Boxing

RICKY HATTON questioned how much Tyson Fury “has got left” after his brutal trilogy series with Deontay Wilder. Fury made a heroic comeback in 2018 shedding TEN STONE after three years out the ring amid a battle with depression and substance abuse.
Tyson Fury shared a brutal trilogy series with Deontay WilderCredit: AP
Fury won the gruelling series with two stoppagesCredit: Reuters
In the same year, he challenged Wilder for the WBC title and was deemed unfortunate to walk away with a draw despite being twice floored.
Fury, 35, did dethrone Wilder, 38, in the 2020 rematch before doubling his tally in their epic trilogy bout a year later.
But again, the Gypsy King had to twice get up from the canvas to pull out the stoppage victory.
So it leaves British boxing legend Hatton fearing the effects it could have on Fury heading into a potential super-fight with Anthony Joshua.
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He told OLBG: “You don’t get a bigger fight. It’s one of the biggest fights in British boxing history. It’s a great clash of styles.
“Tyson’s always in entertaining fights, so is AJ, and it was only a couple of fights ago we thought his best days were behind him but in his last couple of fights he has looked really impressive.
“But Tyson on the other hand has been the best heavyweight for a good number of years and I still have him as number one, but we just need to know what Tyson has got left.
“Don’t forget it’s not just the three Wilder fights, it’s the lifestyle he’s had as well where he’s had to lose ten stone in the past and what it does to the body and then having them three wars with Deontay Wilder.
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“It might be too many miles on the clock for Tyson or maybe he took him lightly because he didn’t look in the best shape.
“He’s not built like Anthony Johsua, but you can see that he has definitely been in better shape than last time out.
“But I hope we can get it on as it would be a tragedy for British boxing if the biggest fight in British history wasn’t made because they couldn’t make a deal.
“That’d be a crying shame for our sport. I edge towards Tyson but I’m not as confident as what I was.”
Fury was dropped by ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37, in their October crossover clash but ended out a controversial points win.
It kept alive his historic four-belt undisputed title decider with Oleksandr Usyk, 36, set for February 17 in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile Joshua, 34, will now fight Ngannou in March in Saudi after Wilder was beaten by Joseph Parker, 31, to blow their mega-fight.
There is hope that AJ and Fury could both finally commence their Battle of Britain bout should they both be victorious in the Middle East. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s former coach has tipped him to upset Oleksandr Usyk in a trilogy fight – despite their apparent war of words.Joshua’s reign as unified heavyweight champion came to an end at the hands of the undefeated Ukranian in September 2021 as he was outfoxed in their Tottenham tussle.
Anthony Joshua was dethroned by Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021Credit: GETTY
The Watford warrior came up short against the Ukrainian in their rematch 11 months laterCredit: GETTY
AJ’s former coach Robert Garcia reckons he could win a trilogy fight against the southpawCredit: GETTY
AJ failed to exact his revenge in their Riyadh rumble rematch 11 months later, suffering a second consecutive points defeat.
A third fight could be on the cards should Usyk beat Tyson Fury and Joshua win the IBF title, which is expected to become vacant after next month’s eagerly-anticipated undisputed title fight.
And Robert Garcia – who failed to guide AJ to victory at the second time of asking against Usyk – can foresee the Watford warrior getting the job done the third time around.
In an interview with Boxing Social, Garcia said of AJ: “He is the second most-talented fighter in the [heavyweight] division.
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“So much potential, so big, so strong, but he needed that confidence and I think that last fight [against Otto Wallin] showed him that he belongs up there.
“Even though he has lost to Usyk, he has got to think that he is the best.
“The way he fought, I wouldn’t be surprised if he beat Usyk in a third fight because he fought good.”
Joshua, 34, has breathed new life into his career with consecutive wins over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin.
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ANTHONY JOSHUA VS FRANCIS NGANNOU: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE CROSSOVER BOUT
Garcia said of Joshua’s recent run: “I think that activity was the main thing, I’m glad they did [increase] it.
“That was the one thing that Rudy Hernandez and myself told him, after the fight against Usyk in the locker room, I told everybody to keep him active, fight him [Joshua] again right away and they did.
“Three times [he fought] this year, that was the best thing that they could have done for him.”
Garcia’s glowing comments come as a surprise as the pair have had a public back-and-forth after the American questioned AJ’s training set-up.
Joshua didn’t take kindly to the comments, saying ahead of his clash with Franklin: “Garcia is the first one to say the things he said.
“And I didn’t like that, I found it weird. I am not perfect.
“Trust me, I do have tough days in camp, but he went and pointed those things out – out of all the things we did in training camp.”
Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua will be back in action on March 9, throwing down with former UFC king Francis Ngannou in a Saudi showdown. More

ONE must assume Eddie Hearn has ­forgotten ridiculing Francis Ngannou before the martial arts star fought Tyson Fury.Hearn was at his most scathing when he said: “There is no way in the world that Francis Ngannou could win even a Southern Area title.
Eddie Hearn may have to eat his words when it comes to Francis NgannouCredit: Sportsfile
Ngannou impressed when he shook up Tyson Fury during their bout last yearCredit: Getty
Anthony Joshua is set to fight Ngannou nextCredit: Getty
“Johnny Fisher is our Southern Area champion. Fisher v Ngannou is a total mismatch. Fisher would have him out of there in a round.”
That was a pretty damning assessment of Ngannou’s credentials as he was about to take on the unbeaten WBC world champion.
But be prepared for Hearn – Anthony Joshua’s promoter – to complete a spectacular screeching U-turn on Monday.
That’s when he will reveal the March date and details of Joshua’s clash with Ngannou in Riyadh.
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Hearn has obviously come to the conclusion that Ngannou, after flooring Fury before narrowly losing his only fight under Queensberry rules on October 28, is world championship material.
Three weeks ago Hearn was claiming AJ is the best heavyweight in the world.
It will be fascinating to hear Fast Eddie explain how Ngannou – who he didn’t consider good enough to meet ten-fight novice Fisher – is now worthy to take on the so-called world No 1.
The Saudis aren’t really interested in boxing.
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Liverpool’s Callum Smith challenges Artur Beterbiev for his WBC, IBF and WBO world light-heavyweight titles in Quebec City tomorrow – the Sheikhs probably have never heard of either of them.
But they are happy to throw millions at Ngannou and Joshua because it will generate global TV to further their relentless sportswashing enterprise.
Putting my cynicism to one side, British boxing can look ahead to the next 12 months with optimism because we are blessed with some very talented youngsters.
Two from Asian backgrounds on their way to being world class are Adam Azim and Hamzah Sheeraz.
Azim, 21, is already the European super-lightweight champion.
Sheeraz, 24, will have his first severe test at light-middleweight as he meets tough Welshman Liam Williams on February 10.
But before we sing Auld Lang Syne again, the name Moses Itauma should be on everyone’s lips.
Mighty Moses is only just 19 but the 17-stone plus kid has won all his seven fights.
By late spring I wouldn’t be surprised if Frank Warren’s latest prodigy is headlining at York Hall and fighting for his first title – the English heavyweight crown held by Solomon Dacres.
Itauma’s ambition is to beat Mike Tyson’s record of being world heavyweight champ at 20 years and 145 days.
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Realistically, there’s a very slim chance of that  – the lad from Chatham would have to be wearing one of the belts by May 21 next year.
Facially, Moses bears a remarkable resemblance to the young Marlon Brando. There’s every chance he is going to be much more than just a contender.
Adam Azim is already the European super-lightweight champion.Credit: PA
Hamzah Sheeraz has also been impressingCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Moses Itauma is a fighter that everyone should be talking aboutCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More