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      Hearn says Usyk will ‘never be fully-fledged heavyweight’ despite epic body transformation for Anthony Joshua fight

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      EDDIE HEARN has declared Oleksandr Usyk will ‘never be a fully-fledged heavyweight’ despite him packing on the pounds to face Anthony Joshua.The unbeaten Ukrainian, 34, challenges the British icon for the WBA, WBO and IBF titles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
      Oleksandr Usyk has won all 18 of his fights, with 13 of his victories coming inside the distanceCredit: Reuters
      Usyk has beefed up for his bout to face two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony JoshuaCredit: PA
      It will be just his third bout in the weight class after wiping out the cruiserweight division where he won all four belts in the World Boxing Super Series.
      His first fight up at heavyweight saw him weigh in at 15st 5lbs for Chazz Witherspoon, before he tipped the scales at 15st 7lbs for Derek Chisora.
      And Usyk has beefed up in his preparations to meet fellow London 2012 gold medallist AJ inside the ring.
      In contrast, Joshua appears to prioritising speed over size after he showed off a leaner physique on his Instagram account last week.
      Joshua’s promoter Hearn believes his fighter is a ‘different kind of beast’ as he insisted that despite The Cat’s obvious skill, his body transformation hasn’t convinced him he can hang with the big boys.
      He told talkSPORT: “I think that Usyk will never be a fully-fledged heavyweight – a real heavyweight in terms of size.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      “But what he will always have is a huge amount of skill.
      “It takes time for people to bed into heavyweight, so put it this way, it would’ve been a lot easier fight for AJ a year-and-a-half ago.
      “Now Usyk has fought a real heavyweight contender in Chisora, that will actually help him to start to understand what needs to be done.
      “But AJ’s a different kind of beast. A good big guy will always beat a good small guy, so we’ll see.”
      And Game of Thrones actor-turned boxer Haftor Bjornsson has also spoke of his worry for Usyk following his weight gain.
      Speaking to SunSport, he said: “I think Joshua will be a bit too big for Usyk.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout

      “Usyk is a great boxer, but there is a height difference and a weight difference. I think that Usyk is gaining some weight now.
      “So I don’t know how that will affect his performance, he won’t be used to being that heavy. We don’t know how he’ll react to that.
      “Whether it will make him a bit more stiff or what but my money is on Joshua. He’s more comfortable in that weight category.”
      Anthony Joshua’s shares his most brutal KO’s as champ shows terrifying montage video in warning to Oleksandr Usyk More

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      Jake Paul offers to pay Tommy Fury from his ‘OWN POCKET’ in $1m deal as Love Islander is urged to ‘take opportunity’

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      JAKE PAUL is prepared to pay Tommy Fury from his ‘own pocket’ and the Love Islander has been urged ‘take the opportunity’. Fury already admitted he rejected two fight offers and told the YouTuber ‘get your figures up and then we can talk’.
      Jake Paul after his win over Tyron Woodley
      Tommy Fury on the ring apron at Jake Paul’s fight
      That was even after Paul bumped up the price to $1million for a pay-per-view headliner over eight rounds in December.
      And the social media sensation, 4-0 as a boxer, was putting money of his own into the deal in order to prize Fury into the ring.
      Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s advisor and founder of talent firm BAVAFA Sports, said the additional online offer was made off the cuff.
      He warned Fury to accept it while he can and revealed the deal includes additional bonuses depending on the pay-per-view success.
      Bidarian explained to SunSport: “Even what Jake put out yesterday, that was not something that was agreed between us and Showtime.
      “That was Jake saying to me yesterday, ‘I’m going to come out of my own pocket and increase this, because I want to try and get this done’.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      “The offer is of course a base purse, plus pay-per-view participation in the UK, which is really the market he has any relevance in.
      “And pay-per-view participation in the US. So, the upside is there if the fight performs.”
      Fury, 22, signed a two-fight deal with network Showtime and made his US debut in late August, beating Paul’s sparring partner Anthony Taylor, 32.
      Later that night, Paul, 24, scored the biggest win of his career against ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, over the eight round distance.
      Two offers were then turned down by Fury, who believed they were ‘not even worth talking about’.
      That led to Paul’s public offer to increase it to $1m off his own back because his management were ready to move on to other targets.
      “That was Jake saying to me yesterday, ‘I’m going to come out of my own pocket and increase this, because I want to try and get this done’.Jake Paul’s advisor on $1m offer made to Tommy Fury
      Bidarian said: “What we said yesterday was let’s just put pencils down with Tommy and focus on the three or four other opponents that we’re speaking to.
      “But Jake said, ‘This is the fight that I want to make happen right now, but I understand the timing, so here’s what I’m willing to do’.
      “I said, ‘Listen, that’s your call, we haven’t spoken to Stephen Espinoza or Showtime but if that’s what you want to do, it’s your decision, it’s your money’.
      “But that’s the basis of it, and I want to be clear; there’s additional upsides to that especially in the UK which is the market you’d hope Tommy would be very successful in when driving pay-per-view.”
      Paul’s deal was not even approved by Showtime or their president of sports Espinoza as Bidarian warned it will be the third and final effort.
      He said: “There is no offer beyond that, I would not advise Jake to go above that, the numbers just do not make sense.”
      ‘TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY’
      Woodley was guaranteed $2m against Paul plus a cut of the PPV sales, meaning his purse could have sky rocketed.
      But Bidarian – a former executive at the UFC – does not rate Fury at the same value as Woodley.
      And he fears the former reality TV star could price himself out of a career-best payday.
      Bidarian said: “The reality is Tommy’s nowhere near the draw Tyron Woodley was, who is a four-time UFC champion, one of the greatest welterweights of all time, who brings and entire MMA community with him.
      “So while we respect the Fury family and we love working with Frank and George Warren, you have to be realistic and take the opportunity while it’s there.
      “One of the biggest mistakes promoters and fighters make is they don’t make the fights when they should and that’s as soon as possible, when the timing is right.”
      Tyron Woodley was beaten on points by Jake PaulCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Tommy Fury beat Jake Paul’s sparring partner Anthony TaylorCredit: Getty More

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      Oleksandr Usyk hails Anthony Joshua as the ‘modern-day Mike Tyson’ ahead of world championship showdown on Saturday

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      OLEKSANDR USYK hailed Anthony Joshua for being ‘a modern-day Mike Tyson’ ahead of their world heavyweight champion battle on Saturday.The six-foot-two Ukrainian bruiser will go toe-to-toe with Joshua at Tottenham Stadium in a bid to swipe his IBF, WBA and WBO titles.
      Anthony Joshua has been labelled a modern-day Mike TysonCredit: Alamy
      Iron Mike is known across the world after he became a huge star in the ringCredit: Getty
      And Usyk reckons it is a dream to vying with the Brit to become the undisputed champ.
      Usyk told Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube Channel: “He’s (Joshua) a really big huge star. Everybody knows him – all the world around knows him just like in the old days Tyson was, right now he is.
      “Even my kids were asking me today ‘did you already see Joshua? Have you seen him?’
      “I never thought ever in my life, the kid from a small town in Ukraine would ever fight in an arena with 65,000 people and broadcasting all around the world on the biggest TV networks.”
      Usyk has been backed by WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren to shock the world – if he can survive a knockout early on.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      He said: “[Usyk] proved it at cruiserweight. He was fantastic, and he’s made his mark in that weight division.
      “He was a superb cruiserweight. He’s done everything you could ask for.
      “Anthony Joshua must be the favourite for the fight. He’s the bigger guy, much bigger, and he’s a big puncher.
      “Having said that, if [Joshua] doesn’t get rid of him, and if he’s still there after five or six rounds, then if it gets to the end of the fight…
      “If that goes 12 rounds, I would fancy Usyk to get the decision because to get there, he’s going to have to outbox him.”
      Some of Joshua’s heavyweight rivals, including Dillian Whyte are backing the Brit to be the victor.
      And Whyte, who was defeated by Joshua in December 2015, expects AJ to win in seven rounds.
      Whyte told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Usyk will start fast, and Joshua will be a bit cagey because he’s a southpaw, and he’s lighter.
      “Joshua also lacks confidence sometimes in fights where he can get caught up.
      “Joshua will stop him in the first five, six, or seven rounds.”
      Usyk will hope to shock the heavyweight division at the Tottenham StadiumCredit: Alamy

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      Oleksandr Usyk’s manager tags rival Anthony Joshua’s luxury Range Rover with ‘Team Usyk’ in hilarious media day stunt More

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      Tyson Fury cheering on rival Anthony Joshua in battle with Usyk to set up £200m British fight showdown

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      TYSON FURY will be cheering on nemesis Anthony Joshua against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday to help secure their £200million super-fight.The undefeated 6ft 9in WBC champion will watch Joshua defend his three titles from his Las Vegas mansion as he prepares for his October 9 trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
      Tyson Fury says he’d much rather beat up Anthony Joshua than Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
      Anthony Joshua is on course for a mega-money showdown with Tyson Fury if he keeps his world titles against Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
      If both Fury and Joshua triumph then fans will again call for an undisputed battle – the biggest fight in British boxing history – is all but agreed.
      But Fury reckons 6ft 4in southpaw Usyk could give Joshua problems if he can overcome the size difference.
      Fury said: “I watch all the boxing fights, every single one that happens I watch so of course I’m going to watch a heavyweight championship fight, for sure.
      “Do I want him to win? Definitely. Because it doesn’t make much sense in me beating Usyk up.
      “I’d much prefer to beat Joshua up, it’s a bigger fight and people want to see it more.
      “He’s got a tough fight, you know? Usyk is no mug. People say to me, ‘He’s too small’ and this and that but the guy is bigger than Muhammad Ali, he’s bigger than Mike Tyson and he’s bigger than Evander Holyfield.
      “All them guys, big, same size and the same weight. He’s definitely a good fighter.

      “If Usyk does win then he will cost us a few quid.
      “Then again we have lost plenty of money in the past so it doesn’t really matter, does it? There’s plenty to go around.”
      Promoter Eddie Hearn will have a huge role to play in making that fight – again – if Joshua can defend his titles.
      The Essex fight mogul has just talked the 2012 London Olympic champion into extending his deal with him.

      Hearn has seen the Adonis slim down during this training camp and now has to back his bid to outsmart the Ukraine mastermind.
      He said: “I’’m less worried about this fight than I have been about previous fights, even though Usyk is very good.
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      “I just think, AJ isn’t a believer in too big, too strong. People say AJ will be too big and too strong.
      “AJ is not relying on that, but I do think that – too big, too strong. I also think too fast and too smart and he’s got to show that.
      “AJ is a very big thinker about boxing and skill. I don’t want him to skill off with Usyk too much, I want to see him spark him out. I do think he’ll stop him.”
      BT Sport Box Office will show Fury v Wilder: The Trilogy exclusively live in the UK on Saturday 9th October.
      Tyson Fury on Wilder trilogy, Joshua and his next five fights More

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      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: UK start time, TV channel, live stream and full undercard for big title fight

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA will defend his world heavyweight titles against unbeaten Oleksandr Usyk in a huge showdown THIS SATURDAY.AJ, 31, saw talks for his big fight with Tyson Fury collapse and now takes on No 1 contender Usyk instead in North London.
      It’s Oleksandr Usyk up next for Anthony Joshua
      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      When is Joshua vs Usyk and what time is fight?

      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk will take place on Saturday, September 25, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      The ring walk is scheduled for 9.45pm.

      Eddie Hearn his stated his belief that the fight will start bang on ten this time around, in contrast to most AJ bouts which end up commencing at closer to 11pm.
      He said: “AJ’s ringwalk will probably be around 10pm, that’s reasonably early.”And I believe the broadcast will start around 7pm. So that will be five fights and then Anthony Joshua”
      🥊 Boxing schedule 2021: Joshua vs Usyk NEXT WEEK, Fury vs Wilder 3 DATE 🥊
      What TV channel and live stream is it on?

      Who is fighting on the undercard?
      The confirmed fights for the Joshua vs Usyk undercard are as follows:

      Lawrence Okolie vs Dilan Prasovic
      Callum Smith vs Lenin Castillo
      Maxim Prodan vs Florian Marku
      Campbell Hatton vs Izan Dura

      How the fighters compare
      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1

      What have they said?
      Joshua: “I wanted to go like August but change of opponent, completely different style, the team said push it back a little bit, prepare properly.
      “This is a fight I need to win because I was at the final destination on that road to undisputed but now we have a pit stop we have to make with Usyk.” More

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      Oleksandr Usyk’s manager tags rival Anthony Joshua’s luxury Range Rover with Ukrainian’s name in cheeky media day stunt

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA had his Range Rover tagged by the manager of Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their heavyweight showdown.Egis Klimas was spotted casually scrawling ‘Usyk’ on the door of the Brit’s luxury 4×4.
      Oleksandr Usyk is preparing for a world title bout with Anthony JoshuaCredit: PA
      Fortunately for Joshua, his rival’s efforts will not leave a mark as Klimas simply drew the tag in dust left on the car.
      In a video posted by Sky Sports, the manager asks ‘Oh, what is this?’ as he films the car door on his phone, before walking away with a cheeky grin on his face.
      Joshua will not need any more motivation to beat Usyk when the pair meet in Tottenham on Saturday.
      The Brit, 31, is a big fan of his cars and regularly poses with Range Rovers.
      Ahead of the fight, Tyson Fury promoter Frank Warren has warned Joshua that he may fall foul of the Ukrainian’s skills if he cannot seal an early knockout.
      He said: “If that goes 12 rounds, I would fancy Usyk to get the decision because to get there, he’s going to have to outbox him.

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      “And he’s obviously a very smart operator, you know how he’s going to fight – he’s going to try and get inside and underneath AJ’s jab.”
      But Joshua has planned to go the distance with cruiserweight king Usyk – and then some.
      Sparring partner Shokran Parwani told SunSport: “AJ is conditioned for 15 rounds, he’s sparred six guys, different attributes, different styles, different techniques.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      “He sparred them all really great, with lots of calmness and everything he does is practising and everything he does in the camp, he’ll do in the ring.
      “It’s nothing new for him and I think he will stop him and really shock everybody.
      “Because everybody will be shocked how great AJ is because he’s a fantastic boxer and he has a great mindset.”

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      Oleksandr Usyk takes break from ‘long and hard’ training camp by JUGGLING ahead of Joshua fight More

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      ‘P***ed off’ Jake Paul tells Tommy Fury ‘no one gives a f*** about you’ & urges him to take fight now or lose it forever

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      JAKE PAUL has urged Tommy Fury to fight him, warning the Brit his opportunity is fading fast.Revealing he’s ‘p***ed off’ with slow negotiations, Paul also taunted Fury by claiming ‘no one gives a f*** about you’.
      Jake Paul has warned Tommy Fury time is running out to fight
      Paul admits he’s getting ‘p***ed off’ with the lack of negotiationsCredit: Getty
      Fury, 22, signed a two-fight deal with network Showtime and made his US debut in late August, beating Paul’s sparring partner Anthony Taylor, 32.
      Later that night, Paul, 24, scored the biggest win of his career against ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, over the eight round distance.
      Two offers were then turned down by Fury, who believed they were ‘not even worth talking about’.
      That led to Paul’s public offer to increase it to $1m off his own back because his management were ready to move on to other targets.
      And Paul is now running out of patience with Tyson Fury’s brother.
      In a social media post titled ‘My final message to Tommy Fury’, Paul said: “This is the last time I’m speaking about this guy if we don’t end up fighting because I’m starting to get p***** off.

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      “Tommy’s about to fumble the biggest bag of his life. Tommy, I made you famous, I gave you the biggest payday [reportedly $1million] of your life.
      “I gave you the chance to shine in front of the world and now I’m offering to quadruple the biggest payday of your life that I gave you to fight you.
      “This is what happens when you give someone clout and an ego, they start to think they’re better than they actually are.

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      “I have dozens of other fighters calling me out every week, Tommy. You’re replaceable.
      “Tommy, no one gives a f*** about you. If it wasn’t for your older brother [Tyson Fury], who I respect, or your catfish girlfriend [Molly-Mae Hague], we all made you famous. You didn’t make yourself famous.
      “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.”
      Logan Paul says Tommy Fury would get ‘murdered’ by brother Jake More

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      Tyson Fury cheering on rival Anthony Joshua in battle with Usyk to set up £200m British showdown

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      TYSON FURY will be cheering on nemesis Anthony Joshua against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday to help secure their £200million super-fight.The undefeated 6ft 9in WBC champion will watch Joshua defend his three titles from his Las Vegas mansion as he prepares for his October 9 trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
      Tyson Fury says he’d much rather beat up Anthony Joshua than Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
      Anthony Joshua is on course for a mega-money showdown with Tyson Fury if he keeps his world titles against Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
      If both Fury and Joshua triumph then fans will again call for an undisputed battle – the biggest fight in British boxing history – is all but agreed.
      But Fury reckons 6ft 4in southpaw Usyk could give Joshua problems if he can overcome the size difference.
      Fury said: “I watch all the boxing fights, every single one that happens I watch so of course I’m going to watch a heavyweight championship fight, for sure.
      “Do I want him to win? Definitely. Because it doesn’t make much sense in me beating Usyk up.
      “I’d much prefer to beat Joshua up, it’s a bigger fight and people want to see it more.
      “He’s got a tough fight, you know? Usyk is no mug. People say to me, ‘He’s too small’ and this and that but the guy is bigger than Muhammad Ali, he’s bigger than Mike Tyson and he’s bigger than Evander Holyfield.
      “All them guys, big, same size and the same weight. He’s definitely a good fighter.

      “If Usyk does win then he will cost us a few quid.
      “Then again we have lost plenty of money in the past so it doesn’t really matter, does it? There’s plenty to go around.”
      Promoter Eddie Hearn will have a huge role to play in making that fight – again – if Joshua can defend his titles.
      The Essex fight mogul has just talked the 2012 London Olympic champion into extending his deal with him.
      Hearn has seen the Adonis slim down during this training camp and now has to back his bid to outsmart the Ukraine mastermind.
      He said: “I’’m less worried about this fight than I have been about previous fights, even though Usyk is very good.
      JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

      “I just think, AJ isn’t a believer in too big, too strong. People say AJ will be too big and too strong.
      “AJ is not relying on that, but I do think that – too big, too strong. I also think too fast and too smart and he’s got to show that.
      “AJ is a very big thinker about boxing and skill. I don’t want him to skill off with Usyk too much, I want to see him spark him out. I do think he’ll stop him.”
      BT Sport Box Office will show Fury v Wilder: The Trilogy exclusively live in the UK on Saturday 9th October.
      Tyson Fury on Wilder trilogy, Joshua and his next five fights More