Becky Ives is set to grace screens once more tonight as she steps in again to cover Tyson Fury’s highly anticipated rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
The TNT Sports presenter will be joined by Carl Frampton, Lennox Lewis and Steve Bunce, providing all the pre-fight coverage leading up to the main event at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia. This isn’t her first rodeo either, having previously stepped in for Laura Woods to cover Fury’s initial bout with Usyk back in May.
Woods, a fan favourite, had to withdraw from her media duties on the night due to a freak accident that required surgery. The 37-year-old informed her Instagram followers of her absence from TV screens, explaining that she was recovering from severe face and arm injuries at the time, caused by a shattered glass lampshade while holidaying in Majorca.
Ives proved herself more than capable of handling such a big occasion when Usyk handed Fury his first professional defeat via split-decision after 12 tightly contested rounds on May 18. Her name is now etched into sporting history as she witnessed the undefeated Ukrainian become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lewis’ mirror achievement in November 1999.
As the two men prepare for a rematch at the same venue tonight, Ives is set to step back into a role she has thrived in before. But who exactly is Ives? Here, Daily Record covers her somewhat tricky situation of stepping into Woods’ spotlight, her connections with Rangers FC, and a radio show she was once part of that got cancelled.
Relationship with Laura Woods
Ives shares a close bond with fellow presenter Woods. The pair often appear together on social media, exchanging supportive messages. Ives even posted a photo on Instagram showing the two smiling in Paris, bathed in beautiful lights.
Woods hasn’t held back in expressing admiration for Ives on social media either. She commented on a picture of Ives’ new hairstyle from December 2022, saying: “BECKY! I love it,” accompanied by several heart-eyes emojis. She also showed support under a post about Ives at the Arnold Clark Cup last February.
It seems Ives was careful not to overshadow Woods when she took over as the main presenter for Fury vs Usyk in May. Reflecting on the experience, Ives shared on Instagram a collection of photos from the event, captioning them: “The Ring of Fire Fury vs Usyk. The undisputed World Heavyweight Championship fight, live, on @tntsportsboxing.
“Last night was just another level; posting these to remember it was real. Thank you so much for all the love, messages and support, from the @tntsports and @tntsportsboxing team, to my friends and on here….I appreciate it more than you will ever know! To @laurawoodsy It was an honour to keep your seat warm doll; heal quickly!”
But there must be a level of awkwardness for the two with Woods once again missing out to her close pal, as the monumental event would be a true career highlight for either sports presenter. Despite Woods’ continuing work this year, notably on significant Champions League matches for TNT Sports, she surely felt the sting of not being able to cover both of Fury’s epic bouts with Usyk, despite having been lined up for the first bout.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. Victory for Fury could also set up a huge domestic showdown with bitter rival Anthony Joshua next year
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DAZNNevertheless, it seems clear that Woods would handle the situation with grace, ensuring no awkwardness for Ives off-camera. The question that could soon be on everyone’s minds, though, is whether Ives will repeat her role again should a trilogy fight materialise next year…
Rangers link and other media roles
Ives is a seasoned broadcaster with 11 years under her belt, having worked with diverse outfits such as Premier League Today, ITV, and TNT Sports. Known for her engaging coverage in the sports journalism arena, she’s referred to by many as a “professional talker”, contributing her skills to UEFA and Discovery Sports, among others.
Scottish football enthusiasts might know her from presenting live SPFL matches for Rangers FC on RTV, where she even donned a Rangers Christmas jumper during the festive season last year.
Axed show
Before her successful stint in sports journalism, Ives had a four-year tenure at Kent’s Heart Radio, providing morning cheer with co-host James Heming until February 2019 when it was sadly announced that the show would be scrapped.
Despite a petition to save it, by May 24, 2019, the beloved radio show was off the air. Nonetheless, Ives’s career trajectory continued to soar as she picked up roles with BT Sport and Premier League Productions to showcase her hosting prowess to international audiences.
Meanwhile, Heming stayed in Kent to kick off a YouTube series with Ant Payne called City of Two Tales, where they explored popular European tourist destinations such as Barcelona and Paris. It seems he has also collaborated with SFM Radio and Made In Kent Radio since his departure from Heart.