Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA faces a long wait to fight Tyson Fury after being lined up with a different opponent. Joshua returns on March 8 in Saudi Arabia, against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
Anthony Joshua returns against Francis NgannouCredit: AFP
Tyson Fury was forced to pull out against Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
The winner was being primed to then fight either Fury or Oleksandr Usyk, who were set to collide three weeks earlier.
However, Fury was forced to pull out with a horror cut suffered in sparring that required 11 stitches.
A rescheduled date has now been set for May 18, with the pair also contracted to a rematch.
That would mean a far longer wait for AJ, 34.
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So, if the Brit beats Ngannou, he could instead face Filip Hrgovic, who is the current IBF mandatory challenger for Usyk’s belt.
Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh said on The MMA Hour: “I’ll tell you what is in my mind. If Ngannou win then he will have a rematch against the champion.
“If Joshua win and the way of the winner of Tyson/Usyk, it will be long time because they will have rematch.
“We are thinking and discussing with Joshua camp and Hrgovic camp to maybe have a fight between them. ‌
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“I guarantee Usyk and he has my word, of two more big fights.”
Fury, 35, and Usyk, 37, confirmed in a joint interview that they had agreed to the rearranged date.
New date for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk CONFIRMED after Gypsy King was forced to pull out of megafight with horror cut
And both face handing over £10MILLION of their own cash if either are to pullout within the next three months.
Alalshikh revealed if Usyk is to withdraw, Joshua will be given the chance to replace him and fight Fury.
But if lightening strikes twice and again Fury is forced out, then Usyk will get to choose a replacement opponent. More

OLEKSANDR USYK missed the birth of his newborn daughter while preparing to fight Tyson Fury. The Ukrainian secretly set up shop in Valencia to train for the fight of his life on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Oleksandr Usyk with his wife YekaterinaCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
But disaster struck just two weeks out as Fury suffered a horror cut in sparring that left him with no choice but to withdraw from the bout.
It came as a hammer blow for Usyk, who had been so focused on training he missed the birth of his daughter last Thursday.
His sparring partner Emanuel Odiase told The Mirror: “I don’t know if a lot of people know this, but he missed his baby’s birth for this. He was in Spain preparing when his wife was giving birth in Ukraine.
“He was so focused on camp that he stayed in Spain and he missed it for that, so it’s extra annoying I can imagine.
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“He’s been in Spain for two or three months, but his daughter was born a couple of days ago.
“He looked the best in this camp, as good as ever. I think he felt it as well. He was in good shape and then boom, fight is postponed.
“As the man he is, I don’t think he will get distracted. I wish them all the best and a lot of health, it’s annoying but that’s life.
“You’ve got to stay cool, calm and collected because if you let that stuff get in your head it’s not good for you.”
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Usyk has been married to wife Yekaterina for 15 years and they now have four children together, Kyrylo, Mykhalio, Yelizaveta and their newborn.
It remains to be seen whether the unified heavyweight champ will remain in camp after it was announced he will now fight Fury on May 18.
Tyson Fury storms out of interview with Usyk after sending X-rated warning to manager about calling wife Paris a bitch
But Odiase revealed that – not for the first time – Usyk was raring to go.
He said: “It’s going to be annoying for him because he’s been peaking in training camp.
“He’s done that before, I was out in Turkey last March when he was preparing for their fight that was supposed to happen in April but it never happened.
“He’s in really good form and is prepared for the style Fury is going to bring to the table.”
Usyk with sparring partner Emanuel OdiaseCredit: @emaodiase More

TYSON FURY has been forced to deny using a three-year old picture when showing off his physique for his cancelled Oleksandr Usyk fight. The pair of unbeaten champions were due to collide in the first ever four belt heavyweight unification on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury showing off his physique
Fury and former boxer Dmitriy Salita in 2021
But with just over two weeks to go, Fury suffered a horrendous cut in sparring that left him with no choice but to withdraw from the bout.
A rearranged date has been set for May 18 and the WBC champion has protested his innocence following the freak injury.
Fury took to social media to show off his sensational physique with the caption: “Can’t help getting injured in sparring but what I can say was Usyk was in trouble I am in fantastic shape.
“I will reschedule soon as I can. 2024 a massive year for team GK.”
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But eagle-eyed fans spotted Fury wearing the same bright blue pants that he had on during a 2021 picture with ex-boxer Dmitriy Salita.
So Fury was forced to deny that he used an old snap and insisted he was in fighting shape.
He said on The MMA Hour: “The picture of me is not an old picture, it’s a new picture. I’m in fantastic shape, I’ve been training hard.
“I’ve been on a great diet and I was ready to rock and roll.”
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Fury, 35, and Usyk, 37, confirmed in a joint interview that they had agreed to the rearranged date.
And both face handing over £10MILLION of their own cash if either are to pullout within the next three months.
Fury also spoke out on Instagram Live moments after the announcement to talk down retirement and sent a warning Usyk’s way.
He said: “We keep moving forward and now we have a new date. Usyk’s crying his eyes out. ‘Tyson should retire, Tyson wants to retire.’
“No retirement here, motherf****r. You’re getting knocked out. Knocked spark out!
“May 18, the new date. Live and exclusive from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh season.”
Fury revealing the cut that postponed his Usyk fightCredit: X @Queensbury More

TYSON FURY’S conditioning coach has revealed just how well the Gypsy King looked before being forced out of fighting Oleksandr Usyk.The pair of unbeaten champions were due to collide in the first ever four belt heavyweight unification on February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury looked in top shape before his fight with Oleksandr Usyk was axedCredit: instagram @kristianblacklock
Fury had put months into training before it was postponedCredit: instagram @kristianblacklock
But with just over two weeks to go, Fury suffered a horrendous cut in sparring that left him with no choice but to withdraw from the bout.
A rearranged date has been set for May 18 and the WBC champion has protested his innocence following the freak injury.
And his strength and conditioning coach Kristian Blacklock released behind-the-scenes snaps to reveal that Fury was frustratingly in top shape.
Blacklock posted: “Gutted. I’ve been working with @tysonfury since 2015 and yesterday probably the worst day we have had as a team!
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“Behind the scenes and what people don’t see and don’t realise is the huge personal sacrifices we all made as a team to provide Tyson the best possible preparation
“We worked for 4 months dozens of training sessions, massages, meals cooked! Team members driving hundreds of miles to perform there individual tasks with Tyson everyday
“Giving up Christmas occasions with family then travelling to Saudi for 2 months missing out on New year celebrations with family and loved ones, not seeing your children for weeks all to give our maximum efforts to producing Tyson Fury in the best shape of his life.
“We are obviously all down and dejected with the cut, a freak sparring accident, which some people are actually questioning.But we will regroup and go again as determined as ever.”
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Fury, 35, and Usyk, 37, both confirmed they had agreed to the rearranged fight date which is only three months away.
And Fury went on Instagram Live moments after the announcement to talk down retirement and sent a warning Usyk’s way.
He said: “We keep moving forward and now we have a new date. Usyk’s crying his eyes out. ‘Tyson should retire, Tyson wants to retire.’
“No retirement here, motherf****r. You’re getting knocked out. Knocked spark out!
“May 18, the new date. Live and exclusive from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh season.”
Fury revealing the cut that postponed his Usyk fightCredit: X @Queensbury More

TYSON FURY has mocked speculation he could have retired following the postponement of his clash with Oleksandr Usyk.The Gypsy King was forced to push back his historic undisputed heavyweight title fight with the Ukrainian this week after suffering a cut in sparring.
Tyson Fury’s undisputed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk was postponed due to a cutCredit: GETTY
Some boxing fans and pundits suggested Fury might retire after the postponementCredit: JAMIE MCPHILIMEY
Fury hit back at retirement suggestions and sent a chilling warning to Usyk on InstagramCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
The latest delay to the fight led many boxing fans and even Usyk’s team to suggest Fury might retire without ever fighting the slick southpaw.
And Fury couldn’t help but laugh at those claims after it was revealed they’ll throw down on May 18.
Taking to Instagra, he said: “We keep moving forward and now we have a new date.
“Usyk’s crying his eyes out. ‘Tyson should retire, Tyson wants to retire.’
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“No retirement here, motherf****r. You’re getting knocked out. Knocked spark out!
“May 18, the new date. Live and exclusive from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh season.”
Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh has included a forfeit in the agreement for the May melee that will have both men on the hook for £10million if they pull out of the Riyadh rumble.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: “I have delayed it for May 18, I guarantee for both of the fighters £10million if someone escapes from the fight.
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TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
“We will make the people around the world know if someone is scared.”
Should unified heavyweight king Usyk pull out of the fight, Alalshikh plans to make the long-awaited Battle of Britain between Fury and Anthony Joshua.
He said: “I guarantee there will be another big fight on the same night [if it is cancelled].
“If Usyk is scared then I will call for Joshua vs Fury and if Fury is scared I will call for any fighter that Usyk wants.
“This is the fight of the century.”
Fury was full of praise for Al-Alshikh for finalising a new date for his long-overdue clash with Usyk so quickly.
He said: “We got a new fight date. Very, very quickly – I suppose that was upsetting to a lot of people, but refreshing to a lot of good people.
Will Tyson Fury really be ready for Usyk on May 18?
TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk will now meet on May 18 after their undisputed fight was rescheduled following the Gypsy King’s horror cut in training.
It could mean Fury has just 17 DAYS to fully prepare for the mouthwatering clash.
Here, SunSport boxing expert Wally Downes Jr reveals whether the Brit will be fully prepared for the task at hand…
Fury insists he only needed 11 stitches on the gash over his right eye, promoter Frank Warren had earlier said 14, and it did look to be healing nicely when he appeared online to debate Usyk on Saturday evening.
Whichever it is, it makes this new scratch sound like a paper cut compared to the axe wound he suffered against Otto Wallin in 2019.
Doctors will try to ban Fury from any physical activity while the cut heals and then prescribe a very slow return to training and only when it is completely repaired will he be advised to spar.
However, trying to tell the 35-year-old Gypsy King what he can and cannot do might be a tall order for the little doctor charged with the task of policing the 6ft 9ins 20st maverick.
The maths suggests he might only have 17 days of sparring to prepare for the super-talented southpaw, who grabbed gold at London 2012 and became undisputed cruiserweight king.
And, while Fury is supposedly resting up and recovering from this latest set-back, Usyk will still be training his mind and body, doing practice rounds with giants and growing in confidence.
While Fury is sidelined, he will undoubtedly gain weight. He was as big as 22st just eight weeks out from his October scare against Francis Ngannou, so he still has not tamed his appetite.
And Fury fans will definitely worry that an enforced break, another stumbling block and another scar target for Usyk to aim his punches at, will all play into the 37-year-old Ukraine icon’s favour on May 18.

“Massive shoutout to Turki Alalshikh, they made the new date possible so quickly.”
He also showed off his since stitched-up war wound, saying: “In life, sometimes s***y things happen to you but you never let it get to you.
“You always keep moving forward. Look at that b*****d right there. Woah.
“Nice little elbow right in the eye. Nearly cost me the biggest fight in my career. But what can you do, s**t happens.”
Fury, 35, was in tip-top shape for the bout and was furious at suggestions he deliberately got himself injured.
He said: “This is not a blessing in disguise, but I take God’s will as it comes.
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“I was 100 per cent confident I was going to knock Usyk out. I was 100 per cent ready.
“Why would I not want to fight for the biggest payday of my life?” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA could find himself across the ring from Tyson Fury just TWO MONTHS after his crossover clash with Francis Ngannou.The Watford warrior will continue his career rebuild with a lucrative Saudi showdown with the former UFC heavyweight champion on March 8.
Tyson Fury’s undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk has been rescheduled for May 18Credit: EPA
The Gypsy King could find himself in the ring with Anthony Joshua is Usyk pulls out of the fightCredit: GETTY
AJ could finally get his hands on Fury just weeks after facing Francis NgannouCredit: GETTY
AJ and his team are hoping to see out 2024 with a world title fight, but a showdown with Brit rival Fury could fall in their lap should Oleksandr Usyk pull out of their rescheduled undisputed bout on May 18.
Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh dropped the bombshell during an appearance on The MMA Hour in which Fury’s rescheduled fight was announced. He said: “I guarantee there will be another big fight on the same night [if it is cancelled].
“If Usyk is scared then I will call for Joshua vs Fury and if Fury is scared I will call for any fighter that Usyk wants.
“This is the fight of the century.”
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Prior to the rescheduling of the first undisputed title fight in nearly 25 years, Joshua’s team revealed to SunSport that he’d be willing to move forward his clash with Ngannou to preserve the Saudi’s big-money plans.
Fury and Usyk’s historic undisputed showdown was postponed on Friday after the Brit suffered a horror cut in sparring.
But both men will be on the hook for a staggering £10million if they do a runner from the long-overdue unification fight.
Alalshikh said: “I have delayed it for May 18, I guarantee for both of the fighters £10m if someone escapes from the fight.
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TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
“We will make the people around the world know if someone is scared.”
Fury was left devastated by the re-opening of the wound he suffered in his 2019 clash with Otto Wallin, so much so he still wanted to fight on February.
Alalshikh said: “Tyson doesn’t want me to tell this secret.
“He wanted to fight on the 17th with the cut but I didn’t let him, it would be a circus, not a fight.
“We have a deadline with IBF and I don’t want a headache with them.”
Fury looked to be in tip-top shape for the biggest fight of his life, which he’s adamant he would have won in emphatic fashion.
He said of the rescheduling: “This is not a blessing in disguise, but I take God’s will as it comes.
“I was 100 per cent confident I was going to knock Usyk out. I was 100 per cent ready.
“Why would I not want to fight for the biggest payday of my life?”

Will Tyson Fury really be ready for Usyk on May 18?
TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk will now meet on May 18 after their undisputed fight was rescheduled following the Gypsy King’s horror cut in training.
It could mean Fury has just 17 DAYS to fully prepare for the mouthwatering clash.
Here, SunSport boxing expert Wally Downes Jr reveals whether the Brit will be fully prepared for the task at hand…
Fury insists he only needed 11 stitches on the gash over his right eye, promoter Frank Warren had earlier said 14, and it did look to be healing nicely when he appeared online to debate Usyk on Saturday evening.
Whichever it is, it makes this new scratch sound like a paper cut compared to the axe wound he suffered against Otto Wallin in 2019.
Doctors will try to ban Fury from any physical activity while the cut heals and then prescribe a very slow return to training and only when it is completely repaired will he be advised to spar.
However, trying to tell the 35-year-old Gypsy King what he can and cannot do might be a tall order for the little doctor charged with the task of policing the 6ft 9ins 20st maverick.
The maths suggests he might only have 17 days of sparring to prepare for the super-talented southpaw, who grabbed gold at London 2012 and became undisputed cruiserweight king.
And, while Fury is supposedly resting up and recovering from this latest set-back, Usyk will still be training his mind and body, doing practice rounds with giants and growing in confidence.
While Fury is sidelined, he will undoubtedly gain weight. He was as big as 22st just eight weeks out from his October scare against Francis Ngannou, so he still has not tamed his appetite.
And Fury fans will definitely worry that an enforced break, another stumbling block and another scar target for Usyk to aim his punches at, will all play into the 37-year-old Ukraine icon’s favour on May 18. More