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      How much Anthony Joshua has earned for each of his Sky Sports fights from Dillian Whyte with Usyk his last bout on deal

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’s final fight of his multi-million-pound deal with Sky Sports takes place this weekend.The unified heavyweight champion of the world will defend his titles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night against the undefeated Oleksandr Usyk.

      Anthony Joshua will defend his titles against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday nightCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
      AJ’s clash with Usyk will is the last fight on his contract with Sky
      Joshua – who has just signed a new career-defining deal to stay at Matchroom – could bank a massive £30million for Saturday night’s defence against Usyk.
      Sky are confident of tying AJ down to a new contract, although new boxing powerhouse DAZN are in the running to snap up the broadcaster’s cash cow.
      Joshua, 31, has made a pretty penny during his time competing on Sky.
      And with his future with the broadcaster in doubt, SunSport thought it’d only be right to recap the Brit’s earnings for his last eleven fights.
      Check out AJ’s last ten purses below:
      Dillian Whyte – December 2015 – £3million
      AJ’s grudge match with amateur rival Whyte saw him bank his first multi-million-pound payday.
      The Watford warrior pocketed a cool £3m for his back-and-forth affair with the Brixton Body Snatcher, which he won via seventh-round KO.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      Charles Martin – April 2016 – £5million
      Joshua’s maiden world title fight against the previously undefeated Martin saw him receive a 66 per cent increase in pay, with his purse being a cushty £5m.
      AJ would make light work of Martin, stopping him in two rounds to claim the IBF heavyweight title.
      Dominic Breazeale – June 2016 – £4.5million
      Despite being a champion, Joshua’s first purse for his maiden title defence would be 11 per cent smaller than the one he received for his clash with Martin.
      The Olympic gold medallist notched his first title defence in style, stopping American Breazeale in the seventh round.
      Eric Molina – December 2016 – £5million
      AJ pocketed the same purse for his clash with Molina as he did his maiden title fight with Martin.
      And just like he did with Prince, he made light work of the Drummer Boy – knocking him out inside three rounds.
      AJ banked £5million in his first world title fightCredit: Getty

      Wladimir Klitschko – April 2017 – £15million
      Joshua’s first double-figure million purse came in his eagerly-anticipated Wembley war with fan favourite Wladimir Klitschko.
      The Olympian banked a whopping £15m for his clash with Dr Steelhammer, which he won via 11th round TKO.
      That purse represented a staggering 200 per cent increase on the one he received for his destruction of Molina.
      Carlos Takam – October 2017 – £10million
      Despite further catapulting himself into global superstardom and becoming unified heavyweight champ, Joshua’s purse for his clash with Takam ended up being two-thirds of his Klitschko payday.
      But that clearly wasn’t on his mind as he registered a 10th-round TKO victory over the Frenchman.
      Joseph Parker – March 2018 – £16million
      AJ received a 60 per cent pay increase for his champion vs champion bout with then WBO titleholder Joseph Parker.
      But he was made to work for his money at the Kiwi took him the distance for the first time in his professional career.
      Joshua banked £15million for his Wembley war with Wladimir KlitschkoCredit: AFP or licensors
      Alexander Povetkin – September 2018 – £20million
      A 25 per cent increase in pay followed for Joshua’s return to Wembley to take on former world title challenger Alexander Povetkin.
      After going through some early adversity, AJ secured the bag with a seventh-round stoppage of the recently-retired Russian.
      Andy Ruiz Jr – June 2019 – £20million
      Joshua’s purse for his long-awaited American debut stayed the same as the one he received for his clash with Povetkin.
      But his status as unified heavyweight champ went up in smoke at Madison Square Garden as short-notice replacement Ruiz Jr scored a stunning seventh-round TKO victory.
      Andy Ruiz Jr – December 2019 – £66million
      The biggest payday of Joshua’s career came in his must-win rematch with Ruiz in Saudi Arabia, which was dubbed ‘The Clash on the Dunes’.
      Joshua’s purse for his second clash with the Mexican was a staggering 3200 per cent larger than his previous payday – which is not surprising given the global interest in the fight.
      The London 2012 star rose to the occasion and put on a clinic on his way to earning a unanimous decision victory.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      Kubrat Pulev – December 2020 – £10million
      Joshua took an unprecedented £56m pay cut for his lockdown outing against Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev, which took place at the SSE Wembley Arena.
      AJ ended his lengthy hiatus with a ninth-round KO victory over the durable Bulgarian, whom he was initially supposed to fight in October 2017.

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      Fans stunned by Anthony Joshua’s ‘lean’ physique ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight More

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      Dillian Whyte slams Oleksandr Usyk for ‘trying to be weird and freaky’ ahead of Anthony Joshua fight

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      OLEKSANDR USYK has been called out by Dillian Whyte for ‘trying to be weird and freaky’ ahead of his fight with Anthony Joshua. The Ukrainian, who uses juggling and dancing as part of his training methods, challenges for Joshua’s unified titles this Saturday.
      Usyk makes little effort to appear normal
      Even his eating habits are a bit strange to be fair
      Whyte, beaten by AJ in 2015, has come across almost every top heavyweight in the past, whether it be in the amateurs, sparring or professional ranks.
      But his only encounter with Usyk was from afar, while they both helped Wladimir Klitschko out in sparring.
      And he revealed the Ukrainian is still the same unorthodox character he was all those years ago, but said the antics have never fazed him.
      Whyte, 33, told BBC 5 Live: “I’ve seen him spar with Wladimir. I’ve been in a camp with Wladimir, and I’ve seen him in shows and stuff.
      “He’s a weird guy. He tries to be a bit too eccentric, and he tries to be weird and freaky and stuff.
      “It freaks a lot of people out, but I’m just like, ‘Oh, you’re just a guy.’ He tries to come across as weird, and I’m like ‘You’re just a guy, yeah’.”

      Usyk, 34, has twice boxed as a pro in England, beating Tony Bellew, 38, in 2018 and Derek Chisora, 37, last year.
      His slick, southpaw style was showcased but Whyte also believes it can be exposed by the bigger man in Joshua, 31.
      And he backed his old rival to get the job done within the first half of the fight – so long as he is not gun shy.
      Whyte explained: “Joshua will stop him in the first five, six, or seven rounds.
      “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, ‘He’s a good boxer.’
      “Hopefully, he goes back to his old self and starts pressing Usyk and being the bigger, stronger guy and starts backing him up and hitting him with stuff.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      “I think he can get the job done early. Usyk is a good southpaw, but he’s an aggressive southpaw as well.
      “He likes to press the fight, but Joshua has height and reach, and power.
      “If Joshua wants to set the pace, he can get an early knockout. But if he wants to prove who’s the better boxer, I think he’ll struggle.”
      The ‘eccentric’ heavyweight poses with a gun
      Fans stunned by Anthony Joshua’s ‘lean’ physique ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight More

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      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk fight purses: How much AJ and Ukrainian rival could bank from world title bout

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA could bank a massive £30million for Saturday night’s defence against Oleksandr Usyk.The 60,000-plus seater Spurs stadium sold out in just about 30 minutes – and could have done so three more times over.
      Anthony Joshua could bank £30m against Oleksandr UsykCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      If the average price of those seats is £250 then the standard gate alone could be as much as £15million.
      And that is without totting up the 80 VIP hospitality boxes in the stadium that go for around £10,000 a pop and could coin in an extra £800,000.
      The Sky Sports Box Office Show is priced at £24.95 and if it hits the magic 1,000,000 mark then that’s around another £25million in the kitty.
      That equates to a conservative sum of around £40million.
      And it will be split between champion AJ – who is fighting on a home show as the unquestionable A-side of the equation – and the brilliant but certainly B-side challenger.
      With Joshua, 31, taking home the lion’s share, it could leave Usyk, 34, still with a handsome £10m payday.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      Joshua’s rematch with Ruiz sold 1.2m pay-per-views, Parker in 2018 did 1.1m, Povetkin sold 800,000, and the first Ruiz fight drew around 500,000 – even at 4am.
      AJ banked close to £20m against Kubrat Pulev, his last fight in December, and that was behind closed doors with just 1000 fans.

      Hearn gives tour inside Tottenham Stadium ahead of Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk with AJ getting home dressing room More

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      Jake Paul ‘not excited’ by Vitor Belfort’s £22m fight proposal as YouTuber plots next fight

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      JAKE PAUL has publically snubbed a multi-million-pound showdown with former UFC light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort.Triller chief Ryan Kavanaugh offered the YouTuber a staggering £22million payday to fight Belfort after the Brazilian’s demolition of Evander Holyfield earlier this month.
      Vitor Belfort called out Jake Paul after his two-minute demolition of Evander HolyfieldCredit: Getty
      But The Problem Child has no intention of sharing the ring with the former UFC starCredit: Getty
      But the prospect of facing the reinvigorated Belfort doesn’t excite The Problem Child, who told MMA Fighting: “He beat up an old man.
      “He disrespected the sport of boxing in my opinion. Holyfield is a legend, but he shouldn’t be fighting somebody that’s in their early 40s.
      “It was just sad to see.”
      Paul, 24, is hoping to face a bigger name than Belfort following his split decision victory over former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley last month.
      He added: “Vitor is not that big of a name. He just isn’t. He’s not even as big of a name as Tyron Woodley.
      “I’m trying to get bigger with each one of these fights. I’m trying to have more of a challenge. Vitor is a lot easier of a fight than Tyron.”

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      “He’s older, and he’s on steroids. That doesn’t really excite me.
      “It’s not as big of a fight as the ten other people calling me out.”
      Paul’s sights are currently set on UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal, who he trained with in the build-up to his April clash with Ben Askren.
      UFC supremo Dana White has already publicly shut down the fight, an act that prompted Paul to issue him an ultimatum.
      He said: “‘Anderson’s out… JAKE JAKE JAKE.’
      “I want your star talent. Your ‘in their prime’ strikers so I can exploit their lack of Boxing ability.
      Jake Paul’s boxing ‘hit-list’
      “So let’s do this. Me vs. Jorge Masvidal and Amanda Serrano vs. Amanda Nunes…
      “If we win, you let any of your fighters fight me going forward.
      “If we lose, I leave you and your exploitative business alone. DANA…DANA…DANA?”

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      Jake Paul blasts MMA fighters after beating Tyron Woodley More

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      Inside Anthony Joshua’s training camp with Brit sparring mainly AMATEURS to prepare for Oleksandr Usyk’s style

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has been calling on the help of elite amateurs to help replicate and prepare for Oleksandr Usyk’s style. Joshua will defend his unified heavyweight titles against his fellow Olympic gold medalist at Tottenham’s stadium on Saturday.
      Anthony Joshua and sparring partner Croatian Marko MilunCredit: Instagram @milunmarko
      Shokran Parwani pictured with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram @shokranparwani
      Anthony Joshua and German Viktor JurkCredit: Instagram @viktorjurk
      And to leave the capital with the belts still around his waist he will need to do what no man he done before in professional boxing – hand Usyk a loss.
      The Ukrainian is 18-0 with undisputed cruiserweight titles to his name as well as two wins at heavyweight.
      But despite moving up, Usyk has still been able to maintain his slick, nimble and slippery southpaw style.
      His footwork, combination punching and evasive boxing resembles that of an elite amateur rather than a modern day heavyweight powerhouse.
      So Joshua drafted in the likes of Croatian Marko Milun and German Viktor Jurk in sparring to get to grips with Usyk’s menacing style.
      Speaking via the Betway Insider blog Milun said: “I think he chose me and other amateurs as sparring partners because he needed guys similar to Usyk.

      “Usyk fights like an amateur boxer more than a normal professional and maybe that’s why he wanted me and Viktor Jurk and other amateurs.
      “The only professional in camp was Shokran Parwani when I was there.”
      Joshua, 31, weighed in at 17st 2lbs for his last fight, a ninth-round knockout against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev, 40, in December.
      But Usyk, 34, scaled only 15st 7lbs before he overcame an early scare to beat Derek Chisora, 37, on points over 12 rounds.
      Recent pictures appeared to prove former champion was bulking up with rumours of a 16stone target weight.
      Joshua then rubbished worries that he is planning to lose weight to match Usyk’s athleticism and recently said he was ‘solid as a rock’.
      Sparring partner Milun warned to expect a chess match opposed to all-out brawl but backed AJ to outmuscle the challenger.
      He said: “I saw in camp that AJ is really smart and he does the right things and I think he’ll win this fight.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      “Usyk is also smart but I think AJ has better qualities; he’s bigger, stronger and can punch harder.
      “He has worked hard for this and I think he’ll beat him. AJ will be at home, the crowd will be behind him and my prediction is AJ will win comfortably.
      “But I will tell you that this will be a smart fight, not a war.” More

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      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk LIVE: Build-up as AJ hosts open workout, Ukrainian ARRIVES in UK- latest updates

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      IT’S been a long wait – but Anthony Joshua is finally back in the ring.Pumped-up AJ returns to a full house at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, taking on feared Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in a potential classic in the capital.
      Usyk and his team have touched down in the UK and the countdown is well and truly on to Saturday’s showdown.

      Weigh in: Friday, September 24 @ 2.30pm
      Fight date: Saturday, September 25
      UK start time: Estimated to be around 10.30pm

      Follow ALL the latest build-up and updates with our live blog below…

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

      JOSHING AROUND
      Anthony Joshua and fellow Brit Lawrence Okolie appear to be in great spirits ahead of their respective bouts this weekend.
      AJ headlines proceedings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with his hotly-anticipated clash against Oleksandr Usyk.
      While rising star Okolie faces Montenegrin cruiserweight Dilan Prasovic.

      ANT GOING TO MISS IT
      Buzzing for this weekend’s main event, fight fans?
      If not quite yet, this will surely get you in the mood.

      KOR BLIMEY
      Matvey Korobov, who dished out the most humiliating defeat of Oleksandr Usyk’s amateur career, believes that the Ukrainian CAN beat Anthony Joshua this weekend.
      He told Sky Sports: “Of course, he [Joshua] is taller I believe, but Usyk can take this size.
      “With his speed, with his footwork, and he’s southpaw with his combinations, he can beat Joshua with that easily.
      “It could be an easy fight, it could be for both. It could be a hard fight, it could be a short fight. You never know.
      “That level, every punch is dangerous if it’s thrown the right way, at the right time, in the right place.”
      SPUR THEM ON
      Eddie Hearn has given fans an inside tour of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before Anthony Joshua fights Oleksandr Usyk.
      And promoter Hearn gave a glimpse of where AJ will warm up, in Spurs’ home dressing room, and how both boxers will make their ring walks.
      He said on Instagram Live: “Thought I’d just come on, just to get you a little bit excited what’s to go down on Saturday night.
      “The world, the unified world heavyweight championship, AJ against Usyk, here at the unbelievable Tottenham stadium.”
      Hearn then headed into Spurs’ home dressing room, where the players shirts are still hung up.
      He added: “In here, the final preparations before it all unfolds before your eyes on Saturday. Make the walk, squeaky bum time right now, 70,000 people waiting. Unbelievable scenes.”

      NOT OVER YET
      Manny Pacquiao has NOT officially retired despite saying his boxing career is ‘over’.
      But his advisor Sean Gibbons, also president of Pacquiao’s promotional company, said no definitive decision has yet been made.
      Gibbons told ESPN: “In the coming weeks, the senator will decide how he’s going to finish his professional boxing career.
      “After the fight and recently, he’s discussed retiring [or] maybe one more [fight]. He’s just talking out loud about different situations.
      “Until you see it officially come out on his Twitter or Instagram, he isn’t retired. Once you see it on a platform like that, it’s official.
      “Anything else is just talk about what his thoughts are in the moment. It’s coming from him, but it’s hearsay.”
      SYK NOTE
      Oleksandr Usyk needed the ‘Mercy Rule’ to end the most humiliating loss of his amateur career.
      Usyk was an Olympic champion and also won bronze and gold in the Worlds while representing Ukraine in the unpaid ranks.
      Since turning professional, he reigned as undisputed cruiserweight king before moving up to heavyweight where he is unbeaten in 18 fights.
      But it is not like Usyk, who challenges Anthony Joshua this Saturday, has never tasted defeat.
      And his most one-sided of all came in 2006 against Russian middleweight Matvey Korobov.
      Korobov was so dominant the Mercy Rule – which means a boxer can be spared by the referee if he is being totally outclassed – was needed.
      He told Sky Sports: “There was a knockdown, there was a stoppage.
      “I think I dropped him off his feet. The referee scored a knockdown. I think that was the end of the round – the second, if I’m not wrong.
      “The third round was stopped by the points, because I was many points ahead of him.”
      FIT TO DROP HIM
      Anthony Joshua is tired of questions about his slimline figure and ready to bulldoze his diet-obsessed doubters.
      The 31-year-old snapped: “I’m going to come in light. Run around the ring, try not to get hit.
      “I’ll be on my bike all night. I don’t want to get out of 140 heartbeats per minute, so I’m really skinny.”
      The champ is set to bounce into the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium around 17st.
      And in a more serious tone, he added: “Listen, I’m as solid as a rock. I’m strong, I’m good at the weight. I don’t really focus on my weight. It’s just training. I just put in the work.
      “These are different opponents and I’ve learnt about training for specific opponents. These guys go longer rounds.
      “When you’re knocking out guys in three or four rounds, it’s different. I studied boxing and what works for me and weight is not a priority.”

      TALE OF THE TAPE
      Excited, AJ fans?
      Here is your tale of the tape for Saturday night’s big fight.

      FIGHT TO THE FINISH
      Anthony Joshua hasn’t thought about his fight-ending sequence with Oleksandr Usyk.
      He told Sky Sports: “I wish Usyk a great camp, I wish his team well, safe travels. Same with my team.
      “The main thing is we keep boxing alive and we get in there and we put on a good fight. And that’s what we’re here to do.
      “And that’s what I’m here to do, at the end of the day. And he’s here to do the same.
      “But I don’t know how it’s going to end. I don’t know if it’s going to be the jab, the uppercut. Do you know what I mean?
      “I don’t know what shot it’s going to be, [but] I just want to go out there and put on a good show for the people that are going to coming out to watch.
      “Because that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”
      SYK OF IT
      Anthony Joshua has labelled fighting Oleksandr Usyk as the second biggest challenge of his career to date.
      He told the BBC: “On paper, he sits number two, behind Wladimir Klitschko. They’re very different technically, but on paper, he’s an Olympic gold medallist, he reigned for over 10 years, he’s number one.
      “But Usyk is number two because of his success at cruiserweight and then his success so far at heavyweight.
      “One of his strengths is that he’s getting in the ring with me. I’ve got to give him credit for that, it’s going to be tough.”

      JOSH BOSH
      Anthony Joshua has dubbed his showdown with Oleksandr Usyk ‘the perfect storm’ just days before their Tottenham tussle.
      The Watford warrior will defend his unified heavyweight titles against the former undisputed cruiserweight king on Saturday night in a mouth-watering showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      The tantalising clash will be a battle of two London 2012 Olympic gold medallists, a little fact that has only served to juice up the contest.
      Alongside a final trailer for the fight, Joshua wrote on Instagram: “The perfect storm.”

      GOOD MORNING BOXING FANS
      Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk are set to fight this Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      The bout was put together after Joshua’s dream match with fellow British superstar Tyson Fury was postponed.
      Their highly-anticipated clash was derailed after Fury was ordered to face Deontay Wilder in a rematch.
      Thus, AJ will be putting his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles on the line against Usyk.
      The Ukrainian heavyweight arrived in London on Monday with a very simple message for his opponent.
      The Cat said: “Anthony, hello, I’m here!”
      The 34-year-old looked confident ahead of his big title fight with Joshua in north London.
      AJ is set for a major test this weekend and he understands his opponent could indeed cause an upset, just like Andy Ruiz Jr did a while back.
      In fact, Joshua described Usyk as the second toughest opponent of his career, behind Wladimir Klitschko.
      The 31-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live: “On paper he sits No2, behind Wladimir Klitschko.
      “They’re very different technically, but on paper he’s an Olympic gold medallist, he reigned for over 10 years, he’s No1.
      “But Usyk is No2 because of his success at cruiserweight and then his success so far at heavyweight.”
      Meanwhile, the legendary Manny Pacquiao has announced that his boxing career is over.
      Pacquiao said during an appearance on Toni Talks: “My boxing career is already over.
      “It’s done because I’ve been in boxing for a long time and my family says that it is enough.”
      This comes after PacMan, who is also a senator in the Philippines, confirmed he will run for president in next year’s election.
      OTHER PRIORITIES
      Oleksandr Usyk said he doesn’t spend too much time thinking of Anthony Joshua ahead of their match on Saturday.
      Usyk said: “At the moment I don’t think about Anthony Joshua.
      “I don’t think about what he will do, what he will use or how he will box.
      “I have a little bit of timing to finish my training camp now, I might think about it then.
      “Right now I think more about how my son feels at school because he has just started first grade and he really did not want to go and do it.
      “He was saying: ‘I don’t want to go to school, dad. I am bored at school and you’re not there’. But everything is fine now, he seems to have calmed down.
      “So I probably think more about that than what Anthony Joshua will do in the ring”
      OLEK AT THAT
      Oleksandr Usyk reminded boxing fans of his silky footwork ahead of his fight with Anthony Joshua on Saturday.
      A video posted by promoters Matchroom on Instagram showed Usyk in full flow as he danced during a training exercise.
      The 34-year-old had ‘that fight week feeling’ as he finally gets his shot at a second world championship.
      And Ukrainian electro-folk band Kazka were the heavyweight’s backing track as he pulled off the moves in the gym
      Oleksandr Usyk shows off silky dance moves in training ahead of Anthony Joshua showdown
      JOYCE PLAN
      Joe Joyce revealed he wants to take on Anthony Joshua at the Emirates in London.
      Joyce wants to battle Joshua after the latter’s clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
      When that idea was put to him, he simply said: “That’s the plan.”
      Joshua is taking on Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this Saturday
      READY TO JOE
      Joe Joyce claimed Luis Ortiz turned down a fight with him because he didn’t ‘want the smoke’.
      Joyce told iFL TV: “I’m just training, waiting for my fight date, and I should be out before the end of the year. Working on things in the gym, getting stronger, fitter, ready for a world title shot soon coming to you.
      “That was an option [to fight Joseph Parker], but he’s obviously now going to fight Derek Chisora, and there were a few more names.
      “Ortiz was mentioned, but I’m not sure he wants the smoke. But there are other names around the area. We’ll see what we can get.
      “The better person to talk to would be Adam or Sam [Joyce’s managers]. In the back of my mind, that’s what I can remember as the opponents.”
      When asked directly whether Ortiz turned down a fight against him, Joyce then added: “Yeah. He didn’t want a war”
      MORE ON USYK
      Michael Hunter explained why Oleksandr Usyk could hand Anthony Joshua an upset.
      Hunter told Sky Sports: “Even though he doesn’t focus on hitting hard, he has enough power to absorb and withstand punches.
      “He is bulking up and he is taller than me, he has some length to him.
      “He will do exceptionally well. He hasn’t taken any Ls [defeats] and hasn’t been in any trouble since he’s been pro.
      “A lot of people are saying he hasn’t performed to the best of his abilities. Against Joshua, he will have to.
      “He has done it a few times before, like at the Olympics. He is a Grade-A boxer. Joshua is still learning on the job, going through experiences.
      “There is an element of surprise because we don’t know what type of Joshua will come out.
      “We know what type of Usyk will come out, we just don’t know at what level”
      GRADE-A BOXER
      Oleksandr Usyk poses a genuine threat to unified champ Anthony Joshua, according to Michael Hunter.
      Hunter told Sky Sports: “He is fleet-footed and defensive-minded.
      “It will be very difficult to actually get a win over Usyk in a certain fashion.
      “Joshua will have to have a concrete game-plan and follow it. It will be a very hard task.
      “If he pulls it off? Give the man credit. Because this style of fighting, for him, is the most difficult”
      GETTY IMAGES
      ALL A BRIT EASY
      Tyson Fury “annihilated” Deontay Wilder because the American is too one dimensional, according to Anthony Joshua.
      Joshua told Sky Sports: “I believed Tyson Fury could potentially do what he done.
      “I just felt like, Deontay Wilder is a formidable ex-champion and has a chance to come back, but I just knew that when he gets to the top level, it will be difficult, because it’s one thing getting there and it’s another thing staying there.
      “We’ve seen in some of his fights, it’s been difficult for him and then he lands his punch and he’s been victorious.
      “But I always believe that when you go to war, you can’t have one weapon in your arsenal, which was his right hand.
      “Once that was taken away from him, which Fury did, I’m not going to go into tactics, but he was able to annihilate Wilder and expose him for some of his weaknesses.
      “Fury did a great job tactically and I’m looking forward to their rematch”
      HEARN BURN
      Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn claims Evander Holyfield’s comeback fight against Vitor Belfort left him “disgusted”.
      Holyfield’s comeback lasted less than two minutes as Belfort overpowered him immediately.
      Hearn told DAZN: “YouTube boxing is one thing, I don’t mind what Jake Paul’s doing.
      “I respect what Jake Paul is doing because one, he’s putting the work in.
      “Two, he’s not fighting boxing-based fighters.
      “And three, he’s promoting the shows, it’s different.
      “Holyfield is not a young YouTuber in a training camp, going out and fighting an MMA guy.
      “This is a guy that is not medically fit to have a fight. For the commission, who we worked with in Florida before, to allow that to happen?
      “I’ll tell you right now, there is absolutely no way the British Boxing Board of Control would even consider allowing that fight to happen.
      “They could have done six rounds. What we saw, it actually disgusted me”
      TRAINING DAY
      Anthony Joshua opened up about his training ahead of the fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
      Joshua told the Daily Mail: “I’ve been training on the edge. Exposing myself to being hit by southpaw partners because of only using my left hand.
      “That’s hard. That hurts. But the basic necessities of living in the pandemic were perfect for me. I like the basics of life. I don’t need a lot to make me happy.
      “More importantly, this has helped me realise that putting yourself in vulnerable situations brings the best out of you.
      “Not being allowed to impose my size and power in those sessions taught me not only the power of deep practice but also the power of the brain.
      “Our brain is like plastic. It is always changing and you can use that to change and improve yourself. To find out more about who you are”
      NUMBER TWO
      Anthony Joshua described his upcoming opponent Oleksandr Usyk as the second toughest opponent of his career, behind Wladimir Klitschko.
      Joshua told BBC Radio 5 Live: “On paper he sits No2, behind Wladimir Klitschko.
      “They’re very different technically, but on paper he’s an Olympic gold medallist, he reigned for over 10 years, he’s No1.
      “But Usyk is No2 because of his success at cruiserweight and then his success so far at heavyweight”
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      PACQUIAO RETIRES
      Meanwhile, the legendary Manny Pacquiao has announced that his boxing career is over.
      Pacquiao said during an appearance on Toni Talks: “My boxing career is already over.
      “It’s done because I’ve been in boxing for a long time and my family says that it is enough.”
      This comes after PacMan, who is also a senator in the Philippines, confirmed he will run for president in next year’s election.
      USYK ARRIVES
      Oleksandr Usyk arrived in London today with a very simple message for his opponent Anthony Joshua.
      Usyk said: “Anthony, hello, I’m here!”
      The Ukrainian bruiser looked confident ahead of his big title fight with Joshua in north London.
      AJ is set for a major test on Saturday and he understands his opponent could indeed cause an upset, just like Andy Ruiz Jr did a while back
      BIG FIGHT
      Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk are set to fight this Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      The bout was put together after Joshua’s dream match with Tyson Fury was postponed.
      Their highly-anticipated clash was derailed after Fury was ordered to face Deontay Wilder in a rematch.
      Thus, AJ will be putting his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles on the line against Usyk.
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      Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury could fight in London next year as part of mouth-watering double-header

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA could fight Tyson Fury in London next year as part of a mouthwatering double-header, reports say. The pair were close to confirming a historic heavyweight undisputed title decider for August 14 in Saudi Arabia.
      Anthony Joshua could fight Tyson Fury in London next yearCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are still linked with a two-fight deal
      But Fury’s attempt to walk away from a contracted trilogy bout failed and meant the all-English unification was scrapped.
      Instead, Joshua, 31, faces mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk, 34, on Saturday at Tottenham’s stadium in the capital.
      Meanwhile, Fury, 33, will put the WBC belt he won from Wilder, 35, on the line against the American on October 9 in Las Vegas.
      Should both British superstars prevail, there is hope of revisiting the first-ever, four-belt heavyweight title fight.
      And according to the Evening Standard, London is the ‘frontrunner’ to host one part of a potential two-bout deal with the other heading to the Middle East.
      A stadium fight in the summer would pave the way for Wembley or Spurs to host but Cardiff’s Principality would be the only winter option, as it has a roof.

      Heading to Saudi would likely mean doing so towards the end of the year, like was the case when AJ beat Andy Ruiz Jr, 32, in their December 2019 rematch.
      Summer in Saudi can reach temperatures of 38 degrees, meaning an indoors arena would need to be built.
      But when Joshua beat Ruiz – the man who initially upset him six months prior – it cooled down to around 17 degrees.
      AJ talked up the potential of finally fighting Fury next year, and admitted he would love nothing more than a home fixture.
      He told the Daily Mail: “Me and Fury is streets, two warriors, two fighters who have come from the amateur system in the UK, and have taken the world by storm.
      “We’ll get it on in Britain. Don’t worry about age, boxing politics, don’t worry about the American dollar.
      “This is a British UK fight which can happen at Wembley, Tottenham, the O2, York Hall.
      “I look at it less as a mega-fight for the world and more from the point of view that we are guys who first met in Finchley ABC. It is a grassroots fight.”
      Hearn gives tour inside Tottenham Stadium ahead of Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk with AJ getting home dressing room More

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      Mike Tyson pays tribute to Muhammad Ali with incredible throwback picture of boxing legends together

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      BOXING legend Mike Tyson has paid tribute to his idol Muhammad Ali on social media with an incredible throwback photo.As a young up-and-comer, former undisputed heavyweight king Tyson idolised The Greatest – watching his legendary career on TV and on old videos.
      Boxing legend Mike Tyson grew up idolising Muhammad AliCredit: Reuters
      And Iron Mike paid tribute to the late Ali with an incredible throwback Instagram snapCredit: INSTAGRAM@MIKETYSON
      Tyson still holds the late Ali – who passed away in June 2016 – in the highest regard and further expressed his admiration for the sporting icon by uploading an old photo of themselves to Instagram.
      His accompanying caption read: “Still a fan @muhammadali #thegreatest.”
      A 14-year-old Tyson watched his hero in action in 1980 in the penultimate fight of his career, which pitted him against then WBC heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.
      A 38-year-old Ali was battered by a ferocious Holmes before retiring at the end of the tenth round.
      Tyson – who attended the Vegas fight with his mentor Cus D’Amato – was heartbroken, saying: “I was offended by how bad he beat up Ali.
      “When we drove home to Catskill [about an hour from Albany], nobody in the car said a word, we were all so upset.”

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      But little did Iron Mike know he would end up speaking to his hero on the phone the very next day.
      Tyson added: “He said to Ali, ‘I have this young black kid who is going to be heavyweight champion someday and I want you to talk to him.”
      In that phone call, a young Tyson vowed to exact revenge on Holmes – whom he’d decimate eight years later.
      He told Ali: “When I grow up, I’ll fight Holmes and I’ll get him back for you.”
      For decades, boxing fans have wondered how a fight between a prime Ali and prime Tyson would go.
      Ali is the most competitive fighter everMike Tyson on Muhammad Ali

      But for Tyson, the answer to that often-asked question is a simple one.
      He told Yahoo Sports: “I know it’s a fantasy game.
      “Most likely I would win the fantasy, but I wouldn’t win the real fight. Ali’s the greatest there’s ever been.”
      Tyson is regarded by many to be the most ferocious fighter in the history of the sport but reckons Ali’s tenacity was greater than his.
      In 2016, he told GQ: “He’ll fight you to the end. He’s really game, like a pitbull or a f*****g rooster.

      “But he looked like a model in his prime! He looked more like a model than a fighter.
      “He was just a dead-game guy. He was dead game. He had too much pride. He refused to lose.”
      He added: “Ali is the most competitive fighter ever.”

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      Muhammad Ali’s grandson Niko Ali Walsh says he has a target on his back More