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    Watch as Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall are forced apart by security after grabbing each others’ throats at weigh-in

    JOSH TAYLOR was pulled apart from super-lightweight world title challenger Jack Catterall after the undisputed champ had his throat grabbed.After weighing in 10st (140lbs) in Glasgow on Friday afternoon, the fired-up Prestonpans man steamed across the stage to confront the Manchester underdog.

    Josh Taylor (left) and Jack Catterall came to blows at a heated weigh-inCredit: SNS
    Taylor reacted after Catterall grabbed his throat first as tensions flared ahead of their world title fightCredit: SNS
    Catterall – who scaled in at 139lbs moments earlier – refused to take a step back and their foreheads met.
    And it was 28-year-old southpaw Catterall who raised his hands first, using his left to grab Taylor by the neck.
    The 31-year-old superstar reacted by shoving his rival away – by the throat with his own power-punching left – before security pulled the previously cordial pair apart.
    Then the defending hometown hero roared: “I made the weight perfectly, I feel strong as an ox.
    “He tried to put his hands on me but I knew I would get a rise and reaction out of him.
    “I wanted to rile him up because tomorrow I am putting him flat on his back.
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    Security were forced to step in to separate the pairCredit: SNS
    Taylor and Catterall meet in Glasgow on SaturdayCredit: Lawrence Lustig
    “The belts are staying here in Scotland.”
    Catterall – nicknamed El Gato – had a loud following of fans backing him on away soil.
    And he hopes it helps him stun the local legend and four-belt king of Scotland.
    “He hasn’t got under my skin,” Catterall said. “I saw he started marching over towards me as soon as he weighed in.
    “But I have had more support here today than he has. I am just fired up now and ready to go.
    “I will keep a cool head in a hot kitchen and carry out what my team have told me to do.
    “I have visualised this fight a million times and I expect boos but that will fire me up and I believe I can do it.” More

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    Tyson Fury’s ‘real name is LUKE but he changed it to sound ‘harder’ like Iron Mike’, says Dillian Whyte

    DILLIAN WHYTE claims Tyson Fury’s real name is Luke and he changed it to sound ‘harder’. The Gypsy King, who is set to clash with Whyte in a £30million fight on April 23 at Wembley Stadium, lists his full name as Tyson Luke Fury.
    Dillian Whyte claimed Tyson Fury’s real name is Luke and he changed it
    The Gypsy King lists his full name as Tyson Luke Fury
    That has boosted his brand and helped secure meetings with legend ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.
    But 33-year-old Whyte insists his team have evidence that he switched his Christian names around to sound like the Baddest Man on the Planet.
    He told SunSport in December: “My real name is Dillian. I know his real name is Luke.
    “He changed it to Tyson to make himself sound harder. People can have a little look around on the internet and see for themselves.
    “In boxing, the name Tyson is a lot more sellable than Luke.
    “A lot of what Tyson does and says is a game, you can never take anything he says seriously or at face value.
    “He might say he wants to fight me sometimes but how can you trust a man who doesn’t even use his own name?”
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    Whyte was speaking to us while holed up in a Winnebago in Brentwood to prepare for his initial fight with Russian dangerman Alexander Povetkin in August.
    He went into that looking for a 12th consecutive win to earn him the WBC’s diamond belt and secure the shot at Fury’s main belt.
    But the Body Snatcher was dramatically dropped in the fifth by Povetkin as he suffered a shock loss to dent his hopes of facing Fury.
    He later avenged the defeat in four rounds in March and is now set for an all-British battle with Fury.
    Whyte has claimed to SunSport that he is the hardest travelling, biggest banging, real road warrior around.
    He changed it to Tyson to make himself sound harder… in boxing, the name Tyson is a lot more sellable than Luke.Whyte on Fury’s name
    He said: “I drove 40-hours with my three dogs out to my training base in Portugal for a 22-week camp away from home for this fight.
    “Now I am living in a caravan for a week before fighting a dangerous Russian, in an Essex field, on the side of the motorway.
    “I will fight anyone, anywhere and that is why I am the real Gypsy King and I have even got my flat cap to prove it.
    “Tyson Fury likes to tell people that he is but let’s see.
    “Fury had a privileged upbringing, went to a posh school in an expensive area and lives in a lovely house. What kind of gypsy is he?” More

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    Tyson Fury always thought Anthony Joshua was his ‘easiest fight’ and AJ is ‘scared to death’ of him, says ex-coach

    TYSON FURY thinks a clash with Anthony Joshua would be the ‘easiest fight’ for him, according to his amateur coach Steve Egan.Egan started training Fury in 2002 when the now undefeated lineal heavyweight champion was 14 and saw him develop into one of the most dominant fighters in boxing history.
    Tyson Fury thinks a fight with Anthony Joshua would be his easiest ever, says his ex-coachCredit: PA
    Anthony Joshua is ‘scared to death’ of Tyson Fury, according to Steve EganCredit: Getty
    Steve Egan trained Tyson Fury as an amateur in ManchesterCredit: Dom McGuinness/talkSPORT
    The Gypsy King’s first trainer hopes the 33-year-old champ will ultimately have an all-British battle with Joshua, who he claims is ‘scared to death’ of his former protege.
    Egan, who runs the famous Egan’s Boxing Academy in Manchester, told SunSport: “Well, I hope that happens. It’s an easy fight for Tyson. Joshua is not in his league, I think he’s scared to death. He lost a lot after he lost to Ruiz.
    “It will be a big fight, biggest fight in British history I think. Joshua has a lack of movement, and I don’t think he’s got a good chin. He has ducked Tyson in the past, you know.
    “Eddie Hearn is a very clever man he doesn’t want him anywhere near Tyson. And I don’t blame him, he knows he’d get beat, and that [would] be the end of him then.
    “Hopefully the fight will happen. I want to see it and everyone else does. There’s a lot of people out there who think that Joshua can beat Tyson, they must be out of their minds because there’s not a chance.
    “Unless Tyson rolls in and runs into him in round one and Joshua catches him on the chin. But then again Tyson will get up anyway as he has in the past.
    .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.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-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.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 Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Boxing.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{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:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
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    “We spoke about Joshua [a] lot. Tyson said, ‘It’s the easiest fight there out for me’. He said to me, ‘You know what, Steve, he’s made for me, big strong, come forward – he’s made for me’. He liked winding him up, have a laugh and giggle.
    “They’re both high-profile sportsman, top of the game, and Tyson likes having a banter here and there. Life is too short you’ve got to have a laugh. Tyson loves to have a laugh.
    “Tyson will absolutely box his head off, and stop Joshua. Like I said, there are still people out there who feel Joshua’s great. You know what, he’s done well, he’s done well with himself and Eddie Hearn has done a fantastic job with him.
    “Eddie Hearn knows it so he won’t have him anywhere near Tyson Fury. That’s why it’s got to be ‘end of career’ fight for Joshua because otherwise he’s finished if he gets beat by Tyson before that.”
    Egan with old pictures of Fury from his teenage daysCredit: Dom McGuinness/talkSPORT
    Tyson Fury would also beat Oleksandr Usyk, claims his amateur coach Steve EganCredit: PA
    Anthony Joshua looks set for a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in the near futureCredit: Instagram / @anthonyjoshua
    Egan is also confident Fury would beat fellow undefeated heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk, who looks set for a rematch with Joshua.
    The boxing coach, though, refuses to rule out the Mancunian’s next opponent Dillian Whyte even though he feels the Gypsy King betters him in every way.
    Egan added: “Yes, it will be a good fight. Again, I think Tyson beats Usyk. He’s too big for him, Usyk’s got great movement but so has Tyson . I feel Tyson can draw him in, Usyk is a very good boxer, of course he is. But I think the size wins it.
    “Dillian Whyte, you can’t say that, you can’t say it’s a walk in the park fight. You can’t go in thinking that. I think he’ll beat him just like I think he’ll beat Usyk, but no fighter in heavyweight is a walk in the park. It takes one punch on the chin. I don’t think Dillian’s got the IQ to beat Tyson.
    “It’s a good earner for him, but he’s not good enough to beat Tyson. Tyson will knock his head off. His spirit, his heart, his will, his world-class jab, and his movement, his footwork, everything, Tyson is a complete package.” More

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    Oleksandr Usyk’s training preparations hits rocks ahead of Anthony Joshua fight as he cannot return to Ukraine camp

    OLEKSANDR USYK’S preparations for his rematch with Anthony Joshua have been thrown into disarray following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion had been in England this week as talks continue with AJ over a fight date and location for their upcoming bout.
    Oleksandr Usyk will defend his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles against Anthony Joshua later this yearCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
    Joshua was outpointed by Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in SeptemberCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
    It is believed the dust-up is likely to rake place in late May or June with Tottenham among the frontrunners to host the event.
    In a blow for Usyk, the Daily Mail have claimed that he will not be returning to his regular training base just outside of Kiev.
    That is due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after Vladimir Putin declared war on their neighbouring country.
    Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk has told the Mail that he has ‘no idea’ what The Cat will do for his preparations.
    And he suggested to them that coming back to Ukraine to train will be ‘impossible’.
    Usyk could now relocate to Oxnard, California, where he and training partner Vasyl Lomachenko have had camps in the past.
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    The former undisputed cruiserweight champion is back in Ukraine where he has pleaded for ‘no war’ with Russia.
    Posting a video on Instagram captioned ‘NO WAR’, Usyk wrote: “Some wrote to me that I ran away.
    “I didn’t, I was at work but I’m back, I’m home.
    “Friends, we have to unite because it’s a hard time right now and I’m really emotional and worry about my country, and our people.
    “Friends, we have to stop this war, all of us together.”
    Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has insisted that the conflict between Ukraine and Russia will have no impact on Joshua’s rematch with Usyk.
    The tale of the tape ahead of Usyk’s rematch against Joshua More

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    ‘It was just drama’ – Amir Khan ‘nearly left the venue’ during row over Kell Brook’s gloves and fight was almost AXED

    AMIR KHAN ‘nearly left the venue’ following a row over Kell Brook’s gloves which almost caused the fight to be AXED. Brook accused Khan of making several demands to finally get their bitter grudge match signed and sealed.
    Kell Brook was forced to take off his Fly glovesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Kell Brook had to change to a pair of Grant glovesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    And it emerged horsehair gloves – often used by power punchers as it offers less protection – was contractually prohibited.
    Brook, 35, walked out with a pair of Fly gloves on but bizarrely changed to a pair of Grants – the same ones Khan wore – while in the ring.
    But promoter Ben Shalom revealed that the last-gasp dispute almost saw the fight scrapped at the last minute.
    Shalom said on talkSPORT: “There was a contract in place that Amir Khan requested there was no horse hair in the gloves.
    “Horsehair, unbeknown to me, my team and even some members of the board, is in 90 per cent of gloves.
    “It was in 100 per cent of gloves 20 or 30 years ago. It got to the night. They passed the gloves on Friday night and everything went.
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    “We opened a pair of gloves very similar to what Kell had and horse hair was found in them and it absolutely kicked off.
    “Amir nearly left the venue. Dominic Ingle told me he knew what he was doing all along, and refused to change the gloves. 
    “Eventually, at the 11th hour, Kell agreed to change his gloves in the ring, which you saw.”
    Khan refused to fight until Brook swapped gloves, which he did in the ring under the watchful eye of Robert Smith of the British Boxing Board of Control.
    But as Shalom points out, it mattered little as Brook dominated the fight before it was halted in round six.
    The promoter said: “It was just drama. It was 50/50 as to whether that fight would happen.
    “They were both convinced they weren’t going to go out. Amir was not going to go out unless Kell changed his gloves.
    “In the end, credit to Kell as he changed his gloves and it didn’t really make a difference.”
    Amir Khan, wearing the same gloves as Kell Brook, was beaten in round sixCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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    Floyd Mayweather enjoys karaoke with music star Kanye West and NFL bad boy Antonio Brown during boxing legend’s party

    FLOYD MAYWEATHER spent his 45th birthday party enjoying karaoke with Kanye West and NFL bad boy Antonio Brown. The boxing legend celebrated in Miami with a star-studded list of guests in attendance, including also Super Bowl champion Aaron Donald.
    Kanye West partying with Floyd Mayweather and Antonio BrownCredit: Rex
    Kanye West and Floyd Mayweather embraceCredit: Rex
    Kanye West enjoying the Miami partyCredit: Rex
    Musician Kanye West smiles next to Antonio BrownCredit: Rex
    Mayweather, West and Brown were captured singing along with each other.
    The trio were in January all pictured together along with music legend Madonna.
    Rap artist West – currently in the midst of an ugly divorce to Kim Kardasian – dressed in all black.
    Meanwhile Brown, who last year settled a sexual assault lawsuit with former trainer, sported a red and black jacket.
    Mayweather dressed for the occasion in all blue, including a chequered suit jacket.
    The American was due to return to the ring in an exhibition bout in Dubai on February 20.
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    But talks to face YouTuber Money Kicks – real name Rashed Belhasa – collapsed with Mayweather’s comeback uncertain.
    He retired officially in 2017 after his cash-grab win against UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 33.
    But the richest fighter of all time has twice returned to the ring, both in exhibition bouts.
    The first was in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve in 2018, beating Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, 23, in one round.
    Then last June he was taken the distance by YouTube star Logan Paul, 26, who weighed TWO STONE more to make up for the farcical skill disparity.
    Mayweather in December held a press conference to say he would fight on top of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel HELIPAD.
    But so far, no news on a return fight or opponent has emerged.
    Antonio Brown pictured with Kanye West and Floyd MayweatherCredit: Rex
    Floyd Mayweather beams at his 45th partyCredit: Rex More

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    Oleksandr Usyk returns to Ukraine to prepare for Anthony Joshua rematch as champ pleads ‘no war’ amid Russia invasion

    OLEKSANDR USYK has returned to Ukraine ahead of his Anthony Joshua rematch – and pleaded ‘no war’ amid Russia’s invasion. Usyk had been in London to meet with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn and discuss a date and venue for his second fight with AJ.
    Oleksandr Usyk returned to Ukraine pleaded ‘no war’ amid Russia’s invasionCredit: Instagram @usykaa
    But the unified heavyweight champion flies back home with Ukraine in the midst of a crisis.
    Russian president Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine with an overnight barrage of artillery, airstrikes and missiles before tanks rolled into the country before dawn.
    The tyrant declared a “special military operation” in Ukraine with a dawn raid after months of amassing his forces on the border and brazenly lying to the world about his plans to invade.
    The world woke up to what could be the most horrific crisis in Europe since World War II as Putin seeks to tear down the world order.
    Returning to Ukraine, Usyk posted a video on Instagram, with the caption: “NO WAR.”
    Hearn has insisted the conflict between Ukraine and Russia will have no impact on Joshua’s rematch with Usyk.
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    The ex-cruiserweight king, 35, and his manager touched down in the UK for talks with Hearn.
    Usyk, who watched Chelsea’s 2-0 Champions League win over Lille, is set to rematch Joshua, 32, in late May or June.
    Spurs are among the frontrunners to host despite Hearn having discussions with mega-money sites in the Middle East.
    He told DAZN: “I’ve just come back from the Middle East.
    “We’ve had numerous meetings with different countries in the Middle East to stage that fight.
    “Had a call with Daniel Levy from Tottenham which was where the first fight was at, they really want to bring the rematch back there, I love the idea of that as well.
    “Egis Klymas and Oleksandr Usyk are actually in the UK this week so we’re going to sit down with them and just talk through everything.”
    Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua are set to rematch in the summerCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

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    Lloyd Honeyghan’s late trainer put together perfect plan for biggest upset of the 80s on a magic night in Atlantic City

    LLOYD HONEYGHAN, one of our most ­illustrious world ­champions, is now housebound — confined to a wheelchair after a car accident and looked after by carers.But the man who caused the biggest upset of the 80s by going to Atlantic City and smashing unified welterweight king Don Curry to a six-round defeat has not lost his fighting spirit.
    Don Curry, left, was beaten by Lloyd Honeyghan in 1986Credit: Allsport – Getty
    Lloyd Honeyghan pictured with trainer Bobby NeillCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Honeyghan, who only leaves his Croydon home when an ambulance takes him to have treatment, is grimly determined to try to be at his trainer Bobby Neill’s funeral on March 10.
    Lloyd, 61, didn’t know Bobby had died last week at 88 from leukaemia until I phoned to tell him on Monday.
    I could tell the sad news hit him hard. There is no greater bond than the one between a fighter and his long-time trainer.
    They spend weeks together in camp which means they end up getting into each other’s minds.
    An upset Lloyd said: “You have shocked me. Bobby and I were a great team and I loved the man.
    “We worked so well together and, unlike other trainers I had, he allowed me to be myself.
    “My legs just don’t work any more but I’m confident I will find a way to show my respect by being at his funeral — wheelchair or no wheelchair. Even if I have to hire a private ambulance to take me there.”
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    I was at Honeyghan’s historic fight with Curry 36 years ago.
    The American was unbeaten, had just signed a multi-million dollar contract for a clash with Marvin Hagler and was considered pound-for-pound the best in the world.
    Neill worked out the strategy on how Curry could be beaten, which Lloyd carried out brilliantly to the letter.
    The majority of Britain’s top trainers have been great at getting their fighters into the ring in peak condition.
    Neill, an Edinburgh-born Scot, was much more than a conditioner.
    He was an accomplished teacher of the Noble Art and arguably the finest boxing coach we have had in this country.
    He was admired enormously across the Atlantic, particularly by legends Angelo Dundee, Manny Steward and Eddie Futch.
    NEVER SOUGHT THE LIMELIGHT
    Bobby never sought the limelight, which is probably why his passing has gone unnoticed.
    When I was night news editor of the Daily Herald, one night in 1960 a Press Association message said: “Bobby Neill, British featherweight champion, knocked out in the 14th round by Terry Spinks, had collapsed and was rushed to Wembley General Hospital suffering from a blood clot on the brain.”
    I sent a reporter to the hospital who called in to tell me Neill was in a coma and not expected to live.
    Little did I know Bobby was to defy medical science and years later was to become a personal friend.
    With his boxing career over, Neill turned his skills to training others.
    In a short time he had steered Alan Rudkin, Johnny Pritchett and Vernon Sollas to British titles and made Alan Minter and Honeyghan world champions.
    Tomorrow night, Josh Taylor, the unified world lightweight champion, defends his four titles against Jack Catterall in Glasgow.
    I hope the crowd will have the opportunity to honour Bobby’s memory and legacy with the traditional tolling of the ten bells.
    He deserves nothing less.
    Colin Hart, Sammy McCarthy centre and Bobby Neill pictured in 2011Credit: Rex More