Boxing

JOHN FURY revealed he would ‘like to have a go’ at fighting heavyweight legend Mike Tyson.
Tyson returned to the ring for the first time since 2005 at the end of November as he boxed to a draw against Roy Jones Jr.

How Mike Tyson and John Fury match up

It caught the eye of Tyson Fury’s dad John – who called to face Iron Mike.
He said earlier in the year: “Listen, I’d like to have a go. You know, at the end of the day, I named my son after him, it would be a good thing.
“But I know one thing, he’ll be in no better shape than me.
“I tell you what it is, I’ve got the edge in shape because I’ve lived better, I’ve lived cleaner.”

Here SunSport takes a look at how the pair match up despite the call out being nothing more than a fantasy fight.
Mike Tyson
Tyson’s career as a prizefighter looked over when he retired after two dismal defeats.
But this year he made the stunning announcement that he wanted to make a comeback to raise money in exhibition bouts.
He started off by going eight rounds with Jones – 17 years after they first held talks to fight – in what proved a box office hit, with over 1million pay-per-view buys.

Despite the action providing more clinching than punching, the reduced two-minute rounds suited Tyson.
He kept a good pace and landed some nice body shots, but either refrained or failed to land any of his signature finishing hooks and uppercuts.
Afterwards, Tyson revealed he wanted to make fighting for fun a regular thing.

Tyson returned for the first time in 15 years with a draw against Roy Jones Credit: USA TODAY Sports

John Fury
Fury comes from a long lineage of bare-knuckle fighters, owing to his Irish traveller roots. 
But his pro career spanned over eight years, beginning in April 1987 and ending in June 1995.
In total, Fury had 13 bouts, retiring with a record of 8-4-1.
But even during his time in the pro ranks, he still fought bare-knuckle and claims to have won £100,000 after one of his wins.
After his fighting career ended, he focussed on becoming a trainer and has cornered both Tyson and his other son Tommy.
John regularly trains with them both and keeps up the pace on long jogs.

Fight breakdown
With limited footage on Fury’s career as a fighter it is hard to make any judgement on his skill.
He claims to be in better shape than Iron Mike, but again the evidence is lacking, despite a few clips son Tyson uploaded which revealed John can pack a punch on the heavy bag.
For 54-year-old Tyson, his effort against Jones went some way to prove that he still has plenty of fight left in him.
His trademark head movement and quick footwork was on display, albeit it not so ferociously.
Tyson looked to be making his greatest mark fighting on the inside, instead of throwing hayemakers at range.
Anyone, including Fury, lined up to face the veteran puncher can expect the action to be fought on the inside.
And his right hand – formerly his greatest threat – appeared not so dangerous 15 years on.
But the exhibition rules Tyson signed up for prohibited KOs – meaning he could be one overcooked punch away from closing out the show.

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IDRIS VIRGO has accused Tommy Fury of succeeding in boxing only because of his world champion brother and Love Island stint.
Fury turned pro in 2018 with much fanfare due to the career of his big brother Tyson, now the unbeaten WBC heavyweight king.

Idris Virgo accused Tommy Fury of succeeding in boxing only because of his world champion brother and Love IslandCredit: Hennessy Sports

Fury has won all four of his professional fights Credit: Getty Images – Getty

And his popularity was only heightened the following summer as he came runner up in the hit reality TV series Love Island with his girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague.
As a result, 21-year-old Fury is in-demand and made a successful return to the ring last month winning by second round stoppage.
But his promised dedication to the sport has not convinced fellow Love Island alumni Virgo – who spent time in the villa a year beforehand.
Virgo, 27, told SunSport: “It’s all for the press and all for the camera. I don’t believe Tommy Fury actually wants to box. He does not wanna box.

“I believe Tommy Fury will get found out. And if he can get found out by me, I’ll be there saying ‘I’ll told you so’.
“I don’t think he really wants to do it to be honest, I don’t think his heart is really in it.
“He’s got all it needs to be a decent boxer but he hasn’t got the dedication, no way. I’ve never met the guy but even if I did I’d say it to his face.
“He’s not even worth watching, that’s my personal opinion.

Super-middleweight Virgo is 7-0 in his career Credit: Hennessy Sports

“If Love Island wasn’t there and he didn’t have his brother, he wouldn’t be where he is now.
“I think because of the Fury name he is trying to follow his brother. I don’t think he’ll go far, that’s my personal opinion.”
Virgo, from Birmingham, came into Love Island having won his first two pro bouts, but boxed as an amateur and on the White Collar scene.
Since making his name on the ITV series, he also enjoyed screen time on MTV’s ‘The Challenge’ filmed in America.
It caught the eye of promoter Mick Hennessy, who signed Virgo this summer.
In August, the super-middleweight went viral and was hailed for a perfectly timed body shot knockout against Josh Hodgins.
But just a month later, Virgo was public enemy No1 after he threw water in the face of his journeyman opponent Scott Williams.

The contrasting headlines proved a lesson in how quickly credit can be lost and perception drastically changed.
But Virgo refuses to apologise for the lack of respect he showed pre-fight, insisting he is in the business of entertainment and brutality.
He explained: “It’s just how I am. You’ll hate me but at the end of the day you’ll watch me.
“I hate every fighter who steps in the ring with me. There’s no love – I’ve been in Love Island but in the ring there is no love.
“Doesn’t matter whoever you are, I don’t want to be shaking your hand, I don’t want to be joking with you, you’re the enemy going into that fight.
“And, if you’re sound, I might give you a pat on the back and praise you – other than that I hate you.
“It’s just the mindset I have, before it was different but now it’s totally different. I’ve trained my mind to be a killer.

Virgo boxed as an amateur and on the White Collar scene before Love IslandCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“I’m an entertainer, it’s just who I am, I’m not putting it on for anyone.”
Virgo returns to the ring on Friday for his eighth fight, on the same night British veteran Ashley Theophane marks his UK homecoming against Sam Eggington.
The social media personality has already got his next fight lined up one week later.
And he admits he has no shortage of potential rivals, all looking to steal the clout from his name.
Virgo said: “Next year is going to be a bigger year but what people don’t realise is every fight I’ve been in has been decent due to my name.
“My name alone brings enough weight for people to train hard enough to try and beat me but when you’re in the ring with me, from the first round they feel my power and start backing off and retreating.
“Due to my name they come to dethrone me, but it’s not going to work.”
Ashley Theophane will fight Sam Eggington on 11th December on Channel 5 at 10pm’

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ANTHONY JOSHUA is the reigning WBF, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight world champion… but it appears that he is not one of boxing legend Mike Tyson’s five favourite fighters.
The 54-year-old was heavyweight king during his 1990s pomp and returned to the ring after 15 years in November, drawing with Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout.

Mike Tyson didn’t include AJ as one of his five favourite fighters

But Brit hero AJ doesn’t appear to excite him in the way that others do, including compatriot Tyson Fury and former WBC champ Deontay Wilder.
And there was even a mention for pudgy Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr, the man that Joshua, 31, defeated in Riyadh in December 2019, ahead of AJ himself.
Tyson said on his show Hotboxin’: “I respect Tyson Fury, I respect Deontay Wilder, I respect all of those guys.
“Andy Ruiz also, this guy named [Vasyl] Lomachenko – he’s a f***ing animal, man. He’s a master, it’s like he’s dancing.

‘There’s also Gervonta Davis, there’s quite a few guys that are good fighters.”
The Baddest Man on the Planet also bemoaned what he sees as the ‘political’ nature of pro boxing in 2020, expressing his eagerness to see the biggest matchups in the sport happen.
He continued: “The situation is whether they will fight each other. Promoters are not allowing them to fight each other. I’d love to see them fight each other but the promoters don’t want to do it.
‘It [boxing] is very political now. That’s why I think in the next couple months or so you’re going to find that there are some new players in the game and it’s going to get really serious.”

I don’t know. My ego says, ‘nobody would beat you’ – but you look at him and… he just looks beautiful.
Mike Tyson on Anthony Joshua

Tyson did have praise for Joshua when asked about him earlier this year, however.
He said: “He’s really clean, he really looks clean, he’s a clean guy, he’s a clean fighter, he’s a good puncher.
“You just wish the best for him.
“I don’t know. My ego says, ‘nobody would beat you’ – but you look at him and… he just looks beautiful.
“He just looks like a fighter, you know? He looks like he was born to do what he has to do. He needs more experience of course, but that will come in life.”

Tyson’s comeback reeled in an incredible £60million for Triller with over 1.6million pay-per-view buys.
Iron Mike could fight again with a trilogy bout with Evander Holyfield ‘going to happen’ according to the 58-year-old and even John Fury being rumoured as an opponent.
Joshua returns to the ring this weekend against Kubrat Pulev – his first outing since his Saudi scrap with Ruiz 12 months ago.

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ANTHONY JOSHUA revealed he would love to fight Andy Ruiz Jr again – because he wants to knock him out.
Joshua suffered a catastrophic first ever defeat in June 2019 as he was dropped four times and beaten in round seven against Ruiz.

Anthony Joshua beat Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch Credit: AP:Associated Press

But six months later, with his career on the line, AJ outboxed his rival over 12 rounds to win back the unified titles.
Joshua admits he toughened up mentally after the upset loss and would be equipped to close the show against Ruiz instead of winning on points.
He told BBC Sport: “I got straight back into training and I went back to learning.
“It wasn’t training to get fit, it was more the mistakes I knew I was making, the mistakes my training team have identified and I went straight into the learning phase again.

“I learned about the mental aspect as well of the game, so I got tough and unfortunately it led to a performance where I had to stick and move.
“Because I didn’t want to be labelled a ‘quitter’ or a ‘loser’ or someone that’s not meant to be part of the heavyweight dynasty that we’re in now.

I’d love to go back and fight Ruiz again, because rematch or no rematch, I’ll knock him out.
Anthony Joshua on Andy Ruiz Jr

“Yeah, I felt that pressure, but looking back, I’d love to go back and fight Ruiz again, because rematch or no rematch, I’ll knock him out.
“Because, I’ve become tougher, more relentless over the last year.

“And that fight – going back on Saturday with Dubois and Joyce – showed me how relentless and how tough you have to be in this business.”
Joshua, 31, was accused of giving up against Ruiz, also 31, on his disastrous US debut but bounced back to reclaim his heavyweight throne.
Former sparring partner Daniel Dubois will now have to find similar inspiration, as he was branded a ‘quitter’ following his loss to Joe Joyce.
That is despite suffering an orbital fracture in his left eye, which caused Dubois to take a knee and surrender to defeat.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport, Joshua offered his support to the 23-year-old prospect.

Joshua was accused of giving up in his first fight with Ruiz Credit: AP:Associated Press

Daniel Dubois was counted out against Joe Joyce Credit: Getty Images – Getty
But while speaking to Mike Costello and Steve Bunce ahead of his next fight against Kubrat Pulev, AJ admits he would now rather ‘go out on his shield’ than face questions over his heart again.
He said: “There is that question of, ‘I would have gone out on my shield. I would have done this, I would have done that’.
“And I realised, I would have to be in that position to know what would happen.
“But, what I have learned from that situation is the man I am right now, sitting here, I think I’d prefer to go out on my shield.
“Because of what I’ve learned, the industry I’m in, this is an industry of uncivilized people.
“This isn’t just about knocking everyone over, relying on punch power, you have to rely on heart, good chin, work rate, skills, determination, willing to die.”

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