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      Carl Frampton admits he must block out Jamel Herring’s heartbreaking story to win world title and avoid retirement

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      CARL FRAMPTON has to block out Jamel Herring’s heartbreaking story to snatch away his world title on Saturday night.In the Jackal’s way of becoming Ireland’s first three-weight world champ is a former US Marine who lost a daughter to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and battles with PTSD.
      Carl Frampton is set for a decisive fight in Dubai on SaturdayCredit: PA:Press Association
      Jamel Herring will face the Irishman for the WBO beltCredit: Getty
      The Covid-19 pandemic has led to the clash for Herring’s WBO super-featherweight title being relocated and delayed a handful of times so father-of-two Frampton, 34, knows his rival inside out.
      And when he slides between the Dubai ropes on Saturday, in a fight he insists he will retire after if he loses, his first battle will be putting aside his respect for the man in front of him.
      Frampton told SunSport: “It is very sad what has happened to Jamel and his family.
      “As a father with a young family, I cannot think of anything worse than losing a child.
      “I have the deepest sympathy for Jamel and his wife, I would not wish that on my absolute worst enemy.
      “They have come through a lot but, as harsh as it sounds, I cannot think about that on the night. I have to think about the fight and winning it.
      “I have the utmost respect and sympathy for Jamel and his family, I always have but this is a fight and I have to do everything I can to win it.”
      Defeat spells retirement and a new role as house husband for Belfast’s former super-bantam and feather king.
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      With two children, scarred and brittle hands and university-educated wife Christine eager to make her own mark on the world, Frampton knows his era is almost over.
      But only time will tell if financial security for generations of Framptons and his status as one of the Emerald Isle’s finest fighters were worth all the mad punishment he put himself through.
      The Tigers Bay legend said: “Boxing has given me plenty more than it has taken out
      “If I was training like I used to and doing the amount of sparring rounds I used to do then I would not be where I am now. It was just not good for you physically or mentally.
      “Getting your head shaken that often, doing 220 rounds of sparring before every fight – and a lot of those up against light-middleweights – is madness when I think about it.
      “I owe boxing a lot, there have been so many good times but a few bad times too.”
      Herring, 35, has listened to Frampton’s retirement plans from across the Pond and heard what he thinks is a half-hearted man with an eye off the ball.
      After flying over Fallujah, where he spent two terrifying tours in 2005 and 2007 losing countless comrades, he told SunSport: “Carl is already talking about having one foot out of the door, if he loses he has said he will retire.
      I respect Carl, I have been a fan of his for years and hopefully when this is all done we can sit down and be friends and laugh about our fight.Jamel Herring

      “I am saying, when I win I want to unify or go up in weight to fight another champion.
      “I respect Carl Frampton, I have been a fan of his for years and hopefully when this is all done we can sit down and be friends and laugh about our fight.
      “But I still have this hunger, his career is set, he has done it all and can walk away happily now.
      “I have so much more I have to accomplish.”
      Carl Frampton’s wife Christine hilariously mimics his kettlebell workout with beer can More

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      Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury could CLASH with Conor McGregor’s mega UFC trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’s blockbuster undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury could end up clashing with Conor McGregor’s latest venture to the octagon.The long-awaited Battle of Britain is in the works for the summer, with both parties working towards a June or July date.
      Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury could take place in July, according to Eddie HearnCredit: PA
      Conor McGregor’s UFC trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier is slated for July 10Credit: Reuters
      Matchroom boxing chief Eddie Hearn, however, recently claimed the fight could take place in the ‘first week’ or the ‘backend’ of July.
      That could end up being a cause for concern as McGregor’s trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier is currently targeted for the same month.
      The third instalment of McGregor vs Poirier is set to headline UFC 264 on July 10.
      The good news for Hearn, however, is the former featherweight rivals’ series decider has yet to be finalised.
      Staging the biggest fight in the history of British boxing in the same month as Poirier vs McGregor III could end up having a detrimental effect on pay-per-view buys for both fights.
      Fight fans in the USA will likely have to pay $89.95 – the price of the much-maligned Mayweather vs McGregor PPV in 2017 – to watch Joshua vs Fury and a further $69.99 to view UFC 264.
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      Those in the UK will have to stump up a minimum of £40 to watch both fights, that is if Joshua vs Fury isn’t priced more than the usual £19.95.
      But Hearn is confident Joshua and Fury’s long-overdue meeting will indeed take place in July.
      During an appearance on The AK and Barak show, he said: “In July.
      “The date depends on many different things. For one venue, it’s the backend of July, and for another venue, it’s the first week of July.
      “There’s been a bit of talk about Wembley, which is difficult, but we got 100,000 capacity, which the government is working towards.

      “Wembley is trying to initiate full capacity. So if we did have full capacity at the end of July, Wembley comes into the conversation.
      “In AJ’s head, this comes down to as much money as possible, but for AJ, I’m not saying he’s looking for the right deal, but he just wants to fight.
      “He wants this fight next more than anything. So if it’s 100,000 at Wembley, Anthony Joshua is 1 million percent signed and in for this fight.
      “Obviously, we have to do our job and go around the world and present all the offers to the fighters, but Anthony Joshua has told me categorically that if it’s Wembley and full up, ‘I’m in.’
      “But firstly, I have to deal with all these approaches for the fighters.”

      Despite the delay in finalising the bout – which was agreed last June – Joshua and Fury are both hard at work in the gym.
      Hearn, 41, said: “AJ is in 100 per cent full camp.
      “In his mind, this is the only fight that is going to happen next. Whoever comes up with the best opportunity, it’s on.
      “I hope that will come from the other side as well because everybody signed a contract, and they have to approve the site and the deal as far as the site offers.
      “But it’s going to be significant.”
      Eddie Hearn says that Wembley back on as venue for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fight More

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      Teofimo Lopez tells Vasyl Lomachenko ‘f*** you’ but admits he learned a lot from boxing rival and former P4P No1

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      UNIFIED lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez admits he learned a great deal from his showdown with Vasyl Lomachenko, but he insists he still doesn’t like the Ukrainian.Lopez shocked the world last October by edging out Loma in their blockbuster lightweight title unification bout, which he won via unanimous decision.
      Temofimo Lopez lands a straight right to the body of Vaysl LomachenkoCredit: Getty
      Teofimo Lopez celebrates his decision victory over Vaysl LomachenkoCredit: Getty
      The pair have been engaged in a bitter war of words ever since that night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
      But Lopez, 23, admits his overall game has benefitted from sharing the ring with the two-time Olympic gold medallist.
      When asked about his prime being anywhere on the horizon, he told TMZ: “More so of the opposition and the amount of knowledge I grabbed off of Lomachenko himself.”
      The Takeover added: “Yeah [I learned stuff from fighting him]. Just like I learned from everybody that I faced.
      “But mainly, yeah, with Lomachenko, I did. There’s a lot of things that I grabbed off of him.
      “We already know what we were going to do in camp and going into the fight.
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      The boxing schedule for the next two months
      “But then there was nice things that I grabbed and now I take it into my own craft now.”
      Lopez is grateful for the extra wisdom his bout with Lomachenko has bestowed on him and was quick to thank the former champ for teaching him some valuable lessons.
      But he made sure to let him know they won’t be on good terms any time soon.
      He continued: “Thanks, Loma. Even though f**k you, but thank you.”
      Teofimo Lopez still isn’t the biggest fan of Vaysl LomachenkoCredit: Getty

      Lopez’s next outing is expected to be against Japan’s Masayoshi Nakatani, although their meeting has not yet been confirmed.
      Lopez has, however, revealed he’ll be back in the ring in June.
      He said: “June 5th in Miami, that’s when I’ll be fighting.
      “It’s great, man, and I’m excited to bring it back to everybody, the sport, that I love.”
      Teofimo Lopez shows insane hand speed as he trains alone More

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      Conor Benn calls out role model Amir Khan for mouthwatering British boxing fight after Samuel Vargas bout

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      CONOR BENN has a wild war with Amir Khan at the top of his hit list, once he comes through his latest gutcheck.The welterweight son of British ring legend Nigel is one of Britain’s most rapidly improving fighters and his latest test is against Samuel Vargas on April 10 at Wembley.
      Conor Benn has another step-up fight on April 10 against Samuel Varga and then he wants a domestic grudge match.Credit: The Sun
      The 24-year-old new father to baby boy Eli is already too wise to overlook his experienced Colombian opponent.
      But the constraints the covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns have caused boxing means every fighter is planning ahead.
      “I’m not overlooking Vargas, but what doors open after him?” Benn wondered. 
      “I want a big domestic fight, someone that I can take that experience off. 
      “The Amir Khan fight would be one hell of a fight. That would be a great British clash. 
      “Amir Khan was a fighter I looked up to and so was Kell Brook. Why not put me in with one of them after Vargas?”
      Amir Khan is at the top of Conor Benn’s welterweight hit list.Credit: Reuters

      When Vargas flew over to Birmingham to face Khan 2018, he was supposed to be a sacrificial lamb for the Brit hero to score a sensational KO over.
      Instead Khan had to haul himself off the canvas in the second round and eventually score a unanimous decision.
      And Benn is going to use that frightful night for Khan as a yardstick to measure his own soaring progress.
      He said: “This ain’t going to be a one-two lights out. It isn’t going to be one of them. This is going to be a hard fight. 

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      “This is going to be me getting stuck straight in and us two going at it in there. It’s going to be one hell of a fight and that’s what I’m preparing for.
      “He gave Amir Khan hell. Amir Khan got saved by the bell and by the grace of God three or four times in that fight. He had him on the deck. 
      “I know Khan’s chin isn’t that credible but he’s a well-respected fighter. He’s achieved everything that I want to achieve in the sport. 
      “This is going to be a harder fight than people think in my opinion.”
      Conor Benn training for behind-closed-doors headliner against Sebastian Formella at Wembley Arena More

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      Inside Tyson Fury training camp from ‘drinking 12 pints a day’ to stunning body transformation for Anthony Joshua fight

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      TYSON FURY’S sensational shape proves he toys with reporters as easily as he does opponents.When the WBC Gypsy King growled through his new Stone Cold Steve Austin goatee that he had downed tools over the delay in confirming a date and location for the undisputed Anthony Joshua fight, his chiselled cheekbones gave him away.
      Tyson Fury showed off his dramatic body transformationCredit: Instagram / @gypsykingofficialmerchandise
      Joseph Parker, Andy Lee and Tyson Fury in the gymCredit: Instagram / @joeboxerparker
      This week, when his official merchandise site posted a photo of the undefeated 6ft 9in ace looking ripped, it was clear for all to see that Fury is fighting fit.
      The Morecambe hero is definitely frustrated that he has not boxed – nor been paid – since his iconic February 2020 win over Deontay Wilder, he has even threatened to take on a different opponent than Watford’s WBA, IBF and WBO boss.
      But his itchy knuckles have definitely not been hitting the bottle in anger and instead his gym-rat mentality has him ready to rumble at all times.
      Featherweight and fellow Traveller Isaac Lowe is almost half Fury’s size but he is a constant companion in and outside the gym.
      The Westgate Warrior won a six-rounder on March 12, that Fury attended, and you can bet the 31-0-1 giant did the full camp alongside his little pal.
      Fury’s younger brother Hughie – not to be confused with the cousin and fellow heavyweight pro of the same name – has also gone through a dramatic four-stone weight-loss transformation that Tyson will have played a huge part in.
      And Ty Mitchell is a light-heavyweight competing on the unlicenced circuit who always seems to be in the Fury gym, working on new skills and making Fury smile, even on the giant heavy bag they have nicknamed ‘Big Bertha’.
      Fury likes long runs around Morecambe Bay, during the first lockdown he reached thousands of people every day with live workouts streamed on Instagram.

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      And his favourite chef George Lockhart even flew over to help smuggle much-hated vegetables into some of his meals.
      Fury’s Detroit-based trainer Sugar Hill Steward came over in the autumn of 2020 but, when Fury’s December 5 fight was cancelled when his purse and opponent could not be agreed, he went back to America.
      But Fury is working regularly with Irish cousin and assistant Andy Lee and now has a training partner in former world champ Joseph Parker, who fights Derek Chisora in London on May 1.
      Fury will play a major part in the New Zealander’s camp as a sparring partner and friend so he will be kept busy for the whole of April again while promoters on Team AJ and Fury try to get the first leg of the two-fight rivalry arranged.
      And Tyson – when he is not pretending to be drinking, dipping his hands in petrol or masturbating seven times – has revealed how he stays in shape and why he plays with the public’s perception of his fitness.
      He said: “I have not really stopped training since December 2017, even after the world title fights with Wilder I am in the gym the next day or running 10m, I am always in the gym sparring or messing around.
      “If I can have three years out of the ring, come back and school Wilder, then do I really need sparring and warm-up fights?
      Tyson Fury pictured with his dad JohnCredit: Instagram / @gypsykingofficialmerchandise
      Tyson Fury is training to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Instagram / @gypsykingofficialmerchandise
      “The thing with me is, people never know when I am telling the truth or not.
      “When I tell the truth, some people don’t believe and if I tell a lie sometimes everyone believes it.
      “The proof is in the pudding and everything I have ever said in the past I have backed up.”
      The facts are Fury has a family full of big men who like to run and spar and train, he has friends and sparring partners anywhere between nine and 17st.
      Little brother Tommy is breaking into the game and even their dad Big John is looking for the Mike Tyson fight when he is not helping to train his sons.
      Fighting and training is in Fury’s blood, sweat and tears.
      As long as he is in the right mind to train, he will be ready to fight at the drop of a hat and fans have little reason to worry.
      But seeing him so trim this far out from a targeted July clash with AJ does raise concerns that he could be ready to burn all the carefully laid plans and fight someone else entirely.
      Tommy Fury jokes he doesn’t like brother Tyson during sparring when he’s laying big hooks into his ribs More

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      Ryan Garcia, 22, plans to retire from boxing at just 26 to fight in UFC after ‘beating everybody as quick as I can’

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      RYAN GARCIA revealed he plans to retire at 26 to leave enough time to fight in the UFC. Garcia, 22, is touted as boxing’s next ‘Golden Boy’ – the name his promoter Oscar De La Hoya once went by.
      Ryan Garcia is planning a move into MMA after retiring from boxingCredit: Tom Hogan
      The lightweight sensation is unbeaten in 21 fights, and coming off a career best win in January, stopping Luke Campbell, 33, in round seven.
      So it came as a shock when Garcia announced plans to hang up the gloves in just four years time.
      But in conversation with retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren on his YouTube channel, he opened up on plans to make a move into MMA.
      Garcia said: “Hey, let me tell you something Ben; I’ve never said this on air, I’ve always said I’m going to retire at 26.
      “Everybody looks at me crazy, right? But I’m doing it to go into the MMA ring.
      “So, I’m going to need you to teach me some wrestling techniques before I even start trying to dive in there.
      “Some little wrestling, then we’ll go from there. So, I’ve never said that out loud in my life.
      “But yeah, I plan to beat everybody I want to beat in boxing as quick as I can, get out – of course I could dive back for big opportunities – but I want to show the world not only can I box, I feel I can become the best warrior in the world.”
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      UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 32, made his boxing debut in 2017, losing to Floyd Mayweather, 44, in a crossover spectacle.
      And recently two-weight undisputed women’s champion Claressa Shields announced she had signed for Professional Fighters League.
      Shields, 26, is set to make her MMA debut in June, having started training with UFC icon Jon Jones.
      But only James Toney has transitioned from boxing to the UFC, but did so in 2010, aged 42.
      Toney was beaten with ease in three minutes, taken down and submitted by Randy Couture.
      Garcia said: “Nobody has ever dominated boxing and then tried to dominate UFC.
      Boxing legend James Toney was beaten in the UFC in 2010Credit: Getty – Contributor
      UFC legend Jon Jones pictured with Claressa ShieldsCredit: @claressashields

      “They’ve done in later, later, later on in their career when they’re already done.
      “But never when they’re still fresh and they still have some juice left in them.”
      Garcia has flirted with a move into the cage, and called out McGregor as well as his training partner Dillon Danis.
      Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who retired in May, wanted to instead face the boxer in the ring.
      But talk has since died down, and Garcia is now open to working with Cejudo, 34, and Askren, 36, to gain grappling coaching.
      He said: “Let’s do it. I’m down to hang out with both of you guys and you guys just turn me into a monster. 
      “I’ve got Henry Cejudo and Ben Askren in my corner, that’s pretty devastating to me.”
      Ryan Garcia shows off explosive speed with blistering punch combo More

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      UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou warns Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury he WILL box after being inspired by Mike Tyson

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      NEW UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has sent out a warning to boxing stars Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury ahead of their £200m unification clash.Ngannou finally reached the UFC summit after knocking out Stipe Miocic in their rematch, having initially lost to the American in 2018.
      Francis Ngannou has vowed to eventually box after being inspired by Mike TysonCredit: Instagram / @hoboxingpodcast
      AJ is currently boxing’s WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight title holderCredit: Instagram
      The Gypsy King is the WBC heavyweight champion of the worldCredit: Instagram
      His attention swiftly turned to a fight with Jon Jones, who announced a move up to heavyweight last year.
      But Ngannou, 34, believes Bones, 33, does want to fight him as the American tries to solve a payment dispute with UFC’s Dana White.
      However, he has now followed on from the dethroned Miocic declaring his desire to face AJ or the Gypsy King in the ring by talking up a bumper big-money crossover of his own.
      And it stems from his first fighting hero Tyson – the legendary boxer he aimed to emulate after arriving in Paris from Africa before he even knew what MMA was.
      Speaking to ESPN, the Cameroonian said: “This is in the future, it’s somewhere, definitely. I’m going to box; I have to box in my career.
      “My main dream has always been the noble art and even though I deviated into MMA, which I love, I still have to fulfil something in boxing.”
      Ngannou also revealed he has no desire to sit waiting around and basking in his glory.
      Instead he wants two more fights before the end of 2021 – and he is happy to face anyone should Jones not climb into the cage with him.
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      He added: “I don’t know what’s happening between Jon Jones and the UFC but something seems wrong and I think maybe he’s handled it in the wrong way.
      “But that’s not my business, there are a lot of contenders ready to fight and there are a lot of fights here.
      “For the first time, I’m the man who is making the call, I don’t have to sit down and wait for people; they are waiting for me and I am ready.
      The Predator is desperate to face Jon Jones in the octagon nextCredit: Getty
      “I can choose to fight and I want to fight twice this year. I hope that fight happens, I would love that fight but if not I will move on. I am ready to fight in the summer, maybe August, so that I can also fight in December.”
      He added: “If it was up to me, Jon Jones is a good one. I’ve taken the best heavyweight of all time out so now to take the pound-for-pound No.1 guy out would be good; it would be good for the resume.
      “I think he wants a challenge but I think he is also at the stage in his career where he wants a big pay cheque, and I can’t argue with that.
      “He is the greatest and the pound-for-pound No.1 guy, you can’t deny anything in this sport to Jon Jones.”

      Francis Ngannou confirms he wants Jon Jones showdown next but is up for Stipe Miocic trilogy if needed More

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      Tyson Fury fight with Anthony Joshua IS on for July as Eddie Hearn slams rival’s dad John over claims deal not done

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      EDDIE HEARN is adamant the highly-anticipated Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury showdown IS ON for July.The two superstars have agreed and penned a £200m two-fight deal to unify the heavyweight division.
      Eddie Hearn is adamant Anthony Joshua’s shot at world domination will be in JulyCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      AJ will face WBC king Tyson Fury to unify the heavyweight divisionCredit: Instagram
      The Gypsy King’s dad John then cast doubt over the fight with AJ by insisting an agreement means nothing without a date and venue.
      The Middle East was expected to host the blockbuster bout but Hearn admitted a full Wembley is an alternative if lockdown restrictions are lifted in time.
      Reacting to Fury Snr’s remarks, Joshua’s Matchroom promoter Hearn told the AK & Barak show: “‘What have they signed?’ Unless you’re trying to talk yourself out of this fight, all I’m doing is grafting my nuts off to try and make this fight.
      “I’m traveling all around the world this week trying to get it done, and all I hear from the other side is, ‘Yeah, well, it’s not going to happen, is it? It’s not a great time at the moment.’
      “I said to [Bob] Arum the other day, ‘Where’s your mojo?’ I’m flying all over the world, and people are saying to me, ‘I saw an interview with this guy, and he said he doesn’t even think it’ll happen.’
      “AJ is in 100% full camp. In his mind, this is the only fight that is going to happen next. Whoever comes up with the best opportunity, it’s on.
      “I hope that will come from the other side as well because everybody signed a contract, and they have to approve the site and the deal as far as the site offers.
      “But it’s going to be significant. We’ve already had offers. I don’t like the noise I’m hearing from that camp.
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      “Maybe they’ve been let down before, and maybe they don’t trust people. I don’t know. But for me, I’m not doing this, traveling around the world away from my family.
      “I’m doing this because I’m trying to make the biggest fight in the world.
      “So if you’re with me, as you showed you were by signing the contract, be with us. Maybe they think we won’t come up with the goods, but we will.”
      Fury, 32, has fought just once in the last 18 months – that stunning win over Deontay Wilder in February 2020.

      All eyes are on the showdown with Joshua, but his father may feel he needs a tune-up first before AJ.
      Although Hearn is adamant the spectacular should happen sooner rather than later.
      He said: “In July. The date depends on many different things. For one venue, it’s the backend of July, and for another venue, it’s the first week of July.
      “There’s been a bit of talk about Wembley, which is difficult, but we got 100,000 capacity, which the government is working towards.

      “Wembley is trying to initiate full capacity. So if we did have full capacity at the end of July, Wembley comes into the conversation.
      “In AJ’s head, this comes down to as much money as possible, but for AJ, I’m not saying he’s looking for the right deal, but he just wants to fight.
      “He wants this fight next more than anything. So if it’s 100,000 at Wembley, Anthony Joshua is 1 million percent signed and in for this fight.
      “Obviously, we have to do our job and go around the world and present all the offers to the fighters, but Anthony Joshua has told me categorically that if it’s Wembley and full up, ‘I’m in.’ But firstly, I have to deal with all these approaches for the fighters.”
      Tyson Fury’s dad John casts doubt over Anthony Joshua fight and insists agreement means nothing without date and venue More