ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury are training for their HUGE heavyweight world title fight.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn says the fight will be taking place on August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua’s WBA, IBF and WBO titles are on the line with Fury’s WBC championship in a massive unification showdown.
We’ll be bringing you ALL of the latest developments on the bout plus all of the news from the world of boxing right here…
MONEY MAYWEATHER
It may not be the huge super fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua but the hype is not slowing down ahead of Floyd Mayweather’s clash with YouTuber Logan Paul.
Sky Sports Box Office will be showing the fight on June 6 in Miami.
But no fixed UK price has yet been announced by Sky Sports.
The usual PPV price for Sky Sports boxing events is £19.99, although the last two Anthony Joshua fights have both been £24.99.
The likes of Badou Jack, Jean Jean Pascal and Jarrett Hurd will all feature on the undercard of the event.
BULKING UP
One man with an eye on Anthony Joshua’s fight with Tyson Fury is Oleksandr Usyk.
And the undisputed cruiserweight king is bulking up in the gym in a bid to become the dominant force in the heavyweight division.
Usyk posed for a video of himself topless in the gym on social media before climbing on to the scales to reveal his weight as 105kg.
He then produced a bicep pose as a big grin appeared across his face before he sent out a menacing message to his new big boy rivals.
The 34-year-old said: “What’s up heavyweight? I’m here.”
FIGHTING TALK
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has offered an optimistic view ahead of the world heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Arum recently raised doubts over the prospect of the British superstars colliding this summer.
But Arum is now positive the super fight will take place in August.
Arum told Bad Left Hook: “We sent (deal principals in Saudi Arabia) a memo, on behalf of the promotion, and they said it’s the holiday, the end of Ramadan, and nobody is in the office.
“They need the minister of sports’ approval, and they told us we should expect an answer Saturday or Sunday.
“Friday is a holiday. So hopefully they accede to what we’ve asked for, and I’m optimistic they will.
“Then, we can do a proper announcement of the deal, not Frank (Warren, Fury’s other co-promoter) and Eddie (Hearn, promoter for Joshua) spouting off. I’m very optimistic.”
TOP THREE
Here’s a list of Joshua, Fury and Wilder’s last ten opponents!
McINTYRE VS FURY
Tyson Fury has already had a brief spell in the WWE, enjoying a feud with the Colossal Braun Strowman.
But the Gypsy King has also been exchanging words with top dog Drew McIntyre!
In an interview with Steven Muehlhausen of DAZN, the former WWE champion touched on the pair’s exchange on Twitter.
“He’s [Fury] cutting promos on me the other day from Vegas,” McIntyre said.
“It’s pretty surreal to me. When I turn on my Twitter, and he does respond.
“It’s been over a year now that we’ve been going back and forth with each other.
“It gets people talking. I know there’s going to be a day where we finally make something happen.
“It’s going to be big, and ideally, I think it’s going to be in the UK.”
NEVER GIVE UP
Tyson Fury’s recovery and road back to the top of heavyweight boxing was incredible.
UNIFICATION TALKS
Talks between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury over their unification title fight are expected to enter crucial stages early next week.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that both parties had agreed that the fight would take place in Saudi Arabia on August 14.
But there’s still things to sort out before contracts can be signed.
Hearn said: “Team Fury need to be comfortable.
“The word and feeling out of both camps should give you the security that this fight is happening and August 14 is the date.”
The word and feeling out of both camps should give you the security that this fight is happening and August 14 is the date
Eddie Hearn
TALE OF THE TAPE
A hard hitting match-up!
HEARN: JOSHUA PLANS TO ABSOLUTELY DEMOLISH FURY
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn – who also promotes IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua – believes that his guy will “demolish” Fury in the unification fight.
The date looks set for August 14 in Saudi Arabia, and the fight will be inside a purpose-built arena.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “You will get a different AJ in this build-up.
“He’s excited because he’s never really, apart from the Dillian Whyte fight, been in a trash-talk environment. He will enjoy it.
“AJ has got the bit between his teeth, goading him a bit. I’m sure these two DM each other, goading each other.
“I get DMs from Fury – sometimes pleasant, sometimes unpleasant!
“When the announcement comes and the press conferences start, the pleasantries will go away and it will become personal.
“It doesn’t matter who respects who. Both sides are desperate to win because this is everything. There are no fun and games.
“It’s ‘them and us’. AJ will go to war with Fury. He has plans to absolutely demolish him.
“That’s what I believe he will do. In the meantime, we will go through the build-up, which will be a lot of fun, before the biggest event of 2021.”
BATTLE OF THE BRITS
The most highly anticipated fight of the year!
TRAINING ‘LIKE AN ANIMAL’
Tony Bellew has warned Tyson Fury that rival Anthony Joshua is “training like an animal”.
Fury – the WBC and Ring Magazine heavyweight champion of the world – is currently training in America.
But hasn’t fought since February 2020.
Speaking to TalkSPORT Breakfast on Thursday, Bellew said: “These guys are training like animals, believe you me.
“I know AJ is for the absolute fact.
“AJ is the best athlete the heavyweight division has seen since Lennox Lewis, he is that good of an athlete. So he is 365 days of the year, in shape and in camp.”
EAST COAST
Tyson Fury is in Miami, Florida at the moment alongside his brother Tommy.
Tommy is looking to fight Youtuber Jake Paul who has taken an interest in professional boxing and has a perfect record.
Tyson has previously encouraged people like Paul to get into the ring and said it “brings more eyes to our sport”.
GOOD MORNING FIGHT FANS
Anthony Joshua will fight Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia on August 14.
Eddie Hearn confirmed the date and location of the heavyweight unification showdown on Thursday.The promoter insisted the stadium constructed for the fight will ‘shock the world’ after the Middle Eastern nation hosted AJ’s fight with Andy Ruiz Jr at a similar temporary venue.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “August is about 23 degrees at 11pm, but they want to create something very, very special.
“Last time they built the stadium for the Andy Ruiz fight in just seven weeks and that held 18,000 and this will be a similar setup.
“They have the opportunity to hold it indoors but they want to create something that’s going to just shock the world and they want to, if they can, build another stadium just for this fight.”
FIGHT CLUB
Let’s take a look back over Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s opponents in the past few years, plus Deontay Wilder’s as well.
Who do you think has proven themselves against the baddest roster?
FAN-DEMONIUM
Eddie Hearn has opened the door to fans attending Anthony Joshua’s fight with Tyson Fury.
Saudi Arabia will host the battle of the Brits in August in a specially-built stadium.
And Hearn told BBC Sport: “The Saudi plan is to allow international travellers.
“Pandemic permitting, I’d like to think by August you’d have the ability to travel to Saudi for this fight.
“They may have precautions in place, whether that’s vaccine related or testing – I’m sure all countries will adopt different policies worldwide. But their aim is to attract overseas travellers.”
‘THE DREAM’
Tyson Fury has been lapping up the sun in Miami after watching Billy Joe Saunders’ fight with Canelo Alvarez on the weekend.
It looks like a nice day on the other side of the Atlantic, as he poses with bro Tommy in the sea.
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Here’s the Tale of the Tape for Joshua-Fury. An almighty match-up.
PAUL THE OTHER ONE
Tony Bellew has warned boxing authorities to put a stop to Jake and Logan Paul’s fight careers – and claims neither would dare call him out.
The now-retired former WBC cruiserweight champion, 38, warned that the YouTubers ‘are stupid and putting their lives at risk’.
Speaking to BBC Headliners podcast, Bellew said: “The fact of the matter is these guys aren’t fighters and aren’t true boxers, they are someone who is having a go at a sport and competing a little bit.
“Now I’ve got no problem with that but they shouldn’t actually attach themselves and call themselves professional boxers or fighters in any kind of magnitude or substance because it’s wrong what they are doing to the sport by claiming they are these fighters.”
He added: “This is all good when they are making a few quid and everyone is making some money but understand that someone is going to get hurt doing this and then it’s going to come back on boxing.
“You need to take it seriously. Boxing is a professional, dangerous and brutal business – do not mess about and try to think this is showbusiness, cameras and lights and fun and games.”
FEEL THE HEAT
Eddie Hearn has revealed the conditions Anthony Joshua will face Tyson Fury in during this summer’s showdown.
Saudi Arabia will build a unique stadium for the clash, just as they did for AJ’s fight with Andy Ruiz Jr.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “August is about 23 degrees at 11pm, but they want to create something very, very special.
“Last time they built the stadium for the Andy Ruiz fight in just seven weeks and that held 18,000 and this will be a similar setup.
“They have the opportunity to hold it indoors but they want to create something that’s going to just shock the world and they want to, if they can, build another stadium just for this fight.”
PUT YOUR BEST FROCH ON
Elsewhere in boxing, Carl Froch could be the latest big name to dust off his gloves and come out of retirement.
The British boxing legend revealed he is in talks to land an exhibition fight with 52-year-old Roy Jones Jr.
He told talkSPORT: “Listen, we’ve been approached by a company – I won’t say who it is yet.
“They’re trying to set up one of these fights like when Roy Jones fought Mike Tyson – actually classed as an exhibition contest.
“But if I go in there and it does work out that it happens, I ain’t gonna be taking any punches on my new nose let me tell you.
“I won’t be getting that flattened.”
‘BEST LIFE’
Away from the pressure and tension of the fight announcement, Tyson Fury has been enjoying himself alongside brother Tommy (pictured).
The pair are seen dancing with sparklers in a bar and just generally having a good time, in a clip posted on the Gypsy King’s Instagram.
‘ANIMAL’
Tony Bellew has warned Anthony Joshua to expect to face a ferocious Tyson Fury on August 14.
He told talkSPORT: “Believe you me, he is in training. He looks in great shape.
“He is sparring, he’s training and he is doing everything he possibly can to be in the best shape of his life.
“Don’t believe all the hype and the smoke that they create around the training of him being in Vegas without his shirt on and all the bling. It’s nonsense!
“These guys are training like animals, believe you me. I know AJ is for the absolute fact.
“AJ is the best athlete the heavyweight division has seen since Lennox Lewis, he is that good of an athlete. So he is 365 days of the year, in shape and in camp.”
HEARN ON FIGHT
Eddie Hearn has been speaking to Sky Sports about the fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury on August 14.
The promoter has confirmed the fight WILL take place in Saudi Arabia.
Hearn said: “You’re going to get a different AJ in this build-up.
“I think he’s excited because he’s never really – other than the Dillian Whyte fight – been in that trash talk environment.
“I think he wants to be in that environment; I think he’s got his own plans for Tyson Fury; I think he’s going to enjoy it.
“Tyson Fury is very good at what he does in and out of the ring, but I think if this fight was made six months ago, it might be slightly different now.
“AJ’s got the bit between his teeth, goading him a little bit. I’m sure these two DM each other, goading each other backwards and forwards.
“I get DMs from Tyson Fury – sometimes they’re pleasant, sometimes they’re unpleasant!
“We’re all doing all we can to make this fight and it’s going to be beneficial to them both – not just from a financial point of view, but from a legacy point of view as well.
“When the announcement comes and those press conferences start, I think the pleasantries will go away and it will become a bit personal because it doesn’t matter who respects who, both sides are absolutely desperate to win.
“This is everything; this is the undisputed heavyweight world championship. There’s no fun and games, it’s them and us.
“AJ will be going to war with Tyson Fury – and he has plans to go in there and demolish him.”
HEARN CONFIRMS FIGHT – BREAKING NEWS
Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed Anthony Joshua will fight Tyson Fury on August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
The bout will take place in a ‘specially-created’ stadium that will ‘shock the world’.
Hearn says the fight is a ‘done deal’.
More to come as soon as we get it…
FIGHT ANNOUNCED!
AJ V FURY CONFIRMED!
AUGUST 14!
SAUDI ARABIA!
More to follow…
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk