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    ‘He’s looking hungry’ – Anthony Joshua backed in new trainer search for Usyk rematch by Eubank Jr as Fury slams ‘greed’

    ANTHONY JOSHUA’s hunger to be the best in the world ‘is still there’ – despite all his millions in the bank, according to Chris Eubank Jr.The Watford warrior’s mentality has been questioned after he flirted with a £15million payday to step aside from his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
    Anthony Joshua’s mentality has been questioned after he entertained a £15m step-aside offerCredit: REUTERS
    But the former unified heavyweight champ has been hard at work in the gym over the last few monthsCredit: INSTAGRAM
    And recent training partner Chris Eubank Jr insists AJ’s ‘hunger is still there’Credit: INSTAGRAM@CHRISEUBANKJR
    But Eubank Jr is sure Joshua is still as motivated as he was before he became a global superstar after getting some work in with the former unified champ in Dubai.
    In an interview with Sky Sports, NextGen said of his training with Joshua: “Importantly, he was looking hungry.
    “Despite how much money he has made and how many fights he has won, the hunger is still there which means a lot.
    “He is trying to get better by looking for a new trainer so he can change his tactics and beat Usyk.
    “I would love to see that.
    “He showed in his second fight with Andy Ruiz Jr that he can switch game-plans and learn from his mistakes.”
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    Joshua, 32, has been looking for a new head coach ahead of his potentially do-or-die rematch with Usyk, who turned him over on points in their Tottenham tussle last September.
    Eubank Jr knows a thing or two about seeking advice from a new set of eyes, recently training with renowned coach Eddy Reynoso as well as head trainer Roy Jones Jr.
    He said: “After a loss, you think: ‘How can I get better? How can I do things differently?’
    “You can’t keep doing the same thing because it didn’t work.
    “You have to find somebody that you really connect with. “Don’t go to the first person that you meet. Go to America, go to other countries.
    “If you hear someone is good to work with? Go and work with them. Test it out Then choose.”
    Anthony Joshua will renew his rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk in the springCredit: GETTY
    After Usyk’s hopes of an undisputed fight with Tyson Fury went up in smoke, Joshua’s second clash with the Ukrainian is expected to take place in the spring.
    And WBC titleholder Fury has claimed the undisputed bout didn’t come to fruition as Joshua and upcoming opponent Dillian Whyte wanted too much money.
    In response to a tweet revealing the collapse of the bout, Fury replied: “It’s called greed.”
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    Floyd Mayweather showing ‘the youngsters how to work hard’ aged 44 after ‘great rounds of boxing’ in training for return

    FLOYD MAYWEATHER is showing ‘the youngsters how to work hard’ after ‘great rounds of boxing’ in training for his return. Mayweather is set to mark his comeback on February 20 in an exhibition on top of the 700ft Burj al Arab hotel HELIPAD in Dubai.
    Floyd Mayweather after a sparring session
    Floyd Mayweather running after trainingCredit: Instagram
    The American legend is still in negotiations with 20-year-old YouTuber Money Kicks – real name Rashed Belhasa.
    Mayweather has been training for the return in Miami and recently Las Vegas, with his head coach Gerald Tucker.
    Tucker released a video of Mayweather running with sparring partner Jhon Ingram on the Vegas strip.
    And he captioned the post: “Good run after great rounds of boxing and a super high punch output workout.
    “@floydmayweather showed the youngstas how to work hard today.”
    Ingram posed with Mayweather after a sparring session and captioned it: “Good work today learned a lot.”
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    The retired boxing icon has been out of the game professionally since 2017 after beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor in ten rounds.
    But exhibition comeback bouts have kept the undefeated multimillionaire in the gym and continuing to enhance his wealth.
    The first came against Japanese featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, 23, on New Year’s Eve in 2018.
    Then two years later American vlogger Logan Paul, 26, used his TWO STONE advanatage to take Mayweather the distance. ​
    The former five-weight world champ is now closing out talks with Money Kicks, who has just ONE YEAR and two celebrity bouts worth of boxing experience.
    I’m very optimistic we’ll see him in the ring one more time and put his unbeaten, flawless record on the line.Floyd Mayweather’s coach
    But coach Tucker admitted he is hopeful Mayweather will return for real and defend his unbroken 50-0 record.
    He told SunSport: “I’m also optimistic we may see Floyd fight one day.
    “I’m not giving up any secrets or anything, I’m just hopeful, I feel it.
    “Nothing from anything he’s said, just from the way he looks in the gym and how easy it is for him to beat people up in sparring.
    “And I mean guys who could become a world champion in the next year or two.
    “So yeah, I’m very optimistic we’ll see him in the ring one more time and put his unbeaten, flawless record on the line.”
    Floyd Mayweather is set to return on February 20 in DubaiCredit: Reuters More

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    ‘Don’t do that please’ – Anthony Joshua stepping aside for Tyson Fury v Usyk will ‘show weakness’, says Vitali Klitschko

    VITALI KLITSCHKO warned Anthony Joshua not to ‘show weakness’ and step aside for Oleksandr Usyk to fight Tyson Fury. Joshua is owed an immediate rematch following defeat to Usyk in September, which Klitschko watched from ringside in London.
    Vitali Klitschko warned Anthony Joshua not to ‘show weakness’ and step asideCredit: AFP
    Anthony Joshua, Eddie Hearn and Oleksandr UsykCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    But Middle Eastern backers were fronting talks and mega money for the Ukrainian to instead fight Fury for all the belts.
    It would mean Joshua and Fury’s WBC mandatory challenger Whyte receiving a fee to sit on the sidelines and allow the historic unification.
    But 50-year-old Klitschko – who cornered brother Wladimir in defeats to AJ and the Gypsy King – advised Joshua against any step-aside deal.
    He told Sky News: “It is his decision. “But my personal opinion?
    “If Joshua sidesteps in this moment, when the boxing audience expects a rematch and wants to see Joshua versus Usyk, it would show weakness.
    “Joshua, don’t do that please. As fighters, we fight not just for ourselves but for the audience.
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    “The audience decides. If the audience wants the fight, it must happen.
    “If Joshua sidesteps, I am not sure that the interest in Joshua would be so big in the future.”
    Despite Klitschko’s plea, promoter Eddie Hearn admitted they were willing to listen to step-aside offers.
    They would have needed a guarantee of fighting the winner between Usyk and Fury along with the expected multimillion pound fee.
    But in a twist, according to ESPN, there was step-aside ‘agreement in principle’ with AJ and Whyte, until ‘parties attempted to renegotiate at the 11th hour’.
    In response, Fury tweeted: “It’s called greed.”
    It was claimed £115million was put up for Fury, 33, to fight Usyk, 35, in Saudi Arabia in a historic, first-ever four-belt heavyweight unification.
    If Joshua sidesteps in this moment, when the boxing audience expects a rematch and wants to see Joshua versus Usyk, it would show weakness.Vitali Klitschko
    Funds from that package would have gone to Joshua, 32, whose figure had been reported as £15m, and Whyte, 33, believed to have been in line for £5m.
    The two British heavyweights were said to be on board with accepting a fee to step aside.
    Nevertheless, ‘the deal fell apart’ following a moving of goalposts at the last minute.
    It means Fury is now set to face Whyte with purse bids for the title defence due to take place on Friday evening.
    Fury’s promotional team of Bob Arum and Frank Warren will auction against Eddie Hearn for the right to host the grudge match.
    Meanwhile, Joshua is all-but confirmed for a rematch with Usyk, having been dethroned of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
    Tyson Fury is set to fight Dillian Whyte nextCredit: Reuters More

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    Jake Paul claims he is ‘bigger, faster and more athletic’ than Canelo Alvarez and wants to fight Mexican in three years

    JAKE PAUL reckons he is ‘bigger, faster and more athletic’ than Canelo Alvarez – and wants to fight the Mexican boxing king in three years time. Paul has regularly trash-talked boxing’s pound-for-pound king since he swapped YouTubing for prizefighting in 2019.
    Jake Paul claimed he is ‘bigger, faster and more athletic’ than Canelo AlvarezCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Canelo was called out to a fight by Jake Paul in just three years timeCredit: Getty
    But few ever thought the former Disney star is serious about stepping into the ring with the undisputed super-middleweight champion, 31.
    On an ESPN appearance Paul, 25, was grilled about calling out of Canelo.
    And he claimed he would cause the Mexican many more problems than his last opponent, WBC mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim, who was dispatched in just three round.
    Paul pointed to the fact he fights at 190lb (13st 5lb) compared to Canelo at 168lb (12st) which is almost one-and-a-half stone heavier.
    He said: “Other people try to place limits on what is possible for you, when you’re a unicorn doing something different.
    “Other people try place limits on what’s possible for you and what you can accomplish, because of their mindset and what they think they can accomplish as a human being.
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    “But for me, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to and I know I can get after Canelo. I know I can go rounds with him.
    “The guy he fought the other time, Turkish warrior quit after three rounds. He didn’t throw one punch.
    “I’m bigger than Canelo, I’m faster than Canelo, I’m more athletic than Canelo. Can I box better? Probably not.
    “But give me three years and that’s going to be a big fight. The two biggest names in boxing going after each other, why not?”
    Paul’s three-year challenge to Canelo, a four-division champ, appears ludicrous, with the American not yet facing a recognised boxer.
    He did attempt to in December, against Tommy Fury but the Brit pulled out with a broken rib and chest infection.
    Ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, replaced Fury, four months after losing to Paul on points, and was brutally knocked out.
    It means the social media sensation has four KO’s in his five wins.
    They have come against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37, and Woodley.
    I’m bigger than Canelo, I’m faster than Canelo, I’m more athletic than Canelo. Can I box better? Probably not. But give me three years and that’s going to be a big fight. Jake Paul
    The criticism of Paul facing only non-boxers so far still looms large, but he is in talks with ex-middleweight world title holder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 35.
    He said: “I tried to fight Tommy Fury, yeah. I tried to fight Tommy Fury and he backed out due to a rib injury.
    “Undefeated, young prospect. He comes from the Fury family, his brother is the heavyweight champion of the world.
    “I tried to fight him and he got scared. He backed out of the fight. He’s undefeated, I don’t care.
    “Just because someone’s a ‘professional boxer’ doesn’t mean they can fight. I’m taking down all these guys.
    “I’m trying to fight Jacob, what’s his name? Jacob Chavez Jr? Julio Cesar Chavez Jr? I don’t even know his name.
    “The one with the good day. I’m trying to fight all these guys.”
    Jake Paul knocked out Tyron Woodley in their rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    ‘Taking down all these guys’ – Jake Paul says Tommy Fury ‘got scared’ as he confirms talks with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

    JAKE PAUL claimed Tommy Fury ‘got scared’ of fighting him as he confirmed ongoing talks with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Paul was due to face the British ex-reality TV star in December, in what would have been his first bout against an opponent with a professional boxing record.
    Jake Paul claimed Tommy Fury ‘got scared’ of fighting himCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Fury pulled out of fighting Jake Paul with a broken rib and chest infectionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    But 7-0 Fury, 22, pulled out citing a broken rib and chest infection, leaving ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley to step in.
    Paul, 25, is now in negotiations with ex-middleweight world title holder Chavez Jr, 35, in a bid to face a recognised boxer.
    He said on ESPN: “I tried to fight Tommy Fury, yeah. I tried to fight Tommy Fury and he backed out due to a rib injury.
    “Undefeated, young prospect. He comes from the Fury family, his brother is the heavyweight champion of the world.
    “I tried to fight him and he got scared. He backed out of the fight. He’s undefeated, I don’t care.
    “Just because someone’s a ‘professional boxer’ doesn’t mean they can fight. I’m taking down all these guys.
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    “I’m trying to fight Jacob, what’s his name? Jacob Chavez Jr? Julio Cesar Chavez Jr? I don’t even know his name.
    “The one with the good dad. I’m trying to fight all these guys.”
    Indeed Chavez’s dad, Julio Cesar Sr, is one of the greatest Mexican fighters of all time.
    His son formerly held the WBC title, but has been known to lack commitment in the ring, recently losing to UFC legend Anderson Silva, 46, on points in June.
    It would still mark a gigantic and commendable step up in class for Paul, who has four knockouts in his five wins.
    They have come against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren and Woodley twice.
    Paul has been criticised for facing non-boxers since the start of his prizefighting career.
    I tried to fight him and he got scared. He backed out of the fight. He’s undefeated, I don’t care. Jake Paul on Tommy Fury
    But he argued it is no different to the no-names some of boxing best fought when they started out.
    Paul explained: “Look, I’ve always gone against people where the odds are even.
    “Canelo just fought Caleb Plant as like a 1,400 favourite. Gervonta Davis in his eighth fight fought a guy who was making his boxing professional debut.
    “Floyd [Mayweather] in his fourth fight fought a guy who was making his boxing professional debut.
    “So everyone’s analysing my career, critiquing it, paying attention to it from day one, but you can’t tell me who was Mike Tyson’s first fight.
    “You can’t tell me who Muhammad Ali, who was his fourth fight, no one knows. But everyone’s seen all of my fights.
    “And I’m gradually progressing and increasing my level of opposition as I get better in the gym.”
    Julio Cesar Chavez Jr is in talks to fight Jake PaulCredit: Getty More

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    ‘It’s called greed’ – Tyson Fury slams Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte as step-aside deal collapses ‘at the 11th hour’

    TYSON FURY has slammed Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte after their respected step-aside deals collapsed ‘at the 11th hour’. Middle Eastern backers were preparing fees for Joshua to forfeit his contracted rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, who would go on to fight the Gypsy King.
    Tyson Fury slammed Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte after their step-aside deals collapsedCredit: Rex
    Oleksandr Usyk was in talks to fight Tyson FuryCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun

    At the same time, Fury’s WBC mandatory challenger Whyte would also be paid to sit out.
    But according to ESPN, ‘an agreement in principle’ between the pair was struck, until ‘parties attempted to renegotiate at the 11th hour’.
    In response, Fury tweeted: “It’s called greed.”
    ESPN’s report claimed £115million was fronted for Fury, 33, to fight Usyk, 35, in Saudi Arabia for a historic, first-ever four-belt heavyweight unification.
    And funds from that package would have gone to Joshua, 32, whose figure had been reported as £15m, and Whyte, 33, believed to have been in line for £5m.
    The two British heavyweights were said to be on board with accepting a fee to step aside.
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    And Joshua would have been contractually owed a fight between the winner of Usyk and Fury.
    Nevertheless, ‘the deal fell apart’ following a moving of goalposts at the last minute.
    It means Fury is now set to face Whyte with purse bids for the title defence due to take place this evening.
    Fury’s promotional team of Bob Arum and Frank Warren will auction against Eddie Hearn for the right to host the grudge match.
    Meanwhile, Joshua is all-but confirmed for a rematch with Usyk, having been dethroned of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in September.
    Dillian Whyte and promoter Eddie HearnCredit: Getty
    Anthony Joshua is set to rematch Oleksandr Usyk More

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    Yordenis Ugas retired Manny Pacquaio, beat Terence Crawford in amateurs and is now in talks to fight Errol Spence Jr

    YORDENIS UGAS hopes to become the all-conquering welterweight champion by taking out stars of the past and present. The tricky Cuban was a largely avoided presence in the 147lb division until he was given the chance of a lifetime last August.
    Yordenis Ugas beat and sent Manny Pacquiao into retirementCredit: Getty
    Ugas won the WBA welterweight titleCredit: Getty
    He was due face Fabian Maidana, 29, on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s unification bout with Errol Spence Jr.
    But after Spence, 31, suffered an eye injury in sparring, Ugas, 35, was elevated to headline against boxing icon Pacquiao, 43.
    The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist went on to stun PacMan on points, subsequently sending the Filipino hero into retirement.
    And for Ugas, the life will never be the same as the last man to brace Pacquiao’s presence in the squared circle.
    He told SunSport: “He has been an inspiration for me throughout my career.
    “So after sharing the ring with a legend, I felt even more inspired to continue to work hard and fight for my legacy.
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    “I’ve received a ton of support from the Cuban communities all over the world, which to me, is everything.
    “Hopefully I can inspire the youth in my country and all over the world, just like the great champion I shared the ring with.”
    Ugas’ new found fame has afforded him a meeting with US congressman Mario Diaz Balart and the keys to Miami city, but came at the cost of confirming his hero’s retirement.
    He said: “It’s humbling and an honour. He’s one of the greatest fighters of our time. I will always be thankful he gave me the opportunity.”
    The WBA belt Pacquiao once held will now be defended by Ugas, who said talks with the unbeaten American Spence are ‘in the works’.
    Having masterminded the perfect 12-round tactics to upset PacMan, Ugas is now coming up with an all new formula to shock Spence.
    Ugas pictured with US congressman Mario Diaz BalartCredit: @yordenis_ugas
    The welterweight champion was given the keys to the city in Miami
    He said: “Every fight is tough. There is no such thing as an easy fight and every fight is different.
    “It will present its challenges just like any other fight, but I have total confidence in the game plan my team is putting together. We’ll be ready.
    “My team and I are working on a gameplan, and you’ll see it when we’re in the ring.
    “I have the best team in boxing that supports me every day and no one works harder than us.”
    Spence has had little adversity to deal with in his 27-0 career, beating the likes of Kell Brook, 35, Shawn Porter, 34, and Danny Garcia, 33.
    But outside of the ropes, he was involved in a horror car crash in 2019 and only last year needed an operation on the detached retina he suffered in training.
    Nevertheless, Ugas said: “We’re preparing for Spence to come in the ring 100 per cent.”
    Ugas pictured with undefeated American Errol Spence Jr
    Spence has the unified WBC and IBF titlesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Spence has long been linked with undefeated, WBO title holder Terence Crawford, 34, with the pair unable to agree terms.
    But a win for Ugas over the Texan would steal away one of the biggest fights to be made in boxing.
    He is no stranger to pound-for-pound contender Crawford, having beaten him on points while the two were still amateurs.
    And Ugas warned he is ready for lightening to strike twice.
    He said: “I’m ready and open to fighting the best. I let my team worry about making the fights and I put the work in in the gym.
    “I beat him in the amateurs and won’t mind doing it again in the pros.”
    Crawford most recently beat Porter in November, while Ugas and Spence are negotiating a pay-per-view headliner, targeted for April.
    Unbeaten WBO welterweight champion Terence CrawfordCredit: AP More

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    WWE legend Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson claims ‘good buddy’ Tyson Fury is ‘possibly the greatest of all time’

    WWE legend Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson hailed ‘good buddy’ Tyson Fury as ‘possibly the greatest of all time’. Fury shared a clip initially posted on The Rock’s Instagram where the Hollywood star revealed their love for boxing icon Muhammad Ali.
    The Rock hailed ‘good buddy’ Tyson Fury as ‘possibly the greatest of all time’
    The Rock posing with Tyson Fury in America
    Johnson, 49, said: “A good buddy of mine, I just saw his post, a good buddy of mine, who many of you know, if not all of you, Tyson Fury, the heavyweight champion of the world.
    “He will go down as one of the greatest of all time, possibly the greatest of all time, he’s in that conversation.
    “He was paraphrasing someone who we both love and admire, Muhammad Ali.
    “And he talked about the pain that you go through is temporary but the greatness of the other side is forever.
    “And I love that quote because it’s the thing that we’ve always got to constantly remember.
    “If we can just get past that pain threshold training, whatever it is, on the other side of that, man it’s the good s***.
    “It’s the greatness, so get past that threshold and get to your greatness.”
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    Fury, 33, linked up with the wrestling great in 2019 when in America on holiday with his family.
    The Gypsy King would then go on to debut in the WWE, beating Braun Strowman, 38, at the ‘Crown Jewel’ pay-per-view event.
    Fury has flirted with a wrestling return recently, feuding online with former WWE champion, Scotland’s Drew McIntyre, 36.
    But for now, he is focussed on defending the WBC belt he won against Deontay Wilder, 36, in 2020 and defended against the American last October.
    Fury is in talks to face mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte, 33, with a deal to fight Oleksandr Usyk, 34, for all the belts all-but dead.
    WBC heavyweight champion Tyson FuryCredit: Rex More