Boxing

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares159 Views

      in Boxing

      Logan Paul says Tommy Fury would get ‘murdered’ by brother Jake and says Love Islander is ‘clearly still an amateur’

      by

      TOMMY FURY would get ‘murdered’ by Jake Paul if they were to ever share the ring, according to the YouTuber’s brother Logan.Social media star turned boxer Paul has been planting the seed for a lucrative showdown with the former Love Islander for several months.
      Tommy Fury flattered to deceive in his American debut last month
      And Logan Paul reckons the Love Island star would ‘get murdered by his brother Jake
      Fury recently rejected a $1million fight offer from PaulCredit: INSTAGRAM@TOMMYFURY
      The Problem Child had Fury fight on the undercard of his clash with former UFC champ Tyron Woodley, although the reality TV star failed to impress against MMA fighter Anthony Taylor.
      And after seeing Fury fail to stop the boxing novice, Logan is confident his little brother would put away TNT with ease.
      During an appearance on the True Geordie podcast: “I’d been drinking 45 days straight after the Floyd Mayweather fight and came back and sparred the kid Tommy Fury fought [Anthony Taylor] and he didn’t make it out of the first round.
      “He’s gonna get f**king murdered [vs Jake].
      “It isn’t a fight between me and Tommy Fury at all. I can say what I want now, I really don’t give a f**k.
      “Tommy couldn’t even finish Taylor in the four-round period.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      “I was watching his fight and it’s very clear that he’s still an amateur. He’s clearly built for it, but there’s something he lacks.
      “From what I saw from that fight, there is levels to this s**t and I am way above him.”
      Fury – the younger brother of WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury – has received two offers to share the ring with the younger Paul brother.
      The 22-year-old recently received a £733,000 ($1million) offer from Paul, who tweeted on Tuesday: “Timmy ‘Fury’ has denied two abundant offers from my team.
      “Timmy ‘Fury’…. this is your last offer… $1 million, eight rounds. Four more than you have ever made.
      He’s gonna get f*****g murderedLogan Paul on his Tommy Fury fighting his brother, Jake
      “Either step up and fight OR accept that you and your Dad don’t believe in you @tommytntfury.”
      Fury rejected the offer, saying on Instagram Live: “Just ​wanted to come on here and address a few things that Jake Paul has been saying that I have denied two offers to fight him.
      “That is true, as those offers weren’t even worth addressing.
      “And now he has come out and said that he wants to give me a $1m to fight him and I just want to say this.
      “To everybody out there, $1m for a fight of this magnitude is not even worth getting out of bed for.

      This fight is going to gross millions and millions of pounds.
      “I cannot walk down the street without anybody asking me when are you fighting Jake Paul.
      “So until you want to make a serious offer and put it on the table, we can’t think about fighting pal.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Tommy Fury rejects Jake Paul’s FINAL fight offer and says £1m on the table is ‘not even worth talking about’ More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury could fight David Haye to avoid Anthony Joshua showdown and earn ‘decent money’, says Eddie Hearn

      by

      EDDIE HEARN reckons Tyson Fury could accept David Haye’s shock call-out in a bid to avoid fighting Anthony Joshua.The Gypsy King received a shock challenge from Haye earlier this month after the former WBA champ’s successful return to the ring.
      David Haye called out Tyson Fury after making a successful return to the ring this monthCredit: Getty
      And Eddie Hearn wouldn’t be surprised if Fury accepted the fight in order to avoid Anthony JoshuaCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      WBC king Fury has yet to respond to Haye’s call-out, but Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn wouldn’t be surprised if he grabs the offer with both hands.
      Hearn, 42, told iFL TV: “I wouldn’t even be surprised if Tyson Fury does it.
      “Because it would be a way for him to avoid Anthony Joshua, it would probably make some decent money.
      “Some people are about that life and some people aren’t.”
      Fury, 33, was supposed to have locked horns with fellow Brit Joshua last month in a lucrative Saudi Arabia showdown.
      But the biggest bout in the history of British boxing was scuppered when an American judge ordered Fury to have a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      Hearn was left seething by the collapse of the contest, saying of Fury: “He’s someone who pulls out of fights, even with the Wilder situation happening.
      “We’ll see him sometime soon. When everybody’s ready, we’ll be here waiting.”
      Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren is optimistic the fight will come to fruition if Joshua beats Oleksandr Usyk this weekend and Fury bests Wilder next month.
      The Queensbury Promotions chief told the BBC: “I’m confident it’ll happen if Joshua and Tyson win their respective fights, yes, definitely.
      “That’s going to be the issue, winning their fights. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong. These are big guys, big heavyweights – anything can happen.”
      Joshua, 31, is confident he will one day share the ring with Fury, telling the Daily Mail: “It will happen.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      “I know what people are saying about boxing politics, but I’ll promise before the end of my career I will have done everything in my power to fight Tyson Fury.
      “We saw it with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao (not fighting until they were beyond their primes) but that was a superstar fight.
      “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.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Anthony Joshua says he needs Tyson Fury fight to cement legacy as great boxer and test himself More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua conditioned for 15 ROUNDS ahead of Oleksandr Usyk fight and will ‘shock everybody’, says sparring partner

      by

      ANTHONY JOSHUA has conditioned himself for 15 ROUNDS against Oleksandr Usyk – but is backed to get the job done with fuel still in the tank. Joshua, as always, has been drawing up a masterplan in Team GB’s Sheffield HQ with a squad of coaches and training partners.
      German Shokran Parwani with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram @shokranparwani
      Shokran Parwani has been sparring Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram @shokranparwani
      Among those drafted in for southpaw sparring is German Shokran Parwani, a 16-1 cruiserweight.
      Parwani, 29, has been left in awe of Joshua, 31, and warned the results on fight night against Usyk, 34, will be shocking to see.
      He told SunSport: “AJ is conditioned for 15 rounds, he’s sparred six guys, different attributes, different styles, different techniques. 
      “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.” 

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      Parwani is an experienced Usyk replica, having helped out Derek Chisora, 37, before the British veteran was beaten by the Ukrainian last year.
      He was also in camp with Lawrence Okolie, 28, in March before the 2016 Olympian knocked out Krzysztof Glowacki, 35, to win the WBO cruiserweight title.
      It caught the attention of Joshua, who welcomed Parwani into his set up with open arms and was never shy of handing out tricks of the trade.
      Parwani revealed: “The camp was really great, such a humble guy, a normal guy from the street. 
      “He’s a great champion with great attributes not only inside the ring but outside the ring too.
      “I’m happy to be here as part of the camp, as part of the team because I learned a lot from AJ, inside the ring and outside the ring.” 
      AJ is conditioned for 15 rounds, he’s sparred six guys, different attributes, different styles, different techniques. Shokran Parwani on Anthony Joshua
      Parwani in particular was blown away by AJ’s footwork and composure in the ring as well as learning even when class was dismissed.
      He said: “Inside of the ring I was very surprised. He’s very calm, has really, really a lot of calmness in the ring and you feel how calm he is. 
      “He knows what he’s doing, his footwork is great and he has such speed for a heavyweight, it’s unbelievable. 
      “He’s thinking about everything and he practises a lot, he’s a very dedicated guy. 
      “Even after training he wants to learn more and that impressed me because I want to be world champion in the future too and that’s my goal in boxing. 
      “Train with the best and to one day be the best. It was a great experience for my future.”
      Anthony Joshua ahead of his fight with Oleksnadr UsykCredit: Alamy
      Oleksnadr Usyk training at the open workoutCredit: Alamy More

    • 225 Shares179 Views

      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua warned ‘special’ Usyk moves ‘better’ than Tyson Fury by Dave Allen as he recalls sparring sessions

      by

      ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned upcoming foe Oleksandr Usyk has ‘better’ movement than WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury.Joshua will defend his unified heavyweight titles against the undefeated Ukrainian on Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      Oleksandr Usyk will challenge Anthony Joshua for the unified heavyweight titles this weekendCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
      And Dave Allen reckons Usyk has better movement than Gypsy King Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
      Dave Allen sparred with Oleksandr Usyk during his time in UkraineCredit: INSTAGRAM@WHITERHINO_21
      On paper, fleet-footed Olympic gold medallist Usyk will be one of the toughest tests of Joshua’s glittering career.
      And Brit Dave Allen reckons his former sparring partner is more than capable of bamboozling AJ with his footwork.
      He told talkSPORT: “Monday – I arrived Monday – and we did two-minute rounds on Monday.
      “I’m here to do to a job, but I don’t want a headache, I don’t want black eyes and I don’t want my career shortening with sparring.
      “So Monday and Wednesday I looked after myself. I boxed him and I didn’t really get hit very much because I’m not here for that.
      “Friday they say, ‘We want you to replicate Derek Chisora.’ And I was a bit tired and I went, ‘Yeah, that’s fine, let’s have a scrap.’

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      “So Monday and Wednesday I boxed him, Friday I tried to fight him.
      “And all three days, no matter what I did he just had an answer for it all.
      ” He’s got a special ability to work people out very quick.
      “The one thing I noticed is on the first day I might’ve hit him with a certain shot, on the second day I might’ve hit him with another one, on the third I might’ve hit him with another.
      “But I never hit him with the same shot again, I never hit him with the same shot twice.
      “Even with something as simple as a left jab, you don’t hit him with it twice because he works it out very quickly.
      “He moves the best, he moves better than Tyson but he’s four stone lighter at the same time. Pound-for-pound there’s not much in it.
      “But he just moves so well. I’ve not open-sparred welterweights, but I’ve body sparred them and been in the ring with them.
      He moves the best, he moves better than Tyson but he’s four stone lighter at the same time.Dave on Allen on his sparring with Oleksandr Usyk
      “And he’s as agile and as quick as a welterweight – a world-class welterweight at that. That’s how well he moves.
      “He’s a very special fighter. I think him and Tyson Fury are miles and away the most talented fighters I’ve ever shared the ring with.”
      Doncaster destroyer Allen also got a first-hand glimpse of Usyk’s ‘eccentric’ training methods during his time at Ukraine’s Olympic training centre.
      He recalled: “I’m in the Ukraine Olympic training camp, there’s wrestlers here, there’s all sorts of sportsmen here.
      “I see Usyk for two hours every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He trains different to anything I’ve ever seen before, he does things differently.
      “He’s like Tyson Fury in lots of ways. He’s eccentric, he’s his own man, he trains in his underpants.
      “He’s very similar to Tyson in all that he does. That was the thing that struck me after the first session, him and Tyson are very similar.
      “But his training is very different to what I’ve seen before.”
      Oleksandr Usyk shadow boxes during his open workout on Tuesday nighCredit: Alamy
      Joshua, 31, is relishing his showdown with the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, saying: “I feel strong and good.
      “I’m mentally and physically conditioned so I should be able to handle the pressure.
      “I feel like I have nothing if I don’t win this. It would not be the end of the road but I see getting a win here just the beginning.
      “There is no strategy apart from winning. I will hurt someone or beat them until I get the win.
      “Boxing needs this fight and the big fights, we have been Saudi and America but when I turned pro I wanted to get British boxing respected.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      “Unless you were in America you were not respected but we have credibility now on these shores.
      “We respected each other after the fight. I have met him before, in Saudi, with all due respect we are ambassadors for the sport but this is fighting, a warrior sport.
      “When I watch the [Roberto] Durans and [Marvin] Haglers, we are going to war, a great fighter has a certain instinct, this is war.”

      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

      Anthony Joshua signs career-long promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk predictions: Tyson Fury backs AJ but ex-champ thinks Ukrainian will ‘10,000%’ win fight

      by

      ANTHONY JOSHUA has been overwhelmingly backed to beat Oleksandr Usyk – but warned of the dangers the fight could bring at the same time. Joshua defends his unified titles against Usyk at Tottenham’s stadium on Saturday in arguably the biggest fight of the year so far.
      Anthony Joshua ahead of his fight with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
      AJ takes in a big size advantage and experience at the top level of the heavyweight picture.
      But Usyk is also unbeaten, reigned as cruiserweight king and has a slick, southpaw style yet to be conquered.
      It sets up for a massive fight night ahead and here is how the experts are predicting it will go.
      Dillian Whyte
      The Body Snatcher, 33, beat Joshua, 31, in the amateurs, lost the rematch six years later and is still eyeing a trilogy decider to settle the score.
      He would need AJ to do the business first against Usyk, 34, and that’s exactly what he expects.
      Whyte said on 5 Live Boxing: “I think it’s a great fight, but in my personal opinion, I think Joshua will stop him in the first five, six, or seven rounds.”
      He added: “Hopefully, he goes back to the old him and starts pressing Usyk and being the bigger, stronger guy and starts backing him up and starts hitting him with stuff early. I think he can get the job done early.”
      Prediction… Joshua
      Dillian Whyte was beaten by Anthony Joshua in 2015Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      Tyson Fury
      The Gyspy King, 33, was all set to face Joshua until he was ordered into his contracted trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder, 35.
      Initially, he raised concerns for AJ heading into the Usyk fight, but appeared to quickly change his mind.
      Fury told Seconds Out: “I think he walks straight through Usyk.
      “People are trying to build it up as a scary fight but he didn’t have the power to halt cruiserweights like Mairis Briedis or whoever else he fought.”
      Tyson Fury picked Anthony Joshua to beat Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
      Michael Hunter
      American Hunter’s only defeat came at the hands of Usyk down at cruiserweight and he backed his old opponent to cause an upset.
      He said on iFL TV: “I don’t think Anthony Joshua beats Usyk unless he knocks him out.
      “This is heavyweight boxing, so there’s always going to be knockouts.
      “[Usyk] is strong enough and he’s an Olympian and all that. He has the accolades and attributes to do so.”
      Prediction… Usyk
      Michael Hunter was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk at cruiserweightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Chris Eubank Jr
      The middleweight contender is a friend of AJ’s and knows how versatile he is – and for that reason Eubank Jr, 32, backed his pal.
      He predicted: “Usyk is extremely smart and can certainly box, he has shown that at cruiserweight. But I just don’t think he has the size to beat someone like Anthony.
      “And Anthony has shown that he is smart too, he demonstrated that in the rematch with Ruiz where he really boxed well.
      “So personally I would fancy Anthony to win that fight.”
      Prediction… Joshua
      Anthony Joshua pictured with his friend Chris Eubank Jr
      John Fury
      Big John has a similar opinion to his son Tyson – believing Joshua will be just too big on the night.
      He told Boxing Social: “Usyk won’t be able to hit hard enough to bother him because he’s too small. He’ll walk straight through.
      “I think AJ will stop him quicker than anybody else. I think AJ will walk straight through him. I do.
      “One’s a cruiserweight, one’s bulking up. And if he bulks up to try and meet him head-on, forget about it. That’s why there’s weight classes, ain’t they. A good big one will always beat a good little one. And AJ is a good big one.”
      Prediction… Joshua
      John Fury pictured with his son TysonCredit: Getty
      Sergey Kovalev
      The Russian, 38, is a former light-heavyweight champion and pound-for-pound contender.
      He was dethroned in 2016 by Andre Ward, who moved up from super-middleweight.
      It means Kovalev knows the threat of an undersized superstar and has put his money on Usyk.
      He posted on social media: “Usyk will defeat Joshua, 10,000%. Place your bets.”
      Prediction… Usyk
      Sergey Kovalev backed Oleksandr Usyk to beat Anthony Joshua
      David Haye
      The Hayemaker knows a thing or two about moving up from cruiserweight to heavyweight, becoming only the second man behind Evander Holyfield to win titles in both the divisions.
      But he showed no allegiance to his fellow former cruiserweight and tipped Joshua in emphatic fashion.
      Speaking to SecondsOut, Haye, 40, said: “AJ knocks Usyk out very conclusively. Left, right, jab, right cross that puts Usyk down or out, and then it’s done.
      “One hundred per cent inside six rounds. If it does go past six rounds, it’s because AJ wants it to go past six rounds.”
      Prediction… Joshua
      David Haye pictured with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Tony Bellew
      Bellew, 38, retired after a knockout loss to Usyk in 2018 and admires the Ukrainian but has thrown his full support to close pal AJ.
      He told talkSPORT: “Come rounds seven, eight and nine, he is going to find out why he is not a true heavyweight.
      “I think Anthony Joshua’s speed, power and perseverance will be what catches up with Oleksandr Usyk.
      “I wish he would stop fighting my friends because I want to support him! I’m a huge admirer of him and I have so much respect for the boy, but he just keeps fighting my friends so I can’t support him.”
      Prediction… Joshua
      Tony Bellew was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in 2018Credit: Reuters
      Frank Warren
      Fury’s UK promoter will hope AJ prevails to keep the undisputed dream alive but can see it potentially going the other way.
      Warren said on iFL TV: “Anthony Joshua must be the favourite for the fight. He’s the bigger guy and he’s a bigger puncher.
      “Having said that, if he doesn’t get rid of him, and if he’s still there after five or six rounds, then 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.
      “He proved it at cruiserweight. He was fantastic, and he’s made his mark in that weight division. He was a superb cruiserweight.”
      Prediction… Sitting on the fence
      Promoter Frank Warren with Tyson FuryCredit: PA
      Luke Campbell
      Campbell, 33, became Olympic champ alongside AJ at the London 2012 Games, and backed the heavyweight to once more bring the gold home.
      He told The Mirror: “Joshua has got quick hands, and is a big strong heavyweight so if he imposes his strengths I think he will win the fight.
      “If he sits off it could be Usyk’s night, and I can’t see Usyk wanting to get involved in a big strong heavyweight like Joshua.
      “So his tactics will mostly be to make him miss, move around and Joshua has to put it on him.”
      Prediction… Joshua
      Anthony Joshua pictured with Olympic team-mate Luke CampbellCredit: Action Images – Reuters More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Oleksandr Usyk looked after cattle on a farm and sold apricots and ice cream before taking on Anthony Joshua

      by

      AS Oleksandr Usyk steps into the ring to fight Anthony Joshua for the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight belts on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Ukrainian could be forgiven for reminiscing about how far he’s come.The 34-year-old only made his debut in the heavyweight division in 2019, after crushing everyone at cruiserweight level.
      Oleksandr Usyk is set to make his heavyweight debut Saturday after dominating the cruiserweight divisionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Should Usyk win he could be in line to face the victor of the Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But already he’s disposed of the likes of Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora to became the mandatory challenger that poses a serious threat to AJ this weekend.
      Should he win, it would cap an incredible journey for Usyk, who only turned pro aged 26 after a grounding that included 35o amateur fights.
      In 2012, he won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics – a year after he achieved the same feat at the World Championships.
      However, it wasn’t always so easy for the man nicknamed The Cat.
      SPORT WAS HIS SALVATION
      Usyk was born in Ukraine’s Crimea region in the city of Simferopol in 1987, and immediately was thrust into a life where his only release was sport.
      “As a child, I did some wrestling, hand-to-hand combat, karate… But without fanaticism,” he revealed.
      “We would do push-ups, squats, sometimes learned some simple techniques.”
      However, it seemed that a life in football was more likely a path out of the poverty of Simferopol.
      Up until the age of 15, Usyk was in the academy of then-Ukrainian Premier League side SC Tavriya Simferopol.
      Growing up in Crimea was tough for UsykCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      In 2002 Usyk picked up a pair of boxing gloves for the first timeCredit: AFP – Getty
      But the cost of playing football was too much for his parents, and he picked up his first pair of boxing gloves in 2002.
      “(I) played for Tavria from Simferopol, and I did pretty well. I was never a benchwarmer, I was always a starter.
      “Soccer demanded some very serious expenses. And two or three hundred hryvnias was a substantial amount for my parents.
      “Boxing was simpler, more sociable. The coach gave me his gloves, his wife sewed them into the right form.
      “The only thing that my mom spent money on was a travel ticket.”
      FRUIT-SELLER AND FARM WORKER
      Usyk has always had a strong work ethic, even when he was a teenager.
      Coming from poor background and having to support his family, he took on jobs that helped them stay afloat.
      Growing up in poverty meant Usyk had to work hard to support his familyCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      Usyk worked on a farm and sold apricots and ice creamCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      Usyk could have been a famous footballer like Man City star Oleksandr ZinchenkoCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      That included working on a farm, as well as collecting and selling fruit and ice cream on the streets to make ends meet.
      “I sold ice cream, I sold apricots, I sold peaches, I worked on a farm, I grazed cattle,” he said.
      “I am not ashamed of this, because everything I did, I did in order to survive. I wanted to help my family and that’s normal.”HARDLY AMATEUR
      In 2006, Usyk showed his boxing promise by reaching the semi finals of the European Championships.
      Two years later, he was victorious at the Strandja Cup in Bulgaria, an event that goes a long way into determining who qualifies to compete in the Olympics.
      However, it wasn’t until 2012 that the crowning glory of his amateur career propelled him towards international stardom.
      In 2012 Usyk won gold at the London OlympicsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      As an amateur boxer Usyk fought 350 times, winning 335 boutsCredit: AFP – Getty
      Usyk won the gold medal at the London Olympics, beating Artur Beterbiev, Tervel Pulev and Italy’s Clemente Russo.
      The 6ft 3in southpaw would later hang up his amateur gloves with an impressive record of 335 win and just 15 losses.
      HE’S IN THE HISTORY BOOKS
      The likes of Terence Crawford, Jermain Taylor, Bernard Hopkins and Cecilia Braekhus have all held the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles at the same time.
      But Usyk, rather uniquely, is the first boxer to hold those belts in the cruiserweight division.
      In 2016 he defeated Krzysztof Glowacki on points in a breathtaking fight to snatch the WBO title.
      He then landed the WBC title against Mairis Briedis, before winning the WBA and IBF titles beating Murat Gassiev by unanimous decision after 12-rounds.
      Usyk has knocked out Tony Bellew in the pastCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Usyk is the first boxer to hold the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles simultaneously in the cruiserweight divisionCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      THROWING SHAPES
      Like his fellow countryman Vasyl Lomachenko, Usyk loves to dance.
      In fact, he often performs the hopak (a Ukrainian traditional dance) after a rigorous training session, which explains why he has such nimble feet.
      “Dancing is his lifestyle,” Alexander Krassyuk, the director of K2 Promotions, told Boxing Monthly.
      “Everything in his life is done with inspiration, a positive spirit and flexibility.
      “He always tries to charge people with love for God and for each other. Dancing is the way he expresses love.”
      To compliment his training Usyk loves to danceCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      Usyk’s favourite dance is the traditional hopakCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      Family man Usyk, married to Yekaterina, once voiced an animated filmCredit: Instagram @usykaa
      FORGET SHREK
      While he’s more famous for his exploits in the ring, Usyk, who married his childhood sweetheart Yekaterina in 2009, showed he does have a more playful side too.
      In 2018 he lent his voice to The Stolen Princess – a Ukrainian animated movie that became a box office hit earning £50m around the world.

      He appeared alongside Vasyl Virastyuk, a former strongman competitor, as a Russian gangster in a tale about a princess being kidnapped by an evil sorcerer.
      Should Usyk continue his ascent, you can imagine more film roles may come for the theatrical sportsman.
      First, though, is the blockbuster with Joshua.
      Oleksandr Usyk will BEAT Anthony Joshua claims Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren – but only if fight goes the distance More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk undercard: Callum Smith, Lawrence Okolie and Campbell Hatton in action on stacked bill

      by

      ANTHONY JOSHUA finally gets back in the ring this month and with his return comes a huge night of action in London with a packed card planned.AJ was on the precipice of securing a mega-fight with fellow Brit world champion and rival Tyson Fury before talks fell through.
      Anthony Joshua holds three world titles in the heavyweight divisionCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      Now Usyk will get his opportunity at gold, having become undisputed champion at cruiserweight previously.
      The main event isn’t all that’s on, however, as Matchroom and team AJ have put on a corker of an undercard for fans to feast on.
      When is Joshua vs Usyk?

      Anthony Joshua’s massive world title clash with Oleksandr Usyk will take place on Saturday, September 25.
      The fight will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.
      There will be over 60,000 fans in attendance at the clash.
      Coverage of the action will begin from 7pm UK time, with the main event likely to get going around 10.30pm.

      Joshua vs Usyk FULL CARD?

      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk (IBF, WBA, WBO Heavyweight Titles)
      Lawrence Okolie vs Dilan Prasovic (WBO Cruiserweight Title)
      Callum Smith vs Lenin Castillo (Light-Heavyweight)
      Campbell Hatton vs Izan Dura (Super-Featherweight)
      Florian Marku vs Maxim Prodan (Welterweight)
      Christopher Ousley vs Khasan Baysangurov (Middleweight)

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk: All the TV, stream and undercard info ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight bout
      Lawrence Okolie takes on Dilan Prasovic on Joshua’s undercardCredit: PA

      What channel is Joshua vs Usyk and can it be live streamed? More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Boxing

      Canelo Alvarez reveals what started explosive brawl with Caleb Plant after leaving rival bloodied in pre-fight face-off

      by

      SAUL ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has revealed what rival Caleb Plant said to him at their pre-fight press conference.The two fighters ended up in an explosive, bloody brawl on Monday after Plant trash talked Canelo’s MUM – the latter has claimed.
      Canelo and Plant had a traditional pre-fight face-off on MondayCredit: Rex
      But two started brawling after an alleged comment from Plant
      The shock incident left the sport stunned and super-middleweight Canelo, 31, has since explained why a brawl unfolded between him and Plant, 29.
      As quoted by SPORTbible, the Mexican said: “Oh, he talked about my mum.
      “He said ‘you motherf**ker’ so you passed the line right there, so that’s why I pushed him and then he came back with a left hook.”
      Canelo and Plant – known as ‘Sweethands’ – have agreed to meet in an undisputed super-middleweight clash in Las Vegas on November 6.
      Canelo, who knocked out Brit Billy Joe Saunders in May, currently holds the WBA, WBC and WBO titles and is the favourite for the fight.
      Plant, who boasts an undefeated 21-0 record, holds the only belt missing from the Mexican’s collection – the IBF crown he picked up in 2019.

      BETTING SPECIAL – GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1
      But the American is yet to fight a boxer of Canelo’s calibre and the November clash will be his first pay-per-view bout.
      In comparison, Alvarez has fought the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin and Amir Khan during his illustrious career.
      Discussing the planned bout, Canelo said: “At the end of the day, this is what I want to do with my career, make history.
      “These things, like becoming the first to be the unified champion at 168 pounds, is making history.
      “To potentially be one of the few who holds this prestigious honor in any weight class makes me very happy.
      “For my country, this would be a huge accomplishment. I want to be remembered as one of the greatest in the history of the sport.” More