Boxing

BOXING fans couldn’t believe their ears as Sweet Caroline WASN’T played before Anthony Joshua’s showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.The Brit is on a heavyweight title revenge mission against the Ukrainian champ on Saturday night.
Fans didn’t hear any sound of Sweet Caroline before AJ came outCredit: PA
With the fight taking place in Saudi Arabia rather than on home shores Neil Diamond’s adopted boxing anthem did not blare out of the speakers before the first bell.
And it was music to the ears of fight fans everywhere.
One wrote: “None of that Sweet Caroline nonsense at least.”
Another added: “That’s more like it….No cheese, no Sweet Caroline, short ring walks and straight to business!!
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While one relieved fan said: “Well at least they didn’t play Sweet Caroline.”
One simply stated: “Sweet Caroline – worst song ever made.”
However others weren’t enjoying the rather sedate atmosphere ringside on Jeddah watch than a booze Wembley.
One wrote: “No Sweet Caroline… no beer throwing… no punch ups in the crowd. What kind of s*** is this!!!”
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While another fan added: “It’s not the same without a huge crowd full of the beer and gear singing Sweet Caroline.”
The song has taken a life of its own at boxing events around the UK in the past few years.
But with Joshua taking his revenge mission to Saudi Arabia, it was perhaps unlikely to ring around Jeddah. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA ditched his white shorts and gloves combo to “unleash his inner Mike Tyson” for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.Since 2015, AJ had worn all white for all of his fights, but tonight he went for a Tyson-style black ensemble – albeit with white boots.
Anthony Joshua wore all black for the boutCredit: PA
The Brit came out meaning businessCredit: PA
It didn’t take fans long to notice AJ’s change in style.
One fan wrote: “Joshua with the Mike Tyson attire #allblack”
Another questioned: “Has Anthony Joshua gone full 80s Mike Tyson?”
While a third commented: “Joshua channelling his inner Tyson with his ring getup.
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“Needs to put that into action early on if he’s gonna win this. No standing off him like last time.”
Another added: “Joshua gone for the Mike Tyson black shorts and no frills look. I like it.”
Other fans noted the look being reminiscent of how AJ used to dress for fights as he climbed the ranks.
One excitedly wrote: “OH S***, WE’RE GETTING BLACK SHORTS, SLEEVELESS AJ!”
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Another tweeted: “F*** me AJ means business.
“Back to his roots with his coloured shorts, boots and gloves.”
A third said: “Joshua finally f***ed off the white shorts destruction mode come on.”
Mike Tyson donned all black for his fightsCredit: Getty More

BOXING fans slammed the “soulless” atmosphere ahead of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2.Fans tuning in to the fights before the main event felt the King Abdullah Sports City could have done with an injection of noise.
Filip Hrgović’s brilliant defeat of Zhang Zhilei failed to generate an atmosphereCredit: AP
Anthony Joshua tried to improve the atmosphere with his ringwalkCredit: PA
Callum Smith beat Mathieu Bauderlique and Filip Hrgović defeated Zhang Zhilei in a hard-fought battle that went the distance – but it was not enough to engage the audience.
Viewers took notice and made their feelings clear on social media – criticising the lack of atmosphere inside the arena.
One fan wrote: “This boxing in Saudi is f***ing soulless. I’ve seen better atmosphere at a funeral. F*** Joshua, Hearn for being money grabbing c***. Come on Usyk!!”
Another added: “What an awful atmosphere. Shocking holding #UsykJoshua in this arena and location.”
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And a third said: “You get better atmosphere’s in libraries.
“I’m all for sports going to new regions and attracting new fans but the lack of atmosphere has been a real shame. Hope they wake up for the main event.”
Fans tuning in to the earlier fights also got a glimpse of Joshua as he headed to his dressing room.
And many spectators felt AJ looked nervous as he chewed on a mysterious green object, which was possibly his gumshield.
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The Brit also did his best to generate an atmosphere with his Mike Tyson-inspired ringwalk. More

TYSON FURY celebrated his birthday and retirement from boxing in style.The Gypsy King, 34, hung up his gloves after knocking out Dillian Whyte in front of 94,000 people at Wembley Stadium back in April.
Fury celebrated his birthday and his retirement
A giant screen was on show for the movie night
A popcorn machine had been drafted in to cater the event
Portions of pocorn were to be divided out from the special machine
Balloons showed it was Fury’s retirement party
But it was also his birthday celebration as he turned 34 on August 12
He has had several months to re-consider packing it in, but reiterated his decision earlier this month and vacated the Ring magazine belt to confirm his departure from boxing.
And he has celebrated the big milestone with an incredible party – which coincides with his birthday.
Fury turned 34 last Friday but waited a week to enjoy a movie night with his family.
Wife Paris shared a video and a host of photos on Instagram showing off the occasion – which was decked out with a red carpet, popcorn machine and giant screen.
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They also had big balloons with “Tyson Fury Gypsy King Retirement” on them.
And other ones said “Happy 34th birthday Tyson Fury”.
The Fury’s even had little popcorn holders and sofas on hand to enjoy the outside film evening.
The relaxing night with his family comes just days after Fury exchanged verbals with old foe Derek Chisora.
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The Morecambe fighter, who has already beaten Chisora twice in 2011 and 2014, claimed Delboy had turned down £2million for a trilogy bout.
He fumed on Instagram: “I see Derek Chisora has been having a little pop; licking his wounds after losing £2million.
“God almighty, what a mistake, what a mistake. You’re probably going to get £375,000 for your next fight and your management team turned down £2million.
“What jokers, a pack of jokers. Honestly, there’s more brains in your little finger than your full management team will ever have.
“Where is someone like Derek Chisora going to get offered £2million ever again?”
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To which Chisora responded: “Listen. He’s a mug, he’s puppet.
“He needs to phone Frank Warren, get more money, come see me. I didn’t miss out on anything I don’t have.
“I don’t care, I’m just getting it out there, he’s a mug.” More

SKY SPORTS pundits expressed their fears over the ring canvas ahead of Anthony Joshua’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk.The ring floor at the King Abdullah International Stadium was soaked with sweat during Filip Hrgovic’ heavyweight clash with Zhilei Zhang.
Zhilei Zhang slipped on the canvas during his clash with Filip HrgovicCredit: Reuters
The canvas at the King Abdullah International Stadium caused chaosCredit: GETTY
And the sheer amount of liquid on the floor sparked serious concerns ahead of AJ’s rematch with the unified heavyweight champion.
Commentator Adam Smith: “They’ve have to sort the canvas out for what comes next, it’s really bad.”
Matthew Macklin chimed in: “It’s dangerous in there, you could slip onto a shot”
Smith then said: “‘Can they sort the canvas out please?”

Boxing fans also expressed their concerns. with one saying: “The canvas is soaking off the referees sweat.”
Another said: “This canvas – sweat stop play.”
And another said: “So are we going to see Usyk and Joshua slipping about on that sweat ridden canvas?”
One remarked: “The canvas in the ring is absolute ass. the logos are what’s causing the slip, the sweat is a factor too but it’s mostly the logos.”
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Another chimed in: “Slippery ring canvases are a problem on too many occasions.
“If fighters have oil/grease on their bodies and they sweat it’s impossible to clear it. OU and AJ will now slip too!”
SunSport’s Wally Downes Jr is on the scene and said: “Mike Goodall of Ringcraft was in the ring trying to sort out the canvas during the Saudi anthem.
“He and his firm do all the rings all over the country and built this one.
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“I don’t know what has caused it but if a fighter has oil or vaseline on when and it mixes with sweat it can be a nightmare to clean.
“Can’t just be dried with grease or oil on there Will fuck usyk footwork.”
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ANTHONY JOSHUA looked nervous as he chewed a mystery green object ahead of his showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, according to fight fans.AJ, 32, chewed on what appeared to be his gumshield inside the King Abdullah Sports City.
Anthony Joshua appeared to be chewing his gumshield ahead of the fight
Fans felt the chewing was a sign of AJ’s nervousness
The Brit was caught by the cameras as he walked to his dressing room, and some fans thought he had an anxious look on his face.
In response to the video one fan wrote on social media: “He looks nervous.”
Another added: “He doesn’t look confident.”
And a third said: “Joshua looks scared and nervous.”
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Joshua’s nervous chewing could be a bad omen as the last time he did so was before his first clash with Usyk which ended in a resounding defeat.
The Ukrainian took notice of AJ’s strange antics on that occasion, and revealed he thought it was strange.
Usyk said: “Of course, me and my team pay attention to that.
“They observe and analyse… I was surprised because he was kind of distracted, chewing on the mouthguard like he was.
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“That’s why I thought it was strange. But everybody behaves in their own way.
“But I don’t think about why it happens. Maybe it’s for some internal reasons. I don’t want to think about the reasons.” More