Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA is so desperate to ‘smoke’ his enemy Tyson Fury he is even willing to do so without all the marbles on the line. AJ is the current WBA, IBF and WBO champion with Fury’s WBC title the only missing crown from his heavyweight collection.
Anthony Joshua with his WBA, IBF and WBO world titlesCredit: The Sun
Tyson Fury is the WBC and Ring Magazine championCredit: Richard Pelham
Joshua’s long-standing dream has been to reign as the first-ever, four-belt champion in the blue riband division.
But after years of back-and-forths with rival Fury, British bragging rights could even outweigh a place in the undisputed history books.
Joshua told Gary Neville’s The Overlap: “Without the belts? I rate that. That’s what I’m talking about. We’ll fight, 100 per cent, let’s do it.
“I’ll smoke that guy. I will. It’s annoying. For me, I don’t really get into the Twitter back and forth, because it’s Twitter fingers.
“Anyone can sit behind a computer and talk. Let’s be real, let’s be honest. Let’s let the people know.
“You’re the one that let the fans down, because everyone seems to think.
“I fought on December 12th. When they were like, ‘Who do you want to fight next?’ I said I don’t want to call out any names.
“And I know because I’m going to start shouting out people’s names and I’m going to be in this position now where the guys’ name I’m shouting out doesn’t want to fight or he’s not ready to fight.”

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Terms for Joshua, 31, to fight Fury, 32, were all-but agreed for August 14 in Saudi Arabia – until it fell apart at the 11th hour.
It came as Fury was ordered to fight Deontay Wilder, 35, in a contracted trilogy bout after the American took his case to arbitration.
Now, those two rematch once more on October 9, while Joshua faces mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk, 34, on September 25 at Tottenham’s stadium.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed – should AJ and Fury prevail in their interim fights – the Battle of Britain could be salvaged for February 2022.
And Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold medalist, promised as long as he is champ, boxing fans WILL get to see the one they have waited so long for.
He said: “He’s a fighter isn’t he. What’s the worst that can happen? You get hit. He’s been doing it for years.
“However, I just know on my end, and my management team and my promoter – we done everything we can to make this happen and as long as I’m champion, I’ll compete with anyone.
“I’ve got a tough challenger coming up now. A great fighter.”
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Watch Oleksandr Usyk hit the speed bag as ex-cruiserweight king prepares for Anthony Joshua showdown More

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury’s new ‘realistic’ fight date has been revealed as February 2022 by promoter Eddie Hearn. Hearn worked tirelessly this summer to organise the first-ever, four-belt undisputed title decider.
Promoter Eddie Hearn pictured with heavyweight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Tyson Fury was in talks to fight Anthony Joshua in AugustCredit: Rex
And terms were all-but agreed for August 14 in Saudi Arabia – until it fell apart at the 11th hour.
It came as Fury was ordered to fight Deontay Wilder in a contracted trilogy bout after the American took his case to arbitration.
Now, those two rematch once more on October 9, while AJ faces mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk on September 25 at Tottenham’s stadium.
It leaves the potential Battle of Britain shelved until next year – but could pave the way for a massive home fixture with UK fans being welcomed back.
Hearn told talkSPORT:  “We wanted to do it in December.
“But I think with AJ fighting September 25, Fury now delayed until October, I think February is more realistic.
“They had a huge offer from Saudi Arabia to do the fight there.
“Ultimately in the fight game, which is extremely dangerous and these guys are putting themselves on the line, it is about generating as much money for the fight as possible.
“With fans back in the UK is that an option? Las Vegas? We’ll see.
“But first things first, let’s just beat Usyk, because if that doesn’t go to plan we can forget about it.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is sparring with a Germany-based Afghan cruiserweight to help prepare him to face Oleksandr Usyk.The British boxing hero, 31, will put his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on the line against the undefeated Ukrainian on September 25 at the Tottenham Stadium.
Anthony Joshua is sparring with Germany-based Afghan cruiserweight Shokran ParwaniCredit: Instagram @shokranparwani
AJ defends his world titles against undefeated southpaw Oleksandr Usyk on Sept 25Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
That comes after his planned unification showdown with Tyson Fury collapsed.
AJ has already trained with Irish prospect Thomas Carty as he works on battling southpaws ahead of going one-on-one with the 34-year-old.
Now he is using Shokran Parwani as a sparring partner.
The star, 29, told Sky Sports: “I have a little bit of the same style.
“I work more with my feet. I am a slick guy with a lot of movement.
“Usyk is also a slick guy, he isn’t a puncher.”
‘AJ WILL BREAK HIM’
And after watching Usyk at close quarters previously, he is fully-expecting Joshua to ‘break him’ late on.
Parwani said: “I saw him live in his fight with Marco Huck. He is very good, his IQ is very high, I rate him very highly.
“But he doesn’t have power. In rounds nine, 10 or 11? He won’t have the power to fight, and AJ will break him down.”
Parwani has previously been used by Huck and Derek Chisora in their respective camps ahead of fighting Usyk.
But despite both men losing, the ace is adamant AJ will emerge victorious.
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He added: “It is a different level. Like the European Championship to the World Cup!
“I saw his power [when we trained at his gym in Finchley]. His uppercut and his hook are just different, bro.
“From the outside if I watch Huck, Chisora and AJ? He has such power and now, with his training, is moving a lot. He is even more dangerous.”

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Watch Anthony Joshua tear up a dirt bike track as British sensation enjoys down time before Oleksadr Usyk bout More

TYSON FURY has been warned by Deontay Wilder’s trainer ‘it’s about to get ugly’ after his positive coronavirus test postponed their trilogy. Fury was due to defend his WBC title for the first time against Wilder on July 24, which would come 17 months after he beat the American.
Deontay Wilder pictured with his head trainer Malik ScottCredit: Instagram @malikkingscott
Tyson Fury will fight Deontay Wilder on July 24Credit: Rex
But the Gypsy King was forced to pull out after testing positive for Covid-19, leaving the fight pushed back to October 9.
It gives Wilder, 35, three more months in training camp with Malik Scott, 40, the man he knocked out in 2014.
And Scott, now head trainer, believes Fury’s withdrawal will ultimately work against him.
He posted on Instagram: “It’s a great thing. I said Fury wasn’t making it out of five rounds before.
“But now, since we have more time, it’s really about to get ugly.”
Scott then added: “I’m not leaving camp until Wilder is two-time heavyweight champion.”
Fury first drew with Wilder 2018 but was brilliantly won in seven rounds when they rematched two years later.

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Beforehand, their contract included a trilogy bout, which the Brit tried to walk away from this summer to instead fight Anthony Joshua, 31.
But that was scrapped after Wilder took his case to arbitration and was awarded the verdict.
Fury had been training for his return in America, where he believes sparring partners coming into his camp passed on the virus.
But conspiracies emerged on his withdrawal, ranging from Eddie Hearn suggesting a lack of ticket sales to Wilder’s partner saying Fury was ‘buying time’.
And in an interview with the Daily Mail, Fury hit back: “I’m the last person to blame.
“I don’t have a large entourage, unlike most world champions with all their ass-licking hangers on.
“Since coming back into full time camp I hadn’t been anywhere other than my new house here and the Top Rank gym. Nor had my team. 
“The only people whose movements I couldn’t completely control were my sparring partners, who change.
“They came in and out of the bubble and everyone knows this town is full of Covid. I suspect we caught it from one of them.”
Watch Deontay Wilder’s coach tell heavyweight to work on ‘feints’ and ‘educated left hand’ in training for Tyson Fury More

FREDDIE ROACH still offers a $1,000 reward for anyone who can floor Manny Pacquiao in sparring… but so far he has kept his money. And Pacquiao’s adoring fans are so eager to catch a glimpse of their hero in action, trainer Roach has had to hire security to keep them at bay.
Manny Pacquiao with legendary trainer Freddie RoachCredit: Ryan Hafey
Manny Pacquiao sparring in training to fight Errol Spence JrCredit: @mannypacquiao
The legendary duo are currently preparing for their 37th fight together, 20 years since their first.
Filipino icon Pacquiao, 42, challenges unbeaten welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr, 31, on August 21 in Las Vegas.
And with his southpaw sparring well underway, Roach continues to promise $1,000 for anyone who can put PacMan down.
But, as has always been the case, the Hall of Fame coach still has the cash in his pocket as he opened about the deal.
Roach told SunSport: “Manny doesn’t know that!
“I’ve always kept it a secret but every sparring partner I hire, I say, ‘You knock him down, I give you a thousand bucks’.
“And I’ve kept a thousand in my pocket.”
Pacquiao first met Roach in 2001, when he walked into his Wild Card gym as a former flyweight but unknown world champion.
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How the two stars stack-up head-to-headCredit: The Sun

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The esteemed cornerman once described the moment as ‘the greatest day of my life’ and launched one of the most successful partnerships of all time.
In the years since, Roach has guided Pacquiao to titles in an unprecedented EIGHT DIVISIONS.
And the southpaw star has become a global icon due to his charitable and political work outside the boxing ring.
Pacquiao still remains much the same person Roach met before their first fight together, when they beat Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the super-bantamweight title.
Little has changed when it comes to speed, explosiveness and dedication to training – but the crowd that follows him has.
Roach said: “There’s a little more people in training camp. People love to see Manny Pacquiao and his entourage is getting a little bigger.
“But then the first day he noticed it was getting a little crowded in the gym, he said, ‘Freddie, can we get rid of some of these people’.
“I said, ‘Yeah, we can. These are all your people, throw them out!’ Manny cut them right in half, so training camp’s getting better as less people are watching.
Fans in the Philippines fill up to watch Manny Pacquiao training in 2016Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Media pile in the Wild Card gym to watch Manny Pacquiao training in 2019
“Manny draws a lot of people to this area and so forth but I had to hire security guards and uniformed police officers that have to watch the gate and keep his people away.
“Because it’s a pretty important fight for Manny and he’s doing really well, he’s fighting one of the best guys out there.”
Pacquiao and Roach spent the best part of two years away from each other due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It saw PacMan sidelined and unable to return having last fought in July 2019, when he beat Keith Thurman, 32.
But it came as no surprise to Roach when his most famous pupil chose undefeated Spence for his comeback fight, putting a smile on the trainer’s face.
He revealed: “I was leaning towards Mikey Garcia, maybe a little smaller, not as strong, but when he did pick Spence I did give him a call and congratulated him.
“I love that Manny picked a real opponent and that’s one thing about Manny is he’s always going to fight the best out there.
“We’re fighting the best again, we’re getting ready for it and I love what I see so far but we still have about four weeks to go.”
Manny Pacquiao fights Errol Spence Jr on August 21Credit: AP More