Boxing

MONDAY was the 50th anniversary of the first Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier fight – and it reignited arguments over whether the giants of the past were better than today’s champions.
Would the Ali and Frazier who fought it out at New York’s Madison Square Garden have been too good for Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua?

Muhammad Ali’s first fight with Joe Frazier was 50 years ago – but how would the heavyweight champions of today fare against the former giantsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Colin Hart reckons Anthony Joshua would lose to both Ali and Frazier

Or would our modern heavyweights be too big, strong and athletic?
Of course it can never be resolved. Yet the debate keeps fans squabbling.
The thought of that fab four facing off does wonders for the imagination.
Just conjure up a picture of an Ali v Fury clash. It would be an over-the-top extravagance that would have he world salivating in anticipation.

The build-up banter between the two biggest motor-mouths ever would have provided more laughter than a comedians’ convention.
Ali, who could get under the skin of a snake, loved to play mind games with opponents.
He used to give them nicknames to belittle them. Sonny Liston was ‘The Ugly Bear’ and Floyd Patterson ‘The Rabbit’.
Earnie Terrell was ‘The Octopus’, he dubbed George Foreman ‘The Mummy’ and Earnie Shavers ‘The Acorn’.

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Colin Hart believes Tyson Fury would give Ali and Frazier a run for their moneyCredit: Reuters

You wonder what he might have had in store for Fury. ‘The Tongue’?
When it comes to deciding who wins, the merits and weaknesses of the fighters’ size must be taken into account.
Ali was 6ft 3in and weighed 15st 5lb while Frazier, barely 6ft, was just 14st 9lb before their Fight of the Century.
Fury – a towering 6ft 9in – was a massive 19st 7lb and 6ft 6in Joshua was a solid 16st 9lb before their last fights.
With a noticeable physical disadvantage, Ali would have been aware the Gypsy King’s skills were similar to his own. Though Ali had lost his pre-exile blistering speed, he was still much faster than Fury.
I firmly believe he would have won the tactical battle of the left jabs to secure a unanimous points decision.
Putting Frazier in with Fury would have been like getting a fishing trawler to ram a battleship.
Being 9in shorter, 5st lighter and with a 10in reach disparity he would not have got near Tyson, who would toy with him and run out an overwhelming points winner.
Frazier would have found Joshua more to his liking – Smokin’ Joe was a heavily muscled aggressive menace who never stopped ploughing forward throwing punches.
He had knockout power in both hands but his left hook was key.

Ali found to his cost Frazier was relentless – and that he could take three punches to land one.
Frazier beat Ali in New York thanks to a unanimous points decision after 15 rounds.
If Ali could not nullify him, Joshua wouldn’t have been able to.
He wouldn’t have coped with his fast bobbing and weaving style.
Although much smaller, I believe Frazier would have got inside AJ’s jab and hammered him to the body, forcing his hands down.
Once that happened in the middle rounds, Frazier would have used his dynamite left hook to knock him out.
Joshua would have struggled with Ali, too. A knockout would not be an option if Frazier couldn’t do it.
And there was no way Joshua would have outboxed him.
I feel the number of accurate punches Ali would have landed would have seen Joshua rescued by the ref late on.
So my controversial opinion is that, if my fantasy had been real, the score would be 3-1 to the old-timers over the present generation.
Just don’t tell Fury or Joshua.

Tyson Fury pours water on Anthony Joshua fight as he says he’s drinking 12 pints of lager a day More

TYSON FURY’S wife Paris revealed their sixth child will be a girl – in Instagram snaps showing off designer kidswear.
World heavyweight champion Fury has swapped the ring for baby bling as the couple adjust to pregnancy in lockdown.

Paris Fury made the gender revelation over her sixth baby in Instagram photos parading the kids’ clothing

Boxer Tyson and wife Paris already have three sons and two daughters, with another girl on the way

TV presenter Paris Fury asked the teasing question before revealing all

Tyson Fury says all that really important in his life is his wife and kidsCredit: Instagram

The Gypsy King, 32, could afford to smile as 31-year-old Paris paraded Monnalisa baby clothes on social media.
She also posted a gender reveal picture on Instagram, firing pink confetti out of a confetti gun.
Paris wrote: “It’s a girl💖. We are due another little princess, god willing 🙏🏼 come summer we will have 3 girls and 3 boys. So blessed.”
Mr Fury insists he will not spoil his children financially, as he wants to keep them grounded.

But after he went public on Paris’s pregnancy last month, it’s clear his third daughter will be dressed in high-end outfits.
Their baby will be in pink – and white – judging by the pics posted by Loose Women presenter Paris.
And her husband says his family is all that really matters to him.
Fury even threw doubt on his all-British unification title fight with Anthony Joshua by claiming he is drinking 12 pints A DAY and might never fight in this country again.

But whatever weight you can attach to those comments, you can surely believe him when he speaks glowingly about expecting another child.
He told Gareth A Davies last month: “Paris is pregnant again and the Lord has blessed us definitely with another child and I’m very thankful.
“Got a beautiful wife, beautiful kids, they’re all healthy.
“That’s the most important thing, you know, your health and your family. Nothing else really matters.
“Your job, your money, your wealth, your career, none of that really matters because you can get another job, you can start snooker or you can go make more money.
“It doesn’t really matter, but the one thing you can’t get back is your family. You can’t get back time lost and that’s the crazy thing about it all.”

And if there was any doubt over the brand Paris ended it with this pic

Paris began dating Tyson 15 years ago when she was 16Credit: Instagram @gypsyking101

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TYSON FURY has given a worrying interview pouring water on his potential undisputed decider with Anthony Joshua.
The Gypsy King has kept quiet while his own promoter Bob Arum, AJ’s matchmaker Eddie Hearn and Joshua himself have hinted at a huge announcement this month for a June clash in Saudi Arabia.

Tyson Fury has claimed he’s drinking 12 pints a day and not training in frustration over the drawn-out Anthony Joshua fight negotiations

Fury is set to face Anthony Joshua in their all-British heavyweight unification fight this summer

Hearn has even sold Brit fans the dream of the second-leg of the two-fight rivalry happening at a packed Wembley stadium, after the lockdowns have lifted.
But Fury, who claims he is necking up to 12 pints A DAY and not eating, says he will NEVER fight in the UK again and the AJ fight is well off schedule.
Fury, who does have a habit of conning reporters, told IFL: “Whatever they say is very unimportant to me because, until I have a fight date and a hell-of-a-lot of money in my pocket, there is no fight.
“Will I be fighting Joshua in the next ten minutes? No. Do I think the fight will eventually happen? Yes, it has to happen. Do I think it is next or imminent? No.

“I am not going to hold my breath for it, that’s for sure. 
“I am not going to put all my eggs in one basket because I have been guilty of doing that before and, when the fight doesn’t happen, that is when I end up in a massive depression and feel like killing myself.
“I am not going to say ‘it is definitely happening in June or July’”.
Fury has not boxed since his brilliant February 2020 rematch win over Deontay Wilder that earned him the WBC title that is the one missing from Joshua’s collection.

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Watford’s WBA, IBF and WBO boss has teased fans with a big announcement coming soon – but Fury claims he has swapped triple training sessions for beer marathons.
With a straight face, he said: “I have stopped training at the moment, I am on holiday.
“I am drinking anything between eight, ten, 12 pints of lager a day, at the minute.
“But I am not eating so I am getting my calories through alcohol.
“I have trained and trained and trained with no progress so I am now a man of leisure.”
Fury was supposed to fight in London on December 5 in a celebrated homecoming bout.
But he clashed with his promoters and broadcasters about his pay and level of opponent so embarrassingly the bout was binned.
The 6ft 9in undefeated ace, who has now gone over a year without a fight, is demanding two in the next nine months but has ruled out ever returning to the UK.
After Wilder accused him of cheating in his magnificent Las Vegas coronation, Fury ruled out a trilogy clash but, in a total 180, that is now back on the table.

He said: “I have two fights this year and I don’t give a f*** if they are with, Joe Bloggs, Fred Flintstone, Mike Tyson, anybody. I just want to fight this year.
“Don’t write Wilder out of the equation next, I could be having the trilogy fight with him yet.
“There is a lot going on behind the scenes and Wilder could be next.
“I will never box here again. No. Finished.
“The superstar of world boxing will not box in small halls anymore. My new home is in Las Vegas.
“I intend to stay there and end my career over there.”
Earlier on Thursday, Fury’s promoter – Frank Warren – had revealed the Gypsy King was getting ‘peed off’ with the drawn out AJ negotiations.

Fury said he’s given up training for now while he waits for negotiations to finishCredit: Twitter / @Tyson_Fury
Warren claimed: “Nobody is more frustrated than the fighters and us, we’ve worked like you cannot believe to get this over the line.
“I think Tyson is a bit peed off about it because it’s dragging on and on and on.”
Warren continued: “What I can say is that everything is agreed, it’s an imminent announcement and we’ve got to work on a site, and that’s it.
“It’s absolutely moving in the right direction and everybody is on the same page.
“Hopefully everybody will be getting the good news soon.
“The contracts are agreed and they will be signed, 100 per cent, I’m confident of that.”

Bob Arum says that Tyson Fury fight with Anthony Joshua is on with agreements all settled and announcement in coming days More

FORMER WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker has linked up with trainer Andy Lee following his split from long-time mentor Kevin Barry.
The New Zealand star announced the amicable split from the 1984 Olympic silver medallist following his points decision victory over Junior Fa last month.

Joseph Parker has teamed up with Andy Lee following his split from trainer Kevin BarryCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Lee worked alongside Sugarhill Steward in helping Tyson Fury stop Deontay Wilder in February 2020Credit: Sportsfile – Subscription

And he has now teamed up with Fury’s cousin and assistant coach Lee, who was instrumental in the Gypsy King stopping Deontay Wilder last year.
According to Sky Sports, WBC champ Fury personally recommended Lee to Parker ahead of the Kiwi’s potential fight against Derek Chisora in May.
Parker and Fury are known to be close friends, with their ‘brotherhood’ stemming from the 29-year-old’s win against Hughie Fury in 2017.
Commenting on the link-up between Parker and Lee, the boxer’s manager David Higgins said: “I think it’s exciting to see how it plays out.

“We’ve heard good things about Andy. The two of them will spend a bit of time together and get to know each other.
“[Parker]’s excited about freshening things up a bit and maybe learning some new things, in a new environment.
“He had a wonderful run together with Kevin Barry and became world champion, but now it’s time for a new chapter.”
And Higgins has been encouraged from what he has heard of former WBO middleweight champion Lee.

Fury reportedly recommended his cousin and coach Lee to close friend ParkerCredit: Rex Features

Higgins added: “He’s schooled in the Emanuel Steward method at the Kronk gym, having lived with Emanuel.
“He’s an experienced boxer, who was also a world champion.
“He’ll be young and hungry by trainer standards, but he’s got good credentials, and we’ve heard good things.”
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn recently stated that Parker and Chisora are set to headline a bumper pay-per-view card in May.

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TYSON FURY has thrown his support behind brother Tommy’s bid to fight Jake Paul.
The 5-0 Brit and the American YouTuber-turned-fighter – who is 2-0 – swapped social media insults two weeks ago after Tommy’s latest win.

Tyson Fury has thrown his support behind brother Tommy’s bid to fight Jake PaulCredit: Rex Features

YouTuber Paul has been swapping social media insults with Love Island star Tommy

Paul, 24, fights former UFC wrestler Ben Askren on April 17 and then a bout is being built between the Love Island winner and the social media superstar.
And 32-year-old boxing purist Tyson, who claims he has ditched his training camp for a summer clash with Anthony Joshua and started drinking up to 12 pints a day, supports the celebrity scrap.
The Gypsy King told IFL: “Jake Paul can fight. I think they have about the same level of experience.
“They have both had a few pro fights, Tommy only had a few amateur bouts.

“I think it would be an even fight to be fair.”

They have both had a few pro fights, Tommy only had a few amateur bouts
Tyson Fury

Hunk Tommy, 21, has demolished a string of journeymen in mismatched bouts so far, but has a mammoth following thanks to his rugged looks and boy-next-door charm.
Paul, now 2-0 as a pro boxer, has offered Conor McGregor around £45million for a clash and accused boxing’s pound-for-pound master Canelo Alvarez of ducking opponents.
A potential meeting between the two could attract huge numbers as the worlds of social media, reality TV and sport collide.

And WBC ace Fury – who has dismissed the idea of AJ being his next opponent – thinks it would be a fair fight.

He said: “How is Tommy going to smoke him in one round? The man is 6ft 1in, 185lbs, he can box and fight, we have seen him knock people out and in the gym sparring.
“Some people cannot knockout a journeyman who has had 50 losses in a row, so to knock out someone who wants to win is difficult.
“I think it will be an interesting fight to watch and I think it would be an interesting fight for boxing, for sure, because it is two celebrities fighting.”

Anthony Joshua labels the Tyson Fury fight ‘a warm up act’ and believes his fellow Brit is close to retirement More

DEONTAY WILDER and Andy Ruiz Jr are on a ‘road to redemption’ that could see them fight this year.
Wilder is still smarting after his sensational seventh-round KO loss to Tyson Fury in February last year.

Ruiz Jr flopped in his rematch against Anthony Joshua – only six months after shocking the world by stopping the Brit.
Here, SunSport compares the two deposed heavyweight champs ahead of a potential mouthwatering clash…
Age
Wilder is the older of the two at 35 with Ruiz Jr a youthful 31.
But such was his battering at the hands of Fury, Wilder may well look all those 35 years and more on his return.

Experience
There’s not much between the two in terms of experience.
Wilder turned pro in 2008 whereas Ruiz Jr joined the sport in 2009.

Deontay Wilder is adamant he will become a world champion againCredit: Instagram / @bronzebomber

Andy Ruiz Jr is on the comeback trail too – and losing weightCredit: Instagram @andy_destroyer13
It is Wilder who has more fights – 44 to Ruiz Jr’s 35, but most of the Bronze Bomber’s bouts lasted only a matter of minutes.
It is Ruiz Jr who has the better grounding, having almost three times as many amateur fights as Wilder.

Power
Both have clear power in their fists – but there is only one winner on this one.
Wilder had knocked every single one of his opponents out before meeting Fury. His one points win before this, against Bermane Stiverne, was avenged when he KO’d his countryman in the rematch.
Ruiz Jr stunned Joshua with his power in July 2019 sending the Brit crashing to the canvas FOUR times before the match was halted.
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Ruiz Jr meekly surrendered his world titles to Joshua in their rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Wilder wanted the Fury trilogy fight – but doesn’t look like getting it any time soonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Fitness
With the power on show, fight fans might not be expecting the fight to tick into the latter stages.
And both boxers will be hoping for similar.
Wilder looked leggy from the off in his battering by Fury, while Snickers loving Ruiz Jr has well-documented problems with his weight.
But the Mexican has undergone a body tranformation following his lame show against Joshua, and he might even have the better engine in this.

Desire
Wilder talks of how he ‘will return to greatness’ but after some wild accusations following the Fury loss, it’s hard to take things seriously with him.
Undefeated for 12 years, and a five-year WBC title reign came crashing down in spectacular fashion in February 2020.
Ruiz Jr became the first-ever Mexican heavyweight champ when he dethroned Joshua in 2019.
But he admitted he let himself down with ‘six months of partying’ and was embarrassed in the rematch as AJ easily won back his belts.
The Destroyer owes it to himself as much as anyone – and that fire might be burning a little brighter than it does for Wilder.

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