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      Chris Eubank Jr urged to ‘get a move on’ in his boxing career as Carl Froch calls for bitter Billy Joe Saunders rematch

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      CARL FROCH urged Chris Eubank Jr to ‘get a move on’ in his career and wants to see a rematch between him and Billy Joe Saunders. Froch was ringside to watch former sparring partner Eubank Jr return with a fifth-round stoppage win against late replacement Wanik Awdijan.
      Chris Eubank Jr was beaten in 2014 by bitter rival Billy Joe SaundersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Carl Froch wants to see Chris Eubank Jr rematch Billy Joe SaundersCredit: Pinnacle
      The middleweight contender has promised a big fight in December with Liam Williams also among the targets.
      Eubank Jr lost a narrow split-decision against Saunders in 2014 but their feud has only heightened since.
      Saunders has been left contemplating retirement after losing to Canelo Alvarez but said he would return to rematch Eubank Jr for £5million.
      After Eubank Jr’s win, Froch said on Sky Sports: “The Liam Williams fight is a good fight, but he definitely, 100 per cent needs to now get a move on.
      “We need to see him in there with a big name, or a bigger name. Maybe the Billy Joe Saunders rematch. I quite like that fight.
      “When people start pricing themselves out of the fight, that’s when you realise that maybe they don’t want the fight.
      “We need to see Chris Eubank Jr in with a big name and we need to see a performance, because the time is nigh, it really is.”
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      Eubank Jr labelled Saunders a ‘rat’ after his comeback win and also opened the door to fighting Welshman Williams, 29, after months of being called out.
      Johnny Nelson said: “That’s probably wound Billy Joe up, saying he doesn’t want the fight, but you never know, it stirs the pot.
      “Either Liam Williams or Billy Joe, they are fan fights. They are fights that the fans can really get excited about.
      “Then of course, he’s got to make sure he nails down a world title fight, whoever the champion is, within the next 12 months.”
      Boxing fan asks Chris Eubank Jr to sign his microwave in Newcastle More

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      Watch boxing stars Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney clash as rivals agree to massive lightweight unification next year

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      LIGHTWEIGHT rivals Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney clashed and then agreed to a massive lightweight unification next year. The two were both in Fresno, California to watch as former four-division champion Mikey Garcia was stunned by Spanish outsider Sandor Martin.
      Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney clashed and then agreed to a unification next year
      But the night’s headlines were shared when unbeaten pair Haney, 22, and Lopez, 24, were captured in a row.
      Their dads, who both train their sons, were also present and involved in the heated back-and-forth.
      Lopez stunned Vasiliy Lomachenko, 33, last October to win the WBA, IBF and WBO lightweight titles as well as the WBC ‘Franchise’ belt.
      Meanwhile Haney is the current WBC champion, and argues Lopez cannot be considered undisputed.
      Lopez is set to face mandatory challenger George Kambosos Jr, 28, on November 27 after months of delay with the fight moving from Triller to DAZN.
      And Haney is looking to return in December and Jojo Diaz – who is without an opponent after Ryan Garcia withdrew with injury – has been sent an offer.

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      It would see the two fight in December – before a grudge match between former sparring partners Haney and Lopez can commence.
      The pair agreed, if they both prevail in their next fights, they will then face each other next year with all the lightweight titles on the line.
      Before Lopez’s withdrew from his initial August fight with Kambosos after testing positive for coronavirus, he vowed to push Haney out of the spotlight.
      He told SunSport: “I do not believe this guy belongs in the sport, he’s a fraud, he’s a fake. I can’t respect someone like that.
      “And the whole thing is just trying to take him out, he’s done what he has done but this guy’s been fed his whole life on a silver spoon.
      “Only those that know him, know him and understand what I mean. I just want the guy out, I need him out.
      “But these guys are scared, they really are running away and I wish that people could really see that part, but they’re not going to show that.
      “There’s so many fakes in this world too, so when they fake it, they make it, and they’re all fake.”
      Teofimo Lopez with all his lightweight beltsCredit: Handout – Getty
      Devin Haney is the WBC championCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Anthony Joshua heads to US to celebrate birthday and travels to Canelo Alvarez’s gym after Oleksandr Usyk loss

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA spent his birthday in Los Angeles as he recovers from his Oleksandr Usyk defeat.The Watford icon turned 32 on Friday and woke up to cake and candles in the USA, after doing a photoshoot with fashion partner Hugo Boss on Monday.
      Anthony Joshua posed for a picture with boxer Ronald Ellis at Eddy Reynoso’s gym in San DiegoCredit: Instagram @recklessellis
      Joshua also was snapped alongside Rashidi Ellis on Saturday during his trip to AmericaCredit: Instagram @rashidiellis
      A source in the camp confirmed to SunSport that the Brit hero chose to stay on in celeb-Mecca LA to “decompress” after a gruelling camp and fight.
      The former WBA, IBF and WBO king lost his titles to the brilliant Ukraine southpaw on September 25.
      But the instant rematch clause has been activated and a Spring 2022 fight is being worked on.
      A UK football stadium is the front runner for the rerun but Saudi Arabia remains a strong possibility.
      During his visit to America, AJ has been pictured in two notable gyms amid rumours he could change trainers for the rematch.
      Joshua visited British compatriot Joshua Buatsi at Virgil Hunter’s gym in Hayward, California, before being snapped at Eddy Reynoso’s gym on Saturday.
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      A link-up with Reynoso would see his train alongside Canelo Alvarez and former rival Andy Ruiz Jr.
      Boxing brothers Ronald and Rashidi Ellis took to their Instagram accounts to post pictures of them alongside Joshua at Reynoso’s gym in San Diego, California.
      And AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn was also there on Saturday to pay a visit to Canelo ahead of his undisputed super-middleweight bout against Caleb Plant on November 6.
      There is no suggestion yet that Joshua will part ways with trainer Rob McCracken, but Hearn has not ruled out a change.
      He told Boxing Social: “I think what AJ will want to do is analyse why he performed like that. Yeah, the tactics weren’t right, he underperformed, but why?
      “It’s difficult just to say, ‘He didn’t get the tactics right and he underperformed,’ because let’s talk about the brilliance of Usyk as well.
      “But AJ will always look at his preparation and see how he can improve.
      AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn was also at Reynoso’s gym to pay a visit to client Canelo AlvarezCredit: Instagram @eddiehearn
      “If that’s changing things up, looking at bringing people in, or whatever he’s got to do, he will do that.”
      Apart from one post-fight post, AJ has remained absent from social media, to focus on resting and rebuilding for the rematch.
      The two-time heavyweight champion insisted in the aftermath of his defeat to Usyk that nobody would see him sulking.
      He said: “I am not a sulker, this is a blessed opportunity for me to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world again, so I will not go home and cry about it. 
      “It’s war and it’s a long process, it’s not one fight and done, it’s back to the drawing board, not to sulk.
      “I have already watched the fight and seen where I went wrong and thought of ways I can improve.
      “I don’t care about being the underdog for the rematch, the belts don’t represent me. I just want to go in there improved, smarter and stronger and I believe I get a win from what I learned.
      “I have no regrets, you have to trust the process, I cannot look at regrets, we had a process we went through and I can go again. 
      “I have a chance to be a champion again so I am keeping a positive head on my shoulders.”
      Bob Arum claims Anthony Joshua is ‘too chinny’ to win fight against Oleksandr Usyk More

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      Tyson Fury to return before April and then eye undisputed title fight with Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk by October

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      TYSON FURY could return to the ring in April before eyeing a Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk showdown later in the year.Fury recently knocked out Deontay Wilder in round 11 of their epic Las Vegas trilogy bout last weekend.
      Tyson Fury could return to the ring in April next yearCredit: Rex
      Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk are potential opponents later in the yearCredit: Getty
      And he’s set to return to the ring next year to take on either Dillian Whyte or Otto Wallin, who fight on October 30.
      Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum told FightHub: “Joshua and Usyk, I think they’re going to wait until April 4.
      “I think Fury will fight again in March or April. Then we can look to a September or October match for a unification.”
      Meanwhile, Joshua has invoked his right to an immediate rematch with Usyk, having lost the unified titles in September.
      It leaves any chance of a historic four-belt, undisputed title decider shelved until the end of the year.
      Joshua, 32, and Fury, 33, agreed terms for an all-British unification in Saudi Arabia on August 14.

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      But Wilder, 35, was still owed a contracted trilogy fight and took his case to arbitration and was awarded the verdict.
      It means AJ was then ordered into a mandatory title defence against Ukrainian Usyk, and was beaten over 12 rounds.
      Weeks later, Fury then knocked out Wilder to retain his WBC title.
      Arum hoped a deal could be negotiated for Joshua to sit out and allow the Gypsy King to fight Usyk, 34, for all the marbles.
      He said: “Eddie thought Joshua wouldn’t be amenable to a step aside and would want to do the rematch.
      “Which is sort of stupidity on his part because no way is he going to beat Usyk in his next fight no matter what new strategy he deploys.”
      Bob Arum claims Anthony Joshua is ‘too chinny’ to win fight against Oleksandr Usyk More

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      Canelo Alvarez says Caleb Plant fight will be ‘a little easy for me’ as Mexican describes himself as ‘complete fighter’

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      CANELO ALVAREZ believes his upcoming undisputed clash against Caleb Plant is going to be easier than his win over Billy Joe Saunders.The 31-year-old, who has not lost since being beaten by Floyd Mayweather in 2013, forced Saunders to retire on his stool at the end of the eighth round in May.
      Canelo exchanged punches with Plant at their recent press conferenceCredit: AP
      Alvarez’s last win came against Briton Saunders five months agoCredit: Reuters
      He will now look to win the fourth and final belt in the super-middleweight division when he takes on Plant on November 6.
      And Canelo feels a bout against Plant will be even more straightforward than his victory over Saunders.
      Speaking on The Last Stand podcast, he said: “Yeah, same [as Saunders], but different because Billy Joe Saunders is southpaw and Caleb Plant is orthodox.
      “So, it’s gonna be I think maybe a little easy for me.”
      Canelo has stopped three of his last four opponents, with the only man to go the distance with him since May 2019 being Callum Smith.
      But while Alvarez is supremely confident heading into the undisputed clash, he admits Plant will be dangerous early on in the fight.
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      “The first round is gonna be difficult because of his style,” he added.
      “But I know how to break down the style. Maybe after five rounds, I’m gonna do my things.”
      Alvarez is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
      He has won 56 of his 59 professional bouts, losing to Mayweather and drawing to Jorge Juarez and Gennady Golovkin.
      Meanwhile, Plant is unbeaten in his 21 pro fights but has not fought anyone of the calibre of Canelo.
      The pair have a clear disdain for one another and came to blows in the recent press conference.
      Plant attempted to throw a punch at Canelo but the Mexican dodged it and then threw a right hand of his own which left the American with a cut below his eye.
      Canelo Alvarez offers Deontay Wilder advice and pinpoints problems that caused him to lose to Tyson Fury in trilogy More

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      ‘You’re embarrassing’ – Tyson Fury’s manager slams David Haye and claims he wouldn’t beat Gypsy King with 25 ARMS

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      DAVID HAYE would struggle to beat Tyson Fury even if he had 25 arms – one of his managers has claimed.In a stinging attack on the former world champion, Spencer Brown labelled Haye a ‘disgrace’.
      Spencer Brown pictured with heavyweight star Tyson Fury
      David Haye has been calling out Tyson Fury recentlyCredit: Getty
      Brown – who is part of Team Fury and partied with Tyson after the weekend’s fight – hit out after Haye backed Wilder to beat Fury in their Las Vegas showdown.
      In a message posted to Facebook he said: “David Haye – you are a disgrace backing Wilder like that.
      “You’d need 25 arms to beat Tyson and even then you still wouldn’t. You are embarrassing, mate so keep your mouth shut.”
      Brown went on to further goad Haye by pointing out Tony Bellew had “given it to him twice” adding: “I’ve got a couple of white collar boxing events coming up Dave, maybe you could take part in them?.”
      Brown also used his video message to reveal the turmoil Fury went through in the run up to the fight.
      “Tyson went through hell with the birth of his sixth child. I witnessed it all. It was awful. But he still came through.”
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      Deontay Wilder was knocked out by Tyson FuryCredit: Getty

      Brown also said he wished “good luck” to Antony Joshua.
      Ahead of last weekend’s fight Fury said he’d even be willing to help train AJ for his comeback.
      Brown’s comments come a day after Dillian Whyte told Tyson Fury “let’s get it on” for a major fight night in Britain.
      Whyte will be in line for a crack at Fury’s WBC belt if he retains his interim title against Otto Wallin on October 30 at The O2 – and he says it would be a huge event for the UK.
      Whyte said: “Tyson Fury has been mandated to fight me twice and didn’t, so now hopefully the WBC will force the position.
      David Haye – you are a disgrace backing Wilder like that. You’d need 25 arms to beat Tyson and even then you still wouldn’t.Spencer Brown, a manager of Tyson Fury’s
      “It would be a major British fight, two British fighters fighting for the heavyweight world championship – that would be great.” Whyte claims
      Deontay Wilder, who faces a long spell out after breaking a bone in his hand in the Fury clash, may be forced to quit.
      “He took a lot of punishment and it could have finished his career potentially,” Whyte told Sky Sports.
      “Last time [former trainer] Mark Breland stopped it, which saved his career. This time he took way too much punishment.”
      However last night Wilder’s current trainer Malik Scott said he has no intention of walking away. “We have big plans going forward,” said Scott. More

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      Deontay Wilder’s sparring partner reveals what makes Bronze Bomber hit so hard and hails Tyson Fury for getting up TWICE

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      TYSON FURY has been praised for getting up TWICE against Deontay Wilder, by a sparring partner who opened up on just how hard he hits. American Jim Torney spent two weeks in Wilder’s Alabama training camp helping in preparation for the trilogy bout.
      Deontay Wilder twice floored Tyson Fury in their trilogy fightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jim Torney after sparring with Deontay Wilder
      Torney perfectly matches up with the Gypsy King’s 6ft 9in and 19 stone frame, so was an ideal sparring partner.
      But it came at the cost of feeling the sheer force of Wilder’s punches, who has 41 knockouts in 42 wins, with a 91 per cent stoppage ratio.
      Torney, 34, told SunSport: “His power is the real deal! You don’t know until you get in there.
      “I was – in a strange way – kind of excited as you really want to have that kind of notch on your belt, to say you’ve been in there with Deontay Wilder.
      “His power is second to none, I’ve never been hit like that before. His power is the real deal, but I was surprised by some other things too.”
      Wilder has a reach of 83 inches, and uses every bit of it to launch devastating attacks.

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      Torney said: “I was really surprised by his length. As lot of the guys I spar with, even the elite guys haven’t been as long.
      “So he’s really long, he uses it really well, he’s got a wide stance, he keeps his lead jab hand out there, he’s feinting.
      “I found his length surprising and his pace too, he’s a warrior, he keeps the pace on. He jabs real well, and again, his power speaks for itself.”
      Wilder’s reach and speed is what helps produce the brutal knockouts, having already been gifted with fearsome punch power.
      Torney explained: “I’ve been in there with some other hard-hitters.
      “But Wilder’s was very fast too, he covers that distance and he releases his right hand really fast.
      “There was a couple of times I got hit with it and I just didn’t see it coming. There’s that initial surprise and then the power that comes with it.”
      His power is second to none, I’ve never been hit like that before. His power is the real deal. Deontay Wilder’s sparring partner Jim Torney
      Wilder, 35, twice floored Fury, 33, in their 2018 original but was stunned when neither was enough to close the show as it ended a draw.
      In the rematch last year he was connivingly beaten but again had his British rival down twice in their recently thrilling trilogy decider.
      And Fury got up both times in round four, later winning in the 11th after he scored a total of three knockdowns.
      Torney said: “It’s surprising, but the fact he was able to do it in the first fight didn’t make it a complete shock that he was able to get up.
      “But, say for instance the first knockdown it was kind of a delayed reaction by Fury, that I was kind of laughing.
      Tyson Fury was floored twice in round fourCredit: Rex
      Tyson Fury got up twice from the floorCredit: Rex
      “Because having been hit by Wilder, it’s almost like you could tell Fury knew he had been rocked and he was trying to stay up but his body wouldn’t allow him to.
      “That to me, I was kinda chuckling to myself because when you’ve been hit by Wilder it’s not surprising to see that.
      “It’s such a fast, powerful punch, and it kind of set in like two seconds later when Fury went down.
      “But you know what Fury’s made of, he’s proved himself in the past and you know, like he said, if he can get up, he’s going to get up.
      “So unless you can knock him the f*** out like he says, he’s going to keep getting up.
      “But when you can do it against Wilder, it’s even more impressive.”
      Tyson Fury knocked Deontay Wilder out in round 11Credit: Sean Michael Ham
      Deontay Wilder in defeat to Tyson FuryCredit: Mikey Williams More

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      Lawrence Okolie plans to own a McDonald’s restaurant after being inspired to box while working tills at fast food chain

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      BOXING champion Lawrence Okolie plans to go from working the tills at McDonald’s to owning his own restaurant.Okolie was 17 when he was inspired into boxing while watching Anthony Joshua win gold at the London Olympics all while on shift at the fast food chain. 
      Lawrence Okolie with his WBO belt outside McDonald’s in London Victoria
      The boxer wants to go from working the tills at McDonald’s to owning his own store
      Now, he is managed and mentored by AJ and has a WBO world title to his name – but wants to go back to where his journey all started, as the boss. 
      Okolie has partnered with his former employers McDonald’s, who have launched a new Plan for Change campaign.
      And he dreams of capping off a remarkable return to the multi-billion dollar company by becoming a franchise owner, all while continuing his boxing career. 
      Okolie, 28, told SunSport: “It’s a very, very serious ambition of mine.
      “For me, it’s full circle. At the start, McDonald’s gave me an opportunity, gave me a job, which was my first legitimate income coming in.
      “It was the same with my younger brother, at the time that was massive for our family as money was coming in.

      “It wasn’t like we were in absolute poverty, but our little bit helped, my mum didn’t need to stress as much, to get us other little bits and bobs, we could afford those.
      “To be able to now go back into the company in an ownership way, it shows progression.
      “I went from working the tills to owning a whole McDonald’s, I can only see positives really.”
      McDonald’s new campaign will see youth workers and services connected to every restaurant in every community by 2024, offer 3,000 apprenticeships by 2025 plus help one million people gain new skills and open doors to jobs by 2030.
      Okolie visited the London Victoria store where he once flipped burgers and salted chips before dusting off his old apron. 
      And it was there he interacted with staff members to share his story and remember where he came from. 
      I went from working the tills to owning a whole McDonald’s, I can only see positives really.Lawrence Okolie on his plans to own a McDonald’s restaurant
      Okolie said: “There’s a lot of time we see people go on and achieve good to great things and then they’re not around anymore.
      “They’re not reachable, they’re distant but when you’re there to talk to and say, ‘What did you do? How did you do it?’
      “It makes you more of a reference for them.”
      Okolie is a proud vegan athlete but is still able to enjoy some classic McDonald’s fries as part of his plant-based diet when out of training camp. 
      ‘CHEEKY LITTLE MACCIES’
      He joked: “I’m on a meal prep when I’m training but when that’s finished, I’ll go and have a cheeky little Maccies, you can’t say no, can you?
      “There’s a vegetarian burger coming out soon, so I can’t wait to try that one.” 
      Okolie won his world title with a sixth-round knockout of Poland’s Krzysztof Glowacki, 35, in March. 
      He then defended it for the first time last month against challenger Dilan Prasovic, 26, who was taken out in three rounds. 
      Now Okolie, a 2016 Olympian with a current unbeaten record of 17-0 with 14 knockouts, has unification bouts in his sights. 

      World Champion Boxer Lawrence Okolie has teamed up with McDonald’s to launch a new campaign designed to improve the life chances of thousands of young people. To find out more, visit mcdonalds.co.uk/planforchange

      Lawrence Okolie back at the McDonald’s he used to work at
      Lawrence Okolie was inspired to box while working at the fast food chain
      McDonald’s have launched a new Plan for Change campaign More