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      ‘Insecure’ Tyson Fury accused of trying to take ‘spotlight’ away from Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Usyk after retiring

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      EDDIE HEARN slammed “insecure” Tyson Fury for trying to take the “spotlight” away from Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua’s fights for the chance to win back the WBA, IBF and WBO titles on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia and potentially save his career.
      Tyson Fury confirmed his retirement from boxingCredit: GETTY
      Eddie Hearn blasted Tyson Fury as ‘insecure’Credit: The Mega Agency
      But it comes after Fury reaffirmed his decision to retire, despite claiming that he was going to return only two days earlier.
      AJ’s promoter Hearn fumed at the timing and believes the Gypsy King is trying to hog the heavyweight limelight.
      He told iFL TV: “Someone told me that Tyson Fury has announced his retirement again.
      “He must be so insecure to have to do this every time AJ fights.
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      “I don’t know at what point you must sit there and go, ‘What I am going to do is talking s*** to get publicity and try and take the spotlight away from AJ’.
      “You are self-proclaimed the number one heavyweight in the world so what are you bothered about Anthony Joshua before.
      “He doesn’t want the money and has no interest in it, but also wants half a billion.
      “I have never seen so many contradictions, I contradict myself so much but he is on another level.

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      “Let’s see what happens next week and watch Anthony Joshua knock out Usyk and then he is coming for Tyson Fury.”
      Fury, 34, first announced he was walking away from boxing after knocking out Dillian Whyte, 34, in April at Wembley.
      But the door was left open for a comeback to challenge the winner between Joshua, 32, and Usyk, 35, who won the first fight last September.
      Fury even claimed he was in talks for an unlikely trilogy with Derek Chisora, 38, who he beat in 2011 and 2014.
      Although the unbeaten heavyweight has now vacated his Ring Magazine belt, which will now be on the line come Saturday.
      The WBC have also given Fury until August 26 to confirm whether or not he wants to vacate his world title.
      Anthony Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in SeptemberCredit: GETTY More

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      ‘Retirement rocks’ – Tyson Fury enjoying ‘every single moment’ of life outside ring while in £300,000 Ferrari

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      TYSON FURY is enjoying every single moment of retirement.The Gypsy King, 34, officially vacated Ring Magazine’s heavyweight title following his latest retirement.
      Fury looks content in his £300k Ferrari
      Although his humble Volkswagen Passat can be seen in the background
      The Gypsy King claims ‘retirement rocks’
      The 34-year-old is enjoying his favourite meal of turkey dinosaurs and chips
      Revving his stunning £300,000 Ferrari GTC4Lusso, Fury tells to the camera he is enjoying some time out of boxing.
      He says: “Retirement rocks. Really enjoying retirement baby.
      “Worked hard for this so enjoying ever single moment.”
      It was clear the Wythenshawe warrior remains humble though, as fans spotted his caravan and Volkswagen Passat in the background.
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      He also boasted his fave meal of turkey dinosaurs and chips on social media.
      On Friday, Fury confirmed retirement, announcing he will NOT sensationally return to the ring. 
      Just two days previously, he’d announced plans to come out of retirement to face Derek Chisora.
      The fighter backed up his words as he relinquished the prestigious Ring heavyweight strap.
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      He told them: “The Ring Magazine championship has always been the holy grail of boxing.
      “They’ve been fantastic with me and I’ve always carried that title with pride.”
      Fury’s intentions for the WBC heavyweight title remain unclear, although he has held talks with the Mexican sanctioning body’s president Mauricio Sulaiman.
      Sulaiman said: “Just finished a touching video conference with Tyson Fury who has confirmed his official retirement from boxing.
      “We fully support his decision which is a dream for anyone to retire undefeated and as WBC champion of the world. WBC boxing will prepare a special farewell event soon.” More

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      Anthony Joshua reveals only reason he lost to Oleksandr Usyk in first fight is due to heavyweight rival being southpaw

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA claims he only lost to Oleksandr Usyk due to the Ukraine ace being a southpaw.AJ saw his heavyweight world-title dominance go up in smoke in September, when the left-hander outboxed him.
      AJ reckons he would have ‘smoked’ Usyk if the Ukrainian fought orthodoxCredit: Getty
      Joshua is readying himself for the sequalCredit: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyjoshua/
      But the Watford ace, 32, bizarrely said the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium loss — despite Usyk’s undisputed cruiserweight reign and 335-15 amateur record — was purely down to his stance.
      The London 2012 Olympic legend said: “Fighting a leftie is a nightmare and he is a good one as well.
      “He is good — but if he was an orthodox fighter I’d have smoked him, 100 per cent.
      “But with this leftie nonsense it’s just different, they set you up differently.
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      “If you are a good leftie you have a good chance of making it in boxing, I reckon.”
      When Usyk moved up from the 14st 4lbs cruiser division he cleaned out, he revealed 16st was his ideal weight up at heavy.
      The father-of-three was 15st 7lbs for the points win over Derek Chisora and 15st 11lbs for the Spurs schooling of AJ.
      In the most recent pictures from his Dubai camp – where he has sparred giant orthodox monster perfect for imitating AJ – Usyk looks huge.
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      But AJ insists his new partnership with trainer Robert Garcia, Loughborough gym and fresh killer mindset will help secure him victory by maximising his height, reach and weight advantages.
      When asked if the speculation was in fact the plan, he said: “Yes, it’s evident isn’t it, it’s not a secret.
      “They are things that I need to use but it’s easier said than done so we work on it.
      “That’s why training camps are so challenging and why you usually see a fighter straight on the beach after a fight, it’s draining.
      “It’s evident that I am stronger and bigger and – if I can impose my strengths on him – I will have a better chance of winning the fight.”
      Nobody in their right mind can criticise Joshua for his career so far, he didn’t even pick up a pair of gloves until he was 18 yet has made British boxing a mega-money industry with elite opponents.
      But he has been stunned by the power of Andy Ruiz Jr and bamboozled by the skill of Usyk.
      And he seems so sure he has the right gamplan to complete his second rematch revenge mission, after making a hash of his idea to outfox-the-fox first time around.
      “I always predicted, at the start of my career, that I would be the sort of fighter who had to suffer defeats and go down this route, because of the challenges I take,” he rightly said.
      “I like taking good challenges and I have even done that as an amateur, always straight in the deep end.
      “I didn’t have a winning mindset for Usyk, I didn’t think ‘I want to go in there and smash him’. I wanted to compete with him, at boxing and see how good I was at it.
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      “He won and became a pound-for-pound great. But what happens on August 20 if I win, do I become a pound-for-pound great now?”
      Every British boxing fan in the world should hope he does – somehow. More

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      Mike Tyson gives prediction for Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk and tells Brit what he MUST do to win

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’s lack of speed could end up being his undoing in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, according to former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.AJ will bid to wrestle back the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles from the undefeated Ukrainian in a do-or-die Saudi showdown next Saturday.
      Anthony Joshua will rematch Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia next weekendCredit: Getty
      Usyk was too fast and too slick for Joshua in their first showdownCredit: GETTY
      Boxing legend Mike Tyson reckons the Usyk’s speed could be AJ’s undoing againCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Joshua, 32, was outboxed by the speedy and slick southpaw in their Tottenham tussle last September, a scenario Tyson could see happening again.
      Iron Mike said: “It’s gonna be hard to beat him
      “It’s gonna be hard to beat Usyk because he’s fast and he outpunched Joshua with his jab. Joshua has to learn to deal with his jab.”
      Joshua has brought in renowned coach Robert Garcia to combat the timidity he showed in his lopsided points defeat to Usyk.

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      And Tyson believes the Brit needs to put his conqueror on the back foot from the first bell.
      The 56-year-old added: “He’s too fast for Joshua. Joshua has to put a lot of pressure on him and keep it on him all night.
      “He’s a powerful puncher, but he’s not as accurate – you’ve gotta be accurate against a guy like that.
      “Because he moves so much, the jab is educated and he just outsmarts the guy.”

      Joshua has no intention of trying to outbox Usyk a second time around, saying: “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.
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      “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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      Anthony Joshua tells of his respect for rival Oleksandr Usyk for fighting on frontline during Ukraine war with Russia

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has nothing but respect for rival Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their massive heavyweight showdown.Five months after Usyk stripped AJ of his WBA, IBF and WBO belts, the Ukrainian hero was defending his country on the frontline.
      Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk will renew their rivalry on SaturdayCredit: GETTY
      Slick southpaw Usyk outpointed AJ at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last SeptemberCredit: REUTERS
      Usyk has had to prepare for the rematch amid the backdrop of war in his native UkraineCredit: INSTAGRAM
      AJ has the utmost respect for Usyk defending his homelandCredit: INSTAGRAM
      The 35-year-old southpaw slung a machine gun over his shoulder to patrol with the Ukraine Defence Battalion but prayed he would never have to kill a Russian invader.
      A devout husband and father of three, Usyk only left to start his training camp when injured victims in military hospitals urged him to head for Jeddah and win Saturday’s rematch for national pride.
      And Watford hero Joshua, 32, said: “If it was me, yes, it would definitely have an impact and I don’t know if it would be positive or negative.
      “I don’t know how I would deal with it but I know it would be tough.
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      “I have never lived in anything like a conflict like that, so I don’t know the sort of ramifications it would have on me.
      “I respect what he has done 100 per cent. It’s his home, isn’t it — you have to defend your home.
      “It is such a shame that civilians get the worst end of the bargain in wars, when it is a political issue. He is just trying to defend his community so I respect him.
      “I think I would have done the same, not as a boxer or a warrior, just as a general person.
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      “People have decided not to leave and to defend their homes. That has nothing to do with being a warrior. I respect what he has done.”
      Joshua was convincingly outpointed at Tottenham’s new stadium in September.
      So instantly snapping up the rematch just hours after the unanimous decision was a bold move.
      Saudi Arabia’s £80million offer to stage and control the event has held up proceedings.
      The Englishman said: “We looked at suitable dates for him and his team.
      “It was important for them to be ready rather than us forcing a date upon them.
      “I didn’t want us to say, ‘This is the date it has to be’. I wanted us to work together. That’s the way we show compassion.
      Joshua will be hoping for salvation in the Saudi desert next weekendCredit: GETTY

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      But Joshua was also compassionate enough to offer Usyk — who suffered a 22lb weight loss owing to stress in a Kyiv bunker — time to make the right decision for himself and his family.
      “He wanted to compete and defend the belts. It was scheduled for around June 11, then it changed for his and Saudi’s reasons.
      “But I feel like it has now worked out for everyone in the long run.”
      WBC champion Tyson Fury, 34, is expected to leap out of another supposed retirement to face the winner of the clash.
      The 6ft 9in Morecambe fighter has been rudely dismissive of Usyk’s threat to him, based on his old amateur days as a middleweight.
      And he has even accused the former undisputed cruiserweight king of using steroids to aid his undefeated climb up the weight classes.
      But the gap-toothed leftie revealed the Gypsy King did not dare insult him when they met in December 2021 at a New York show.
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      When he was reminded of Fury’s jibes, Usyk said: “Of course, he never said it to my face. I want to laugh every time I watch him and listen to him.
      “He told me completely different things to my face — but I am not going to tell you what he told me. I know we are going to be fighting one day.”
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      Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather boasts £19m LA mega mansion with stunning belt collection and incredible wine cellar

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      BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather gave fans a glimpse inside his lavish mansion.The boxing icon, who hung up his gloves in 2017 with an unbeaten 50-0 record, is believed to be worth around £1BILLION.
      Floyd Mayweather captioned this image: ‘My wine cellar in my Beverly Hills castle’Credit: Instagram @floydmayweather
      The undefeated champ showed off his amazing belt collectionCredit: Instagram @floydmayweather
      Nicknamed “Money”, he has never been shy in flaunting his wealth, giving an insight into his life of luxury.
      Mayweather, now 45, splashed out £19m in cash on a stunning Beverly Hills pad, previously taking to social media to show what it’s like on the inside.
      He even shelled out a further £370,000 on top of the sale price, having made an astonishing £74million from his final professional bout against Conor McGregor in 2017.
      Hundreds of expensive bottles of wines line the wall in his cellar, presumably for when he hosts parties with star-studded guest-lists.
      Mayweather has regularly been snapped on nights out drinking with huge wads of cash in his own strip club.
      In another picture, he is laying down on his couch in his spotless lounge area with the caption “relaxing in 90210.”
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      The 45-year-old is believed to be worth around £1billionCredit: Instagram @floydmayweather
      The outside of Floyd Mayweather’s house shows the life of luxury he is livingCredit: Jim Bartsch
      There are ten bathrooms throughout the luxury padCredit: Jim Bartsch
      A large chandelier hangs from the ceiling in his self proclaimed “castle” and a huge marble fireplace is lit on the opposite side of the room.
      But what is more extraordinary is his stunning belt collection.
      With 15 world titles in five weight classes it is no surprise that Mayweather has an extensive array of belts.
      He has also previously shown off his incredible diamond-encrusted timepieces.
      It is a far cry from his earlier life when he grew up amid poverty and drugs in Grand Rapids before his rise to the top.
      And now he boasts mansions across America including in Las Vegas.
      His crib has a private cinema on site to house 20 peopleCredit: Jim Bartsch
      The lounge is open plan with a wine room leading off itCredit: Jim Bartsch
      The master bedroom has walk-in wardrobes and private balcony overlooking the gardenCredit: Jim Bartsch More

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      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2: UK start time CONFIRMED, live stream, TV channel, PPV price and undercard

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      BRITISH boxing icon Anthony Joshua’s huge heavyweight re-match against Oleksandr Usyk is fast approaching.And a start time has been revealed for the huge fight.
      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 has been confirmed
      Anthony Joshua was outboxed in his first clash with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
      Joshua, 32, and his Ukrainian counterpart were due to do battle in May, and then July, but there were various hold-ups in negotiations which pushed the fight further back.
      Russia’s war on Ukraine, where Usyk is from, also had an impact on the arrangement of the rematch.
      Usyk, 35, returned to his home country earlier this tear to join the fight in the war against Russia, which began in February.
      But he’s now in training camp for the biggest fight of his life.
      Usyk outpointed and largely outclassed a game Joshua in front of 70,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September to win the WBA, WBO, IBF & IBO world titles.
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      However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told The Sun earlier this month that his client is ‘baffled’ by the tactics used last year, and hinted at a change of gameplan for the rematch.
      He said: “I was talking to him the other night and I think finally it’s baffled him why he fought like that.
      “For a long time, he still felt even when he lost that he could still beat Usyk like that. But why when you don’t need to fight like that?
      “He could fight in your old style and have a much better chance of beating him. Klitschko-style but Usyk is a tremendous fighter, a great counterpuncher.”
      Hearn added that AJ “needs to be a lot more aggressive” this time.
      The two sides spent months negotiating a money-spinning deal for AJ’s second fight in Saudi Arabia, having beaten Ruiz Jr on points in the oil-rich country in December 2019.
      Joshua will also have a new training team, with the experienced Robert Garcia leading his corner while Angel Fernandez plays second-in-command.
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      When is Joshua vs Usyk 2?

      Joshua vs Usyk 2 will take place on Saturday, August 20.
      The fight is going to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
      It is set to be a late one for UK viewers, with 10.54pm revealed as the approximate start time.

      🥊 AJ vs Usyk 2 date, live stream and TV channel for blockbuster rematch
      What TV channel is it on and can I live stream it?

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      Can I listen to Joshua vs Usyk 2 on radio?
      Yes you can.
      talkSPORT have the exclusive rights for the big fight and you can listen to it all for FREE.
      The station’s Fight Night team will be made up of be presenters Adam Catterall and Gareth A Davies, commentator Andy Clarke, sports broadcaster Ade Oladipo and former bantamweight boxer Spencer Oliver.
      Joshua vs Usyk 2 FULL CARD
      The full Joshua vs Usyk 2 undercard has finally been announced, and what a cracker it’s going to be.
      Callum Smith will compete in Jeddah, however, just as he did on the first Joshua vs Usyk undercard when he takes on Mathieu Bauderlique in a WBC light-heavyweight final eliminator.
      While heavyweight star Filip Hrgovic takes on Zhilei Zhang in an IBF heavyweight title eliminator.
      Badou Jack will also be in action against Richard Rivera.

      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2
      Badou Jack vs Richard Rivera
      Callum Smith vs Mathieu Bauderlique (WBC light-heavyweight final eliminator)
      Filip Hrgovic vs Zhilei Zhang (IBF heavyweight final eliminator)
      Tyron Spong vs Andrew Tabiti
      Daniel Lapin vs Jozef Jurko
      Ramla Ali vs Crystal Garcia Nova
      Ziyad Almaayouf vs Hector Alatorre

      Where will Joshua vs Usyk 2 take place?
      The venue for Joshua vs Uysk 2 is the King Abdullah Sports City Arena, otherwise known as the Shining Jewel.
      The stadium can seat up to 62,000 for a football match, but more are expected to pile in for Joshua vs Usyk 2.
      Saudi Arabia has been a controversial host country, with the oil-rich nation accused of sportswashing after spending huge sums luring some of the world’s best golfers to their new LIV series.
      Hearn, however, has dismissed any such comparison. He said: “He is not worried about any backlash because he has done it before.
      “He will ultimately go, ‘Eddie over to you’. I am not going to pass the buck but it is very different when the deal is a 50/50 split. How can we go back to Usyk and say, ‘Let’s do it at Spurs’ because they will just say it is a non-starter.”
      What has been said?
      Both Joshua and Usyk met face-to-face for the first time since their clash last year at the press conference in Saudi Arabia.
      “The fight with Usyk, he bust my a** for some rounds,” Joshua quipped.
      “And I have to take that defeat like a man as well, I have to be accountable.
      “In the fight in September, I was wrong and he was right. Simply I have to reverse that role in August.
      “I don’t like to overcomplicate the situation, because there’s simplicity in genius. I’m just gonna keep things simple.”
      Usyk added: “As you all know, we are not in the best conditions at the moment back home.
      “I never made some very loud and bright speeches, all I did was just work hard in my training camp, my gym, that’s what I’m gonna do until the date of the fight.
      “Then I will enter the ring and I will make you happy with my boxing.”
      Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua met at a press conference in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP
      Who is Robert Garcia?
      Robert Garcia is Joshua’s new trainer, with AJ splitting from long-time coach Rob McCracken following his loss to Usyk last September.
      McCracken had led Joshua to Olympic gold at London 2012, his first world title in 2016, and the regaining of his belts in 2019.
      But the tactics Joshua used in the defeat to Usyk were widely panned, so the Watford man went out in search of a new voice in the corner.
      In steps Garcia, who has guided 14 different men to world titles throughout his legendary career as a trainer.
      Fighters he’s trained include former four-division champ and brother Mikey Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Jose Ramirez, Bam Rodriguez, Abner Mares, Nonito Donaire, Brandon Rios and Antonio Margarito.
      The Mexican was also a fighter himself, and won the IBF super-featherweight world title in 1998.
      Anthony Joshua has named Robert Garcia as his new trainerCredit: Snapchat
      Robert Garcia will be Anthony Joshua’s lead trainer in Saudi Arabia on August 20
      But in 2001, after a knockout loss to Joel Casamyaor, Garcia retired at the age of 26 and decided to focus on training.
      Garcia is known to be an offensive, Mexican-style, front-foot trainer, and will train the tactics plenty believe Joshua needs to beat an elusive southpaw like Usyk.
      The 47-year-old has said: “We’ll see who’s the better man. We’re going to do whatever it takes to win those titles back.
      “I know he can do it. He’s the bigger man, he’s the stronger man, he’s got the reach advantage, so we’re going to take advantage of all that.
      “Come that day, I think without a doubt, we’re going to have a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.” More

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      ‘I’ll take him to school’ – Chris Eubank Jr taunts smaller rival Conor Benn and threatens to ‘teach him’ a lesson

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      CHRIS EUBANK JR has taunted younger catchweight rival Conor Benn that he’s the real daddy.The 32-year-old Brighton middleweight will boil down to 157lbs to face the 25-year-old career welterweight.
      Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will go head-to-head on October 8Credit: Dickie Pelham
      The October 8 02 sell-out will come almost 30 years since their fathers went to war for a second time, ending in a controversial draw, after Eubank had won the original 1990 battle.
      Nigel Benn is jetting in from Australia to live and train alongside his son for the mouthwatering showdown.
      Eubank Jr wants his dad in his corner but has been unable to track his eccentric dad down since the second-generation battle was confirmed last week.
      But Eubank insists his seven years’ seniority and experience at the top level – in domestic wars with Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves and James DeGale – mean he will make a boy out of Benn.
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      “I will be his fatherly figure in the build-up and at the fight,” the super-confident Brighton man said.
      “I will take him to school, walk him through the doors, sit him down and teach him everything he needs to learn.
      “My advice is ‘get sparring partners who are going to really hurt you for the next eight weeks’, that’s his best shot at beating me.
      “The pain I will put him through needs to be matched in sparring or it will be too much of a shock to his system.”
      Looking directly over at his rival, he said: “You need tough sparring to condition you for the beating I am going to give you on October 8.”
      Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are totally clashing characters – despite striking similarities.
      Benn is using the emotional edge as a fuel – on top of his extra pasta and peanut butter for bulking up – while Eubank Jr is trying to keep it strictly business.
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      “I don’t hate anyone,” he said. “I would never give anyone the power of me hating them, hate is too strong a passion.
      “I don’t even dislike Conor, he has done nothing to me personally. But this fight is personal.
      “Nothing like this has ever happened before in the history of the sport, two legends who went into a ring 30 years ago and inspired a nation, became superstars, etched their names into British history – not just boxing.
      “17million people watched them fight twice and 30 years later their sons are going to get in the ring and go to war for a third time.
      “It has never happened before and it will never happen again, that’s the main reason I wanted to be a part of this. It is very exciting.”
      Benn is putting his welterweight world title plans on hold for the genetic duel.

      But he’s cocksure he will be the first man to stop Eubank Jr and will then return to the 147lbs ranks as a bonafide box-office superstar.
      “This fight makes sense for now,” he said to the critics who fear he’s cashing in too soon.
      “A world title is the goal but this is a fantasy fight for the public.
      “We were far apart at the start of my career but he was still always mentioned as a future opponent, even before my debut.
      “And now the stars have aligned for October 8”
      Benn – like his legendary Dark Destroyer dad – is still angry the 1993 Manchester clash was called a spit-decision tie when the Londoner seemed to edge the action.
      And he will use that as motivation, watching reruns of the two-fight rivalry throughout the two-month build-up, to level the family feud at 1-1.
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      He said: “We have both walked the same road and I respect all fighters.
      “But we settle the family business in there.
      “The last fight was called a draw and now I set the score straight.” More