition. Sajad Gharibi is set to fight Martyn Ford in London on April 2, 2022.
Sajad Gharibi, aka “Iranian Hulk,” is a superstar Iranian bodybuilder. And his opponent, Martyn Ford, also carries the spotlight with him. Ford is a prominent actor you’ve may have seen on the silver screen, most prominently known for his roles in Kingsman: The Golden Circle and Fast and Furious 9. Some dubb him as the “scariest man on the planet.”
One’s a famous bodybuilder, and the other’s a renowned strongman/bodybuilder gone movie star. So determining which one will win is a challenging quest. But one’s thing for sure – they’re both mammoths!
How Big Are These Behemoths?
Sajad Gharibi is shy of 400 pounds weighing in at 390 pounds! However, Martyn Ford is no little person either, standing at a gigantic 6 feet 8 inches tall. This gives him a tremendous half a foot height advantage over the 6 feet 2 inches Gharibi. Although, Gharibi weighs close to a 100 pounds more than Ford, who still hovers over 300 pounds. Of course, they could come in a bit trimmer as the eve of the boxing match approaches.
Training
Neither contender has ever fought a professional fight before. But they don’t seem to be taking the bout lightly, though. Both contenders appear to be prepping for the competition seriously as they show off their training styles on social media. With only four months out from the fight, their training has intensified.
Below is an Instagram (IG) video of Martyn Ford vigorously bashing a hedge slammer against a tire combined with intense rope slams.
Ford is also training with Eddie Hall – the former World’s Strongest Man and claims to have trained in MMA over the years.
Sajad Gharibi is shown taking a slightly more combative approach in the IG video below, as he fends off multiple sparring partners.
He’s also seen punching concrete walls, ripping melons, and bending metals in other training clips.
Although Gharibi seems to be capable of defending himself from these men through a series of trips, throws, and grabs, it’s interesting to see how this will translate into boxing. Grappling isn’t allowed in boxing – ask Jake Paul.
Squash Beef
There seems to be some beef between the two. Ford frankly says things are personal for him now, and Gharibi and his team have said some things that can’t be taken back.
Gharibi mocks Ford on social media, saying:
“Hey pretty boy Enjoy your remaining days.
I will come to London”
Ford doesn’t seem to show any fear, though. He responded:
“While he’s bending spanners, punching walls, cutting bones and chewing crayons … I will put myself through the most vigorous fight camp EVER … I will PROVE to a lot of people what I’m about that night.”
This fight is finally coming into existence after years of speculation between the two. Fans question some of their unorthodox training methods and search for a shared inquiry: how well does each competitor’s training translate to boxing, and who will win?
Let us know which titan you think will pull through in the social comments section.
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Logan Paul Claims Floyd Mayweather Has Not Paid Him For Fight
Logan Paul says he is owed money from Floyd Mayweather.
Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather met for an exhibition fight back in June. There was no winner, little excitement, and it was a downright laughable event. What they did have was plenty of viewers and plenty of money made. Well, for one side. Paul has claimed that Mayweather has still not paid him for their fight over six months later.
Both Paul and Mayweather have shown a mutual respect for one another recently but that seems to be ending. Logan Paul, who has become a sensation in boxing along with his brother Jake Paul, made the transition from YouTube to boxing. Both Paul brothers are still active on social media and this is where Paul called out Mayweather.
“Pay me my money u f***ing corny weasel of a human @floydmayweather,” Paul wrote in a caption on an Instagram story.
It is hard to know if Logan Paul is being serious or if this is just another trolling on social media. This is something that the Paul brothers have become known for. Paul has made plenty of money during his career but if true, the amount of money that Mayweather is withholding could be large.
The Paul vs. Mayweather exhibition took place on pay-per-view and was a success. There were over one million buys on Showtime. This is something that Mayweather said he will not do again — even after earning a huge payday. The boxer claims he earned $100 million for the appearance.
“I’m the only person that can do a fake fight and get 100 M’s. I could do legalized sparring and get 100 M’s,” Floyd Mayweather said while exiting a press conference. “Am I the best bank robber? Because I don’t know nobody in sports that’s my age and can still stick ‘em up like that.”
Known as ‘Money’ Mayweather, Floyd has a perfect 50-0 record in his boxing career. Mayweather is a controversial fighter for his style, which is the opposite of a heavyweight fighter. Mayweather has 27 knockout victories in his career and was always content dancing around the ring using strategy. This is a method that brought praise from some and criticism from others.
As for Logan Paul, began boxing in 2018 when he took on fellow YouTuber ‘KSI.’ This match ended in a draw before Paul lost their rematch by split decision. Jake Paul has recently moved to 5-0 after a knockout victory over Tyron Woodley.
The Paul brothers have become big names in boxing, mostly because of their antics outside the ring. It was questionable why Mayweather even agreed to this fight in the first place but he allegedly got a massive payday out of it. The same cannot be said about Logan Paul at the moment.
All of the details of this storyline have not been released but we do know there is trolling going on by Paul. It will be interesting to see if Floyd Mayweather is actually holding money and if he will pay up.
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How to Turn Your Toothpick Neck into a Wood Log
Build a Thick Neck With These Exercises
Many people will be curious after reading the title as only a few people in gyms around the world train their necks while the others have a pencil neck. It might come as a shock to them that you could develop the muscles in your neck.
Just like other muscles in your body, the muscles in your neck can be developed through training. Although you’ll need to be careful while training your neck as a small mistake can lead to an injury.
Neck Rotations
Many people these days have a desk job which makes them lean onto a laptop for the majority of the day. The awkward position while working on a laptop can cause problems like cervical pain and headaches.
Spending five minutes on rotating your neck in the morning can get you incredible results and fix the neck pain happening due to working on a computer. Neck rotations are also the easiest exercise on the list.
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Neck Bridges
We get into the serious business of developing a thick neck with the neck bridges. The neck bridges are commonly performed by boxers, MMA athletes and wrestlers in their training. These athletes take a lot of hits on their heads and having a strong neck keeps them from being knocked out.
The beck bridges are hard to perform and when you’re starting out, they should be done under the supervision of someone who knows how to do them correctly. While performing the bridges, hold the position where you feel a tension in the neck until the tension starts to fade away.
If the bodyweight version of the bridges feels easy, you can add resistance by placing a weight plate on your chest. Start with performing the orthodox bridges and once you get better, do the neck rotations as you get into the ‘bridge’ position.
Neck Curls
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Neck curls are fairly easy to perform, but you need to make sure your ego doesn’t get in the way. For the neck curls, place your chest on an incline bench, so your body is aligned from the top of your neck to your toes.
Use a head harnesses or simply hold a weight plate at the back of your head. Slowly lower your head and then raise it so your chest is lifted an inch off the bench. Hold the rep at the top and the bottom of the movement.
You can also perform this exercise on the cable pulley machines or with resistance bands. Both of these variations will add constant tension on your neck throughout the range of motion.
Shrugs
The trapezius muscle forms a big part of the neck and training the traps can help with the neck development. For the shrugs to help get rid of the pencil neck, make sure you maintain a full range of motion.
While performing the shrugs, try to touch your ears with your shoulders and hold the rep at the top of the movement. Perform three sets of 15-20 reps on each exercise. You can adopt the same approach to training the neck as the calves.
Do you train your neck? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.
Anderson Silva opens as favorite to be next opponent for Jake Paul
Anderson Silva could be in line to take on Jake Paul next.
It has been less than a week since Jake Paul moved to 5-0 with a sixth-round knockout of Tyron Woodley. Now, there have been lines made on who will have the chance to take on the former YouTuber in the ring next. As of now, Anderson Silva is the early favorite.
Silva began boxing at the beginning of 2021 after a long stint in UFC. In his first match, Silva took on former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. In his first boxing match since 2005, Silva upset the former champion by split decision. He then faced UFC champ Tito Ortiz and won via a first-round knockout.
The talks began by saying Silva could take on Jake’s brother, Logan Paul, but there was no real steam and now sights could be set on the younger of the two.
Below, you can see a list of names, along with their odds, that could take on Jake Paul next.
Anderson Silva – 3/1
Tommy Fury – 7/2
Dillon Danis – 7/1
Nate Diaz – 7/1
Conor McGregor – 15/2
Jorge Masvidal – 15/2
Floyd Mayweather – 12/1
Oscar De La Hoya – 12/1
Mike Tyson – 25/1
Canelo Alvarez – 33/1
Logan Paul – 100/1
Tommy Fury was set to take on Paul on Saturday before backing out with an injury. John Fury recently threatened Paul to take on his son in March. A bout with Conor McGregor seems unlikely because the UFC star has nothing to prove. Also, Floyd Mayweather took part in a poorly displayed exhibition fight against Logan Paul and he should not revisit this idea.
Jake Paul recently took to social media to address Canelo Alvarez. He wrote “I hope you’re training, Canelo” on Twitter but Paul must be careful what he wishes for.
Jake Paul recently defeated Woodley in their second fight. The first came by split decision. This moved his record to 5-0 but the competition has been less than impressive. It began with a win over former NBA player Nate Robinson followed by fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib. Paul then defeated MMA fighter Ben Askren before two victories over Woodley.
Many might not like the act being put on by the Paul brothers but it works and it makes money. At this point, Paul needs to step into the ring with real boxers to gain some credibility. Silva began boxing for the first time since 2005 but there is no doubt that he has the skill to be successful.
Anderson Silva would be a difficult fight for Paul so it will be interesting to see if he would plan for this one. Either way, it is likely that we hear news about Jake Paul’s next opponent early in 2022.
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Jake Paul Says Boxing Injuries Have Caused Memory Loss, Slurred Speech
Jake Paul is a young boxer but it has already taken a toll on him.
Jake Paul has made the transition to the boxing ring. The former YouTube sensation has won his first five bouts and is becoming a popular name in the sport. In such a short time, Paul admits that boxing has caused some changes to his behavior.
According to TMZ, Paul appeared on “In Depth With Graham Besinger” to discuss the effects that boxing has on a person’s brain. Paul played football growing up but says that the effects have gotten worse since he began boxing and estimates the number of concussions he has suffered between 20 and 30.
“I notice it in conversations with like, with my girlfriend or friends, like, not remembering something that I should be able to remember that happened a couple days ago,” Jake Paul told Graham Besinger.
This is not a topic that boxers usually discuss while competing but Paul has been open during his time in the sport. He continues to say that memory loss is not the only effect he has seen.
“Sometimes in my speech, where like every hundredth or two hundredth word, I’ll mess up or, like, slur, which I didn’t do that before.”
Paul went on with Besinger prior to his second fight against Tyron Woodley. The two met for the second time on Saturday night with Paul winning via knockout. This is his second victory over Woodley — the first came by split decision. Woodley stepped in for Tommy Fury, who was originally slated to fight Paul but had to back out due to injury.
It is unknown if Paul will reschedule his bout with Fury or if it is even smart for him to fight again. Paul’s doctor advised him to stay away from the ring but it does not seem like Paul is going to step away anytime soon.
Jake Paul has built a lucrative net worth, including upwards of a $2 million purse on Saturday night. While the money is there, Paul has also shown passion in proving people wrong as he transitioned from YouTube to boxing. This is not something that is seen everyday and there were plenty of critics.
So far, Paul has enjoyed proving people wrong over the course of his first five fights. As he continues to take a step up in competition, there is more of a risk that he could suffer serious injuries.
It is unknown when Paul will fight again but he did admit that he fears the long-term effects that fighting could have on him. Is it a strong enough fear to keep him out of the ring? As of now, it does not look like it.
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WATCH: Tyson Fury Shows Some Intense Training With His Father
Tyson Fury does not take his training regimens lightly.
Tyson Fury has turned into one of the best boxers in the world. The current WBC Heavyweight Champion is coming off an 11th round knockout of Deontay Wilder in their trilogy fight and is training for his next bout. Fury has recently shown off some intense training methods with his father, John Fury, assisting.
Fury is seen laying on the floor while his father slamming a medicine ball off his midsection. The boxer is intense throughout the workout and flips on both sides so he could be hit in his obliques as well.
“when you hit that Friday feeling,& someone trying to put a dampener on it. @gypsyjohnfury #spartans#undefeated #champ @wbcboxing ?”
Tyson Fury had been hoping to face Oleksandr Usyk next but has been ordered to defend his title against Dillan Whyte. There have been recent talks that Whyte might not be the next opponent. This means Andy Ruiz Jr. or Joseph Parker could step in. There is nothing set in stone just yet but the current champ has been training to stay ready.
The current exercise seen is a way to strengthen core muscles by pounding them constantly. This makes the athlete flex and strain their core in order to absorb the hit. This is a popular workout used by boxers to maintain the necessary core strength. Some other methods include taking punches to the core with boxing gloves.
This is a video from back in November and Tyson Fury is only intensifying his workouts. John Fury has been part of his training and has made some recent comments regarding his other son, Tommy Fury, and Jake Paul.
Tommy was forced to back out of a scheduled bout with Paul because of an injury. Paul had some choice words about Fury’s decision and his father did not take lightly to them. John Fury did not like the words that were being said about his son and their family name. He challenged Paul to reschedule the fight to March 2022 or he would handle it himself.
There has been no news related to this rematch just yet. Paul is coming off a knockout victory over Tyron Woodley, who stepped in for Fury once he was removed.
Tyson Fury is worrying about bigger things heading into 2022 as the heavyweight champ. While there is no fight scheduled just yet, it is clear that Fury will return to the ring next year looking to make some more noise.
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Logan Paul Answers: Does Boxing Need “Super Exhibition” Fights To Stay Relevant? | GI Vault
Logan Paul comments on the rise of “super exhibition” boxing matches and if they are necessary for boxing to succeed for a new generation.
GI VAULT – is an extension of our GI Exclusive interviews. The difference? These interviews come straight out of the Generation Iron vault from the cutting room floor of our feature film documentaries. With over hours of interview footage that doesn’t make it into our final films, we’re now releasing them out into the world.
Last year, Logan Paul faced fellow YouTube superstar KSI in what was called a “super exhibition” boxing match. The event was a massive hit and reminiscent of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s spectacle fight against UFC superstar Conor McGregor. This was another massive boxing match unprecedented for the sport. Now in 2021, Mayweather will face off against Paul in another “super exhibition” match. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Logan Paul discusses his place in boxing’s future and whether or not these super fights hurt or help the sport.
When Logan Paul faced off in a sanctioned boxing match against KSI, we had the opportunity to speak with him in a sit down interview. During that interview, we talked about the future of boxing and if these super fights would become more and more common.
Now just about two years later, Logan Paul is entering back into the ring. This time to face off against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. Dubbed another “super exhibition” fight, we thought now would be an appropriate time to dive back into our GI Vault and pull out the extended interview we had with Logan Paul.
In the boxing fanbase, some have criticized the decision for sanctioned spectacle fights. While they bring in large numbers, there is a worry that the credibility of the sport is on the line. When Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought Conor McGregor – he was fighting an non-boxer. This wasn’t a traditional boxing match. It was a one-off super show. Does this devalue boxing as a legitimate sport and turn it more into stunt entertainment?
Logan Paul doesn’t think so. In fact, he thinks these kinds of super fights are necessary to breathe new life into boxing for a younger generation. He points out that while Conor McGregor is not a boxer, he is a top tier combat athlete. His skills might particularly lie in MMA, but that doesn’t disqualify him from being able to adjust to a new mode of combat.
Celebrity boxing is something that has existed for a while. These kinds of fights aren’t quite the same thing. Unlike celebrities who have never fought learning to box for a stunt show, these combatants are skilled athletes.
The same can be said for Logan Paul. While he’s primarily known as a viral YouTube sensation, he has been training in boxing for years at this point. While speaking in our interview, he comments that this kind of legitimate super event might not ever occur in the same way again. He has the YouTube millennial celebrity status – but he also has taken boxing seriously.
This time however, he’s not facing off against another YouTuber who knows how to fight. He’s fighting one of the most legendary boxers in the world. It will be interesting to see how he holds up in the ring.
One thing is for certain, his comments about entertainment being important to boxing’s survival seem to remain intact. His decision to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. is in line with his comments in our GI Vault interview from over a year ago. His hopes are not to devalue boxing but to take it seriously. By taking his training seriously, he hopes to bring more excitement and credibility to the sport.
Perhaps super exhibition fights are truly the way of the future – but only if the individuals involved take it seriously. So far, that seems to be the case.
You can watch Logan Paul’s full comments on his boxing training, the concept of super fights, and entertainment vs athleticism in our GI Exclusive Vault interview above.
Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley 2 Results
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley went to war once again.
It was the fight no one saw coming the first time around much less the second. After he was scheduled to face Tommy Fury in his next match, Jake Paul now finds himself facing a familiar face. After Fury suffered an injury, Tyron Woodley is now stepping in to face off once again with Paul.
The first fight was close, but Jake Paul was able to use his size and jab to his advantage. Tyron Woodley now seeks revenge for the loss. The former UFC welterweight champion has been poised and no nonsense ahead of this rematch. Woodley hopes to serve up a big knockout this time around. But can he get it done?
Fight Results
Jake Paul defeats Tyron Woodley by knockout.
Did you tune into the Jake Paul vs Tyron Woodley rematch?
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Managing editor of Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. He has been writing about bodybuilding, combat sports, and strength sports for over 8 years. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Victor Martinez Reacts: Has Hafthor Bjornsson’s Weight Loss Gone Too Far?
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Victor Martinez reacts to Hafthor Bjornsson’s insane weight loss and shred.
Hafthor Bjornsson used to be best known as a powerhouse strongman and as “The Mountain” in Game Of Thrones. But perhaps now he is getting most attention for his turn towards boxing – and the massive amount of weight he’s shredded off in the process. The transformation has certainly turned a lot of heads, but there are also bodybuilding and strongman fans who are less excited about seeing his signature size downgrade. Some even believe that he has taken the weight loss too far. In our latest GI Exclusive, Victor Martinez reacts to Hafthor Bjornsson’s weight loss and also to fan complaints about his transformation.
Victor Martinez is no stranger to getting negative attention for massive weight loss. Much earlier in his pro bodybuilding career, Martinez was incarcerated. This prevented him from maintaining his bodybuilding lifestyle fully. He dramatically lost weight and had trouble getting back to proper size in his first year upon being released. That struggle was captured in part during the filming of our original Generation Iron documentary.
So we thought Victor Martinez would be the perfect person to ask about the recent developments with Hafthor Bjornsson. The situations are different but the outcome is the same. Bjornsson decided to retire from strongman and turn to boxing. More specifically to fight fellow strongman Eddie Hall. This has yet to happen due to Hall suffering some injuries. Meanwhile, Bjornsson has stuck the course and committed to other boxing matches as he continues to improve.
As part of this change in career, Hafthor Bjornsson decided to trim down and get much more conditioned. He understood that his massive size was not best suited for winning boxing matches. But some fans are upset with just how small he’s become – especially compared to Eddie Hall. Hall had lost weight as well – but mostly maintained his larger size while also gaining conditioning.
Victor Martinez believes that bodybuilding and strongman fans are coming only from a selfish place when they criticize Bjornsson. In fact, Martinez is convinced that Bjornsson’s weight loss is not only best for his boxing career – but healthier for his overall future. Bodybuilding and strongman fans don’t care as much about his boxing exploits – and are looking at his physique only through their subjective lens of the sports of bodybuilding ands strongman.
There’s nothing wrong with this exactly. But Victor Martinez wants fans to understand that Hafthor Bjornsson is in a new stage of his life and career. This statement matches something Jujimufu stated to us in a previous GI Exclusive interview as well. If Bjornsson can succeed as a boxer – he will always still have his former legacy as a successful strongman. Losing the weight does not reduce his legacy. In fact, succeeding in two different sports is an even better lifetime legacy. If he can also improve his overall health during the process – that’s even better still.
So what is Victor Martinez’s overall reaction to Hafthor Bjornsson’s transformation? He’s impressed. That kind of transformation and dedication to conditioning is not easy. And was the smart thing to do for his health and his boxing future. Martinez may be a bodybuilder at heart – but he can appreciate the hard work and results of someone else on their own separate journey.
You can watch Victor Martinez’s full comments on Hafthor Bjornsson’s physique transformation in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!