Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA ‘does not trust himself’ since defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr and Tyson Fury will be ‘awkward’ for him, Otto Wallin said.
Wallin is preparing to face American Dominic Breazeale this weekend, the man AJ dominated over seven rounds in 2016.

Tyson Fury beat Otto Wallin in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Anthony Joshua during his loss to Andy Ruiz JrCredit: AP:Associated Press

But after re-watching the fight, Wallin reckons Joshua is not the same fighter and has has had his confidence knocked since losing to Ruiz.
Speaking to Marc Gatford via BonusCodeBets.co.uk, he said: “I’ve been watching Joshua’s fight with Breazeale lately.
“Joshua has a great style but I think sometimes maybe he does not trust himself enough.
“I hope that he can tune into how he looked against Breazeale, he looked more confident than he’s been lately.

“It looks to me like he’s been hurt a little bit mentally after that Ruiz loss.
“Something looked off with him that night, all the way through, from coming out of the dressing room and in the ring.
“I hope that he can trust himself and do what he’s good at. He’s got a beautiful style, he’s just got to do what he’s good at.
“I watched his fight against [Kubrat] Pulev and it looks like he’s trying to explore some different sides of himself.”

Tyson Fury suffered a horror gash against Otto WallinCredit: EPA

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Joshua, 31, was stunned by Ruiz, also 31, in June 2019 in a shock upset which cost him the unified titles and his unbeaten record.
But six months later he returned with a reformed style and outboxed the underdog Mexican-American to win back his belts.
Joshua has continued to stick to a more patient approach, which was on show in his last win, a round nine KO against Pulev, 39, in December.
It has set him up with an undisputed title decider where for the first time all four WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts will be on the line.
Wallin, 30, came mightily close to handing Fury, 32, a shock of his own in their 2019 fight.
Britain’s Gypsy King suffered a horror gash in round three after a thudding hook and almost lost via technical stoppage due to the cut.
But Fury found a way to win and six months later dethroned Deontay Wilder, 35, of the WBC crown.

Kubrat Pulev was KOd by Anthony JoshuaCredit: Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd

Having experienced all of the 6ft 9in switch-hitter’s talent, Wallin tips his former opponent to be too slick for Joshua.
He explained: “I think Fury can outbox him because he is bigger, awkward and has great boxing skills.
“The best way would be to box him coming forward and try to make Joshua go back but still use his height and reach.
“Joshua is always going to be dangerous because he’s a puncher. 
“If he can get in on Fury and let off his good combinations that would be good, but I’m not sure because Fury’s a big guy, awkward, he can go southpaw, orthodox.
“I think Fury will eventually be too much but these are two best heavyweights in the world right now.
“I just feel like Fury is very confident, he’s got a good head, and he trusts himself a lot.”

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AARON CARTER hit out at Jake Paul after the YouTuber criticised his boxing fight against Lamar Odom.
Recording artist Carter will face Khloe Kardashian’s ex-husband, former basketball player Odom on June 12 in an exhibition.

Jake Paul, left, slammed Aaron Carter’s fight against Lamar OdomCredit: Instagram @brutalbostwick

Aaron Carter will face Lamar Odom on June 12Credit: Instagram

Internet sensation Paul, 2-0 as a professional, was asked about the new wave of ‘celebrity boxing’.
He denied it was even a thing and insisted only himself and big brother Logan, 25, are celebrities who have crossed over to the ring.
Talking on I AM ATHLETE, the 24-year-old was quizzed on the exhibition between Odom and Carter.
But Paul hit back: “F** that. That’s weak s***. That’s f***ing up boxing.

“He’s fighting this little f***er, let’s not even talk about that.”
It caught the attention of Carter, who then went on a rant about Paul and accused the social media star of being ‘jealous’.
He wrote on Instagram: “First of all little homey you have no idea what I’m doing w my trainer no idea how long I’ve been studying martial arts so make sure you check yourself before you wreck yourself anybody a little f***er over here you’ll never sell 75 million records.
“OK and if this fight is bigger than yours oh boo-hoo cry about it get over it I could give two s***s about your jealous ass comments in this interview.

“But I don’t mind using y’all’s asses for clout lol #Salty #Jealous #JakePaul I’m a street fighter homie. How many times has your nose been broken?
“I’ve been jumped multiple times by drug dealers and I’m still GD 4 life.”
Asked why he has been attacked by drug dealers, Carter reponded: “Tryna rob me coming in with stacks why y’all think I got strap with  me at all times huh?
“I have a concealed weapons permit in LA county and I don’t need to answer none of y’alls unsolicited nonsense.”

Odom, 41, is 6ft 10in and spent 14 seasons in the NBA whereas Carter, 33, is 6ft 1in – but both have no fighting experience in the ring.
Celebrity boxing promoter Damon Feldman, brother to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president David, is putting on the event.
The bout is just a three-round exhibition and not professionally sanctioned.
Paul, on the other hand has two knockouts to his name, against online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ and ex-NBA point guard Nate Robinson, since turning pro.
And he is now set to face retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, in his third bout, scheduled for April 17.

Jake Paul pictured next to his older brother Logan
Paul, who has over 20MILLION subscribers, argues his career as a fighter is legitimate and should not be categorised in the celebrity boxing bracket.
He said: “I take it serious. I take it serious.
“I’m dedicated, I’m in Big Bear California, I’m in Las Vegas, sparring professionals, two-a-day, for the past three years.
“Yes, I’m a celebrity who boxes but like celebrity boxing isn’t really a thing, it’s just me and my brother doing it.” More

CARL FRAMPTON’S cursed shot at Jamel Herring’s super-featherweight world title is off again.
The Irish icon was bidding for gold at his third weight on February 27 but a hand injury has forced the jinxed fight to be delayed again.

Carl Frampton’s cursed shot at Jamel Herring’s title is off againCredit: Mikey Williams/ Top Rank

The bout has been on the agenda since 2019 but Frampton’s career suffered a freak set-back that summer when a hotel ornament fell on his left hand and broke it.
Herring’s 2020 was dogged by a bout of Covid-19 and then what is thought to have been a false positive.
A mouthwatering sold-out clash between the pair in Belfast was axed thanks to the pandemic.
So BT Sport were scheduled to show the behind-closed-doors show at East London’s Copper Box, with a packed undercard including Tyson Fury’s exciting KO artist brother Tommy.

The new date targeted for the Belfast hero to become Ireland’s finest ever fighter is March 27.
Frampton, 33, last fought in August against tune-up opponent Darren Traynor, winning in round seven.
It was also a tester up in weight, ahead of what the two-division champion believed would be his warm-up before challenging Herring.
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Frampton weighed in close to the lightweight limit, having previously only boxed as high as featherweight.
Herring, 35, returned a month later and retained his belt in a bizarre disqualification win over Puerto Rican Jonathan Oquendo.
Challenger Oquendo was DQ’d in the eighth for repeated headbutts on the tall 5ft 10in champ.

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THE mind games between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have already begun – with the titans arguing over text and FaceTime.
The heavyweight superstars are still in talks for a historic undisputed title decider, which could total up to a whopping £200million.

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are arguing over text and FaceTimeCredit: Rex Features

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are still in talks to fight

But not only are the negotiations taking place behind closed doors, the long-time rivals are also secretly goading each other.
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed even he is the recipient of a random call from Fury, 32, but Joshua, 31, is sure to give it back to his fellow champion.
Hearn told The Express: “Sometimes I’ve woken up and it’s like 12:30 and I’ve just seen missed call, Fury FaceTime.
“I’ve called him back a couple of times and he hasn’t picked it up. He’s just a wind-up merchant, I think it’s great.

“Where else are you going to get a sport like that? Two blokes that are about to punch each other’s head in and he’s FaceTiming me.
“The mind games are going to be a big part of this fight. That’s another dynamic.
“Part of the promotion, part of the build-up and part of what’s going to make this fight so big.
“I think they’ve argued over text, they’ve argued over FaceTime. It’s bizarre.”

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In Fury’s ITV documentary released last year, footage revealed him enjoying a casual chat with AJ while drinking in his local pub.
The pair also ran into each other last summer while holidaying in Marbella and enjoyed a chat.
Fast forward to this year and the pair are finally closing in on a deal to fight each other.
For the first time in heavyweight history, all four of the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO belts are set to be at stake.
But amid coronavirus restrictions, the Battle of Britain is due to be a foreign fixture, with a venue yet to be confirmed.
With a race to fully promote the gigantic unification clash, July is the latest the two will fight.

Anthony Joshua with his promoter Eddie HearnCredit: REUTERS

Tyson Fury, trainer Sugarhill Steward, Bob Arum and Frank WarrenCredit: Reuters
And the loser will also have a rematch clause in the contract, meaning a second instalment needs to be squeezed in before Christmas.
Hearn said: “It doesn’t have to be in June, it can be in July. The fact is, we’ve got to do two this year.
“July is the absolute latest but ultimately, I keep saying that we’re not going to finalise the site until the deal is signed but there are talks going on [regarding location] and it’s going to move quite quickly.
“The plan is that any press tour for this is going to be at the end of March or early April, so in that respect we’ve got six weeks to deliver a signed agreement and a site deal which is fine.
“So at the moment, no panic. Again it’s not ‘it happens in June or it doesn’t happen’ but for me, the ideal date would be June then November or December for the second fight.” More

DEONTAY WILDER has vowed to ‘clean out’ the heavyweight division and wants to start by facing Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr.
The former WBC champion has not fought since last February, when he was dethroned of his crown and lost for the first time ever in defeat to Tyson Fury.

Deontay Wilder vowed to ‘clean out’ the heavyweight divisionCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua pictured before their 2019 rematchCredit: AFP or licensors

Fury is now in talks for an undisputed title decider with AJ, despite Wilder believing he is still owed an immediate rematch and as a result launched a legal dispute.
But with the American hitter planning a return to the ring, he appeared to confirm he prefers to face a new opponent instead of the Gypsy King.
Wilder, 35, told Marcus Watson: “I’d love to fight guys I haven’t fought, you know, the ones at the top who I haven’t fought.
“That’s what I want and I know that’s kinda lame a little bit, to not name a name. But anyone I haven’t faced at the top, that’s you.”

Asked about Joshua or Ruiz, both 31, Wilder responded: “Yeah. Any fighter that’s at the top that people haven’t seen me fight and people strongly want to see me fight, that’s who I want to fight.
“I can sit here and name names all day, that’s the easy part.
“I’m just going to go to the top and once you go to the top and it’s someone I ain’t fought, that’s who I want to fight.
“I want to clean the division out, period.”

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Joshua and Wilder spent the best part of a year failing to agree terms to fight.
It led to AJ facing Ruiz in June 2019, where he suffered a shock upset before winning the WBA, IBF and WBO belts back six months later.
Wilder then turned his attention to Fury, with the pair boxing to a thrilling draw in their first fight in 2018.
The Gypsy King was twice dropped and dramatically survived a 12th round knockdown to beat the count, with many believing he should have won.
But Wilder is adamant Fury was KNOCKED OUT and was given the benefit of the doubt by veteran and experienced official Jack Reiss
He explained: “I definitely knocked him out.
“Look how many times, my referee at the time I had Jack Reiss, if you go back and look at any of his fights, he stops a lot of fights early.
“Sometimes they don’t even have to get up, they’re waving it off. When I knocked Fury out, I’ve literally seen it for myself.

Deontay Wilder pictured flooring Tyson Fury in 2018Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Tyson Fury beat the count in the 12th round against Deontay WilderCredit: PA:Press Association
“That’s one of the reasons why I was so surprised too, not only because of the count to but I’ve seen this man’s eyes – you know when you’re having good sex and your eyes roll back into your head?
“That’s how his s*** was. But I’ve seen the veins popping out of his head and I knew he had a concussion. He was gone. That’s a wave off, period.”
Wilder was asked who his three dream opponents of any era would be and he gave tribute fellow Alabamians Joe Louis, Earnie Shavers and Evander Holyfield.
He said: “When I’m asked that question, my mind always goes back to Alabama, bro, with the fighters that came before me, that paved the way before me.
“Most of them had to start their career in other states, but they were born where I was from.
“I’d want to go up against a guy that’s from where I’m from, the likes of Joe Louis, the likes of Evander Holyfield, who is one of my favourite fighters.
“And, the likes of Earnie Shavers. Out of those three guys, there’s a lot more that came from this state, but out of those three guys, if not all of them, I would love to share the ring with them.”

Former two-weight world champion Evander HolyfieldCredit: AFP – Getty

Earnie Shavers pictured in his fight with Muhammad AliCredit: Corbis – Getty

Heavyweight legend Joe LouisCredit: AP:Associated Press

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