Boxing

JARED ANDERSON is the heavyweight with 100 per cent knockouts, drawing legendary comparisons and tipped as the heir to Tyson Fury. The American prospect is 11-0, all inside the distance and helped Fury with vital sparring before the Brit’s 2020 and 2021 victories over Deontay Wilder.
US heavyweight prospect Jared AndersonCredit: Getty
Youngest heavyweight champion of all time Mike TysonCredit: Getty
Muhammad Ali pictured in 1962Credit: Getty
And according to his promoter Bob Arum, Anderson will soon inherit the Gypsy King’s throne.
Hall of Famer Arum – who has overseen seven decades in the sport – guided some of the most iconic names in all of boxing.
That includes Muhammad Ali while the promoter witnessed first-hand Mike Tyson in 1986 become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time at 20.
And 90-year-old Arum likened Anderson to the pair of heavyweight greats.
He told Sky Sports: “Mike Tyson was a tremendous puncher who didn’t show much boxing ability.
“Jared has shown boxing ability and power. He reminds me more of a young Muhammad Ali than a young Mike Tyson.”
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Jared Anderson hits Kingsley Ibeh in February 2021Credit: Getty Images – Getty
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Anderson goes by the nickname Big Baby, which he gave himself, and he is sticking with it even though he shares it with  by disgraced heavyweight Jarrell Miller.
Anderson said: “I always felt I was the ‘Big Baby.’ No disrespect to (Miller) or anything but I just think that (nickname is) me, that’s my name.
“I came up with it. Nobody is going to put the name to use like I am. I’m always gonna be the better man.”
Arum currently promotes unbeaten WBC champion Fury, 33, who most recently knocked out Wilder, 36, in their October trilogy bout.
And the American promoter believes he also has the next heavyweight champ on his hands as well.
He said: “That’s what I really believe he will be. When Fury hangs up the gloves, Jared will be in pole position to become the next great heavyweight.”
Wilder is yet to return since his his second Las Vegas loss to Fury – but Arum has welcomed back the Bronze Bomber for an end of year clash with Anderson.
He revealed: “Wilder is a terrific talent. He hits like a mule, as Tyson would attest to. Pretty much anybody in the heavyweight division would lose to Wilder.
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“He should process. The one guy who will be equipped to beat him, by the end of this year, is Anderson.
“I would be prepared to discuss a potential Wilder vs Anderson fight by the end of this year.
“We are grooming him to be the next heavyweight champion after Fury.”
Tyson Fury knocked out Deontay Wilder in their trilogy boutCredit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has a £15million offer on the table to cut his undisputed heavyweight world title workload in half – but it comes with dangerous pitfalls.The 32-year-old Watford ace currently has none of the four major titles – after Oleksandr Usyk mugged him for the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in September – and no head trainer to lead his charge at rematch revenge.
Oleksandr Usyk after beating Anthony JoshuaCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
But if he accepts the huge stepaside deal in front of him, to let WBC king Tyson Fury, 33, meet the 35-year-old Ukraine southpaw instead, he can bed in with a soon-to-be-announced new coach and get a guaranteed shot at the winner and holder of all four belts.
It sounds simple but there are plenty of reasons Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum has called the situation ‘total chaos’ – most notably fellow Londoner Dillian Whyte’s long overdue mandatory shot at the WBC crown both Usyk and AJ crave.
But there are plenty more stumbling blocks that could also sink the most lucrative night off any fighter could ever be paid to take.
CHAMP GETS INJURED
In boxing terms Usyk and Fury are nearing the ends of their magnificent careers.
And if the winner was to suffer a career-threatening cut or injury then it would be almost impossible to insure against.
Fury suffered a 47-stitch cut to his right eye in his 2019 bloodbath win over Otto Wallin and anything similar – even in another victory – could delay or kybosh any future fight.
Usyk put on a career-best performance against AJ but has struggled with a shoulder injury before.
And a 12-round war with a 6ft 9in 20st monster of a man – likely to be four stone heavier – could come at a life-changing cost.
And all the contracts in the world could not overrule a doctor insisting a man cannot compete, which could scatter all the four titles around the division and leave Joshua back at square one.
Tyson Fury’s gruesome gash against Otto WallinCredit: Getty
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DILLIAN WHYTE
Not only do the two rivals have two wars inside the ring under their belts – with Whyte winning their amateur clash and AJ triumphing in their 2015 pro barnstormer – but they could now be battling for their crack at the WBC title.
Whyte has been offered around £5million to allow the Fury vs Usyk fight to take place – but he will also want a legally binding shot at the crown he has chased since 2017.
Even if the £20million Joshua and Whyte are set to split keeps their bank managers beaming – how and who will decide which of them gets first dibs on the winner?
Dillian Whyte would also need to receive a step aside feeCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

THE DRAW
Imagine being guaranteed a shot at the winner of Fury vs Usyk, sitting on the sidelines for a year and then the first undisputed decider in over 20 years ends in a draw!
It was a 33-1 longshot when it happened in Fury’s first clash with Deontay Wilder and the freak result would be even shorter odds when two chess masters like Fury and Usyk meet for the highest possible stakes.
The draw would require a rematch and that would be a disaster for AJ’s plan.
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder drew in 2018Credit: AP:Associated Press
AJ’S SPARE TIME
Joshua is expected to appoint a new head trainer soon and leaping into the biggest fight of his life without a test event seems dangerous and unlikely.
Much more probably – if he lets Fury and Usyk dance – is that he takes a keep-warm fight to adapt to his new cornerman and try out their chemistry.
AJ’s high profile and exciting style means he won’t be in an easy fight against a no-hoper and the severity of his 2019 stoppage loss to chubby Mexican underdog Andy Ruiz Jr will always have him tarred as vulnerable in some courts.
AJ will not only have to win his 27th pro fight in style but he will have to find perfect synergy with the new trainer who will be tasked with coming up with a plan to beat a 6ft 9in switch hitter – or a genius southpaw – in a very short space of time.
Anthony Joshua is expected to appoint a new head trainer soonCredit: Getty
THE CHAMP RETIRES
If a maverick like Fury wins all four heavyweight world tiles, there is every chance he could retire undefeated as one of the greatest to ever do it.
If a devout 35-year-old like Usyk – who already has an Olympic gold and every cruiserweight belt in his locker – claims the greatest prize in sport without a single loss, then he too could vanish into the pantheons.
But that would then mean that the four belts that they had accumulated would be spread out as the sanctioning bodies create new champions from their independent ranking systems.
It really does seem to be now or never.
So it will take a watertight contract to ensure whoever wins this iconic fight is not allowed to retire.
The only way to enforce such a demand would be to inflict a giant fine on any winner who tries to exit the sport in any way without giving Joshua his crack at greatness.
If Tyson Fury wins all four heavyweight world titles, there is every chance he could retire undefeatedCredit: Rex More

FLOYD MAYWEATHER sold an astonishing £1.2BILLION worth of pay-per-view sales during his unbeaten career. And remarkably, almost 50 per cent of the total box office buys came in just TWO fights.

Mayweather, 44, has headlined 17 American PPV events, with his first coming in 2005 against Arturo Gatti.
It was a breakout night for the future legend, outclassing Gatti – who sadly died in 2009 aged 37 – over six rounds.
They sold 340,000 PPVs earning £12m – which is only a small fraction of what Mayweather would go on to generate.
For the final fight of his historic 50-0 career, Mayweather beat UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 33, in a lucrative crossover bout over ten rounds in 2017.
Their combined fanbases collectively came together and 4.3m PPVs were sold in the US, collecting a massive £275m in total.
Only Mayweather’s 2015 points win against long-time rival Manny Pacquiao, 43, topped those numbers.
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The ‘Fight of the Century’ was years in the making and pitted the two best boxers in the world against each other, admittedly at the backend of their careers.
Nevertheless, it sold a record 4.6m PPVs on Showtime and with a massive revenue of £300m.
That means for Mayweather’s wins over Pacquiao and McGregor alone, £575m was made, making up nearly half of the total money made from PPVs in his career.

Other highlights included a 2007 win over Oscar De La Hoya, which had 2.4m box office buys, making £100m.
It also marked the last time Mayweather would be on the B-side of negotiations, dethroning the Golden Boy that night to become boxing’s top attraction.
Just six years later and De La Hoya, 48, would attempt revenge with Canelo Alvarez fighting in his honour.
Floyd Mayweather beat Oscar De La Hoya in 2007Credit: AFP
Canelo Alvarez lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2013Credit: Getty – Contributor
But Mayweather gave the Mexican star a boxing lesson over 12 rounds in a fight which sold 2.2m PPVs and made £110m.
In similar fashion, despite defeat, Canelo, 31, would soon take the reigns from retired Mayweather as the sport’s pound-for-pound best.
Mayweather is yet to return to professional boxing but has continued to enhance his wealth in the ring.
It was only in June he returned for an exhibition bout with YouTube star Logan Paul, 26, which sold 1m PPVs and raked in £37m.
And his fortune could soon rocket again with Mayweather in talks with another YouTuber, 20-year-old Money Kicks, for an exhibition in Dubai.
Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015Credit: Reuters
Mayweather beat UFC superstar Conor McGregor in 2017Credit: Getty More

FLOYD MAYWEATHER’S coach is still ‘very optimistic’ the boxing legend WILL return to professional boxing and put his ‘flawless record on the line’.Mayweather officially retired in 2017 after beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor and extending his record to a historic 50-0.
Floyd Mayweather’s coach is ‘very optimistic’ he will return to put his ‘flawless record on the line’Credit: Reuters
Gerald Tucker, left, pictured next to Floyd MayweatherCredit: Sean Michael Ham/ Mayweather Promotions
But it was NOT the final time fans saw pay-per-view king Mayweather in the ring, as he has fought in two exhibition comebacks since.
Mayweather’s most recent was a Miami spectacle against YouTuber Logan Paul, when Gerald Tucker served as the American icon’s head trainer.
The two are now in camp together again for another exhibition against Dubai’s Instagram star Money Kicks.
And Tucker warned with so much money to be made, it will not be Mayweather’s last exhibition match.
But in a stunning twist, the boxing trainer is quietly confident a motivated Mayweather could one day return for real, and defend his unblemished record in a professional boxing fight.
Tucker said: “I think he’s going to fight a couple of times every year.
“It’s great money and there’s people like me, huge fans of Floyd’s style that want to see him in the ring just displaying his skills, that are unmatched in the history of the sport.
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“I think he’ll do that just for people like me. But, 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.”
Mayweather, 44, first returned in Tokyo on December 31, 2018, beating Japanese featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, 23, in one round.
Then last June he was taken the distance by Paul, 26, who weighed TWO STONE more in the eight-rounder.
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 Gerald Tucker
Now, Mayweather is in talks to face another YouTuber in 20-year-old ‘Money Kicks’ on February 20 on top of a Dubai HELIPAD.
Money Kicks – real name Rashed Belhasa – has only one year and two celebrity bouts worth of boxing experience.
But Mayweather, who always prided himself on perfection, will never let his gold-standards slide, no matter who the opponent.
Tucker said: “A lot of people who have reached that elite-status level in their careers are the same, they care about their name, their legacy, how they looked each and every time.
“No matter what the circumstances, you’re going to care how you look and be self-satisfied.
“That’s why you never catch him slipping, he’s always working out just in case.
“We call each other on FaceTime between camps and we’ll be on the treadmill or we’ll be outside running, just staying in shape.
“He’s always ready, he’s taking it as seriously as if it was a real fight.”
Floyd Mayweather training with Gerald Tucker before his exhibition with Logan PaulCredit: Instagram More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is ready to accept a step-aside deal to allow Tyson Fury to fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title. British superstar AJ had planned to rematch the Ukrainian, having been dethroned of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in September.
Anthony Joshua is ready to accept a step-aside deal to allow Tyson Fury to fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua in SeptemberCredit: PA
But talks are ongoing over  multi-million pound offers for Joshua, 32, to step aside to allow Fury, 33, and Usyk, 35, to clash for all the belts in the Middle East.
And SunSport understands AJ is open to accepting a deal, with his price believed to be £15million.
It would also allow the two-time champion the chance to take an interim warm-up fight under his new coaching team.
Joshua is yet to confirm whether he will completely switch his training squad or bring in additions to the camp.
Together with head coach Rob McCracken, the pair have won Olympic gold and achieved unified titles in the professional ranks.
But AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted it could now be time for a change of approach with Joshua heading into a must-win return.
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WBC champ Fury is mandated to fight fellow Brit Dillian Whyte but the contender is in a legal row with the sanctioning body over his  20 per cent split  of the purse.
Whyte, 33, would also need to receive a fee for what would allow the first-ever, four-belt heavyweight unification.
The WBC mandatory challenger is said to be in line for a £5m pay-off if he agrees.
Fury’s US and UK promoters, Bob Arum and Frank Warren, have both admitted Usyk is the opponent they most want to work towards a deal with.

Warren declared: “It’s a saga but if we can keep things between us, we can get something over the line one way or another.
“We are still working on things but I believe over the weekend we will make some progress and then have something to announce.
“Everybody in boxing wants to see the undisputed fight between Tyson and Usyk, I want to see it just as a fan.
“So that is the fight we are trying to make.”
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Rex More