In September, Zhang returned to China for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerned that no one would recognize him, Li hired a dozen actors to greet him. When Zhang exited the Hangzhou Railway Station, hundreds of fans were waiting for him. “No one was paying attention to me when I first turned pro,” says Zhang. “But with my recent fights and the recent noise I’m making, it’s significant. The recognition of boxing in China now is tremendous.”
Parker (34-3, 23 KO), the younger man by eight years, has won four straight since his own unfortunate run-in with “The Juggernaut.” A four-fight 2023 saw him take a decision over an unexpectedly game Jack Massey, demolish a pair of overmatched foes in Faiga Opelu and Simon Kean, then cap off the year by cruising past Deontay Wilder last month.
In 2015, Zhang was signed to Roc Nation Sports, which Dino Duva also joined as an employee and boxing executive. Roc Nation, a music promoter, entered the boxing market in August 2014 with money but no plan. David Itskowitch, Roc Nation’s founding chief operating officer of boxing, abruptly resigned in July 2016 and Duva’s influence grew after. Roc Nation’s boxing division was in quick decline from 2018, all but ceased working in 2019 and closed down in 2020.
Yarde (24-3, 23 KOs), 32, from Ilford in east London, was stopped in eight rounds by unified titleholder Artur Beterbiev in January and got his career back on track with a simple win over late replacement Silva (22-9, 12 KOs), from Portugal.
“I’m very much looking forward to stepping into the ring with Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas,” Tyson said in a statement. “He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT. It’s a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch; as I started him off on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”
It was in the lead-up to the bout that ‘Iron’ Mike decided to get his now signature Māori warrior tattoo. Reportedly done by celebrated tattoo artist S. Victor Whitmill from Las Vegas, the story goes that Tyson originally wanted hearts on his face. However, Whitmill refused to go with the concept. Given that he has himself led the life of a warrior, the former heavyweight champion liked it when Whitmill introduced the Māori ‘tā moko’, a permanent ink decking the faces of Māori tribesmen from New Zealand.
Tennis star Arthur Ashe, trivia: who was the first eight-division world champion in the history of boxing? won three Grand Slams and fought against racism and AIDS throughout his career, also marks the skin of the great boxer, with the text ‘Days of Grace’, as does the image of a dragon.
The short answer to what a heavyweight boxer eats is, well, everything. Steak, chicken, different kinds of fish. During a recent visit to Jiang Nan, a Chinese-fusion joint Zhang frequents in Montclair, N.J., a plate filled with flat, oval-shaped meat arrives at the table. George slides a piece between a pair of chopsticks and asks Zhang to identify it. He always asks. In China, George was often offered food he couldn’t identify. Horse. Bull penis. Snake blood. “Cow tongue,” says Zhang. The chopsticks drop. “Nope,” says George. “Not eating that.”
Sept. 1 (UPI) — What if you overcame a serious illness to go on to win an Olympic medal? Could a writer or filmmaker decide to tell your inspiring story without consulting you? Or do you “own” that story and control how it gets retold?
From movies to video games, Tyson’s tattoo has appeared in various media, often as a tribute to the boxing legend. Its distinctive design and association with Tyson make it instantly recognizable to viewers around the world.
Parker earned The Ring “Comeback of the Year” honors last year for his performance against former WBC champion Deontay Wilder. Winning by a convincing unanimous decision capped off a 4-0 year for the former WBO titleholder. Now, he gets a chance at the title again.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Jake Paul, aka ‘The Problem Child,’ was about to face a similar legal mess. He’s gearing up for a big fight with Mike Perry on July 20th in Tampa, and then he’s got another huge match lined up against Mike Tyson in November. But, here’s the twist – he managed to dodge that whole legal mess somehow. How? Let’s find out.
Round 4: Ford is cut beneath the right eye. The champ with blazing hand speed having fun with the one-two. The Englishman opens up with an impressive attack. BIG left from Ball. A leaping jab from the challenger. Ford suddenly loses accuracy. The right hand from Ball lands hard. Very effective attacks from the challenger throughout the round.
Through it all, Tyson has sought to learn from his experiences and grow as an individual. He has emphasized the importance of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, and the tattoo serves as a visual representation of these values.