Boxing

TYSON FURY has opened up about the horrible stress he was under when his daughter Athena was placed in intensive care last month.Fury, 33, and wife Paris, 31, welcomed their sixth child into the world on August 8 but were immediately anxious after it became apparent their newly-born daughter had health complications.
Tyson Fury has revealed the stress he went through during his daughter’s health problemsCredit: YouTube: The Overlap
Athena battled through intensive care and is now said to be ‘doing very well’Credit: Instagram
Athena was then placed into intensive care and put on a ventilator, but she fought through and was discharged from hospital three weeks ago.
Fury has now revealed that she is ‘doing very well’ and has ‘made a full recovery’.
But the ordeal took its toll on the WBC heavyweight champion, who will return to the boxing ring for the first time in 20 months on October 9.
Speaking to ITV, he said: “[It] probably took a couple of years off my life, the amount of stress I was under.
“But it’s a part of life I suppose. And, you know, there’s going to be ups and downs in our lives and it’s about not giving up and always believing that you’re going to get the best out of it.
“For all the people out there that have got kids in hospital, then you’ve got to be optimistic and be strong for your partner or whoever you’re with and things will get better eventually.

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How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight
“You’re just praying, just hoping that things are going to be OK.
“And you’re hoping for better times and that’s all you can do at that moment.”
He then went on to add that Athena is a ‘little fighter… just like me’.
Fury is now able to fully focus on his trilogy fight against American Deontay Wilder in just over four weeks.
The Gypsy King reclaimed a version of the world heavyweight title by stopping Wilder in the seventh round of their highly-anticipated clash in February 2020.
They were initially due to meet again in July but the bout was pushed back three months after Fury contracted coronavirus, something his opponent Wilder has disputed.

The Bronze Bomber, who is looking to regain his WBC strap, said: “They’re trying to run away from it, I’m running to it. I don’t believe he had Covid.
“I know he wasn’t doing well in camp. The young guys were piecing him up.
“I had a young guy from my camp who was piecing him up.”

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Wilder says Tyson Fury delayed fight after getting beaten up by ‘young guy’ from Bronze Bomber’s camp More

DEONTAY WILDER has accused Tyson Fury of delaying their trilogy fight because he was beaten up in sparring by someone from the American’s camp.Fury, 33, slammed The Bronze Bomber back in July after he accused the Brit of lying about contracting coronavirus in order to push the bout back from July to October.
Deontay Wilder does not believe Tyson Fury delayed their fight because he contracted coronavirusCredit: Rex
The Gypsy King had to push back their trilogy clash to October 9 after a Covid outbreakCredit: Rex
Wilder will now look to reclaim the WBC strap he lost in early 2020 when he faces The Gypsy King for a third time on October 9.
But the American has continued with his belief that Fury is running from him and fuelled that by claiming the champ was beaten up in his preparations for the original July date.
Wilder told the PBC Podcast: “They’re trying to run away from it, I’m running to it. I don’t believe he had Covid.
“I know he wasn’t doing well in camp. The young guys were piecing him up.
“I had a young guy from my camp who was piecing him up.”
The pair fought to a controversial draw back in December 2018 in Los Angeles, a clash many felt Fury won after he climbed off the canvas in a dramatic 12th round.

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How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight
They then went their separate ways with two fights apiece before getting back into the ring with one another 14 months later in Las Vegas.
And this time Fury was able to decisively rip the belt away from Wilder as he dominated the American, eventually stopping him in the seventh round.
A trilogy fight was due to take place later in 2020 but the coronavirus pandemic stopped it from happening.
Fury then looked to bypass Wilder and set up an undisputed clash with unified champion Anthony Joshua.
But a court ruling from an arbitrator ruled that the American was contractually entitled to a third fight, a decision which quashed the potential for a Fury-Joshua bout next.
In order for the two Brits to meet for all the belts, Fury now has to come through Wilder again.
And AJ has to defend his belts against former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25.
Speaking about a fight with Joshua, Fury said: “AJ couldn’t smoke a cigarette, never mind smoke the Gypsy King. He hasn’t got the minerals to fight a man like me.

“I said to Eddie Hearn straight, ‘The difference in me and him is he’s a businessman and I’m a f***ing Spartan.’
“And I’ll show him that when I get in the ring. I will absolutely annihilate that bodybuilder, he won’t go past six rounds. It will be over quickly.
“He knows that and his full team know it. And that’s why Eddie Hearn has been steering around me for the last ten years.”
Tyson Fury brands Eddie Hearn a ‘Southern w*****’ and hits back at Anthony Joshua in chat with Man Utd icon Gary Neville More

TYSON FURY has laid out a sensational five-fight ‘bucket list’ that includes THREE Brit opponents and at least TWO UK fights.The 33-year-old WBC champ lost his planned summer undisputed decider showdown with Anthony Joshua after a US judge forced into a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
Tyson Fury plans on having five fights once his trilogy battle against Deontay Wilder endsCredit: The Mega Agency

But the 6ft 9in Gypsy King claims once he batters the Bronze Bomber on October 9 he will rapidly skittle through Dillian Whyte, AJ twice and Derek Chisora.
The undefeated ace wants to hand long-time WBC mandatory challenger Whyte his overdue shot in March and then do the AJ double header in Saudi Arabia and Wembley.
Fury then wants to sign off with a third clash with close friend Chisora – and he even threatens another comeback after that.
He roared: “I have a bucket list and my next five fights in mind.
“I am going to have a December fight after this, because Joshua won’t happen then, it’ll happen in March.
“It’s Wilder on October 9 – Dillian Whyte in December in a UK stadium where I will shut him up once and for all.

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“Then Joshua in March in Saudi Arabia and then a rematch back here in Wembley.
“Then I will fight Chisora in my fifth and final fight.”
Body Snatcher Whyte, 33, has been ranked as the WBC’s No1 challenger since the 2018.
But the Fury vs Wilder rivalry, and the covid-19 pandemic that delayed this upcoming third instalment, have robbed him of his shot.
Despite simmering bad blood between the pair, Fury insists he will face the Brixton ace but warns him not to try to be greedy at the negotiation table.
“It’s been a long time since I boxed here and I want to do a stadium fight,” Fury said.
“Let’s hope Whyte does not start asking for silly money that doesn’t exist because he will lose the fight.

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How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight
“But the plan is Wilder on October 9, Whyte in December, AJ in March in Saudi, the bodybuilder rematch in September and then good old Del Boy to finish it off.
“Then I might take two years off and go nuts again and then come back at 37 and do it all again because I cannot be written off.”
BT Sport Box Office will show Fury v Wilder: The Trilogy exclusively live in the UK on Saturday 9th October. For more info go to www.bt.com/sportboxoffice
Fury wants to fight Anthony Joshua twice while also facing Dillian Whyte and Dereck ChisoraCredit: PA
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Watch Deontay Wilder smash pads for 12 rounds at Alabama training camp as Tyson Fury trilogy fight approaches More

DAVID HAYE’S comeback fight against businessman-turned-boxer Joe Fournier will now be classed as a professional bout.The former world champion, 40, is preparing for his first encounter inside the ring since losing against rival Tony Bellew in May 2018.
David Haye hasn’t fought since losing in his rematch against Tony Bellew in May 2018Credit: AFP or licensors
Joe Fournier puts his unbeaten record on the line against close friend Haye at the weekendCredit: Getty
He faces his friend Fournier, 38, who is unbeaten in his ten outings in the paid ranks, on Saturday, with Triller charging UK fans £9.99 to watch the pay-per-view dust-up.
The fight was due to take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, with the California State Athletic Commission ruling the contest as an exhibition.
But the bout has since been moved to Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, with the new commission approving the fight.
As a result, the eight-round affair will now appear on both Haye and Fournier’s records.
Triller promoter Ryan Kavanaugh has already teased a huge fight for Haye following his clash against Fournier.
He told Sky Sports: “All I can say without giving too much away is that you should expect a very big fight.

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“I couldn’t tell you who it is.”
Kavanaugh insisted the mystery opponent is not Wladimir Klitschko but described them as the ‘highest of the high’.
Despite Haye not having fought for over three years, he believes he will outclass Fournier, who most recently beat reggaeton star Reykon on the undercard of Jake Paul’s victory against Ben Askren in April.
The two-weight world champ said: “There shouldn’t be any version of reality that sees me losing this fight.
“With two Achilles tendons snapped, I should be able to find a way to win this fight.
How David Haye and Joe Fournier stack up ahead of their clash

“He just doesn’t see my body holding up for eight rounds, he doesn’t see it. The quicker I get it over and done with the better for everybody.
“The power is always there. The power has never gone anywhere. The power has never been my issue. I’ve just got to focus on the timing and rhythm.
“Once I get my timing there, it should be pretty brutal, pretty fast.”
David Haye tips Anthony Joshua to take out slick southpaw Oleksandr Usyk ‘inside six rounds’ in ‘brutal’ Tottenham triumph More

DEONTAY WILDER has showcased his speed and power in an Instagram video showing him smashing the pads for 12 rounds.The 35-year-old is preparing to face Tyson Fury for a third time at the T-Mobile Arena on October 9 where he is looking to win back the WBC heavyweight title.
Deontay Wilder has shared a training video on Instagram of him doing 12 rounds on the pads
Wilder is looking to reclaim the WBC heavyweight title when he faces Tyson Fury next month
Neither man has fought since February 2020 where the Gyspy King inflicted the Bronze Bomber’s first professional loss.
Following that clash, the second between the pair, Wilder has appointed former opponent Malik Scott as his head trainer.
Scott believes that the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist will knock Fury out within FIVE rounds, claiming his American compatriot’s mentality is ‘very violent’.
And Wilder has taken to social media to share footage of him inside the ring training, as he hammered away at the pads for 12 rounds.
In the six-minute Instagram clip shared to his 2.7 million followers, the Alabama native can be seen targeting Scott’s body.
This could indicate that Wilder is looking for a body shot KO having primarily focused his power punches on the head of an opponent during his career so far.
Wilder’s head trainer Malik Scott believes the Bronze Bomber will KO Fury inside five rounds

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Wilder suffered the first defeat of his professional career at the hands of the Gypsy King in February 2020Credit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
Despite his impressive fitness durng the video, fans were less than impressed with his combinations as they predicted another Fury victory.
Commenting on the clip, one user said: “Bruh I just wish you put your damn hands up. Good training and you look in great shape but those hands down is what got you caught vs Ortiz 1st fight and Fury.”
Another messaged: “Still moves like a rookie.”
A third added: “No chance whatsoever against Fury.”
Meanwhile one simply stated: “Fury kills him again.”
One then remarked: “No footwork still going to lose.”
However Wilder is confident of becoming a two-time world champion as he claimed that he is a ‘dangerous’ man.
How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight

Speaking on the PBC Podcast, he said: “I’m a dangerous man at this point in time.
“Malik [Scott] and my team have brought the best out of me, and I’m just ready.
“But it don’t mean nothing if you can’t show it to the rest of the world, and I know that. I’m ready to do so. Don’t blink, baby. Don’t blink.”
Deontay Wilder shadow boxes in a river as he prepares for Tyson Fury trilogy More