Boxing

EDDIE HEARN has revealed ‘extra precautions’ are in place ahead of Anthony Joshua’s latest world title fight to make sure it goes ahead.
The British heavyweight is set to defend his belts against Kubrat Pulev on December 12, potentially at Wembley Arena in front of 1,000 fans.

Anthony Joshua’s upcoming title defence only has a 50/50 chance of going aheadCredit: Getty

Kubrat Pulev will challenge the Brit on December 12Credit: Getty

However, due to the current coronavirus pandemic, his promoter Hearn admitted every fight has only has a 50/50 chance of actually happening.
Dillian Whyte’s rematch with Alexander Povetkin was recently postponed after the Russian tested positive for Covid-19.
Hearn is hoping to avoid any issues going into next month’s clash – but he has eased fears over needing to find a late replacement for Joshua should anything happen.
He told Sky Sports: “Kubrat Pulev will be making his way to London shortly, sooner than we think, and he will be entering the bubble weeks in advance.

“A lot of these top heavyweights and these guys who are earning considerable purses are being constantly tested on a daily basis.
“You look at Derek Chisora, I think he was getting tested every other day. We will bring Pulev here.
“Every international fighter has to be tested before they travel, and we will make sure he’s in the bubble, in an enclosed environment, because you just can’t risk it.
“Normally on fight week, you get a five or 10 per cent chance that a fight could fall through. Here it’s 50-50, for every fight.

“When you talk about a fight of that size, you have to take extra precautions and that will be making sure both guys are in a bubble, nice and early, and are locked away under strict surveillance to make sure that they’re good to go for fight night.”
American Charles Martin is the next IBF challenger in line to face AJ.
But his manager Mike Borao has already gone on record to state he has no ‘obligation’ to step in at late notice to fight Joshua if Pulev has to pull out.

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THE HEAVYWEIGHT division finally looks set to be unified after Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury agreed a two-fight deal.
The potential all-British showdown is one fans have longed to see for years.

Joshua, 30, is first set to fight Kubrat Pulev, with Fury taking on Deontay Wilder in the third fight of their trilogy.
And if both come through those tests successfully then they will go one-on-one to determine the undisputed heavyweight king of the world as part of a two-fight package in 2021.
The pair each have a massive fan base after their stunning careers – but how do they shape up against one another?
Sun Sport takes a look at the stats of both men below:

AGE
AJ has the narrow advantage when it comes to age.
He is two years younger than the 32-year-old Gypsy King.

Anthony Joshua is ready to put all of his gold on the line against Tyson FuryCredit: PA:Press Association

Tyson Fury is hoping to add AJ’s belts to his WBC TitleCredit: PA:Press Association
EXPERIENCE
Despite several years away from the ring due to mental health issues, Fury has the most experience of being in between the ropes.
The WBC champion has fought 31 times, winning 30 and drawing once, compared to Joshua’s 24 battles.

AJ lost his unbeaten record in a huge shock last summer against Andy Ruiz Jr, but bounced back to beat the Mexican in December to reclaim his WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
However, each fighter both have an impressive 21 knockouts on their CV.
PHYSICAL
Fury is also much bigger than AJ – who will not have faced much larger challenges in his career.
The Gypsy King stands at a huge 6ft 9in, a full three inches taller and Joshua.
And after tipping the scales at 19st 7lb for his victory over Wilder back in February, he weighs nearly 2.5st more than his fellow title holder.

EXPERTS SAY
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren: “Has AJ got a better jab than Fury? No. Is AJ a bigger puncher? I don’t think so.
“Has he got a better chin? I don’t think so. Has he got the hand speed or footwork of Fury? I don’t think so.
“Tyson is so good in every department. When you saw him get off the floor from that punch by [Deontay] Wilder it tells you what he’s all about.”
Amir Khan: “My opinion, and I’ve always said that Tyson Fury is the best heavyweight in the division. With the skill set he has got, he beats anyone with power.
“What he did to Deontay Wilder, no-one would expect that. If that same Fury goes into a fight with Anthony Joshua, it’s always going to be Fury that wins that.
Tony Bellew: “I just think AJ’s style will be all wrong for Fury. “I believe that because Wilder has the bigger punch than AJ, but Wilder is not technically good enough to put Fury in a position to nail him and that’s why he couldn’t land on the night.
“Joshua is technically good enough, you’re talking about an Olympic gold medallist, a guy who is technically and fundamentally good.
“He does have speed, he’s a brilliant athlete, he functions the right way.

“I just feel that he would get to Fury. Don’t get me wrong, it would have to be within six rounds because anyone who goes past six rounds with someone like Fury, you’ve lost.
“The guy’s such an immense boxer, he can adapt in fights, he’s versatile and he’s just an amazing fighter.
“It’s a fight we all want to see and we have to see because if boxing’s going to remain one of the premier sports in the world, we need to see the best face the best.”

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TYSON FURY will be fighting Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder next, according to Bob Arum.
The Gypsy King was desperate to get back into the ring on December 5 but a number of issues have prevented that from happening.

Tyson Fury’s next opponent will be one of two menCredit: Richard Pelham

After defeating Wilder for the WBC Title back in February, the Bronze Bomber failed to invoke his rematch clause in time to secure a trilogy fight.
However, even though the American is adamant he is the man to face Fury next, the Brit has verbally agreed to a two-fight heavyweight unification clash with AJ.
Joshua has to get past 39-year-old Kubrat Pulev first on December 12, and if he does it will be Fury waiting for him, although Wilder will get his shot at his rival if AJ suffers a shock loss next month.
Fury’s Top Rank co-promoter Bob Arum explained to IFL: “I’ve given everyone the word. Wait until the Pulev-Joshua fight.

“If Pulev wins, there’s no Joshua because Eddie has a rematch with Pulev. So that takes care of a big part of next year for Joshua.
“And so that leaves Wilder as the best guy. So if Pulev beats Joshua, we’ll talk to Fury about doing the Wilder fight at the end of February.”
He continued: “By the end of February, hopefully, the pandemic will be under control, and we’ll at least be able to put the [Fury vs. Wilder III] fight in Allegiant Stadium [in Las Vegas, Nevada], and do it for 15,000, 20,000 people in a 75,000 seat stadium.
“It’s all well and good for Fury to say that he wants to fight Joshua, but who knows if Joshua is going to be around after he fights my guy Pulev.”

Explaining why Fury failed to get a deal for a bout against German star Agit Kabayel over the line, Arum said: “We were going to show money from the United States on a telecast on a Saturday afternoon, which isn’t an ideal time because of all the football games.
“And I guess, Frank [Warren], what was he going to do? There’s no gate, and it’s just pay-per-view. With all the pay-per-views in the UK, Frank couldn’t come up with a sizable guarantee because who knew.
“You can’t pay a fighter when you don’t have the revenue coming in.
“So I think Tyson realized that he wasn’t going to get the money that he’s used to getting, so he decided not to do the fight.”
Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn has hinted that while a date for the unification fight is close to being agreed, the two Brits’ showdown may be held outside of the UK.
Hearn wrote in a column for The Sunday Times: “Everyone wants to see Joshua fight Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title.
“We are looking at May, June [2021].
“Where will it be? The main problem is lots of countries have substantial budgets from their governments to bring in major sports events. We don’t.
Ultimately, if you sit down with a fighter and say there’s £30million in England or £60m in the Middle East, it’s a very short conversation.”

AJ will face the Gypsy King if he beats PulevCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Deontay Wilder could still get his trilogy fight against FuryCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun

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MIKE TYSON has once again shown off the results from his stunning body transformation as he prepares for his comeback fight with Roy Jones Jr.
The boxing legend, 54, looks to be in the shape of his life prior to climbing back between the ropes for the highly-anticipated exhibition bout on November 28.

Mike Tyson has shown off his new ripped physique on Instagram

The legend is preparing for his comeback against Roy Jones JrCredit: https://www.instagram.com/miketyson/

The American legend has been working hard in the gym for months now after first teasing his comeback in May.
Fans were going wild as he shared footage of himself working out in various video clips and photos.
Now he has provided them with another glimpse of what they can expect by showing off his chiseled physique with a shirtless photo of himself complete with the wearing of his gloves and famous black shirts in the ring. 
British boxing star Daniel Subois commented: “Legend in the game.”

Meanwhile Youtuber Jake Paul wrote: “BIGGEST FIGHT OF THE DECADE.”
Tyson, who ripped off his top to reveal his shredded arms and abs to interrupt in an interview with NFL quarterback Russell Wilson last week, retired in 2005 and claimed to have not trained since his last loss, against Kevin McBride 15 years ago.
And he now looks a completely different man from the one seen in 2018, after shedding the pounds and packing on the muscle after taking his return to the ring seriously.
The Baddest Man on the Planet, 54 opened up on his dramatic body transformation earlier this summer – revealing he has shed six stone.

Tyson told TMZ Sports: “At one time I was just 90lbs over weight I was doing cocaine, I was drinking and I said Allah if he can stop me from being this way, I’ll change my whole life.”
“And eventually, I got married, my life started to change, and I started working out.
“My brother in law said, ‘hey listen. I know you don’t want to fight, but would you fight Bob Sapp?
“Somebody wants to offer you a lot of money to fight him. I said, ‘get out of here, I told you I don’t want to fight anymore.”
“And then I thought about it in my mind and went ‘ding’ – I said I would fight [Sapp under the marquess of queensberry rules] and for some reason, it went from Bob Sapp to somebody else, and this guy, and the next thing you know, I’m fighting Roy Jones Jr.
“I don’t know how this happened. I’m just very grateful that I’m not living the life that I was living before. Allah has blessed for me to be able to do this.”

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FLOYD MAYWEATHER bought his sparring partner Ashley Theophane a brand new car – just because the Brit did so “well in the ring”.
Theophane was signed by the American legend’s Mayweather Promotions stable in 2013.

Floyd Mayweather bought Ashley Theophane a Chrysler 300 Credit: Instagram@ashleytheophane

Theophane pictured with Mayweather this year

But he also acted as a sparring partner during his time training alongside the now-retired 43-year-old in Las Vegas.
And Theophane revealed such was Mayweather’s generosity, he gifted the Londoner a car having impressed during their sessions together.
Many of those spars would have several onlookers ready to fill the gym up with animosity and heckling.
Theophane, 40, told Sky Sports: “I’ve been in the ring with Floyd and the guys do the same thing to me.

“They make ooohs and aaaahs when someone is getting beaten up but, if someone goes down, there is real concern.
“Some guys go into their shell and it goes badly for them, but I embraced it. I did well in the ring with Floyd so he bought me a new car.”
Theophane explained in a 2019 interview with SunSport that Mayweather purchased him a Chrysler 300 with personalised number plate.
He also said the former pay-per-view king – with an estimated £500million net worth – would even pay rent for his friends if they were short of funds.

Mayweather sparred Theopane in his Las Vegas gym

But inside the gym, he was ruthless and would even knock out sparring partners as his brutal training regime was revealed.
Theophane said: “He has KO’d a lot of guys. Many times when Floyd fought I thought he would win by KO because he was so ferocious in the gym.
“In the Robert Guerrero fight, I predicted Floyd to win by KO because he was a beast in the gym.
“The first time we sparred, I didn’t want to go in the ring with him. I had already seen him KO these guys.
“I was new to the team. I didn’t want to get in the ring, get KO’d badly, then [be kicked off] the team.”

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ANTHONY JOSHUA’S title fight with Kubrat Pulev is set to be moved from The O2 to Wembley Arena.
Eddie Hearn will shift the December 12 battle after plans to host as many as 4,000 fans were hit by the second coronavirus lockdown.

Anthony Joshua is set to fight Kubrat Pulev at Wembley Arena instead of The O2Credit: Reuters

Eddie Hearn hopes 1,000 fans will be allowed in at the SSE ArenaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

AJ, 31, will defend his WBA, WBO and IFB heavyweight belts for the first time since his victorious rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia last December.
The superstar and promoter Hearn had been hoping to host a homecoming with a limited audience at The 02.
And following the government’s second national lockdown earlier this month, Hearn was even looking at staging the fight abroad in a bid to get bums on seats.
He claimed scrapping AJ and Pulev’s original fight at Spurs’ new stadium in July saw £8million lost at the gate.

But Wembley Arena, also known as the SSE, will be the venue – just one week after hosting Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO super middleweight title fight against Martin Murray.
Despite the lockdown, Hearn also remains hopeful he can secure entry for 1,000 boxing-starved fans.
Hearn told the Mail: “It is looking like Wembley Arena.
“We are set up there at the moment and obviously the situation with a second lockdown has changed things.

AJ was hoping for a homecoming at The O2 Arena after last fighting in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“We were hoping for a crowd at the O2, maybe 4,000 people, and we might possibly be allowed 1,000 but it’s hard to say at this point.
“We have been talking to the DCMS (the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) and we just have to go stage by stage and see.
“AJ is ready to go. He just wants to fight.”

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EDDIE HALL has been backed to beat ‘gentle giant’ Hafthor Bjornsson by a true giant called Jamie Christian-Johal.
The two legendary strongmen are set to settle their differences in the boxing ring in September in 2021.

Bodybuilder Jamie Johal pictured with Eddie Hall during a training session

Pro bodybuilder Jamie Johal has tipped Eddie Hall to win the boxing bout

Fans have been left fearing the worst for Bjornsson, 31, after Hall, 32, hit his sparring partner until he puked up blood.
Professional bodybuilder Johal – who has trained with Hall – has backed the Brit to come out on top.
Johal is aptly nicknamed ‘The Giant’ as he stands at a staggering 6″ 5′ and weighs in at 300lbs.
But the former fireman does not think being a ‘gentle giant’ will help the Game of Thrones star in the ring.

Speaking exclusively to SunSport, Johal said: “I think Eddie will win because Eddie is a savage.
“It’s his mentality, I think he’s got more of an aggressive mentality which will carry him through.
“I think Thor, as big as he is, I think he is more of a gentle giant. I might be wrong.
“I think Eddie has the edge on a mentality aspect as he is just a brute.”

Hafthor Bjornsson beat Eddie Hall’s 500kg deadlift record by just one kilogramCredit: Instagram / @thorbjornsson More