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      Tyson Fury’s hopes of facing Oleksandr Usyk next dashed as Anthony Joshua would need to step aside for TWO fights

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      TYSON FURY has been dealt a blow in his chances of fighting Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight crown next. WBC champion Fury is coming off a brutal round 11 knockout of Deontay Wilder to close out their trilogy series in style.
      Tyson Fury wanted to fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed crownCredit: Reuters
      Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua are set to rematchCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      But just two weeks prior, Usyk stunned Anthony Joshua to win the unified WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
      AJ had invoked his right to an immediate rematch, meaning Fury would be unable to go straight into a unification.
      But after urges from the Gypsy King and promoter Bob Arum to step aside, Joshua admitted he would at least consider it.
      Unfortunately for Fury, Dillian Whyte is his mandatory challenger, meaning AJ would be sitting on the sidelines for two fights.
      With Joshua unable to be guaranteed the winner of Fury and Usyk, with Whyte owed a shot before him, Arum admitted the unification bout appears unlikely.
      He told talkSPORT: “I think Dillian Whyte should be the next fight for Tyson Fury.

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      “There’s talk about Usyk who beat Joshua – Joshua has a rematch clause – and talk about Joshua stepping aside.
      “But Joshua’s not gonna step aside unless he’s guaranteed the winner of Fury vs Usyk, and how anybody assure him of that when Whyte’s in the mandatory position?
      “So the way I think it’s gonna fall out is Fury vs Whyte and I think that fight [should be] in the United Kingdom.”
      Joshua, 32, is set to rematch Usyk, 34, by April, meanwhile Fury, 33, has earmarked February as his targeted return date.
      He had named the pair as his only targets but will now be forced to look elsewhere if he is to fight in early 2022.
      Whyte, 33, is the WBC interim champion and in turn mandatory challenger for the full title.
      But his prior legal case with the WBC, to speed up his much-earned shot at the belt, has actually prevented his fight with Fury from being ordered.
      Arum has since stated he would enter negotiations for Whyte to fight Fury on a voluntary basis, opposed to a mandated defence.
      Dillian Whyte is Tyson Fury’s WBC mandatory challengerCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

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      Floyd Mayweather accuses Canelo Alvarez of ‘ducking’ David Benavidez and slams cruiserweight Ilunga Makabu fight

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      FLOYD MAYWEATHER accused Canelo Alvarez of ‘ducking’ David Benavidez and slammed his cruiserweight fight with Ilunga Makabu. Canelo, beaten by Mayweather in 2013, recently became undisputed super-middleweight champion.
      Canelo Alvarez was beaten by Floyd Mayweather in 2013Credit: Getty
      Former WBC super-middleweight champion David BenavidezCredit: Getty
      But after knocking out Caleb Plant, 29, the Mexican had a request accepted by the WBC to step up and challenge cruiserweight champion Makabu, 34.
      It would mean challenging for a world title in his FIFTH division and facing an opponent over TWO STONE heavier.
      But Mayweather, 44, the only man to ever beat Canelo, 31, named unbeaten former super-middleweight champ Benavidez, 24, as the better fight to take.
      He told reporters: “If it was up to me, we want to see Benavidez. Canelo a helluva fighter but my personal opinion, he’s ducking Benavidez.
      “That’s just my personal opinion and I’m allowed to speak my mind, that’s what it is.
      “He’s going up to cruiserweight — and I’m not knocking him — and that same guy at cruiserweight used to be at the Mayweather Boxing Gym.
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      “The guys were really getting the best of him in the Mayweather Boxing Gym so if he’s going up to ‘cruiserweight,’ Benavidez can go up and beat that same guy.
      “But when you are put in a certain position he, like me, when I was in the position I can pick and choose who I want to because I earned that right.
      “But do I like this fight, absolutely not. We want to see Benavidez. Let’s make it happen.”
      Canelo has won belts from light-middleweight all the way to light-heavyweight.
      His heaviest career victory was for the WBO 175lb title which he won after knocking out Sergey Kovalev, 39, in November 2019.
      But Canelo soon moved back down to super-middleweight, where he has since settled.
      And the boxing superstar became undisputed in just 11 months and four fights.
      Canelo Alvarez and WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga MakabuCredit: WBC Boxing More

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      ‘Not good for the sport’ – Floyd Mayweather’s protege Gervonta Davis claims ‘clown’ Jake Paul ‘can’t fight’

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      GERVONTA DAVIS said ‘clown’ Jake Paul ‘can’t fight’ and is not good for the sport of boxing. YouTube star Paul, who is 4-0 as a fighter, has feuded with Floyd Mayweather’s protege recently despite their huge skill and size difference.
      Floyd Mayweather and his protege Gervonta DavisCredit: Getty
      Jake Paul during his win over ex-UFC champion Tyron WoodleyCredit: Getty
      Paul takes on Tommy Fury later this month after a long war of words between the pair.
      But Davis, 27, spoke out against the social media sensation’s splash in boxing on a recent podcast with pranksters Nelk Boys.
      He said: “It’s not good for the sport, I don’t think so. No, because let’s just say like me, right, I’ve been training since I was seven.
      “Like, I’ve been training 20 years. And then you’ve got somebody that’s never done it before and put on boxing gloves and can make $1million.
      “That’s crazy.”
      Asked whether Paul will bring more attention to boxing, Davis replied: “No, because they’re only going to pay attention to who they wanna pay attention to.
      “They don’t care about, they don’t even know the other fighters. They just know this one guy they they’re paying attention to.
      “Once they, like stop watching him, they’re on about their day.”

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      In Paul’s first three fights, he beat YouTuber ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, also 37.
      But in August, the American improved to 4-0 with a win over eight rounds against ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39.
      Beforehand, he put two-division champion Davis – who fights FOUR STONE lighter than Paul – on his boxing ‘hit-list’.
      But the unbeaten celebrity, 24, returns on December 18 against 7-0 Tommy Fury, 22, the brother of heavyweight champion Tyson, 33.
      Davis, who faces Isaac Cruz, 23, on Sunday, fell short of giving a prediction but blasted Paul’s boxing ability.
      He said: “I don’t know, But I know that Jake can’t fight. He can’t fight so.” More

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      Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell scores most convincing win and first KO of his career against Attila Csereklye in Bilbao

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      CAMPBELL HATTON scored the most convincing win his of his young boxing career by blasting out Hungarian Attila Csereklye in Bilbao.The son of British boxing icon Ricky travelled to Spain having been booed out of Tottenham’s stadium in September after a dubious decision over Sonni Martinez, 29.
      Campbell Hatton scored the most convincing win his of his young boxing careerCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      Ricky Hatton’s son blasted out Hungarian Attila Csereklye in BilbaoCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      So it was a smart move to take Campbell, 20, away from the bright pay-per-view lights for a return on the road against journeyman Csereklye, 25.
      And after three knockdowns, the novice lightweight got his fifth victory – but the first stoppage of his professional run.
      Down-to-earth Campbell said: “About time innit? But yeah, buzzing. Just shown there, I think you could see from the start I wasn’t trying to stop him.
      “So I was trying to be a bit more patient, trying to make him miss a bit more and use my jab. And it happened by accident, so we know what to do next time.”
      Campbell firstly had Csereklye down with a smart right hook to the head after the pair came out of a clinch.
      And an excellent double left hook, to head and then body, scored the second knockdown, showing shades of his legendary dad.

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      As Csereklye made it into the second, Campbell cooly kept his composure and continued to pressure.
      A combination which ended with a left uppercut closed the show and left the Manchester City fan full of confidence.
      His promoter Eddie Hearn tweeted: “Good stoppage win for @CampbellHatton – perfect learning experience on the road in Spain.
      “Lots of activity and experience to come in 2022.”
      Matthew Hatton with his nephew CampbellCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

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      Muhammad Ali’s incredible career ended on December 11 almost 40 years ago in heartbreaking and farcical fashion

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      DECEMBER 11 is a date that historians have got their teeth stuck into.It was on that day in 1936 when a sombre King Edward VIII broadcast to a stunned nation that he was giving up the crown to marry Wallis Simpson.
      Muhammad Ali hung up his gloves after his bout with Trevor Berbick in 1981Credit: Disney General Entertainment Con
      The heavyweight king abdicated after 21 years in and out of the ringCredit: Getty – Contributor
      And a week from Saturday, it will be the 40th anniversary of when boxing’s King announced he was abdicating after 21 magical, momentous, mesmerising and highly controversial years in and out of the ring.
      It was December 11, 1981, when the incomparable Muhammad Ali, arguably the greatest world heavyweight champion of them all, unlaced his gloves for the last time.
      What a relief it was to those of us who had been a part of Ali’s flying circus and had despairingly seen him declining slowly but surely into mediocrity.
      Heartbreakingly, instead of retiring with the farewell fanfares he deserved, the man voted the outstanding sports personality of the 20th century ended his glittering 61-fight career in the Caribbean — and in the most farcical circumstances.
      He lost a unanimous ten-round points decision to Trevor Berbick in what was advertised as the Drama in Bahama. More appropriately, the tawdry occasion should have been called Nonsense in Nassau.
      It was held at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, which sounds grand — in fact it was a baseball field.

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      The fight took place at the tiny Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre in the BahamasCredit: Rex Features
      Proceedings were delayed two hours because nobody could find the keys to open the gates to the arena.
      It beggars belief but once inside it was discovered there was not even a bell or gloves for the main event, it was beyond parody.
      Someone was dispatched to the next field to take a bell from the neck of one of the grazing cows.
      And Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee got his secretary in his Miami office to arrange for a new pair of gloves to be flown over.

      After his ignominious defeat against Larry Holmes a year earlier, the name Muhammad Ali was no longer saleable.
      Three major American TV networks, CBS, ABC and NBC, boycotted his clash with Berbick — and none of the closed-circuit operators were in the slightest bit interested.
      American broadcasters boycotted the December 1981 clashCredit: Getty
      Ali was 39, facing a man 12 years his juniorCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The fact James Cornelius, a Los Angeles car dealer, a convicted felon, arrested nine times for fraud and larceny, who also happened to be under FBI investigation, was the promoter probably had something to do with it.
      I really found it deeply depressing as I watched Ali, the hero of the Rumble in the Jungle and the Thrilla in Manila, plus many other breathtaking battles, reduced to insignificance.
      His speed and audacious skills had long been eroded — and what was left was a flabby middle-aged man a month short of his 40th birthday.
      Gone forever was the supreme athlete that prompted Jim Murray, the Pulitzer prize-winning LA Times sports columnist, to write: “I want to borrow Ali’s body for a day — there are six men I want to beat up and six women I want to make love to.”
      Ali was later subdued and philosophical when we all crowded into his dressing room. He simply said: “Father time has caught up with me — I’m finished. I’ve got to face the facts.
      “We all grow old and this is the end. I’ve been doing this since I was 12.
      Ali should have retired after his third fight with Joe FrazierCredit: Getty
      “It’s a joy and relief to know that it’s over.”
      He should, of course, have retired immediately after his brutal third fight with Joe Frazier in Manila.
      But he carried on for six more years and had ten more fights against the advice of his doctor Ferdie Pacheco.
      It is even possible if he had listened to Pacheco, Ali may still be alive today.
      Ed Schuyler — one of America’s top boxing writers — spoke for billions when he said as we left Ali to his memories that evening: “Muhammad, thank you. You gave us a hell of a ride.”
      And as I flew home from Nassau, with the festive season looming, it dawned on me I had just seen the Ghost of Christmas past.
      Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua given huge boost as promoter Bob Arum reveals Gypsy King will fight three times in 2022 More

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      Gennady Golovkin, 39, feels ‘extremely fit right now’ and talks down retiring with Ryota Murata fight to be rescheduled

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      GENNADY GOLOVKIN beamed as he described feeling ‘extremely fit right now’ and talking down retirement. But his return fight against Ryota Murata, set for December 29 in Saitama, now looks to be rescheduled after Japan shut their international borders.
      Gennady Golovkin described feeling ‘extremely fit right now’Credit: EPA
      Gennady Golovkin training before his return fight was postponedCredit: Instagram @gggboxing
      Confirming the news, Golovkin said: “I am deeply disappointed that this fight has been postponed.
      “But the health and safety of the public must always be the priority. I look forward to returning to the ring against Ryota as soon as possible.”
      The decision was made amid the the global spread of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.
      But just before the announcement, boxing legend and current IBF middleweight champion Golovkin spoke exclusively with SunSport.
      And after another gruelling training camp at altitude in Big Bear California, the 39-year-old seems far from finished in a sport he has dominated for so long.
      Golovkin, who turns 40 in April, said: “I’ll be looking closely at myself.
      “I’m extremely fit right now, I feel great and of course all my career decisions will be based on how I feel. Currently, I feel great.”

      GGG made his American debut in 2012 and stopped Pole Grzegorz Proksa, now 37, in five rounds.
      His devastating power immediately struck fear throughout the 160lb middleweight division.
      It sparked a run of 12 knockouts in 13 fights before being taken the distance by Danny Jacobs, 34, winning on points.
      Then came a two-fight series against his great rival Canelo Alvarez, 31, which was marred in controversy.
      GGG was unfortunate to walk away with only a draw in their 2017 original before losing the razor thin rematch a year later.
      GGG wrapping his hands before trainingCredit: Instagram @gggboxing
      Gennady Golovkin shows off his strength trainingCredit: Instagram @gggboxing
      The middleweight legend is all smiles in trainingCredit: Instagram @gggboxing
      Since then, the Kazakh danger man has fought three times and reclaimed the middleweight throne.
      But despite reigning a two-time champ, with 36 KOs in his 41 wins, the boxing superstar still wants more with his unification against Murata, 35, only on ice.
      Golovkin said: “All my decisions will be regarded as the right decision by me, whether I want to continue and take part in a fight.
      “I will regard that as the right decision, if I want to conclude my career, that will also be the right decision.
      “I am comfortable right now with how my career is progressing and what’s happening and I’m sure whatever I do, will be right for me.”
      Golovkin had endured yet another brutal camp in the Big Bear Lake, before moving over to Florida.
      Gennady Golovkin enjoying the Big Bear mountainsCredit: Instagram @gggboxing
      Gennady Golovkin in the Big Bear mountainsCredit: Instagram @gggboxing
      GGG moved his camp to Florida after Big BearCredit: Instagram @gggboxing
      The excruciating mountain runs, heavy lifting in the winter cold and several rounds of sparring were almost all complete until the recent postponement.
      It means, depending on the new date, Triple-G could have to do it all over again.
      But that would suit the feared father-of-two just fine, as he admitted to enjoying the peace and quiet of training camp.
      Golovkin admitted: “It’s just a way for me to get away from my family and concentrate on the training process, as I have a large family at home.
      “It’s somewhat distracting, to be honest! Of course there are certain details and nuances, we approach each opponent a little bit differently.
      “Although there is a foundation of training which is always a part of the camp.”
      Gennady Golovkin with his IBF middleweight titleCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Floyd Mayweather offers to train Anthony Joshua for Oleksandr Usyk title rematch and advises split from Rob McCracken

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      FLOYD MAYWEATHER has once again signalled he wants to train Anthony Joshua ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.The former unified heavyweight champion lost his belts to the Ukrainian with a tame performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September.
      Anthony Joshua and Floyd Mayweather have struck up a friendship
      The pair are due to face each other again early next year – although promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed shock talks that could see Joshua step aside.
      But if he does go on to try to reclaim his WBA, IBF and WBO, he could have former pound-for-pound king Mayweather in his corner.
      And suggesting he should think about splitting with current coach Rob McCracken, Mayweather said: “I told him from the beginning, I told him to come and I could teach him some pointers.
      “A lot of the time, this is just my take, the same coach you had as an amateur doesn’t always make you a great professional.
      “Some guys are great at amateur coaching and some guys are great at professional coaching, and even my dad was the best at professional.
      “At the amateurs, he was teaching me like a professional, so I’m going to always speak real whether people like it or not.

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      Tyson Fury defeated Deontay Wilder in Las VegasCredit: Reuters
      “I feel like Anthony Joshua, they’re going to different coaches and saying ‘this coach is going to work with him’.
      “But I told him at the beginning when he was undefeated ‘you’ve got some things you need to tweak because if you don’t then you may come up short’.”
      Joshua and Mayweather have struck up a friendship in recent years, with the latter saying he was keen to help out in any all-British blockbuster with Tyson Fury.
      AJ’s defeat by Usyk has put paid to that – at least for the time being.
      And now Hearn has sensationally revealed Oleksandr Usyk’s team are in talks over stepping away from the rematch.
      The promoter revealed the slick southpaw is now eyeing a clash with Fury for his WBC belt instead.
      Watch Anthony Joshua head off for skiing break in US… and heavyweight star takes hilarious tumble in snow More

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      JoJo Diaz inspired by George Kambosos Jr’s heroics as he vows to beat Devin Haney and land undisputed fight with Aussie

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      JOJO DIAZ has been left inspired by George Kambosos Jr’s heroics – and will use it as motivation to land an undisputed title fight with him. Kambosos beat the odds and Teofimo Lopez at the same time last weekend in New York, winning the WBA, IBF, WBO and WBC ‘Franchise’ belts.
      Former super-featherweight champion JoJo DiazCredit: Getty
      George Kambosos beat Teofimo LopezCredit: Getty
      The only missing jewel to officially become undisputed lightweight king is Devin Haney’s full WBC title, which Diaz challenges for on Saturday.
      The determined American, like Kambosos, is the betting underdog and will use the Australian’s performance to inspire an upset of his own.
      Diaz, 29, told SunSport: “I’m already motivated due to the fact this is everything I ever dreamed of.
      “Fighting in Vegas as the main-event for the WBC lightweight title, broadcast on a primetime network like DAZN.
      “This is already everything I ever dreamed of, so that motivation is already there, but to see something like Kambosos win, it’s not shocking as it is boxing.
      “But it did give me that extra motivation as I know that anything can happen in boxing and I know that I’ve put in the time and effort.
      “God’s going to bless me with the victory.”

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      Haney, 23, who is promoted by Eddie Hearn, had verbally agreed to put all the titles on the line with Lopez, 23, just days before Kambsos, 28, spoilt the party.
      But already, the unbeaten champ has turned his attention to the newly-crowned lightweight ruler, who will be ringside to watch in Las Vegas.
      Now, like Kambosos did to Lopez, Diaz plans to throw yet another spanner in the lightweight works and steal not only Haney’s title, but the shot at undisputed glory.
      He said: “After this fight, I want to challenge Kambosos for the undisputed.
      “If everything goes well and I end up looking spectacular, and Kambosos wants to fight and DAZN and Eddie Hearn are with it too, we can make it happen.
      “I’ve already seen and witnessed everything that can be thrown at me in the ring and nothing that Devin Haney has to offer is anything new.
      “I’m just going to go out there, look spectacular Saturday night by applying a lot of pressure and using my ring generalship, my experience, my boxing tactics.
      “But also my speed and power as well. I’m excited to go out there and perform and shock the world and the lightweight division.”
      Teofimo Lopez with the unified lightweight titlesCredit: Zuma Press
      JoJo Diaz fights unbeaten American Devin HaneyCredit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA
      Haney never technically won the famous green and gold belt in the ring, instead being elevated from ‘interim’ champ to the full title.
      That came after Vasiliy Lomachenko, 33, was moved to ‘Franchise’ status, before Lopez’s triumph over the Ukrainian in October 2020.
      It has led to Haney’s rivals levelling accusations of legitimacy against him, one of Diaz’s biggest verbal weapons in the build up to their fight.
      He said: “I just want to punch him in his face for all the s*** talking he’s been doing.
      “I just feel like he made it here the easy way, not the hard way and I want him to pay for that.
      “I’m going to do everything possible to try and knock him out, of course, I’m not going to be overwhelming, swinging and look for the knockout.
      “I’m going to be fighting smart and fighting defensive and making sure I’m applying the right pressure.
      “If the opportunity presents itself when I have him hurt, best believe I’m going for the knockout.”
      Devin Haney is the WBC lightweight championCredit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom. More