Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA “has all the beatings” of Oleksandr Usyk going into their high-stakes rematch.Joshua was turned over by the undefeated Ukranian in their Tottenham tussle last September as he unwisely tried to outbox the slick southpaw.
Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will renew their rivalry this summerCredit: GETTY
AJ was turned over by the slick southpaw last SeptemberCredit: Getty
But Johnny Nelson is believes the Brit will have the beating of Usyk second time aroundCredit: REUTERS
But former undisputed cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson believes AJ has the skills in his locker to become a three-time heavyweight titleholder.
He told Planet Sport: “I think it’s a hard fight, I think it’s a harder rematch for AJ than the Ruiz rematch was.
“It’s not an impossible task or ask, I think AJ has all the beatings of Usyk.
“I’ve seen Usyk from the early days, seven fights in as a pro and I said this young man is the heir apparent.
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SPORT.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}HEAR ME OUT .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Hearn casts doubt over Joshua vs Usyk rematch should there be one more delay
“The problem is, once everyone knows who you are and what you can do then they can plot a plan for you.
“And now with AJ, he just has to change tactics, change style, change intentions on what he wants to do and how he’s gonna approach the fight.
“So, I don’t know what tactics he’ll choose, but what I’m saying is that it’s not an impossible task for AJ, but it’s a tough one.”
Joshua, 32, lamented his decision to try and outbox his fellow London 2012 Olympian and plans to get “back to basics” for their second showdown.
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He said: “The goal now is to go back to basics and go for the knockout.
“I always feel, when I’m sparring or fighting people, I actually see their spirit get dampened.
“Honestly, when you’re looking at this person directly in their eyes and watching their body, you can read the body and punch after punch this person is slowly fading.
“Now when you’re boxing, the art of boxing is to hit and not get hit. So you’re kind of boxing to stay away. That’s not really my style.
“My style is to be up close and personal and make it difficult for the person. So that’s the game plan.”
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July 23 is the slated date for the pair’s proposed Saudi showdown, although it’s currently hanging on a knife-edge.
Contracts have yet to be signed and the fight could end up being pushed back until August if they’re not inked this week.
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EDDIE HEARN was half-tempted to jokingly call out Jake Paul during the Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano fight week.The pair got up close and personal on several occasions during the historic fight week, in which Hearn didn’t mince his words about the YouTuber.
Eddie Hearn recently branded YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul an ‘average fighter’Credit: GETTY
And the Matchroom Boxing chief has revealed he was contemplating a jokey call-out of PaulCredit: SPORTSFILE
And after labelling the social media star an “average fighter”, Hearn thought about challenging Paul to a promoters’ punch-up.
He told talkSPORT: “You’re not going to see me in the ring unless the money is right.
“I thought about calling Jake Paul out but, then again, I would get chinned and that would be embarrassing.”
Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn also didn’t fancy his chances against Mayweather Promotion’s CEO Leonard Ellerbe.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}ON THE PAUL .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Jake Paul responds to McGregor’s claims that he’ll pick opponent for UFC return
But he’s confident he’d do a number on Top Rank’s 90-year-old chief Bob Arum.
He said: “I thought about Leonard Ellerbe but he’s a bit older. He’d probably chin me as well.
“I could beat Bob Arum. I mean, he’s 90. It is bad when I’m a slight favourite to beat Bob Arum at 90.
“No, I can’t fight, and you won’t be seeing me in the ring unless the money is right.”
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Former Disney star Paul took umbrage with Hearn’s criticisms and took aim at the Brit earlier this month.
In a video hyping up his chances of beating former pound-for-pound king Canelo, he said: “Eddie Hearn, f*** you. You can suck my d***.
“I’m planning on beating Canelo and in three f***ing years. I put that on my momma.
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“Congrats, Dmitry Bivol. He’s shown Canelo is easily beatable by a bigger man, which is what I’ve known the whole entire time.
“Believe in yourself, kids. And don’t listen to these British scumbags like Eddie Hearn.”
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THERE’S nothing more frustrating for a journalist than to be given a sensational scoop only to have the elation dashed by being told it’s off the record.It’s happened to me many times and what world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes revealed forty years ago in Las Vegas I’ve had to keep to myself until today.
Larry Holmes, pictured with his wife Diane and daughter Kandy Larie, had to put them in a safe houseCredit: AP:Associated Press
Holmes won a pulsating fight with Cooney’s trainer throwing in the towel in the 13thCredit: Getty
Holmes, before he defended his title against Gerry Cooney on June 11, 1982, set up his training camp at Caesars Palace.
The Holmes-Cooney clash sold itself.
Both men were unbeaten and Cooney – the Deontay Wilder of his day – had knocked out 21 of his 25 opponents with his dynamite left hook.
America hadn’t had a white world heavyweight champion since Rocky Marciano retired undefeated 27 years before.
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15px;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-16djrfc{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-1skzs3j{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The 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BOXING.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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That gave promoter Don King the ammunition he needed to provoke extra publicity by disgracefully turning the fight into a Black vs White race war – much to Holmes and Cooney’s disgust.
It was all the white supremacists in the States needed to unload their bile and issue Holmes with death threats.
I have covered nearly eighty world heavyweight championships – many of them highly controversial – but the build-up before Holmes and Cooney entered the ring in the 30,000-seater open-air arena built on Caesars Palace parking lot was unquestionably the most repugnant and toxic. 
Whenever I had interviewed Holmes before previous defences he was always relaxed, smiling and happy to talk.
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But when I went to see Larry in his hotel suite six weeks before the fight with “The Great White Hope” as King called Cooney, I realised as soon as I walked through the door he was an extremely worried man.
There was every reason for him being morose and not his usual laid-back, amusing self.
He then told me he had to move his wife Diane and his kids out of their home in Eastern, Pennsylvania, to a secret place of safety after a carload of rednecks with rifles had shot up his mailbox on his front lawn.
In the febrile atmosphere of the time that news item almost certainly would have made headlines worldwide.
Larry must have seen the journalistic light shining in my eyes because he quickly added: “Please don’t write about it because I’m in enough trouble with this black and white nonsense already.
“I believe what happened in Eastern is a warning to me and my family and if the story appears in the press it could encourage other racial idiots.” 
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White supremacist groups relentlessly continued to harass Holmes right up to the opening bell and issued warnings that their agents were ready to shoot Holmes as he entered the ring.
The Las Vegas Police Department took the threats very seriously and deployed their top marksmen at various vantage points overlooking the ring just in case there was an assassin lurking in the crowd.
Fortunately the only violence that night was confined within the ropes. How Holmes managed to concentrate on beating Cooney considering the stress he was under was remarkable.
Cooney certainly gave him many awkward moments but he wasn’t in Holmes’ league and after being floored twice his trainer Victor Valle threw in the towel in the 13th round to save his man from being knocked out.
FOES TO FRIENDS
I met up with the pair of them in London last week before they began a four-gig tour of England as part of the celebrations to mark their epic battle four decades ago.
That’s when a grinning Larry released me from my vow of silence and said it was now OK to tell the mailbox saga.
Diane, who was on the trip with them, told me to this day she won’t allow a mailbox in front of their house.
She said: “I’ll never forget how scared I was – I thought they were out to murder me and the children.
“Since that happened I have insisted the mailman makes his deliveries at my front door.”
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I’m delighted to say Larry, 72 and Gerry 65, are in great shape and despite King’s efforts to whip-up hatred between them, they have been bosom pals since they bumped into each other by chance in Atlantic City, just eight months after they fought.
As they both said: “We didn’t care about black and white – we cared about each other.”
Don King sparked racial hatred in the build-up by dubbing the fight ‘White vs Black’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Holmes and Cooney have formed a friendship and stayed close for 40 yearsCredit: Getty Images – Getty More