Boxing

DILLIAN WHYTE could dance back into British boxing this weekend, supporting another one of his stable and proving he is fit for the Alexander Povetkin rematch.
John Harding Jr gets his second crack at the English middleweight title on Sunday, 14 months after he and his friend/manager went viral for dancing their way to the ring for his first attempt.

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John Harding Jr is in amazing shape for his second crack at the English crownCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

Harding Jr, 36, came up short that night and the fearless faction suffered another blow when Whyte was beaten by the Russian veteran on August 22.
But the double act will reunite tonight in another show of solidarity to prove that defeats do not define Team Whyte.
“That ring walk was not planned,” Harding Jr laughed to SunSport. “I started dancing and then I looked alongside me and he was going too but that’s us, we are a brotherhood.
“At any time, even in the most serious moments, we can break out laughing or dancing.

“Our training camps are so painful but when they end we are all a bit sad because the family has to break up for a while. 
“The Povetkin loss left me down but everyone takes losses in life. People are too scared to take losses but they are a part of winning.
“I have bounced back and Dillian will do exactly the same.”

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Dillian Whyte will be ringside to support Harding again this weekendCredit: DAVE THOMPSON/ROUTE ONE
Harding Jr has turned his life around dramatically under Whyte’s wing, three spells in prison left him with a bleak future but he is now a ray of sunshine on the London boxing circuit.

Fight week can be a miserable and tense time of weight cutting and needle but the New Cross man’s new nickname and upbeat mood have lightened the mood in Milton Keynes.
Ahead of the bout with champ Linus Udofia, the newly annointed ‘Black Jesus’ said: “The name just started as a feeling I was having in the training camp in Portugal.

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The New Cross middleweight has brought fun to Milton Keynes for fight weekCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

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“I would wake up or walk into the gym and say ‘I feel like black Jesus today’. 
“You only live once and I have decided to just be myself more, I like to bring energy and make people laugh.
“I have been through the darkest days and pretended to be someone else but now I just want to bring positivity and light everywhere.”

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SILENT ASSASSIN Josh Buatsi knows refusing to talk the talk means he has to walk the walk in sensational fashion.
The studious Ghana-born South Londoner has all the tools to become a light-heavyweight world champion and boxing superstar – apart from a big mouth.

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Josh Buatsi gives nothing away on the mic or in the ringCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

The 27-year-old is being linked with domestic clashes with Matchroom stablemate Callum Johnson and long-time rival Anthony Yarde but refuses to stir up bad blood that could drive up interest and earnings.
Instead the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist has sent chilling messages with 10 of his dozen wins coming inside the distance and he fancies another against Marko Calic at the empty Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
“It’s just not my style to call people out”, Buatsi told SunSport. “I know some people want that from me but I have to stay true to myself in life and in general.
“For me to do something, act in a certain way or out of character, would play on my mind so much.

“So you will not catch me calling people before or after fights, or on Twitter. I don’t Tweet enough in general so I definitely won’t be faking it.

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Croydon ace Buatsi is getting peppered with questions on future domestic battlesCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
“If you are not calling people out and raising your profile on social media then you have to produce every time in the ring.
“I know every time that I go in the ring that I have to win and put on a good performance because I refuse to chat crap before or after.
“Those minutes or rounds are my only chance to make a statement, that’s a pressure I put on myself and one that works for me.”

The Anthony Joshua-managed ace has been a goldmine for boxing punters looking for a sure-thing but injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic have kept him out of action for 13 months.

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Josh Buatsi has been out of the ring for 13 months and wants to remind the world of his powerCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

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So the comeback, against a respected Croatian ex-amateur champion, will have bookies running for the safes after a long time away.
Buatsi laughed: “I cannot condone gambling, I do get a lot of messages before the fight and a lot after but I don’t pay that any attention.
“If people win money on my fights then I am very happy for them, I am sorry if me being out for so long has cost them but hopefully we are all back to winning ways this weekend.
“It’s been over 400 days so I want to enjoy an exciting comeback and remind everyone of what I can do.”

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TYSON FURY’S promoter Frank Warren has all-but given up on staging a trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder this year.
But the 68-year-old is desperate to get the WBC heavyweight champ back in the ring before 2020 is out and will sit down with the Gypsy King next week to sort a plan of action.

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Deontay Wilder’s trilogy fight and chance of revenge against Tyson Fury doesn’t look like happening this yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Wilder signalled his intention to use a rematch clause after he was battered by Fury in February.
But the American had to have surgery on his bicep, and seems to have gone quiet on arranging a bout for 2020.
And Hall of Fame promoter Warren thinks a lack of crowds due to coronavirus restrictions could put paid to Part III happening this side of Christmas.
Speaking to BT Sport, Warren said: “He wants to fight for obvious reasons, he’s been training hard as a lot of fighters have.

“It’s not just about the money with him, it’s about getting back out there.
“I think it’s getting to him a bit as it is a lot of fighters. It’s well documented the problems he had getting back and boxing has been his saviour.
“We have got to keep him focussed that he can fight, he wants to fight.
“If we can’t get the Wilder fight, we have got to look at something else, work between us and work with everyone concerned.

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Frank Warren isn’t hopeful the Wilder trilogy fight will happen this yearCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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“We have to make sure he says focussed, because next year if we get the crowds back, there’s some massive fights.
“We have got to get rid of this Wilder fight, it was supposed to take place in June or July and at the moment it doesn’t look like it will take place this year.
“Unless Bob Arum pulls a rabbit out the hat and puts it on in the States, but I think he will struggle to do that because they are in the same boat as us with no crowds.
“The last fight got the highest ever grossing fight to take place in Vegas, that is a massive amount of money, £20million, and that’s not going to be there.
“So you’ve got to find it so the guys can get the purses they are looking for.”

Fury spent two-and-a-half years out of the ring as he battled mental health and alcohol issues, and credits boxing with helping him turn his life around.
The 32-year-old completed his fairytale journey when he handed Wilder his first ever defeat in devastating style in Las Vegas earlier this year.
But with the boxing calendar decimated due to the ongoing pandemic, the Gypsy King has been left putting on Instagram Live home workouts and training with his team in the UK.
Warren continued: “At the end of the day all I care about is Tyson, that his wellfare and wellbeing is being catered for.
“So somehow we got to get him out, get our thinking caps on and get our hands in someone’s pockets and get it on.
“He’s the best he’s ever looked, and more importantly he is on it mentally, and I don’t want him to lose that edge.

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Tyson Fury completed a memorable sporting combeack in style by battering WilderCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And I don’t want him to get despondent about it, so we all got to work together to make sure something happens.
“Some time next week we will work it out, say ‘right these are the options, what do you want to do’, and it’s going to be his decision.
“He’s the champion and he is the driving seat. Next week we will see what we got.”
Fury announced at the start of lockdown that he and Brit rival and WBA, WBO and IBF champ Anthony Joshua had agreed two fights for 2021.
But both boxers have their own mandatories to take care of first – AJ is set to defend his belts against Kubrat Pulev in December.

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FLOYD MAYWEATHER has once again stated he is the greatest boxer in history as he threw shade at heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali.
The 43-year-old – who failed to name Ali in his top five list in July – revealed he has ‘accomplished’ more than any other fighter.

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Floyd Mayweather won a whopping 15 world titles throughout his careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Mayweather has thrown shade at Muhammad Ali’s legacy in boxing

And he even left off the former Olympic gold medallist from his boxing ‘Mount Rushmore’.
Mayweather retired in 2017 following his win against Conor McGregor with a record of 50-0 – winning 15 world titles across five weight divisions.
Speaking to Club Shay Shay about boxing’s legendary fighters, he said: “Out of all these guys in the history of boxing, I have accomplished more than every fighter in the history of boxing.
“How many world champions have Rocky Marciano beat? So we already know, I beat more champions that’s going in the hall of fame.”

Mayweather then turned his attention to Ali, where he insisted he cannot be No1 as he lost to an inexperienced Leon Spinks, while also commenting on his trilogy against Ken Norton.
Despite beating Norton twice after losing in their first meeting, Mayweather believes Ali got two fortunate decision victories.
He added: “Is Ali the same fighter that got beat by a fighter with seven fights? Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali when he only had seven fights.
“What’s the heavyweight guy that Ali fought three times, Ken Norton? Ken Norton really beat Ali three times, go back and look at the fights.”

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The 1996 Olympic bronze medallist finished off by saying: “Floyd Mayweather is still the face of boxing.
“Every time boxing comes on, you don’t bring up Muhammad Ali’s name, you don’t bring up Mike Tyson’s name, you always bring up Floyd Mayweather’s name.”
Mayweather – who is in talks to face YouTuber Logan Paul in an exhibition bout – has offered to train Deontay Wilder for his trilogy bout against Tyson Fury.
Speaking of the Bronze Bomber, he said: “Tyson Fury’s solid, he’s got skills.
“Deontay Wilder’s got bombs, but we can make his skills a lot better.
“I’m here to help fighters, even Wilder.
“I’m here, all he’s gotta do is let me know what he wanna do and we can make it happen.”

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BARRY HEARN, the UK’s leading sports promoter, has tested positive for Covid-19.
The 72-year-old, who runs snooker, darts and boxing, has begun a period of self-isolation in accordance with UK government guidelines after catching coronavirus.

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Barry Hearn has tested positive for Covid-19Credit: PA:Press Association

His son Eddie, 41, who runs boxing events, also tested positive last week and had to leave the Fight Camp bubble to protect his boxers.
A spokesperson said: “Barry feels well and is not displaying any symptoms. Additional staff and family members have also been tested and all found negative.”
In April, Hearn suffered a heart attack and underwent an emergency op in Essex.
Unlike Barry, Eddie is believed to be suffering with flu-like symptoms.

On Thursday he tweeted: “Gutted to just find out I tested positive for Covid-19 today and have to leave the bubble immediately.
“Thankfully all other tests were negative. Heading home to rest – catch up tomorrow”.
Luckily Eddie was the only person to return a positive test as fighters and staff entered the Matchroom bubble ahead of the show at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes this weekend.
It is being headlined by rising star Joshua Buatsi, who is hotly tipped to become a future world champion.

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Matchroom Chairman Barry Hearn has tested positive for Covid-19 and begun a period of self-isolation in accordance with UK government guidelines.Barry feels well and is not displaying any symptoms.Additional staff & family members have also been tested and all found negative.
— Matchroom. (@matchroomsport) October 3, 2020

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He will fight Marko Calic for the WBA International light-heavyweight title on Sunday night.
Barry received plenty of well-wishes online as news of his positive test broke.
One fan tweeted: “Horrible year for Barry Hearn – get well soon.”
Another tweeted: “Sending all the best wishes to the boss Barry Hearn. Swift recovery Barry!”

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CHANTELLE CAMERON will not gloat about beating best pal Savannah Marshall to their first world title – as long as she stops telling lies about her bedroom decor.
Northampton ace Cameron fights for the WBC super-lightweight crown on Sunday night – two weeks before her training-camp flatmate bids for the WBO middleweight title.

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Chantelle Cameron has waited patiently for her crack at a world titleCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

Their long-term friendship is watertight but Marshall’s hilarious claim that Cameron bows to a poster of hero and potential rival Katie Taylor every morning caused waves of laughter.
And 29-year-old Cameron could get revenge by pipping Marshall to the first major pro title they have dreamed about.
The 12-0 ace told SunSport: “Me and Sav are not in competition at all, I am just looking forward to her being crowned world champion as well.
“We were born four days apart and were on Team GB for eight years together travelling the world and competing, enjoying highs and suffering lows.

“It won’t matter who gets their world title first, we’re at different weights but just share the same dream.
“When we are both in training camp we share a flat in Manchester, I live at home in Northampton outside of fight camps.
“But her story about me bowing at a poster of Katie Taylor on my bedroom room is a lie – a total lie – she made me sound like a little freak!”

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Marshall had fun telling stories about Cameron’s bedroom decorCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Marshall and Cameron have quietly climbed the boxing ladder without flashing anything more than lightning fists.

It’s a sad fact that revealing more of their personalities and bodies might have got them more attention in the male-dominated sport.
But both girls are proud to have earned their moments to shine the right way.

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Northampton hero Cameron will get the last laugh with a world title winCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
“We don’t want to be the centre of attention,” Cameron said ahead of Sunday’s clash with Adriana Araujo in Milton Keynes. “We just want to box and win and let our fighting do the talking.
“That shared personality is probably why we are such good friends as well. We don’t like to show off, we’re not mouthy and we just like to fight.
“Katie Taylor is quiet as anything – hardly ever posts anything – and she is the boxing queen. It shows you don’t need to do it.
“If you are talented enough then your boxing will do the talking for you.”

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