Boxing

PRINCE HARRY has more chance of winning the Royal of the Year award than Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce losing their next fights.
Promoter Frank Warren is hoping to stage Dynamite Dubois’ defence of his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles against The Juggernaut Joyce, at London’s O2 Arena on October 24.

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Daniel Dubois and Joe JoyceCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun
The clash has been postponed twice because of the coronavirus crisis.
It is the most eagerly awaited all-British heavyweight battle since Lennox Lewis beat Frank Bruno — defending his world title — in Cardiff 27 years ago.
Joyce has been out of action for a year due to the pandemic, while Dubois will have been idle for nine months.
Warren reluctantly agreed to allow the two unbeaten world championship contenders to feature behind closed doors at BT’s Stratford studios.

Joyce tackles German Michael Wallisch, 34, on July 25, and Dubois goes in with German-based Russian Erik Pfeifer, 33, on August 29.
Though both are competent, their records suggest the distance between them and a top-ten ranking is about as far apart as Land’s End and John O’Groats.
Defeat for Dubois or Joyce — though highly improbable — would obviously destroy boxing’s Oktoberfest.
The risk to Daniel and Joe may be very small.

Yet when heavyweights are concerned, just one lucky punch is all it takes to shatter dreams and sometimes put an end to a promising career.
I have seen many great fights that were signed and sealed, yet were never delivered because they were destroyed by the unexpected.

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Tyson was in line to fight Holyfield, onlytot be stunned by Buster DouglasCredit: Reuters
In 1973, there was intense excitement and anticipation when European heavyweight champion Joe Bugner and bitter rival Danny McAlinden agreed to meet in a unification fight at Earls Court.
Jack Solomons, McAlinden’s promoter, inexplicably insisted he needed a warm-up contest and brought in American journeyman Morris Jackson to give him a paid work-out.
Jackson knocked out Danny boy in the third and the Bugner promotion was buried forever.
Evander Holyfield, signed a £9.5million contract to challenge Mike Tyson for his world title as soon as the unbeaten Baddest Man on the Planet disposed of no-hoper Buster Douglas.
I sat next to Holyfield in the Tokyo Dome in 1990 as he watched 12million greenbacks shredded into waste paper when Douglas KO’d Iron Mike.
They did eventually meet, but it was six years later.
Aaron Pryor was to receive £600,000 – an untold fortune for him – to challenge Sugar Ray Leonard for the world welterweight crown, which had Fight of the Year written all over it.
Pryor was listening to his car radio when it was announced Leonard had suffered a detached retina and the fight was off.
Aaron said he pulled into the kerb and burst into tears. He never did fight Leonard.
And by forcing Don Curry to quit on his stool to lift the world welterweight belt in the upset of the 1980s, Lloyd Honeyghan ruined the Curry-Marvin Hagler duel American fans had dreamed about.

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Frank warren will sleep easier after Dubois and Joyce come through their next fights unscathedCredit: PA:Press Association

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Warren told me: “The last thing I wanted to do was put the Dubois-Joyce fight at risk — it’s huge and every fan can’t wait to see it.
“But Danny and Joe have been away from the ring so long, I felt duty bound to allow them to get involved in something more meaningful than sparring.
“I’ll sleep much easier when I know they have come through unharmed.”
We know the dangers where heavyweights are concerned.
As Pliny the Elder, a Roman philosopher, warned 2,000 years ago: “The only certainty is that nothing is certain.” 

Boxing star Daniel Dubois shows off his moves as he works out in mirrored room More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been described as a role model by Irish boxing star Joe Ward.
The light-heavyweight star has been around the Briton for a few years – from their time in the amateurs to sharing professional camps in Sheffield after both moved into the paid ranks.

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Anthony Joshua celebratesCredit: Getty Images

Joshua, a gold medalist at the London Olympics in 2012 has gone on to be one of the biggest stars in the sport.
He currently holds three of the four main heavyweight titles after avenging his defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr earlier this year – and will next face Kubrat Pulev and Tyson Fury.
Ward and Joshua, 30, have shared camps in Sheffield over the years and the Irishman was keen to praise Joshua’s rise to the top of the game.
Speaking on the Rocky Road: Rewind podcast, Ward said: “Yeah I was in a few training camps when Anthony was training there so I’d know him quite well. We’d see each other when I’m there.

“Anthony is a nice guy and a great role model for boxing. What more can he do?
“He’s nearly done it all as an amateur and as a professional so you have to give him credit.
STARTED OLD
“Especially since he only started boxing fierce old – as we would say.
“He only started boxing when he was 18 or 19 so to go along and achieve everything he has achieved in this short space of time says a lot for himself and the work and effort he put into it.”

Ward is currently waiting to get back in the ring after a horror start to his pro career – when he dislocated his knee in his debut at Madison Square Garden.
However, he is fighting fit now and ready to answer the bell for the first round whenever the sport returns after the coronavirus lockdown.
Ward recalled: “Obviously my debut was a disaster for me regarding what happened to my knee.

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“Everything was going really well in camp – I was really looking forward to making my debut in Madison Square Garden.
“What a place to fight – what a place to be given an opportunity to make your debut and then for a freak accident like that to happen – it was a big set-back for me.
“Look, it’s one of these thing you have to get over and move on.”

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BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather has teased another potential return to the ring in Japan with a raunchy promotional video.
The American champ pocketed an estimated £7.1million after fighting Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo in December 2018.

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The raunchy video features two women in a bathtubCredit: Instagram @floydmayweather

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Floyd Mayweather has teased a return to Tokyo this yearCredit: Instagram @floydmayweather
Mayweather easily knocked him out in the first round and insisted he hadn’t come out of retirement but was there to entertain the fans.
And it appears he has serious plans for Round Two judging by his upload to Instagram.
The lengthy video features naked women in a bathtub, champagne, music, watches, more women, and, of course, serious amounts of cash.
Endorsing his ‘Mayweather Promotions’, among the images of flash cars and poker games are the words: “We are not just an entertainment group.

“We are in high roller business.
“We are the number one promoters in Tokyo.”
It is then signed off with the words: “Tokyo 2020.”

Mayweather founded his company in 2007 and promotes live entertainment including boxing and music.

SunSport exclusively revealed how Mayweather has been in talks to fight in Japan but the coronavirus pandemic is preventing him from flying.
In another recent Instagram post, Mayweather claimed he was travelling to Tokyo to speak with his partners and MMA promoters RIZIN to discuss “something this year”.
Last year RIZIN chief Nobuyuki Sakakibara told SunSport they would welcome Mayweather back, but only if they had a suited opponent.
Mayweather has kept himself in terrific shape during lockdown with sparring partner Denis Douglas revealing his brutal regime.
He told Sky Sports: “When we’re sleeping, he’s working.
“Out of nowhere, he called me at 1am and told me: ‘Come to the gym, I want to spar’.

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The video features plenty of parties and champagneCredit: Instagram @floydmayweather

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This lady is wearing a ‘TMT’ t-shirt, short for The Money TeamCredit: Instagram @floydmayweather

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Floyd Mayweather is a huge fan of his timepiecesCredit: Instagram @floydmayweather

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Mayweather flattened Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018Credit: AFP – Getty

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Floyd Mayweather is planning to make big money in JapanCredit: Instagram @floydmayweather

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“I was knocked out asleep. But once he hit me up I told him, ‘I’ll be there right away’.
“I was honoured to get that call. Whether it was at 1am or 4am, I would always go.
“You have to. He is arguably the best ever and definitely the best of my generation.”

You can now get your very own personalised message from Floyd Mayweather More

MANNY PACQUIAO and Floyd Mayweather are once again going head-to-head – in competing for fans’ affection.
Both boxers have signed up to the personalised shout-out service Cameo.

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Unbeaten boxing legend Floyd Mayweather has a five-star rating on CameoCredit: Cameo

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Manny Pacquiao is also on the service, with a slightly higher fee than his rivalCredit: Cameo
Die-hard fans are given the chance to pay for their hero to deliver them a birthday message, motivational speech or just a simple ‘good luck’.
Naturally, the service comes at a cost and Pacquiao has edged his welterweight rival with a fee of £830 – compared to the £829 charged by ‘Money’.
Mike Tyson also features on the service but is amazingly available for HALF the price of Mayweather and Pacquiao.
Iron Mike asked for just £415 before “temporarily” shutting his account due to “overwhelming demand”.

In a video advertising his services, Mayweather said: “You know who this is – it’s Floyd Mayweather.
“Money, pretty boy, Mr 50-0, the champ. With my partners at Stardam Images and Cameo, you can have me customise messages.

“I’m the most expensive celebrity on Cameo and the first celebrity to go commercial with Stardam Images.
“There’s only one thing left to do. You know what to do…”

According to US showbiz site TMZ, the American superstar also said he wants to be the “first celebrity to make $1million on Cameo”.
Mayweather, 43, is understood to be formulating plans for a fresh comeback fight but the coronavirus pandemic has meant he is unable to travel to Japan for talks.

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You can now get your very own personalised message from Floyd Mayweather
Earlier this month, he told fans to “stay tuned” for news on a potential exhibition match.
In the meantime, he has been busy exploring different ventures and even took his one-man show on a European tour.
So far Money has one Cameo review – giving him a five-star rating – which simply read: “Thank you!”
And Manny has two reviews, with one revealing: “Thank you so much Manny!!! It was an absolute honor to hear from you. I’ll be sure to be there to root for you on your next fight. God bless you Manny.”

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Mayweather and Pacquiao went toe-to-toe in the ring in 2015 – with the American winning on pointsCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

MIKE TYSON’S amazing life both in and out of the ring have been captured in a series of incredible candid photos.
British photographer Michael Brennan covered so many of Mike Tyson’s iconic and infamous moments.

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Mike Tyson’s career has been documented in a series of pictures from British photographer Michael BrennanCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Brennan captured snaps of Tyson’s life – both in and out of the ringCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson is as famous for his out-of-the-ring indiscretions as his boxingCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson grew up with adopted mother Camille Ewald in Catskill, New YorkCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson drove his Hummer to give a talk to students about his rape conviction in Warren, Ohio in 1996Credit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson told students all about his rape conviction in an open discussionCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Police officers tried to restrain Tyson after the boxer bit off part of Holyfield’s ear in Las Vegas in 1997Credit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images
From Iron Mike’s early days living with trainer Cus D’Amato to his rape conviction, Brennan has seen it all.
And now he’s revealed all about his “unstable” years.
Born in 1966, Tyson would grow up in Brooklyn without a father – with his mum passing away when he was just 16.
Tyson went to live with legendary boxing trainer Cus D’Amato – and quickly showed a talent for the sport.

He became the youngest-ever world heavyweight champion in 1986 – but lost his crown in a shock defeat to James Buster Douglas in 1990.
Tyson would also lose twice to Evander Holyfield – including his controversial ear-bite of 1997.
Despite a series of defeats, Tyson is widely regarded as a contender for the Greatest of all Time mantle.
Out of the ring, though, his life has been plagued by contrvoersy.

In 1992, he was jailed for three years for the rape of beauty pageant contestant, Desiree Washington.
Tyson – nicknamed “The Baddest Man on the Planet” – was jailed again in 1999 for assaulting two older men.

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Tyson was guest ‘enforcer’ during WrestleMania 14 between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels in 1998Credit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson pictured with famous promoter Don King in 1991Credit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson trained for one fight in Las Vegas in 2000 wearing a Man Utd shirtCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Tyson and his trainer Kevin Rooney, photographed in Catskill, New York in 1985Credit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Tyson lost to James Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990Credit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Tyson had knocked Douglas down before being KO’d himselfCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images
A year later, Tyson bit Lennox Lewis in a press conference – before losing to the Brit star.
In 2003, he filed for bankruptcy having blown a £330million fortune.
Tyson has been married three times and has seven children, and in 2009 opened a cannabis ranch in California before embarking on a career in movies, most-notably the Hangover franchise.
All in all, Tyson won 50 of his 58 fights – 44 via KO – and even embarked on a brief career in WWE.
Now, aged 54, Tyson is looking as fit, strong and quick as ever as he set his sights on a comeback to boxing.
And one man knows Tyson’s struggles – and celebrationgs – better than British photographer Brennan.
He has now opened up about the legendary fighter – looking back at his life in and out of the ring.

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Mike Tyson during his fight with Donovan Ruddock in 1991Credit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson, pictured in 2004, is now-famous for his face tattooCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Brennan snapped Mike Tyson everywhere, in or out of the ring – here seen in ManhattanCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson always trained hard to win 50 fights in his careerCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images
On Tyson, Brennan revealed: “I first went to see Mike on November 28th; 1985, Thanksgiving Day in the US.
“He was living in legendary trainer Cus D’Amato’s house in Catskill, New York.
“Mike had been adopted by Cus & his partner, who Mike called his mother, Camille Ewald.
“After a strenuous workout in the morning, Mike and Camille invited me to sit down for Thanksgiving lunch along with two or three other adoptees.
“There was plenty banter and chat over a delicious lunch.
“After the meal Mike started washing the dishes and I volunteered to dry them.
“I felt that I would have been abusing their hospitality if I started taking pictures.”
Brennan continued by saying he could sense the “madness” was about to be revealed.
‘MADNESS’
He said: “The madness that consumed his later life was just around the corner.
“The silence of his surroundings were almost deafening.
“Fast forward to the year 2000 – in Phoenix, Arizona – Mike was preparing to fight Lou Savarese in Glasgow.
“Surrounded by a retinue of ‘advisors’ I turned up un-announced.
“His demeanour was unpredictable. He insisted we walk around a nearby car park.
“He kept whispering gibberish in my ear and he was clearly unstable.
‘There had been rumours that his unpredictable behaviour necessitated medication.
“He begrudgingly agreed to pose in a Glasgow Rangers football shirt.”
Brennan recalled how the early 2000s were a dark period for Tyson, with Iron Mike “out of control”, but added how he’s “reinvented” himself in the present day.

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Mike Tyson showed off his shredded physique before his fight with RuddockCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson training during his days in Catskill, New YorkCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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Mike Tyson pictured with his tumbler pigeon during a photoshootCredit: Michael Brennan/Iconic Images

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The photographer continued: “During that early period of 2000 through to 2006, he really spun out of control.
“His present day personality is a long way from either of those two Mike Tysons.
“[It’s like] a tribute to his reinventing himself after those years of madness.”

Mike Tyson shows off terrifying speed, power and reflexes at 54 as legend prepares for shock boxing return More