Boxing

DEONTAY WILDER has claimed Anthony Joshua was all set to hang up his gloves had their two-fight series not gone up in smoke.The former two-time unified heavyweight champion continued his career rehab last weekend with a fifth-round stoppage of his old sparring partner Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder were on course for a big-money two-fight series next yearCredit: REUTERS
Wilder’s defeat to Joseph Parker, however, scuppered the £100million seriesCredit: GETTY
Bronze Bomber Wilder has claimed AJ would have retired had he beaten ParkerCredit: REUTERS
Joshua, 34, despatched the Swedish slugger with the knowledge that his blockbuster series with Wilder had gone up in smoke thanks to a shock Joseph Parker win.
And Wilder has claimed he heard a “rumour” AJ would have ended his illustrious career had he added Parker’s name to his list of victims.
He told 78SPORTSTV: “The rumour was he was talking about retiring if I won… March 9th, the fight still can go on.
“But this is a perfect way for them to get out.”
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Despite Joshua still being open to facing The Bronze Bomber, promoter Eddie Hearn insists the fight is dead in the water.
And Wilder has a theory for why Hearn is touting other opponents for the Watford warrior.
He said: “They really don’t want that fight. When I lost, did you see how happy he was coming out?
“I broke out laughing, I said, ‘That n****’s happy as f**k.”
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Deontay Wilder believes Anthony Joshua is running scared of himCredit: GETTY
“I made him able to perform like that. He was like, ‘I ain’t gotta fight Wilder.’”
A showdown with mandatory IBF title challenger Filip Hrgovic will likely be next for Joshua, who has been called out by the undefeated Croatian.
He told iFL TV: “A lot of options. I know I’m the next in the line. Whoever it will be, I believe I will fight for the title.
“I just want a title shot. I don’t care who it is.
“I would like to fight Anthony Joshua. He’s one of the biggest names in the sport, and I feel I can beat him.” More

FOLLOWING the Riyadh heavyweight hype and hoopla last weekend, there’s been time to reflect and put matters into some perspective.Eddie Hearn declared Anthony Joshua the world’s best at his weight after he forced ordinary Otto Wallin to retire with a broken nose at the end of five one-sided rounds.
Anthony Joshua is the world’s best heavyweight, according to Eddie HearnCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Hearn made the claim after Joshua’s victory over Otto WallinCredit: Getty
Promoter Hearn wasn’t alone in having a rush of blood to the head with his over-the-top reaction.
Plenty of others claimed Britain’s former two-time world champion, after a couple of underwhelming displays this year, was now back to his best.
Joshua’s best by far was when he put paid to Wladimir Klitschko in 11 rounds six years ago — but it’s highly unlikely he will ever reach that peak again.
Against Wallin, AJ did what he was expected to do — overpower a mundane rival quickly and efficiently.
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What was pleasing was to see Joshua still had a supply of aggression burning in his belly. He also managed to shake off the sluggishness that seemed to be afflicting him.
There was a worry AJ could have slipped on the Wallin banana skin — at least he’s proved he will still be in the mix when it comes to world title match-ups next year.
But before Hearn’s cheerleading can be taken seriously by fans, Joshua will have to beat Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk.
Daniel Dubois also got rave reviews for beating 23-stone disgraced druggie Jarrell Miller — who was carrying more blubber than a humpback whale.
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Yet having taken a knee and been counted out after being hit with a jab fighting Usyk four months ago, it will take more than that for Dubois to redeem himself in my eyes.
The Fury-Usyk phoney war is at last coming to an end — the outbreak of hostilities is only seven weeks away.
We’ve cried out for a unified world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis ruled 24 years ago.
But boxing cannot help shooting itself in the foot.
Either Fury or Usyk will only hold that title for about five minutes.
The IBF, in their wisdom, decided as Fury and Usyk have a return clause, they will declare their version of the title vacant in the interests of mandatory challenger, Croatian Filip Hrgovic.
As Lennox used to say, it’s  another example of misguided boxing politricks — the governing bodies never seem to understand what is in the sport’s best interests. 
But who will receive boxing’s Oscar as The Ring magazine’s 2023 Fighter of the Year?
Tyson Fury is the only Brit to win The Ring magazine’s Fighter of the YearCredit: Getty
In its 95-year history, Fury is the only Brit to be honoured — in 2015 and again five years later. 
There are four outstanding unbeaten candidates — Japan’s Naoya Inoue and Americans Terence Crawford, Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis.
Favourite must be Inoue, known as The Monster for devouring his opponents.
Appropriately on Boxing Day, Inoue — in front of 15,000 of his adoring Tokyo fans — KO’d  Philipino Marlon Tapales.
That unified the super-bantamweight division as he had already won the four bantamweight belts.
Before, only Crawford ever unified two divisions.
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Inoue, 30, was having his 21st world title fight.
He is a world champ in four different weight classes and has KO’d 23 of his 26 opponents.
Naoya Inoue is a two-weight unified world championCredit: Getty More

MANNY PACQUIAO will return to the ring next year for a shock showdown with a Muay Thai icon.The former eight-weight division champion, 45, called time on his Hall-of-Fame career in September 2021 following a points defeat to Yordenis Ugas.
Manny Pacquiao retired from boxing after losing to Yordenis Ugas in September 2021Credit: AP
Pacman has flirted with coming out of retirement over the last 18 monthsCredit: AP
The former eight-weight champ will face Muay Thai and kickboxing icon BuakawCredit: GETTY
Pacquiao, however, has repeatedly flirted with the prospect of lacing up his gloves over the last year and a half.
And he’s struck a deal to throw down with Muay Thai and kickboxing legend Buakaw in Thailand.
Pacman’s clash with Buakaw – which has been in the works for the last eight months – will take place at Bangkok’s Impact Arena on April 20.
The ‘Match of Legends’ – which will be contested over six three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks – will serve as the showpiece event for Thailand’s Fresh Air Festival.
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Fresh Air Festival CEO Vinij Lertratanachai said: “We are honoured to have Manny ‘PacMan’ Pacquiao and Buakaw Banchamek for this historic event.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you won’t want to miss.”
Pacquiao returned to the ring last December for an exhibition bout with South Korean martial artist DK Yoo.
It’s not yet known, however, if his clash with Bukaw will also be an exhibition.
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Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring last December for a clash with DK YooCredit: AFP
Nevertheless, the pride of the Philippines plans to put on a show against the beloved Buakaw.
He said: “I will do my best and give good action for fans to make them happy and enjoy the show.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “This is going to be an amazing fight.”
The announcement of Pacquiao’s ring return comes less than a week after UFC superstar Conor McGregor challenged him to face him in a blockbuster Saudi showdown.
The Notorious said: “It’s his sport. If he wants me to come down to a smaller weight, then we should use more of my weapon.
“I should be able to grapple, that’s more fair.
“Say it to him, ‘Be a man or a mouse!’ Is Manny a man or a mouse? That’s it!” More

FRANK WARREN has backed Anthony Joshua to take on Daniel Dubois following their victories during the “Day of Reckoning” on Saturday.Deontay Wilder was next in line to face AJ – as the pair signed to fight each other – but the Bronze Bomber’s defeat against Joseph Parker blew the £100m mega-fight.
Frank Warren has eyed up Daniel Dubois as Anthony Joshua’s next opponentCredit: Reuters
Dubois beat Jarrel Miller during the ‘day of reckoning’ in Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCredit: Reuters
Anthony Joshua defeated Otto Wallin after five roundsCredit: Getty
Joshua took fans back to the old days after he stopped Otto Wallin in five rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The British fighter is now set for a thriller in 2024 as he is on the road to becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion.
But AJ needs a new opponent if he wants to continue climbing up the ranks.
And Warren thinks fellow Brit Dubois would be the perfect opponent.
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He told TalkSPORT: “For me, Dubois could fight any of those guys in the top 10. Even AJ would be a good fight. I’d watch that all day long.”
The 26-year-old stopped Jarrell Miller in the tenth and final round following an impressive performance in Saudi Arabia.
And after his win, Dubois is confident the Hall of Fame boxing promoter will make the bout happen between him and British heavyweight giant AJ.
Dubois suffered a defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in August, but many fans believed he deserved to win.
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He could now be poised to take on the Ukrainian again while Joshua lines up another bout in a bid to take back his heavyweight title.
Meanwhile, for AJ, Filip Hrgovic, the IBF mandatory challenger, was who the Brit first mentioned in his post-fight press conference.
Fighting the Croatian would be Joshua’s quickest way back to world champion status.
Dubois however is more well-known which could be a bigger payday for AJ as he will miss out on a fight against Wilder – who suffered his third career loss.
Joshua was set to fight Deontay Wilder next but he faced a defeat against Joseph ParkerCredit: Getty More

DANIEL DUBOIS has set his sights on three potential opponents following his victory over Jarrell Miller.The 26-year-old stopped Miller in the tenth and final round following an impressive performance in Saudi Arabia.
Daniel Dubois is targeting a heavyweight giant for his next fightCredit: Getty
Dubois wants a rematch with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
And now he is eyeing a headline bout with a heavyweight giant.
Speaking to the media after Saturday’s fight, Dubois said: “Frank Warren will do his job, but I want all the big names now.
“I feel like I’ve gained the experience and I’ve improved bounds and leaps. And confidence-wise, I proved to myself I can dig deep tonight.”
He added: “AJ (Anthony Joshua) . All the big boys. AJ, (Tyson) Fury, (Oleksandr) Usyk rematch, come on!
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“I had a lot of things going on in my life and my head that I needed sort out, and tonight was a part of my redemption and recovery process.
“We’re out to win, and that’s what we did. I’ve got a lot of maturing to do, a lot of things to learn, I was scrappy in there but we came through it.”
Dubois suffered a defeat to Usyk in August, but many fans believed he deserved to win.
He could now be poised to take on the Ukrainian again while Joshua lines up another bout in a bid to take back his heavyweight title.
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Eddie Hearn previously suggested that Filip Hrgovic is next for AJ.
Joshua was set to fight Deontay Wilder, but that potential bout was thrown into chaos when the American suffered a defeat to Joseph Parker on the ‘Day of Reckoning’.
Wilder will now have to find another way to bounce back – if he doesn’t retire.
Dubois has also called out Anthony JoshuaCredit: AFP
Tyson Fury is another name on his list of targetsCredit: Getty More