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      Anthony Joshua willing to take massive pay cut to fight Tyson Fury in UK as he admits he’s already taking loss vs Pulev

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA says he would take a pay cut to fight Tyson Fury in the UK.
      First up for the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champ is a world title defence against Kubrat Pulev on December 12.

      Joshbua, who bumped into Fury this summer out in Marbella, wants the Battle of Britain on home soilCredit: Refer to Caption

      Provided he navigates his way past the veteran Bulgarian, an undisputed clash against WBC king Fury is on the horizon.
      Mega-money offers to stage that fight will come in from the likes of America, the Middle East and even China.
      But Joshua, who will see his fight purse for the Pulev scrap significantly reduced due to coronavirus restrictions, seems keen to get the Fury fight on home soil.
      The 31-year-old said: “Yeah, why not? Now I’m fighting Kubrat Pulev for a massive pay cut.

      “We have to keep the sport alive, Matchroom are taking pay cuts this year, we have to keep the sport alive.
      “We are all doing our part at the minute, It’s all experience. We are doing it now so I wouldn’t mind doing it again.
      “It’s not harming me, and it’s for a bigger cause as well, it’s a massive cause and a big fight but the main objective is how do we get Fury in the ring.”
      Only 1,000 fans will be allowed into Wembley Arena to watch Joshua take on Puelv.

      Joshua is preparing for his world title defence against Kubrat Pulev on December 12Credit: AFP – Getty

      The Brit is losing out on around £8m from not having the scrap at a sold-out stadium.
      For his last fight, rematch revenge against Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia in December last year, talkSPORT reports that AJ made between £40-£60m.
      He is believed to have coined around £18m for the pair’s first fight that he lost by KO in June 2019 in New York.
      Joshua will be the first star to fight in front of a crowd since the coronavirus pandemic struck.

      And the 31-year-old reckons the drastic change in scenery and atmosphere might be a nice switch from the rowdy festival feel he has generated all over the country.
      “The last time I would have fought in front of a small crowd, I think it was Hungary in 2012. It was quite decent, you know. It is not bad. The pressure is off, you can get in your rhythm.
      “And I think I need that sometimes – I am under a lot of pressure. I am physically good but mentally you have to stay strong.
      “This year has been good to unload a lot of pressure and fighting in front of 1000 fans is not so bad. You have to take it as a positive and control what you can control.”

      Anthony Joshua to fight Kubrat Pulev in front of 1,000 fans at Wembley More

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      Lennox Lewis reveals 15-year-old Mike Tyson was ‘giant’ who ‘knocked people out easily’ after facing rival in sparring

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      LENNOX LEWIS has revealed that 15-year-old Mike Tyson was a ‘giant’ who was ‘knocking people out easy’.
      The Lion memorably beat Iron Mike when they collided in 2002 but they first shared a ring together as teenage sparring partners.

      Lennox Lewis sparred Mike Tyson for a number of days in Catskill, New York

      The Brit later shared a ring with Iron Mike in a 2002 grudge match

      Lewis prevailed with an eighth-round knockout against Tyson

      The British icon left Canada with his first trainer Arnie Boehm to drive to Tyson’s New York base after winning the World Junior Championships.
      And Lewis lifted the lid on his first experience meeting the Baddest Man on the Planet – who at the time was a year younger than him at age 15.
      He told the Guardian: “I liked him. We got to know each other pretty well. We spoke, we went down to the town, went to a dance together.
      “He was a giant because during training in the Catskills you’d watch him knocking people out easy. I thought he was great.

      He was a giant because during training in the Catskills you’d watch him knocking people out easy. I thought he was great
      Lennox Lewis on teenage Mike Tyson

      “When the time came I knew we would meet in the ring. I wanted to know if what Cus (D’Amato) said would come true.”
      Both Lewis and Tyson went on become heavyweight champion of the world numerous times and finally fought in 2002.
      Brit star Lewis came out on top with an eighth-round KO but they were also involved in a infamous press conference brawl ahead of the fight.
      Tyson was forced to pay a fine for biting his rival’s leg during the scuffle – which almost saw the mega-fight cancelled altogether.

      Yet despite this, Lewis wasn’t left feeling too apprehensive at facing Iron Mike after he was promised it would be his easiest fight.
      He added: “Yes and no. Yes, because TV made him look like King Kong. But, no, because Manny [Lewis’s legendary trainer Emanuel Steward] always told me Tyson would be my easiest fight.
      “I’d say: ‘Come on, now. He’s going to be a little difficult.’ But Manny said: ‘No. It’s your easiest fight.’”

      Lewis lifts lid on Mike Tyson press conference brawl and reveals ‘first three punches were mine and first bite was his’ More

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      Joshua vs Pulev: AJ says small Wembley crowd is a positive and reminds him of amateur days before he sold out stadiums

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA is happy going Bak-u to the future and boxing in front of 1000 hushed fans instead of 90,000 beer-soaked revellers.
      AJ landed gold at the home 2012 Olympics – following low-profile tournaments in Baku, Azerbaijan and Hungary – which catapulted him into sold-out arena and stadium shows around the world.

      Triple-belt world champ Anthony Joshua will make a drastic step down from huge to humble when it comes to crowd size at Wembley on December 12Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Anthony Joshua fought in front of limited audiences as an amateur, such as in Baku nine years against Azerbaijan’s Magomedrasul Medzhidov Credit: Reuters

      Covid-19 floored an April homecoming defence against Kubrat Pulev and an £8million gate but the new Wembley Arena bout on December 12 will now let a few lucky fans in.
      And the 31-year-old reckons the drastic change in scenery and atmosphere might be a nice switch from the rowdy festival feel he has generated all over the country.
      “The last time I would have fought in front of a small crowd, I think it was Hungary in 2012. It was quite decent, you know. It is not bad. The pressure is off, you can get in your rhythm.

      “And I think I need that sometimes – I am under a lot of pressure. I am physically good but mentally you have to stay strong.

      “This year has been good to unload a lot of pressure and fighting in front of 1000 fans is not so bad. You have to take it as a positive and control what you can control.
      “A thousand fans are allowed in and I can’t add to it or take from it.
      “I am going to take it as a positive and say I am going to go in there and perform with no pressure and showcase the styles I have merged together, which is sticking and moving and aggression and knockout power.
      “When else would anyone get to watch a heavyweight world title fight with just 1000 people in the room?”

      Laughing over the Zoom call, he added: “It will be intimate and you won’t have to worry about your missus getting a pint of beer chucked over her head or 15 guys nearby getting into a fight.”

      Britain’s world heavyweight king Anthony Joshua says he will turn having just a small crowd to his advantage, taking the pressure offCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Joshua also revealed he will accept a massive pay cut to get a showdown with Tyson Fury in the UK in 2021.
      Both AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn and Fury’s matchmaker Frank Warren have admitted the best financial offers will come from the Middle East, America and China.
      AJ, 31, reclaimed his titles from Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia last year, after the controversial nation stumped up around a £100m site fee and Fury has wrestled there with WWE.
      The financial terms on a two-fight deal to battle the Gypsy King was agreed by the Watford hero back in March and he insists he will take another hit in the wallet to reward UK fans.
      “Yeah, why not?” he said. “Now I’m fighting Kubrat Pulev for a massive pay cut.

      “We have to keep the sport alive, Matchroom are taking pay cuts this year, we have to keep the sport alive.
      “We are all doing our part at the minute, It’s all experience. We are doing it now so I wouldn’t mind doing it again.
      “It’s not harming me, and it’s for a bigger cause as well, it’s a massive cause and a big fight but the main objective is how do we get Fury in the ring.”

      Bob Arum says that Tyson Fury will fight Deontay Wilder next year if Anthony Joshua loses to Kubrat Pulev More

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      Jarrell Miller handed two-year boxing ban after latest failed drugs test

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      DRUGS cheat Jarrell Miller has been handed a two-year boxing ban following another failed drugs test.
      But the American can reduce the ban to 18 months if he completes a treatment course.

      Jarrell Miller has been banned from boxing for two yearsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Miller, 32, failed multiple drug tests in the run-up to his proposed fight with Anthony Joshua at Madison Square Garden in 2019.
      Miller was banned from fighting, with Andy Ruiz Jr taking his place and stunning the world by beating the British star.
      After serving his six-month suspension, Miller was given a chance to redeem himself.
      But earlier this year, he returned ANOTHER positive drug test ahead of a scrap against Jerry Forrest – his fourth in just a 12-month span.

      Most-recently, Miller returned a positive result for an illegal endurance booster called GW501516 – found in a male sex stimulant.
      News of Miller’s ban was revealed by talkSPORT’S Michael Benson, who wrote: “Jarrell Miller has today been banned from boxing for two years by the Nevada Commission following his latest positive drugs test.
      “Ban applies to all US states and can be reduced to 18 months if he completes a treatment course.”
      Miller has fought 24 times in his career, winning 23 of them.

      Miller failed a drugs test ahead of his fight with AJ last yearCredit: Alamy Live News
      Ahead of his fight with Joshua he was found guilty of having EPO and Human Growth Hormone (HGH) in his system.
      Miller attempted to clear his name, telling Sportsmail: “Everybody wants to point the finger but not everybody has the right information
      “The levels I failed for in this case right now were so minute.
      “And with the EPO, you need to use that for months at a time if you want to get any muscle benefits not just one shot.
      “Anyone who knows me knows I’m not that person and we are going to prove everybody wrong.

      “I have spent thousands of dollars of my own money trying to find out what’s happened.
      “But there’s ignorance on a lot of people’s part.
      “Everybody listens to whoever has the loudest voice at the time and who has the microphone.
      “The proof is in the pudding. It’s right there. I’ve been truthful from the beginning to the end.
      “The truth will set you free and I believe in that. If you go by the book and by the law, this case is innocent.”

      Eddie Hearn says Jarrell Miller’s career is over after failing another drug test More

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      Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr sells more than 1.2MILLION PPVs in US raking in staggering £45m

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      MIKE TYSON’S exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr sold more than 1.2million pay-per-views in the US, raking in a whopping £45m.
      Fans had to stump up £37.50 ($50) in the States to watch the bout from home.

      Mike Tyson’s fight with Roy Jones Jr attracted 1.2million pay-per-views from boxing fans in the USACredit: AP:Associated Press

      It means around 350,000 more people paid to watch the veterans slug it out than the 850,000 who splashed out for Tyson Fury’s win over Deontay Wilder in February, as reported by Adam Catterall.
      However, Fury vs Wilder 2 brought in around £51m due to the £60 pay-per-view price.
      Tyson, 54, is understood to have pocketed around £7.5m for his 16 minutes of work on Saturday night.
      That worked out as £937,500 per round, £468,500 per minute and £7,812 per second.

      Jones Jr’s purse was not far behind, either.
      The duo, with a combined age of 105, equalled each other out to secure a draw in Los Angeles.
      After the result was announced, Tyson said: “I’m good with a draw, because I entertained the crowd, the crowd was happy with it.”
      And he then confirmed he will ‘absolutely’ step back into the boxing ring again.

      Iron Mike added: “I’m just happy I got this under my belt.
      “I’m continuing to go further and do more. Absolutely [I’ll do this again].”

      Mike Tyson says he’s happy he’s not knocked out and Roy Jones says everything hurt as it made contact with Tyson after their fight More

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      Lennox Lewis reveals 15-year-old Mike Tyson was ‘giant’ who ‘knocked people out easily’ after meeting rival in sparring

      by

      LENNOX LEWIS has revealed that 15-year-old Mike Tyson was a ‘giant’ who was ‘knocking people out easy’.
      The Lion memorably beat Iron Mike when they collided in 2002 but they first shared a ring together as teenage sparring partners.

      Lennox Lewis sparred Mike Tyson for a number of days in Catskill, New York

      The Brit later shared a ring with Iron Mike in a 2002 grudge match

      Lewis prevailed with an eighth-round knockout against Tyson

      The British icon left Canada with his first trainer Arnie Boehm to drive to Tyson’s New York base after winning the World Junior Championships.
      And Lewis lifted the lid on his first experience meeting the Baddest Man on the Planet – who at the time was a year younger than him at age 15.
      He told the Guardian: “I liked him. We got to know each other pretty well. We spoke, we went down to the town, went to a dance together.
      “He was a giant because during training in the Catskills you’d watch him knocking people out easy. I thought he was great.

      He was a giant because during training in the Catskills you’d watch him knocking people out easy. I thought he was great
      Lennox Lewis on teenage Mike Tyson

      “When the time came I knew we would meet in the ring. I wanted to know if what Cus (D’Amato) said would come true.”
      Both Lewis and Tyson went on become heavyweight champion of the world numerous times and finally fought in 2002.
      Brit star Lewis came out on top with an eighth-round KO but they were also involved in a infamous press conference brawl ahead of the fight.
      Tyson was forced to pay a fine for biting his rival’s leg during the scuffle – which almost saw the mega-fight cancelled altogether.

      Yet despite this, Lewis wasn’t left feeling too apprehensive at facing Iron Mike after he was promised it would be his easiest fight.
      He added: “Yes and no. Yes, because TV made him look like King Kong. But, no, because Manny [Lewis’s legendary trainer Emanuel Steward] always told me Tyson would be my easiest fight.
      “I’d say: ‘Come on, now. He’s going to be a little difficult.’ But Manny said: ‘No. It’s your easiest fight.’”

      Lewis lifts lid on Mike Tyson press conference brawl and reveals ‘first three punches were mine and first bite was his’ More

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      Mike Tyson hits back at Floyd Mayweather over boxing titles criticism and says more belts means extra money

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      MIKE TYSON has hit back at Floyd Mayweather’s claims that there are too many belts in boxing.
      Undefeated former champ Mayweather, 43, won 15 world titles in his 50-fight career, across five weight divisions.

      Mike Tyson has hit back at Floyd MayweatherCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But he recently told the sport’s various organisations to ‘sort their s*** out’, saying that ‘everybody’s a champion” and accusing them of taking extra money from fighters.
      Tyson, 54, and old foe Roy Jones Jr came out of retirement on Saturday night to fight for the WBC Frontline Battle Belt, despite it being an exhibition scrap.
      The match ended in a draw but Tyson has opened a war of words with Mayweather over his comments.
      Reported by Essentially Sports, Tyson said: “Boxing never has too many belts because every time it’s a championship fight, it’s more money for the fighter.

      “There’s never enough belts you know?
      “To say there’s one champion and there’s 10 guys, how long will it take for the champion to fight the 10 guys?
      “Plus they gotta go through each other… It’s good to have three champions because then everybody can get paid… Everybody makes money.
      “That’s what this business is about. Money.”

      Mayweather angered Tyson by saying: “The WBC, the WBA, the IBF and the WBO, y’all have to clean this sh** up. Y’all have to clean this up.

      Floyd Mayweather claims there are too many belts in boxingCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “This is bad for boxing. Ain’t a such thing as no super champion.
      “You guys are just taking extra money from all these fighters, getting extra money from sanctioning fees. And this goes for my company as well.
      “We gotta clean this sport of boxing up. This s***, this don’t look good.”

      Mike Tyson says he’s happy he’s not knocked out and Roy Jones says everything hurt as it made contact with Tyson after their fight More

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      Mike Tyson admits he smoked cannabis before Roy Jones Jr fight as 54-year-old legend reveals he ‘can’t stop’

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      MIKE TYSON admitted he smoked cannabis before his comeback fight against Roy Jones and revealed: ‘I can’t stop’.
      The heavyweight legend boxed to a draw on Saturday night in what turned out to be a bizarre eight-round exhibition bout.

      Mike Tyson admitted he smoked cannabis before his fight against Roy Jones

      The legends boxed to a draw in what turned out to be a bizarre eight-round exhibition boutCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Both men – who had a combined age of 105 – were drug tested by Voluntary Anti-Doping Association beforehand.
      But cannabis was not included and 54-year-old Tyson took full advantage with a pre-fight blaze.
      He revealed: “Listen, I can’t stop smoking.
      “I smoked during fights. I just have to smoke. I’m sorry. I’m a smoker.

      “I smoke every day. I never stopped smoking.”
      Tyson would have appreciated the undercard performances as Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa appeared to smoke a blunt on stage.
      Many felt the iconic puncher – fighting for the first time in 15 years – should have got the win on points.

      Tyson warned he will fight again after making his comeback Credit: USA TODAY Sports

      But he warned fans it will not be the last of him as he plots more fights on his comeback trail.
      He said: “I’m just happy I got this under my belt.
      “I’m continuing to go further and do more. Absolutely.
      “We gotta do this again.”

      Mike Tyson says he’s happy he’s not knocked out and Roy Jones says everything hurt as it made contact with Tyson after their fight More