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    Inside state-of-the-art new £350m arena next to Man City’s Etihad stadium that could rival O2 as UK’s new home of boxing

    THIS is the £350million state-of-the-art arena that could become the UK’s new home of boxing.
    Manchester Council have given the green light to plans for the 23,500-seater indoor arena to be built next to Man City’s Etihad stadium.

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    This new £350m arena in Manchester could be the new home of British boxingCredit: Oak View Group

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    The 23,500-seater is set to play host to boxing, MMA and live music eventsCredit: Oak View Group

    And it looks set to challenge London’s O2 for the country’s biggest boxing bouts.
    Scheduled to be completed in 2023, it will become the largest arena in the UK.
    And to give it even more prestige, it will be able to count the Etihad stadium as its next door neighbour, as well as other parts of City’s Etihad campus.
    Plans were first drawn up for residents in October last year by American entertainment company Oak View Group (OVG).

    As well as boxing fights, it is set to host MMA bouts too – as well as live music concerts.
    There could even be restaurants and shops inside its many tiers.
    OVG already have projects on the go in places such as California, Texas, New York and Milan.
    In a statement released last year, OVG said: “Arenas have evolved rapidly in recent years, with built-in design features now expected as standard to manage noise issues, enhance security and manage the flow of visitors.

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    The arena will be situated next to Man City’s Etihad StadiumCredit: Oak View Group

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    Manchester council have given the green light for the arena to be builtCredit: Getty – Contributor

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    “Our ambition is for a large, enclosed venue which makes use of cutting-edge design and technology, as well as first class customer service to provide a truly outstanding event experience for a multitude of events.
    “A new, state-of-the-art arena is consistent with the wider commitment to continue the growth of Eastlands and the Etihad Campus.”
    A statement from Man City at the time added: “The City Football Group is working with OVG as part of its commitment to continuing the growth of Eastlands and the Etihad Campus as a thriving community and world-leading sporting and leisure destination.”

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    The multi-tier arena will boast restaurants and shopsCredit: Oak View Group

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    The arena is set to be finished by 2023Credit: Oak View Group

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    Dillian Whyte claims he earned measly £300 for beating Anthony Joshua in amateurs but was thrilled with pay packet

    DILLIAN WHYTE has revealed he only earned £300 for his win over Anthony Joshua in the amateurs.
    The two British heavyweights battled each other in 2009.

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    Dillian Whyte only got £300 for beating Anthony Joshua as an amateurCredit: PA:Press Association

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    He lost to AJ via TKO in 2015 when they met as prosCredit: Reuters

    The Body Snatcher managed to defeat the future world champion via unanimous points in an all out brawl.
    However, Whyte has revealed that he only received the small sum for the fight but sounded very happy with his pay cheque.
    He told Carl Froch on his podcast: “I remember, I had an amateur fight somewhere and I beat the guy, I think it was the [Anthony] Joshua fight, and the coach comes to me and he gave me like 300 quid and he said ‘this is your ex’s,’ and I was like ‘what?’
    “So you’re telling me I get paid to beat people up? And he went, ‘yeah, here are your ex’s.’

    “So I was shocked, I never come from no sporting background, I ain’t had no big amateur career.
    “I had no-one look after me and tell me whatever, no-one in my family done anything sport-wise.”
    Whyte added: “I don’t know how it worked, my coach said do you want to fight and I said yeah, cool, I don’t care I’ll fight anyone.
    “So he came to me and gave me (the money) and (I said), ‘so you’re telling me I can beat guys up and don’t get in trouble and I get paid’, I was like, ‘when is the next fight then’.”

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    Whyte and Joshua both moved into the pro ranks following successful amateur careers.
    They met again in December 2015 but this time Joshua got the win via knockout in the 7th round after being rocked by Whyte in the second.
    AJ is now in line to defend his world titles against Kubrat Pulev before a huge unification fight with Tyson Fury while Whyte is closing in on a rematch with Alexander Povetkin following the Russian’s shock KO win last month.

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    Anthony Joshua willing to vacate WBO heavyweight belt to seal Tyson Fury fight rather than face mandatory Usyk defence

    PROMOTER Eddie Hearn has revealed Anthony Joshua would be willing to vacate his WBO belt to face Tyson Fury next year.
    The 30-year-old has agreed terms on a two-fight deal to pit his wits against the WBC champion in 2021.

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    Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have been vocal in their desire to face each otherCredit: Refer to Caption

    And Hearn stated last week how he is ready to send out a formal contract for the undisputed domestic dust-up.
    But AJ faces the prospect of having to fight Oleksandr Usyk first should he beat Kubrat Pulev later this year.
    Unbeaten Ukrainian Usyk is in line to face Joshua, and if he emerges victorious against Dereck Chisora next month, he will be the WBO mandatory challenger.
    Hearn has insisted that even though Joshua is keen to meet Usyk inside the ring, he will prioritise a clash against the Gypsy King.

    Speaking to Boxing Social, he said: “There’s been a lot of talk about ‘give up the belt,’ but the aim for Anthony Joshua is to be the undisputed heavyweight champion.

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    Unbeaten Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk is in line to face Joshua next yearCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    “Will a belt get in the way of him fighting Tyson Fury next? Probably not.
    “Will he vacate a belt and fight Tyson Fury next? Yes, I believe he would if he had to, but would he rather maintain all the belts? One million percent.
    “I know Tyson Fury has said, ‘I already had all the belts.’ I know, but you’ve never been undisputed.

    “I hope that means something to people because it means a lot to Anthony Joshua if we get to a position where AJ is fighting Fury regardless of whether the WBO allows their title to be on the line.
    “It’s almost like I want to go to Usyk and say, ‘Look, we’re going to vacate the title, but can we vacate it the day after the fight?’”

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    Before adding: “Right now, the only way we can determine who the best heavyweight in the world is by AJ fighting Tyson Fury.
    “No one can dispute that. Whoever wins that fight will be number one. That’s the fight that AJ wants. Would AJ fight Usyk?  One million percent.
    “If Fury got injured or if the talks broke down, or if for some reason that didn’t get over the line, he will fight Oleksandr Usyk if he beats Chisora. But I know he wants to fight Tyson Fury.”

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    David Haye rates Dereck Chisora’s chances of beating Oleksandr Usyk after training against southpaws during delay

    DAVID HAYE is ‘thankful’ the coronavirus pandemic delayed Dereck Chisora’s fight against Oleksandr Usyk and believes it will work out helping the Brit to victory.
    The two were suppoosed to clash on May 23 at the O2 Arena, but the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK put paid to that.

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    David Haye is confident his man Chisora can spring a huge shockCredit: Reuters

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    Oleksandr Usyk is talked up as a future heavyweight world champCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    On Wednesday it was announced that the moutwatering match-up will now take place on October 31.
    Haye trains Chisora, and believes it might not be a bad thing that the fight was put back so far and he is predicting his man to ’cause an upset’.
    Speaking to Sky Sports, Haye, who was a cruiserweight and heavyweight world champ, said: “Believe it or not, I’m actually thankful the fight has been postponed as long as it has done.
    “I believe his chances of winning on October 31 are significantly higher than earlier on in the year, because he’s spent every day focusing on a tricky southpaw.”

    That is of course the style Usyk has mastered to a tee – helping him become undisputed cruiserweight champ before stepping up to heavyweight.
    But Haye is bullish that Chisora, who is a 9/2 shot with many bookies to triumph against the Ukrainian, can end the hype train.
    He added: “If you look at Derek’s record against Usyk, it’s like ‘Okay, there’s going to be one winner’.
    “But what Usyk doesn’t understand, the heavyweight division is very different from every other division in boxing. It’s about size, it’s about weight and one shot.

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    “Ask Povetkin. One shot it takes to turn the tide. Anything can happen. In the heavyweight division, it’s so up in the air.
    “But when Derek is doing what he’s been doing in sparring against good quality opposition every day, the gaps that he used to have are getting filled in with good quality action.
    “He’s going to cause an upset and it’s going to shock so many people.”
    Chisora has lost nine times as a professional, while Usyk is undefeated.
    But Usyk’s first test at heavyweight didn’t show much as he easily defeated an out-of-shape Chazz Witherspoon in November last year.

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    How Mike Tyson and Anthony Joshua compare with combined age of 84 and 73 wins as boxing legend calls out Brit for fight

    MIKE TYSON has sensationally opened the door to facing Anthony Joshua in a ‘mind blowing’ charity exhibition.
    The heavyweight legend makes his stunning boxing return in November, but fancies a fight for the ages against WBA, IBF and WBO champion Joshua.

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    Tyson told TMZ Sports: “I’m very interested. If doing that means we can have a bigger charity exponent, well so be it, I’m down to do that, too.
    “I would love to [fight Joshua]. That would be mind-blowing.”
    Here SunSport takes a look how the division’s past and current best compare with a combined age of 84 and 73 wins shared.
    Mike Tyson
    Tyson retired in 2005, following back to back losses against Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.

    The youngest heavyweight champ of all time was a shadow of himself, so much so in both defeats he quit.
    In his years in retirement, Tyson overcame a battle with substance abuse and depression to become a successful cannabis farm owner as well well as hosting his own popular podcast.
    But the reformed Baddest Man on The Planet found the inspiration to start training again, and quickly announced a comeback – insisting he is back to his most destructive self.
    He said: “I feel unstoppable now. I feel the same again. The gods of war ignited my ego and want me to go to war again.”

    Tyson has been training under MMA coach Rafael Cordeiro, dramatically transforming his body, and sharing several viral videos on the pads.

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    Mike Tyson is preparing to fight for the first time since 2015 Credit: @miketyson
    It’s clear the legendary puncher stills posses the destructive speed and power that won him the belt aged 20.
    But being fit to train and fit to fight are two completely different things – as explained by the man himself following his final loss.
    Tyson said after being stopped against McBride: “I realised, I don’t think I have it anymore. I got the ability to stay in shape, but I don’t have the ability to fight anymore.”
    Despite the harsh reality, Cordeiro is adamant the iconic puncher is still getting BETTER despite his vast experience.
    He told TMZ Sports: “He’s fighting every single day in the gym and I believe the best still to come.
    “He is improving every day. He does not look like a 54-year-old fighter.”

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    Anthony Joshua
    Joshua, who turned pro a year after winning gold at the London 2012 Olympics, was an unstoppable force 22 fights into his run.
    With unified belts and wins over Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin, he was considered the No1 heavyweight.
    But suddenly he was left fighting for his career after suffering a shock upset against Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019.
    Joshua would go on to slim down and switch tactics as he enacted revenge on Ruiz, reclaiming his trio of world titles.
    It was a sign of AJ’s versatility in the ring, as he ditched his exciting, ruthless and aggressive style to outbox his opponent at range.

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    Anthony Joshua is the current unified heavyweight champion Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Joshua has shown throughout his career that he is comfortable both at mid-range and on the inside, where he can use his physicality and speed.
    But outthinking Ruiz on the back foot added a new element to AJ’s game, developing into a more well-rounded fighter, despite twice being crowned world champion.
    Joshua has gone down in two fights, firstly against Klitschko and then FOUR times in his Ruiz loss, later showing vulnerability when taking one in his rematch win over the Mexican-American.
    In his 23 wins, he has gone the ‘championship rounds’ four times, displaying that his size and work rate can hold up deeper into action.
    With 21 stoppages Joshua is a certified heavy-hitter, but finds more success in combination punching or set up attacks, rather than a one-puncher KO artist.
    Fight breakdown
    Tyson’s comeback, against Roy Jones Jr, is signed for eight rounds.
    The American has not boxed to that distance since 2002, against Lennox Lewis, meaning Joshua has a massive fitness and form advantage.
    Tyson’s best chance of somehow shocking AJ would be looking to take him out early with an explosive shot on the outside or lethal combinations up close.
    For Joshua, he has a good enough jab and the physical advantages to control the action at range.
    And if Tyson did try and close the gap, AJ is strong on the inside and possesses dangerous combination punches.
    All signs point to Joshua – 24 years Iron Mike’s junior – either bossing the fight on the outside or stopping his legendary opponent up close.
    It remains to be seen whether Tyson is capable of rolling back the clock and rediscovering that ability to bob and weave his way into range and fire off lethal hooks.
    But history will tell us that is impossible, making for a relatively comfortable night for Joshua should the Rocky 6-esque match-up materialise.

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    Deontay Wilder can easily beat Tyson Fury, but he doesn’t punch as hard as Mike Tyson, claims legend George Foreman

    GEORGE FOREMAN says Deontay Wilder could “easily” beat Tyson Fury in their trilogy fight – but he does not hit as hard as Mike Tyson.
    Many pundits had claimed the Bronze Bomber was the hardest puncher in boxing history before he was knocked out by the Gypsy King in February.

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    Deontay Wilder can easily defeat Tyson Fury in their trilogy fight, says George ForemanCredit: Richard Pelham

    The 34-year-old had knocked all-but-one of his opponents out before his first clash with Fury in December 2018, which ended in a draw.
    His power had a host of experts and ex-fighters calling him the most fearsome puncher ever, but former heavyweight champion Foreman insists he is still behind several other legends.
    The icon, who famously lost to Muhammad Ali in The Rumble in the Jungle back in 1978, said: “He’s good but he hasn’t approached Joe Lewis, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson.
    “No, he hasn’t approached that kind of recognition yet. No way.

    “For me, he has to have a performance like Mike Tyson did over Trevor Berbick.
    “Boy, when I saw that, I was down visiting Vegas, and I thought, ‘This guy is a nightmare’.”
    However Foreman, 71, thinks Wilder can easily reclaim the WBC crown from Fury if he prepares properly for his third fight with the Brit – which could be heading overseas from the US or UK unless fans can attend.

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    The legend says the Bronze Bomber still has some way to go to be considered more powerful than some of boxing’s other greatsCredit: Getty

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    He said Mike Tyson had a far more superior punch than WilderCredit: AFP

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    After speaking with his fellow American following his loss to Fury, the ring icon said: “I had a nice conversation with Wilder, nice conversation with him.

    “We talked because I was in a position where I lost unexpectedly with the title in Africa. Only I know what he’s going through.
    “He’s gonna have to live with [the Fury loss] but I can show him how to live with that and come back better. We talked a lot on those lines.
    “Not only beat him, [Wilder] can do it easily. Give him another chance. He’ll show you.”

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    Mike Tyson reveals ‘I’d love to fight’ Anthony Joshua in blockbuster charity bout aged 54 and ‘very interested’ in talks

    MIKE TYSON revealed he ‘would love to fight’ Anthony Joshua in a charity exhibition despite a 24-year age gap.
    The reformed Baddest Man on The Planet is two months away from his sensational boxing comeback, 15 years after retiring.

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    Mike Tyson is preparing to fight for the first time since 2005

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    Anthony Joshua was called out by Tyson

    He has dramatically transformed his body under the coaching of Rafael Cordeiro – who believes the 54-year-old is BETTER than ever.
    Cordeiro even claimed Tyson could challenge for the heavyweight title again.
    And the man himself is open to the ‘mind blowing’ task after confirming an interest in taking on unified champion Anthony Joshua, 30.
    Tyson told TMZ Sports: “Listen, I’m very interested.

    “If doing that means we can have a bigger charity exponent, well so be it, I’m down to do that, too.
    “I would love to [fight Joshua]. That would be mind-blowing.”
    Tyson faces Roy Jones Jr, 51, in an eight-round pay-per-view spectacle on November 28.
    It will be his first fight since 2005, when he hung up the gloves immediately after defeat against heavyweight journeyman Kevin McBride.

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    Before signing to fight former four-division champion Jones, current WBC king Tyson Fury was approached for an exhibition bout.
    Fury, 32, revealed ESPN put up £10million for the battle of the ages before negotiations swiftly collapsed.
    Tyson’s chances of facing either heavyweight champion do appear slim, as Joshua ruled himself out of facing the ‘greatest modern boxer’.
    In an exclusive interview with The Sun in May, AJ said: “With all due respect I wouldn’t.
    “Even if I fought Iron Mike and beat him, I think I’d be the only one cheering.
    “People would boo. He is a legend. He is the greatest boxer of the modern era.
    “There are only two recognised champions the world knows of, Ali and Mike Tyson — the most recognised faces in the world when it comes to boxing.”

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    Alexander Povetkin will chase Tyson Fury mandatory fight if he beats Whyte in rematch, confirms Russian boxer’s promoter

    ALEXANDER POVETKIN will push for a mandatory world title shot against Tyson Fury if he beats Dillian Whyte in their November rematch.
    The 41-year-old Russian upset the odds to deliver a stunning KO victory against Whyte in the fifth-round of their explosive August 22 clash.

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    Alexander Povetkin will have a rematch on Novermber 21 agaisnt Dillian Whyte, who he KO’d in AugustCredit: Mark Robinson Ltd

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    Tyson Fury is firmly in Povetkin’s sights witht he WBC title on the lineCredit: Alamy Live News

    Whyte had spent 1,000 days as the WBC’s mandatory contender, and victory would have set up a crack at unbeaten Fury and his famous green and gold strap.
    But those plans came crashing down in devastating fashion, and it is Povetkin who is ready to take his chance against the Gypsy King.
    Speaking to Sky Sports, ‘Sasha’s promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy said: “We will work in this direction.
    “The fight for the world title is a big event in the career of any fighter, and with every reason for this.

    “Of course we will seek a mandatory defence from the WBC.
    “Champion, you say? Hadn’t lost yet? Does everyone consider him the strongest in the division? Then, of course.”
    Fury of course has some of his own business to take care of, with the trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder rumoured to take place in December.
    But the ongoing lack of crowds due to the coronavirus pandemic is proving to be problematic.

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    Las Vegas would have been the most likely destination for the scrap – but Frank Warren has confirmed other countries could now be considered in light of the pandemic.
    But if Fury gets through that by beating the American for a second time, Povetkin could be next in line.
    And the Russian veteran’s team are hopeful they could get that super-fight in their own back yard.
    Ryabinskiy suggested the 80,000-seater Luzhniki Stadium, adding: “Why not? This is one of the possible locations.
    “If such a fight takes place, it will really become an event in the boxing world, no matter where it takes place, in Russia or in any other country in the world.”

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