ANTHONY JOSHUA is a step closer to a mouthwatering heavyweight unification showdown with Tyson Fury after dispatching Kubrat Pulev in brutal fashion.
- Live results: Anthony Joshua BEATS Kubrat Pulev (9th round KO)
- Lawrence Okolie BEATS Nikodem Jezewski (2nd round TKO)
- Hughie Fury BEATS Mariusz Wach (points 100-90)
- Martin Bakole BEATS Sergey Kuzmin (points 96-94)
- Kieron Conway BEATS Macaulay McGowan (points 100-89)
- Florian Marku DRAWS Jamie Stewart (points 76-76)
- Qais Ashfaq BEATS Ashley Lane (4th round stoppage)
Follow ALL the reaction from the big fight with our live blog below…
WILD CARD
Anthony Joshua will fight Oleksandr Usyk if Tyson Fury has to fight Deontay Wilder first.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports: “[Bob Arum] tells us Fury is contractually free to take any fight he wants.
“I do believe Wilder is appealing in US courts, but we don’t expect that to be a problem.
“If Fury can’t fight Joshua, AJ will fight Usyk.”
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Anthony Joshua is set to fight Tyson Fury in May 2021 following positive talks between promoters Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “I had a good chat with [Bob Arum] him last night. It’s positive.
“I think we’re all in the same position. We want to move forward with the fight, quickly as well, which is good news for fans.
“Just trying to solve any remaining issues of the fight, of which there aren’t many, to be honest with you, and try and move forward collectively to let the governing bodies know that we plan to stage this fight probably in May, and we would like this to be for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
“A few small issues to iron out, but I think we can start look at drawing up contracts and try to get this moving.
“Here on both sides, every member of each team wants to do this fight. We all acknowledge this is the biggest fight in boxing, this is the best fight for both guys.
“This is for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Why are you in the sport, if you don’t want this fight?”
ICYMI – WILD AT HEART
Eddie Hearn has admitted that Deontay Wilder could still stand in the way of a unification bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
He said: “The only hitch I can think of is Wilder. If the court orders the Fury rematch, and it doesn’t sound as though they will, then it is out of our hands.
“That is the only way it falls through is if something stops their side, that isn’t me saying they don’t want it, they do, but if the court orders it then we will have to fight Usyk.”
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
ICYMI – FURY-OUS
Tyson Fury took his battle to be removed from Sports Personality of the Year contention to the next level yesterday, as he revealed that he had gotten his legal representatives involved.
He told Good Morning Britain: “I’ve asked nicely to be taken off the list and they’ve decided they weren’t going to take me off the list.
“So I’ve had my lawyer send them a letter demanding that I be taken off the list so let’s hope they listen and get me off that list.”
MORE HEARN
“A few small issues to iron out, but I think we can start look at drawing up contracts and try to get this moving.
“Here on both sides, every member of each team wants to do this fight. We all acknowledge this is the biggest fight in boxing, this is the best fight for both guys.
“This is for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Why are you in the sport, if you don’t want this fight?”
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Anthony Joshua is set to fight Tyson Fury in May 2021 following positive talks between promoters Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum.
AJ defended his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles with a ninth-round KO against Kubrat Pulev to set up an undisputed bout vs WBC champ Fury.
Joshua’s promoter Hearn is now attempting to finalise a two-fight deal with the Gypsy King’s US rep Arum – with the rematch to take place in late 2021.
He told Sky Sports: “I had a good chat with [Bob Arum] him last night. It’s positive.
“I think we’re all in the same position. We want to move forward with the fight, quickly as well, which is good news for fans.
“Just trying to solve any remaining issues of the fight, of which there aren’t many, to be honest with you, and try and move forward collectively to let the governing bodies know that we plan to stage this fight probably in May, and we would like this to be for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.”
PLAYING THE GAME
Anthony Joshua has rubbed his win over Kubrat Pulev in on social media.
The Brit wrote: “Came game. Just gamer.”
TAILORED SUIT
Tyson Fury has reiterated his belief that Anthony Joshua is ‘tailor-made’ for him as an opponent.
He told Good Morning Britain: “I’m not just saying it because he’s going to be a rival of mine, he’s going to be one of my opponents.
“I’ve always said for a long time that I do believe that Anthony Joshua is tailor-made for someone like my style.
“I think it’s going to be one of the most explosive, quickest fights you are going to see. I’m aiming to take him out inside four rounds.”
‘WHAT WE WANT’
Anthony Joshua has lashed out at Tyson Fury after his rival’s comments on Saturday night, saying: “It’s good I can get him in the ring.”
AJ, 31, put in an impressive display to KO Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round of their Wembley Arena showdown at the weekend.
But despite AJ’s impressive showing on Saturday, Fury suggested he ‘s*** himself’.
Joshua told BBC 5 Live Sport: “That’s good to hear.
“At least I can get him in the ring… that’s all we want, right?
“So, he’s on the right track.”
MANNY KEEN
Manny Pacquiao has declared his intention to fight TWICE next year at the age of 42.
The WBA welterweight champion celebrates the milestone birthday on Thursday.
Pacquiao is yet to fight since beating Keith Thurman in Las Vegas 18 months ago.
The coronavirus pandemic has seen him focus his intentions solely as a Senator in his homeland of the Philippines.
But Pacquiao, who boasts a 62-7 record, is planning to have two fights next year as he eyes a return to training after upcoming political sessions in March.
He told the Daily Tribute: “We still have sessions in March so there’s no way I am going to fight during that time. I think I can do two fights next year.”
Credit: AP:Associated Press
ANT NOBODY BETTER
Anthony Joshua’s trainer Rob McCracken believes that his fighter is ‘still developing’.
He said: “I would think they would definitely fight and probably fight at least twice next year, that’s what everybody wants to happen.
“Big Josh has had 10 or 11 world title fights and is still developing and winning. He’s getting better all the time.”
HEARN-EST ASSESSMENT
Eddie Hearn has admitted the importance of getting Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua on while the pair are in their primes.
He said: “It is an undisputed fight, it should be the toughest fight out there, but I’ve always fancied him to beat Tyson Fury, always.
“But Fury is definitely at the peak of his powers and so is AJ which actually is why it is so great if we get it made because you saw with Floyd [Mayweather] and [Manny] Pacquiao, it was rubbish.”
Credit: AFP or licensors
WILD AT HEART
Eddie Hearn has admitted that Deontay Wilder could still stand in the way of a unification bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
He said: “The only hitch I can think of is Wilder. If the court orders the Fury rematch, and it doesn’t sound as though they will, then it is out of our hands.
“That is the only way it falls through is if something stops their side, that isn’t me saying they don’t want it, they do, but if the court orders it then we will have to fight Usyk.”
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
NICE LITTLE HEARNER
Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn, 41, has claimed that talks over Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s 2021 unification bout could take just ‘a couple of days’.
Asked about the length of negotiations, he said: “A couple of days.
“We need to write to the governing bodies and say yes we have a deal and we will now talk to the various sites and confirm the dates shortly for what I suppose will be the end of May.”
Hearn is confident over negotiationsCredit: PA:Press Association
FOR PETE’S SAKE
Anthony Joshua could knock out Tyson Fury, according to the Gypsy King’s uncle and former trainer Peter.
Peter Fury was in attendance on Saturday night as his son Hughie beat Mariusz Wach on the AJ vs Kubrat Pulev undercard.
Asked for his thoughts on the unification bout between Joshua and his nephew, Peter said: “Be a great fight.
“Both up for it, aren’t they. So it’ll be a great fight if it happens. Both have different styles though, Tyson is a totally different style to Pulev.
“It would be a great fight. Those shots [AJ landed tonight] wouldn’t be landing on Tyson so clean. He’s an exceptional talent but if AJ can land, anyone is going down.
“But the same for Tyson – he’s a puncher as well. So it works both ways. It’s a pick’em fight to be honest.”
BRITISH BEEF
The heavyweight division finally looks set to be unified after Anthony Joshua beat Kubrat Pulev to line up a Battle of Britain clash with Tyson Fury.
The all-British showdown is one fans have longed to see for years.
With both men boasting power and sharp jabs, SunSport takes a look at how they compare.
LIGHTS OUT
Take another look at how Anthony Joshua dispatched Kubrat Pulev on Saturday night.
FUR SURE
Daniel Dubois tipped Tyson Fury to beat Anthony Joshua – having sparred both the heavyweight champions.
Fury, 32, and Joshua, 31, have verbally agreed a two-fight deal for 2021, as they eye an undisputed title decider.
He told SPORTbible: “Fury at the moment. His skill and his know-how, coupled with his confidence should beat Joshua.
“But it will be a really good fight. I wouldn’t be surprised if it went the other way and Joshua won.”
ANT THE MAN
Tyson Fury’s former trainer Ben Davison was full of praise for Anthony Joshua after his win over Kubrat Pulev.
He told iFL TV: “I’ve always ranked Joshua that little bit lower than the rest of the competitors because he was a little bit one-dimensional.
“Now he’s starting to show versatility. That’s fantastic, and it’s great that he’s working on that. But Tyson’s extremely versatile and comfortable being versatile.
“He’s comfortably pressing the action and keeping it long. He’s comfortable pressing the action and making it short. He’s comfortable orthodox and southpaw.
“That’s a really hard thing to overcome because if something’s working for Joshua then Tyson can take that away.
“There will be moments in the fight where adjustments have to be made, and that’s why it’s become more of an intriguing fight now.
“There are layers to Anthony Joshua now that there weren’t before. I just think Tyson is more versatile and his non-punching activity rate is through the roof.”
MAKING OF A CHAMPION
Anthony Joshua shared a series of incredible throwback pictures documenting his life from a troubled kid in Watford to heavyweight champion of the world.
The British star – who knocked out Kubrat Pulev on Saturday to line up a Battle of Britain clash with Tyson Fury – uploaded the images to his Instagram story.
The amazing snaps show Joshua, 31, in the gym as a youngster, working his way up the boxing ranks in small-hall amateur fights.
The pictures all shared a similar theme, showing Joshua working hard, “hustling”, working out “25/8” rather than “24/7” in his bid to become champion.
Elsewhere, Joshua can be seen sitting in a new car, purchased well before he was 2012 Olympic champion, proudly showing off his wheels in 2007.
FURY ROAD
Eddie Hearn has hit back at Tyson Fury after the Gypsy King said Anthony Joshua had “s*** himself” on live TV after his fight against Kubrat Pulev.
Hearn jumped to the defence of his client, insisting AJ is not the sort of personality to scream and shout, as well as revealing his desire is to ensure the feuding pair meet in the ring.
Hearn retorted in an interview with iFLTV: “We’ll see who is s* themselves.
“Ultimately, AJ is not the kind of guy that’s going to scream and shout on TV and call people ‘Dossers’, that’s not his style.
“So we’ll let Tyson do that, we’ll sign the fight and get it done.”
DILL ME IN
Dillian Whyte has once again stated he is ready to take on anyone in the heavyweight division.
FAST AND FURYOUS
Tyson Fury is taking legal action to get himself removed from BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.
He said:“I’ve asked nicely to be taken off the list and they’ve decided they weren’t going to take me off the list.
“So I’ve had my lawyer send them a letter demanding that I be taken off the list so let’s hope they listen and get me off that list.”
Before adding: “I don’t need any awards from any TV stations or organisations for me to know who I am.
“I know who I am, know what I’ve done, and I don’t need a big pat on the back and don’t need a glass trophy.
“No disrespect to anyone who wants it, but I see everyone clamouring to get on that list and I’m clamouring to get off it. I don’t need gratification from anybody.”
KING’S ORDER
Tyson Fury has told Anthony Joshua to ‘grow a pair and sign the contract’ for their heavyweight unification bout.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain, he said: “I watched the fight and was very impressed with what he did and then it came to the end of the fight and they did the interview, the public wanted to hear that he would fight me and he avoided the question.
“It was a bit disappointing to be honest because it’s been such a long time building up over the years and he avoided the question like he didn’t want the fight so I had to get straight on social media and make everyone know I’m willing and ready to take the fight.
“Grow a pair and sign the contract big boy.”
Speculation has mounted that the duo had verbally agreed a two-fight deal worth around half a billion quid to get it on in 2021.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
