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      Tyson Fury blasts claims he ‘faked’ Covid-19 diagnosis to KO Wilder trilogy bout as he reveals he contracted virus TWICE

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      THE war of words between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder escalated again as Fury slammed claims he ‘faked’ Covid to get their trilogy fight called off.The WBC champion instead claimed he contracted the virus TWICE and was left feeling ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’ with illness.
      Tyson Fury insisted he tested positive for Covid twiceCredit: Getty
      Deontay Wilder has claimed Fury used the virus as an excuseCredit: Rex
      Wilder has repeatedly accused his opponent of using a positive Covid test as an excuse to swerve their third fight.
      The pair had been due to meet again back in July but Fury insisted his camp were justified in postponing to October following an outbreak of the virus.
      He told BoxingScene: “I don’t care what Deontay Wilder says, because if we want to take this publicly, then we have medical records by doctors here in Las Vegas who tested me.
      “I don’t think you can fake Covid with the PCR test, when they stick a big thing up your nose. You’ve either got it or you haven’t.
      “There would be no reason for me to want Covid and get out of a Deontay Wilder fight.
      “Why would I want to chuck away $20-30 million to fight someone I’ve already knocked out quite comfortably?”

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      The delayed fight is set to take place at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on October 9 with Fury recovered from his recent Covid scare.
      The Brit claimed it was the second time he had picked up the virus, which robbed him of his sense of smell and taste.
      He added: “I’ve had Covid twice. I had it once back in like 2020 and once a couple of months ago.
      “The first time was a lot harder because I lost my sense of smell and taste, and I felt weak and I felt terrible. The second time, I didn’t feel that terrible.
      Oleksandr Usyk wants the winner of Fury vs WilderCredit: AFP
      “But with Covid you can’t fight because the commission won’t let you fight anyway, even if you wanted to.”
      The winner of the Vegas bout is likely to find himself in the firing line of new champ Oleksandr Usyk.
      The Ukrainian smashed Anthony Joshua to claim his heavyweight belts and wants an undisputed bout after he takes care of a rematch with the Brit.
      Frank Warren says that Tyson Fury saw his fight with Anthony Joshua ‘going down the drain’ as he watched Usyk masterclass More

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      Oscar De La Hoya slams Eddie Hearn for ‘ruining Anthony Joshua’s career’ in bizarre message while getting face massage

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      OSCAR DE LA HOYA accused Eddie Hearn of ‘ruining Anthony Joshua’s career’ while… errr… getting a face massage.The American legend posted a bizarre video online in which he took aim at AJ’s Essex-based promoter.
      Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya has lashed out at Eddie Hearn while having a face massage
      The American took aim at Matchroom promoter Hearn and accused him of ‘ruining Anthony Joshua’s career’
      Joshua suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.
      The Brit has been criticised for his tactics with his trainer Rob McCracken coming in for particular flack.
      But in an odd move, De La Hoya, 48, posted a clip of himself being pampered and slamming Hearn, 42, at the same time.
      The Golden Boy promotions founder said: “Joshua vs Usyk, which nobody saw in the US because… what’s that promoter that has no clue what to do in the US?
      “I think his name is Hearn or something.”
      De La Hoya then pretended to forget his fellow promoter’s name and said: “Thomas Hearn, stay in the UK and promote your fights.

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      “You have no clue what you’re doing in the US.
      “DAZN is doing the right thing sticking with Golden Boy.
      “Stay away from the US. He does not know how to promote.
      “Usyk crowned himself world champion and Eddie Hearn ruined Joshua’s career.”
      After the fight, Hearn confirmed Joshua would immediately trigger his rematch clause with Usyk.
      But the promoter has urged AJ to change his style in the second fight with Ukrainian after saying trying to outbox Usyk was a ‘terrible idea’.
      The promoter was involved in a vicious spat with a fan on Saturday at Tottenham’s stadium.
      He was called a ‘p****’ by a member of the crowd before spinning round and asking the man to repeat his jibe before shouting: “Yeah, you s*** yourself now.”
      HEARN REGRETS
      But Hearn has since admitted he regrets his actions.
      He told iFL TV: “I shouldn’t have done it, but we spend our lives listening to people online that give you abuse.
      “It’s not because I’m a tough guy. At that moment I would’ve taken on about 40 people!
      “But yeah, I shouldn’t have done it.”

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      Conor Benn stunned to see Anthony Joshua lose against Oleksandr Usyk and should have ‘bullied’ Ukrainian rival More

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      Jake Paul vs Aaron Chalmers tale of the tape: How two compare as ex-Georgie Shore man eyes up fight with YouTuber

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      JAKE PAUL has been told he’s ‘looking at the wrong person’ as he tries to line up a bout with Tommy Fury.Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers has stepped in to demand Paul fight him instead of Tyson’s brother.

      The YouTube star is known to be frustrated at the time it’s taking to make a fight with Love Island’s Fury.
      Revealing he’s ‘p***ed off’ with slow negotiations, Paul also taunted Fury by claiming ‘no one gives a f*** about you’.
      Fellow reality star Chalmers has sensed his opportunity and told Paul he was ready to step face him in the ring.
      He said: “With all due respect, if you’re looking at fighting someone from the UK who does big numbers you’re looking at the wrong person.
      “Just look at the viewings every Bellator card I was on, sold out my home town arena twice. Let’s fight Jake Paul.”
      Chalmers is a former Bellator MMA competitor and would be making a crossover into the boxing ring if he does face Paul.

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      The Joker, as he’s known, is 10 years older than the man he called out but shares a similar level of experience inside the ropes with seven fights to Paul’s four.
      In terms of punching power there is not much to choose between them with Paul scoring just one more KO than his potential rival.
      But Paul would have both youth and height on his side if the pair ever met as he stands three inches taller.
      It remains to be seen whether Paul vs Fury will happen – the Brit turned down two deals before Paul made a public offer of $1 million to face him.
      A war of words has since escalated between the two with Paul claiming time was running out to sign on.
      He said: “Tommy, it’s like Eminem said ‘you only got one shot, do not miss your chance to blow, this opportunity comes once in a lifetime’. Make the right choice.”

      Tyron Woodley gets ‘I love Jake Paul’ tattoo on his middle finger More

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      Conor Benn stunned to see Anthony Joshua lose against Oleksandr Usyk and should have ‘bullied’ Ukrainian rival

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      CONOR BENN was stunned to see Anthony Joshua let magic man Oleksandr Usyk make his world titles disappear.The 25-year-old welterweight ace was ringside at Tottenham cheering on the 31-year-old and was left gutted his shock game plan to outbox the Ukraine genius fell short.
      Something was off with Anthony Joshua during his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night
      That is according to Conor Benn who was in the crowd cheering AJ on
      A fair few fighters, past and present, and pundits have hammered 17st 2lb AJ and Rob McCracken’s strategy to stay trim and out-skill the 34-year-old southpaw.
      But Benn – nicknamed the Destroyer like his dad – wants to help rebuild the old KO artist back to his most devastating best for the must-win rematch next year.
      He told iFL TV: “I don’t know what happened but I just think the strategy and tactics were wrong. He gave a magician room to perform tricks.
      “Usyk is an unbelievable fighter, he is up as a pound-for-pound best but, for me, if there was ever a night for AJ to come in heavy then that fight was the case.
      “He should have bullied him, manhandled him, let him know that he was in the ring with a big heavyweight.
      “He should have set the tone straight away and let three and four-punch combinations go, let him know he was in with a big boy.

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      “But the fact is you cannot hit what you cannot see and I told people, if it went past eight rounds, it was anyone’s to win.
      “The only way to beat Usyk is to stick it on him, 1million per cent, I don’t believe anybody is outboxing Usyk.
      “It’s hard to believe that those were the tactics going in because AJ has the power, the speed, the skillset, the boxing brain to go in there and beat him up, manhandle him, punch-him-up with threes and fours.”
      Benn, son of British ring legend Nigel, started his career on the undercard of AJ’s 2016 first world title win over Charles Martin, so he has had a ringside seat for most of his pro career.
      And he was deeply concerned by the casual way Joshua walked to the ring – for the biggest and most technical fight of his life – bumping fists with fans greeting friends in the crowd.
      Benn, a student of the game learning rapidly under Tony Sims, was immediately worried that while Usyk was already in the ring plotting, AJ’s arrival was too much like a victory lap.
      ‘BODY LANGUAGE IS EVERYTHING’
      He said: “I think body language is everything. And, personally, I felt that things didn’t look right in the ring-walk, it just looked off compared to other ring walks.
      “Even if he had won, I would have felt something looked off.
      “The walk into the Usyk fight looked like the victory lap he would have wanted afterwards.
      “Because AJ is so consistent with who he is, when he does something off, like the ring-walk victory-lap, it does catch your attention. I think body language is everything, I really do.”
      Derek Chisora – who gave Usyk a major scare last Halloween in the first five rounds of their fight – spent time in AJ’s training camp and has defended his mate’s baffling gameplan.
      But Benn reckons Joshua should have let his 18st friend and former training partner be the architect of Usyk’s demise.
      CAN HE DO IT AGAIN?
      Benn added: “If it was me I would have used a weight advantage, Chisora drew the blueprint for how you beat Usyk, I felt he won that fight.
      “I know Chisora is robust, he will sit and lean on someone – and maybe AJ wants to be more of a boxer-puncher – but AJ, in his younger career, was a better finisher, he had the killer instinct.
      “It will be interesting to see what happens in the rematch, what happens with the weight, his mindset, the ring-walk.
      “For the Andy Ruiz rematch AJ did what he had to do to win, it wasn’t necessarily the most entertaining fight, but he did what he had to do and hopefully he can do it again.”

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      Alexander Krassyuk says Anthony Joshua has activated his world title rematch clause against Usyk after crushing defeat More

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      Derek Chisora jumps to Anthony Joshua’s defence over game plan for Usyk fight but says he must throw more power punches

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      DEREK CHISORA has jumped to Anthony Joshua’s defence over his bizarre plan to try and outbox Oleksandr Usyk.The 37-year-old veteran gave Usyk, 34, hell for the opening five rounds of their clash last year – hurting him from constant pressure – before tiring and losing a close decision.
      Chisora has come to the defence of Joshua after his loss to UsykCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Chisora reckons AJ will win the next time he faces the Ukrainian if he uses more power punchesCredit: Getty
      On that experience, the fearless fans’ favourite was sure his friend and former training partner would be too big and strong for the former cruiserweight.
      But 31-year-old AJ chose to try to outfox the fox and came painfully unstuck, leaving most pundits – like Carl Froch, Lennox Lewis and Dillian Whyte – baffled by his tactics.
      But loyal Chisora, who spent time in AJ’s Team GB gym in the final week of training camp, remains firmly in his corner ands believes he wins the re-run.
      Chisora told BT: “He wanted to box the boxer. And if it had gone perfectly, and he had won, we would all be calling him a genius.
      “It went the other way so we go back to the drawing board and he will get it right next time.
      “The gameplan was the gameplan they worked on, it’s not like he just came up with it in the ring on the day, this is what they worked on in the last five or six months.
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      “There was nothing wrong with the gameplan but it just didn’t work enough.
      “He could pull it off in the rematch, it is all up to him. He doesn’t have to change drastically, he just has to work more and put more power punches together.”
      Chisora trained in an east London MMA gym before his crack at the Ukraine mastermind, practicing wrestling and grappling holds that would help in the clinches.
      The PPV ace came in at 18st 3lbs and bullied 15st 7lbs Usyk until the Brit banger’s gas tank blew in the second half of the fight.
      And he knows AJ did not take up the same roughhouse tactics, to his dramatic detriment.
      He said: “He had his own game plan which was to beat him with boxing.
      “My gameplan was to rough him up. I trained to rough Usyk up, he did not train to rough Usyk up.
      “It just went the wrong way on the night but I believe the rematch will be an amazing fight.”
      Eddie Hearn says not to write off Anthony Joshua and looks toward Oleksandr Usyk rematch More

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      Game of Thrones star Hafthor Bjornsson names his top five favourite boxers including two Brits and Canelo Alvarez

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      TYSON FURY is among Hafthor Bjornsson’s favourite fighters along with British boxing legend Lennox Lewis. Game of Thrones star Bjornsson has been learning the sweet science for over a year now after calling out strongman rival Eddie Hall in May 2020.
      Hafthor Bjornsson’s top five favourite boxers
      The actor – nicknamed ‘Thor’ – has had three boxing exhibitions in preparation for his grudge match with Hall, now set for March 2022.
      They were against cruiserweight Steven Ward, 31, heavyweight Simon Vallily, 36, and most recently Canadian arm wrestler Devon Larratt, 46.
      And in an interview with SunSport, Bjornsson revealed England’s Fury, 33, and Lewis, 56, are two of his favourite all-time boxers.
      American heavyweight icon’s George Foreman, 72, and Mike Tyson, 55, are also on that list.
      And lastly, boxing’s current pound-for-pound No1, four-division champion Canelo Alvarez, 31, makes up Bjornsson’s selection.
      His super-heavyweight fight with Hall, 33, was set for September, until his rival pulled out with a bicep injury.

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      It allowed Bjornsson, 32, one more exhibition tune-up, which he won in the first round, weighing a career-low 23 STONE.
      That is NINE STONE, lighter than his days as a 450lb strongman competitor.
      Hall has opted against warm-up fights of any sorts, instead focussing on behind-closed-door bouts and hard sparring.
      But Reign Total Body Fuel ambassador Bjornsson backed his decision to learn on the job in front of the lights.
      He said: “I’ve been in sports my whole life, and for me at least, but most people agree with me here that when you compete and step into the ring with referees with the lights on and the pressure, that’s how you get better. 
      “That’s how you gain experience and when you’re able to learn from your mistakes as well. 
      Hafthor Bjornsson incredible nine stone weight loss
      “I can train hard and spar extremely hard in training sessions but competing the way I’m doing, this was my third match, that gives me the most experience I could ever ask for. 
      “That’s the reason why I’m doing it, because I want to be as prepared as possible before the Eddie fight. 
      “If I was him, I would definitely do exhibition matches and try to learn as fast as possible because neither of us want to lose this fight. 
      “He obviously want to win against me and I obviously want to win against him.
      “So, I truly believe he is doing everything he believes is the best. He doesn’t believe in those exhibition matches, but I do and that’s fine.
      “He has his training ways to do things and I have my training ways to do things.” 

      Hafþór Björnsson is a Reign ambassador, he will fight Eddie Hall in March 2022. For more information, please visit http://reignbodyfuel.com/en-gb #ReadyToReign

      Hafthor Bjornsson slams Eddie Hall as the biggest bully on internet More

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      Tyson Fury saw his ‘massive’ fight with Anthony Joshua ‘going down the drain’ as he watched Oleksandr Usyk masterclass

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      TYSON FURY saw the biggest payday of his career go ‘down the drain’ as he watched Oleksandr Usyk outbox Anthony Joshua.The undefeated Ukrainian put on a boxing clinic last weekend in his Tottenham tussle with AJ, which he won via unanimous decision.
      Anthony Joshua suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last weekendCredit: GETTY
      Victory over AJ saw Oleksandr Usyk become unified heavyweight championCredit: GETTY
      Tyson Fury’s co-promoter – Frank Warren – was baffled by AJ’s choice of tacticsCredit: PA
      And WBC king Fury was the most interested observer on the planet as Usyk danced rings around his countryman and scuppered the biggest fight in the history of British boxing.
      His co-promoter Frank Warren said: “I spoke to Tyson during the fight and we were both of the same opinion.
      “All Tyson could see was a massive big fight going down the drain, which is what happened.”
      Queensbury Promotion’s chief Warren was stunned by Joshua’s decision to try and outbox the fleetfooted Usyk.
      He added: “You would’ve thought the bigger man would have imposed himself.
      “He just did not do it and didn’t do it in any part of the fight. Not in any part of that fight was he dominant.”

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      The Ukrainian’s schooling of Joshua reaffirmed Warren’s belief that Fury would wipe the floor with the former unified heavyweight champion.
      He continued: “All Usyk was doing was just totally outboxing him.
      “I said to Tyson, ‘Can you imagine if you were in there with him, how long that would’ve lasted?’
      “Tyson’s got as fast hands as Usyk’s got, as good a boxing brain as Usyk’s got and as good footwork as Usyk’s got.
      “But he’s a bigger puncher and he’s got a better chin.”
      Joshua, 31, has exercised his rematch clause and is set to renew his rivalry with former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk early next year.
      All Tyson could see was a massive big fight going down the drain, which is what happenedFrank Warren
      And he’s adamant he’ll get the better of his fellow Olympic gold medallist second time around.
      When asked why he’s confident of success in the rematch, Joshua said: “Just being a quick learner.
      “Understanding the positive from the negative.
      “If you look at it from a negative point of view, you’re never going to have that mindset that you can make a difference because you’re down anyway.
      “But if you look at it from a positive point of view, and realise, ‘Yeah, I took a loss.
      “‘But that’s a lesson, that’s a blessing. I can use it as fuel to get better.
      Anthony Joshua has vowed to bounce back from his second professional defeatCredit: PA
      “‘And use it as fuel to right my wrongs.’ You can only get better from there.
      “So I’m not gonna hold myself down from the mistake I made, I’m only gonna uplift myself and say, ‘Actually, you know what? That was a tough fight.
      “‘But from that fight, I’m gonna go away, get my notepad out and find ways to improve.”

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      Alexander Krassyuk says Anthony Joshua has activated his world title rematch clause against Usyk after crushing defeat More

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      Chris Eubank Jr vs Anatoli Muratov tale of the tape: How fighters compare ahead of Saturday’s fight

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      CHRIS EUBANK JR is preparing for the next stage of his career with a tune-up bout against late replacement Anatoli Muratov. The middleweight contender returns to the ring on Saturday night, as the new face of Sky Sports Boxing.
      How Chris Eubank Jr and Anatoli Muratov compare
      Eubank Jr was lined up against 18-1 Sven Elbir, until the German tested positive for coronavirus.
      It led to his countryman, little known Muratov, filling in as a substitute at the last minute.
      But for Eubank Jr, the opponent does not matter, with the goal the same; win and move on to a big fight by December.
      His last was a ten round beating of Manchester’s Marcus Morrison, an exercise to dust the cobwebs off and get the ring time banked.
      But at 32, the son of a legend now has to press forward with world title ambitions.
      His promoter Kalle Sauerland has already teased an end of year pay-per-view, with Billy Joe Saunders, 32, and Liam Williams, 29, targeted.

      But IBF middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, 39, will have to wait until next summer, with the Kazakh unifying against Ryota Murata, 35.
      Eubank Jr, who has only lost to Saunders and the now-retired George Groves, 33, wants to fight GGG at Brighton’s Amex Stadium.
      He said: “I’ve been told that he’s looking to fight in the UK again. So that’s a stadium-filler.
      “How amazing would it be to get that fight at the Amex or something like that in Brighton, I’ve always wanted to fight there. We’ve got to get it done.”
      Boxing’s pound-for-pound No1 Canelo Alvarez, 31, who has left Saunders considering retirement after his win, is also on Eubank Jr’s radar.
      And it is again another one fitting for Britain’s largest audiences.
      Eubank Jr told Sky Sports: “I mean who else is there? Beats Saunders, beats Callum Smith, there’s nobody else. It would fill the biggest stadium.”
      The only man standing in Eubank Jr’s plans is Muratov, 33, a man beaten only twice, with one draw and 24 wins.
      This year already he has beaten Gyorgy Varju as well as Malkhaz Sujashvili and takes 17 knockouts into the fight.
      Chris Eubank Jr says Billy Joe Saunders rematch ‘will be made’ and slams rival for ‘quitting’ against Canelo Alvarez More