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      Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou CONFIRMED as Brit will fight Tyson Fury tormentor in March in Saudi Arabia

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      EDDIE HEARN has confirmed Anthony Joshua’s next fight will be against UFC legend Francis Ngannou.After reports emerged on social media late on Friday night, the Matchroom boxing chief took to X to announce that they were true.
      Anthony Joshua is set for a bumper Saudi showdown in MarchCredit: Reuters
      He will face UFC legend Francis Ngannou, the man who floored Tyson FuryCredit: Getty
      AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed the fight is a ‘done deal’Credit: Getty

      And he announced that the exact date for the mega-money clash will unveiled at a press conference in London on January 15.
      Hearn wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Tonight we confirm it’s a Done Deal! @anthonyjoshua v @francis_ngannou collide on a huge night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – press conference Jan 15 in London with full details dropping soon.”
      The bout is expected to be a ten-round boxing match between the two-time former heavyweight champion and ex-UFC title holder and is another coup for Saudi dealmaker Turki Al-Sheikh.
      The news comes after AJ’s £100million two-fight deal with Deontay Wilder went up in smoke last month after the American suffered a shock defeat to former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
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      The first of the duo’s back-to-back fights was set to take place in Saudi Arabia on March 9.
      But a spring return to action still appears to be on the cards for the Brit, even though a long-overdue showdown with Wilder isn’t.
      Hearn also recently revealed that he hopes Joshua can replicate the schedule he had in 2023, in which he fought three times in the space of ten months, winning all three.
      He beat Jermain Franklin by unanimous decision back in March before knocking out Robert Helenius in the seventh round in August.
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      Joshua then stretched his winning-streak to three by forcing Wallin to retire at the end of the fifth round last month in Saudi.
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      Meanwhile the 37-year-old Ngannou put his MMA career on hold last year to fight WBC champ Tyson Fury, 35, in Saudi.
      He shockingly dropped the Gypsy King only to be controversially beaten on points but his stock has risen.
      And now he has secured what promises to be another bumper payday against one of boxing’s finest after banking £8m for his last outing in the ring with Fury.
      Ngannou posted his own message to fans on social media tonight amid the news, saying: “Making big moves in the new year. 2024 is going to be [fire emoji].”
      Joshua is desperate to return to the top of the mountain in the heavyweight division and become a three-time champ.
      However, he and the rest of the top contenders are currently waiting to see who emerges triumphant when Fury and Oleksandr Usyk face-off in their unification fight.
      That mouthwatering showdown will also take place in Saudi on February 17 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
      Usyk, who beat Joshua for the WBA, WBO and IBF straps and then triumphed in the rematch, has a record of 21-0, while undefeated Fury sits at 33-1-0.
      Francis Ngannou was widely-praised for his performance against the Gypsy KingCredit: Reuters
      Anthony Joshua looked back to his best when he battered Otto WallinCredit: Getty
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will unify the heavyweight division in FebruaryCredit: EPA

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      Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith: UK start time, live stream, TV channel for huge light-heavyweight world title clash

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      BRIT Callum Smith will look to do with no other man has when he takes on Artur Beterbiev next weekend.Beterbiev defends his WBC, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight titles in what should be a cracker of a match-up.
      Artur Beterbiev beat Anthony Yarde last year by TKO8Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Callum Smith hasn’t been in the ring for 18 monthsCredit: PA
      Smith was a world champion at 168lbs but has since moved up in weight and looked impressive.
      Beterbiev, 38, has won all of his 19 fights by knockout but looked vulnerable in his win over Anthony Yarde a year ago.
      Smith and his Russian opponent were supposed to fight back in August, but an injury to Beterbiev set the fight back a few months.
      Smith dispatched of Lenin Castillo with a brutal knockout before folding Mathieu Bauderlique in half last year.
      He hasn’t faced anyone like Beterbiev, however, and he has to do so on away soil in Canada.
      When is Beterbiev vs Smith?

      Beterbiev’s big clash with Smith will take place on Saturday, January 13.
      Ring-walks for the main event will likely get going from 4am UK time on Sunday, January 14.
      The fight will be held at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

      What channel is it and can it be live streamed?

      Smith vs Beterbiev will be shown live on Sky Sports Arena and Main Event in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the NOW TV or Sky Go app, both of which are available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.

      Smith vs Beterbiev undercard

      Artur Beterbiev vs Callum Smith – for IBF, WBC and WBO light-heavyweight titles
      Jason Moloney vs Saul Sanchez – for WBO bantamweight title
      Christian Mbilli vs Rohan Murdock
      Imam Khataev vs Rodolfo Gomez Jr
      Christopher Guerrero vs Sergio Garcia Herrera
      Mehmet Unal vs Dragan Lepei
      Leila Beaudoin vs Elizabeth Chavez Espinoza
      Moreno Fendero vs Victor Hugo Flores
      Wilkens Mathieu vs TBA

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      What has been said?
      Smith said: “I’m no stranger to fighting on away soil, having boxed in Saudi Arabia twice, across America, and now heading to Canada on August 19.
      “There was no hesitation from me going to Canada to fight Artur Beterbiev, and I will be returning to Liverpool as a world champion once more.
      “I’m excited to finally get my opportunity to become a two-weight world champion.”
      Beterbiev added: “He’s good opponent. He’s good challenge for me.
      “If we talk about my past opponents, I never say someone’s going to be easy for me, if it’s going to be easy for me or not.
      “Like him too, I’m preparing for Callum Smith for 100 per cent like he prepare for me too.
      “I have boxing coach and condition coach for power training, cardio.
      “Every camp I ask them after sparrings or after my toughest trainings with my condition coach, ‘how is it? Is it better than five years ago or not good? How do you think?’ And they tell me it’s better than five years ago but I don’t know.
      “I feel good too, but I think they lie to me. I feel good, I’m good. I feel everything good.” More

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      Deontay Wilder’s loss to Joseph Parker could pave way for shock MMA switch after talks for never-before-seen fight

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      DEONTAY WILDER’S £100million deal to fight Anthony Joshua looks to have been KO’d – but it has opened the door to a shock MMA switch. The pair of former world heavyweight champions had signed to meet in a March 9 blockbuster in Saudi Arabia.
      Deontay Wilder after his December defeat to Joseph ParkerCredit: Getty
      Wilder had been expected to beat Parker and set up a fight with AJCredit: Getty
      But it was axed after Wilder suffered a loss to Joseph Parker, 31, just moments before AJ stopped Otto Wallin, 32.
      So the American is now left to reconsider his options following defeat – but Joshua was not the only super-fight on the table.
      Wilder had held talks with MMA promotion The Professional Fighters League, who last year prised Francis Ngannou away from the UFC.
      Discussions were ongoing for the boxing star to meet Ngannou in the middle with a never-before-seen hybrid fight of mixed rules in an MMA cage.
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      And PFL CEO Peter Murray insisted the loss to Parker does not kill the deal – it in fact only aids it.
      Murray told SunSport: “We had a number of conversations and conversations are ongoing.
      “I think despite Deontay’s loss, I believe it’s now a great opportunity for Deontay to take on a new challenge in MMA and modified rules to get these two hardest-hitting fighters in a cage together.
      “I think that’s a fight that fans would absolutely get up for and for both Francis and Deontay, I think it’s a real conversation.”
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      Murray hopes Wilder, 38, could now look for a fresh start altogether with his boxing career facing uncertainty.
      He said: “It’s a great opportunity for Deontay to take on a new challenge.
      “He’s a great fighter, despite the loss, he’s a great fighter, a great boxer and he has interest to get into a modified rules MMA fight.
      “I think this gives everybody the opportunity and flexibility to take it on.”
      Ngannou is yet to debut with the PFL having instead crossed over to boxing in October to fight current WBC champ Tyson Fury.
      And he astonishingly dropped Fury – only to lose a controversial decsion.
      With Joshua, 34, also forced to look elsewhere, Ngannou, 37, has been touted as a potential opponent for that March 9 date.
      And Murray confirmed the Cameroonian will fight in both the cage and ring this year – which will mark his anticipated PFL debut.
      He said: “It will definitely be in 2024.
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      “Francis has announcements coming in boxing and in MMA. You’ll be hearing from us in the coming weeks on that.”
      Francis Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury despite losing on pointsCredit: GETTY
      Anthony Joshua has been linked with fighting NgannouCredit: Getty More

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      I’ve fought Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury… one was much tougher and left me with a fractured nose

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      DESPITE years of talk and speculation, the heavyweight Battle of Britain between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has yet to happen. The rivalling pair have even signed contracts to fight in the past only for talks to break down.
      Tyson Fury is yet to to fight Anthony Joshua after years of talksCredit: Getty
      Joshua and Fury even once signed to fightCredit: Getty
      It has left the debate raging between fans on who is not only the best heavyweight in the country, but the world.
      One man in the unique position of having fought them both is Otto Wallin, who shot to attention for his 2019 bout with Fury.
      He memorably left the Gypsy King needing 47 stitches and a lenient referee and doctor who allowed the action to continue.
      Fury, 35, dug down and edged out a decision victory to keep his undefeated record intact.
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      Fast forward four years and Wallin, 32, was named as the man to welcome AJ back to the ring in Saudi Arabia.
      But Joshua, 34, gave the Swedish southpaw no chance of seeing the final bell as he dominated him over five rounds.
      So Wallin – who was rightly pulled out by his corner – revealed AJ was much harder to fight compared to Fury.
      He told  Boxing News: “I know that he is one of the best fighters out there.
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      “I really have no excuses, he was just better. He did really well, used his reach well, and he hit me with some really good shots. He was just better.
      “I think he had a good game plan. He felt like a very good fighter, and obviously, it was a much tougher fight than what I had with Tyson Fury.
      “Maybe he’s found his home with Ben Davison.”
      Fury beat Wallin in 2019 but only after suffering a cut that needed 47 stitchesCredit: Reuters
      Joshua stopped Wallin in five dominant roundsCredit: Getty More

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      Eddie Hearn reveals potential date for Anthony Joshua’s next fight with ‘colossal’ clash in pipeline after Wilder KO

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      EDDIE HEARN has revealed the timeline for Anthony Joshua’s return following the collapse of his clash with Deontay Wilder.AJ’s £100million two-fight deal with the American went up in smoke last month after the American suffered a shock defeat to former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
      Anthony Joshua was on course to fight Deontay Wilder twice this yearCredit: REUTERS
      Wilder’s shock defeat to Jospeh Parker put paid to those £100million plansCredit: GETTY
      Promoter Eddie Hearn reckons AJ will be back in action in MarchCredit: Getty
      The first of the duo’s back-to-back fights was set to take place in Saudi Arabia on March 9.
      And a spring return to action is still very much on the cards for the Brit, even though a long-overdue showdown with Wilder isn’t.
      Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn told iFL TV: “I think he’s gonna fight in March.”
      Hearn is hoping Joshua can replicate the schedule he had in 2023, in which he fought three times in the space ten months.
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      He continued: “Then I guess he fights in August, September, so whether it’s three times in the calendar year or three times from March to March, something like that.”
      A showdown with mandatory IBF title challenger Filip Hrogovic was seemingly in the pipeline for AJ after his dispatching of Otto Wallin last month.
      But Hearn admits there are currently a lot of unknowns about the clash with Croatian clubber.
      He said: “A lot has to happen by March to make that possible with Hrgovic.
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      “Obviously, [Tyson Fury and [Oleksandr] Usyk fight in the middle of February.
      “Are they gonna be able to keep the belt? Do they have to let it go? Is Joshua just gonna replace Wallin in the rankings? There’s a lot of discussions.
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      A showdown with Francis Ngannou could be in the offing for AJCredit: GETTY
      “If that’s in play for March, that’s definitely a possibility. Maybe that’s a fight that, when everything plays out, could be one for the summer.
      “As I said, our conversations right now are about mapping out AJ’s next four or five fights … his 2024 and potentially the rest of his career.”
      One fight Hearn is open to AJ having is a crossover clash with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
      He said: “Right now, we have three fights that we’re in discussions for.
      “They’re all big and that doesn’t involve Deontay Wilder for March. Our aim, and they’ve expressed this is to fight the winner of Fury-Usyk.
      “That’s all we want to do, obviously there’s the Hrgovic fight out there for the world heavyweight title.
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      “There’s a Francis Ngannou fight out there which would be absolutely colossal.
      “There’s other heavyweights as well, there’s a Zhang fight possible as well with Queensberry.” More

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      Oleksandr Usyk forced me into retirement in sparring session – Tyson Fury shouldn’t follow my approach

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      TYSON FURY has been urged to adopt the game-plan that won him his first world titles in his bid for heavyweight immortality.The Gypsy King will bid to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 25 years next month against former pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.
      Tyson Fury finally throws down with Oleksandr Usyk next monthCredit: GETTY
      The winner of the pair’s showdown will become undisputed heavyweight champCredit: EPA
      Brit Dave Allen (right) has given The Gypsy King some pointers on how to beat the Ukrainian
      A staggering 21 men have tried and failed to beat the Ukranian, who reigned supreme at cruiserweight.
      None of Usyk’s opponents, however, have boasted the physical attributes of Fury, which Dave Allen believes he should use along with the tactics he deployed in his 2015 win over Wladimir Klitschko to have his hand raised.
      Allen told BBTV Boxing: “If I was training Tyson Fury, I would go about it with the same tactics he used in the Klitschko fight, from experience of sparring both.
      “Lots will disagree with me, but I wouldn’t advise anyone to go marching onto Oleksandr Usyk.”
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      Allen reckons the speed and craftiness of Usyk could see Fury floored if he the burly Brit reckons he can bulldoze his way to victory.
      He said: “Tyson’s been down the last couple of fights – you don’t want to walk on to a man with that ability and that speed.
      “Start cautiously, lots of trickery, and if Usyk slows down then that size advantage in the aspect of bullying can come into play.”
      Allen knows a thing or two about Usyk’s speed and power having previously sparred with the Olympic gold medallist, who stung him so badly during a spar that he had to stop the session.
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      TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
      And he believes Fury could benefit by adopting a feint-heavy approach in the Riyadh rumble.
      Allen said: “I spent a lot of the rounds trying to put pressure on him, bully him – it didn’t work.
      “He’s a master at [dealing with that.] People have been doing that for years with him.
      “I think you’ve got to frustrate him. Lots of feints, lots of movements, you’ve got to antagonise him.
      “He’s not physically the strongest. He’s not the biggest puncher. This [his head] is where he wins the fights. And I believe Tyson is the only man capable of beating him at his own game.”
      WBC heavyweight king Fury knows the size of the task on his hands next month but is confident of delivering an emphatic stoppage victory.
      He said: “It’s going to one of the fights for the ages.
      “I believe we are both destined to be here and to be in this big fight in Saudi Arabia, and there’s only one winner, and I am destined to become the undisputed champion.
      “More than that, I am destined to cement my legacy as the No. 1 fighter in this era.
      “To do that I have to beat this little man and that’s it, simple as.
      “Easier said than done I understand, he’s a tricky man, good boxer, slick.
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      “But I have seen many people like him before and when they fight the big men they struggle.
      “He’s going to struggle on February 17 and he’s going to lose, I will break him for sure.”
      Tyson Fury believes he’ll stop Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY More

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      Boxer Jarrell Miller arrested after ‘slamming car dealership employee to ground and fleeing in stolen Dodge Ram’

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      JARRELL MILLER has been arrested after allegedly attacking a car dealership employee and escaping in a stolen Dodge Ram.The 35-year-old was taken into custody in Hollywood on Tuesday, charged with carjacking without a firearm or weapon and burglary with assault or battery.
      Jarrell Miller lost to Daniel Dubois in Saudi Arabia last monthCredit: Getty
      Citing Hollywood Police, US outlet WSVN claim that Miller put the member of staff into a chokehold before slamming him to the ground.
      He is then accused of taking the keys to a recently repossessed Dodge Ram and leaving the scene.
      Miller had a court hearing on Wednesday afternoon.
      He remained in custody in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday evening, as per Broward’s Sheriff’s Office.
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      The boxing heavyweight had been held on a $30,000 (£26,600) bond.
      Miller was last in action on December 23 when he lost to Daniel Dubios on the eight-fight Day of Reckoning card in Saudi Arabia.
      The American, who hails from Brooklyn, New York, lost to Brit Daniel Dubois via 12th round TKO.
      Miller had been due to face Anthony Joshua in 2019, but was replaced at short notice by Andy Ruiz Jr after testing positive for performing enhancing drugs.
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      Following suspension he returned to the ring after a near-four year lay-off in 2022.
      After low-key wins against Ariel Esteban Bracamonte and Derek Cardenas, Miller defeated Lucas Browne back in March.
      The 26-1-1 star then stepped up his comeback against Dubois, but was stopped by the 26-year-old.
      During his time in Saudi Arabia, Miller got into a heated row with old foe Joshua.
      As the duo were dragged away from each other, Joshua told Miller: “I’m still your landlord.”
      Anthony Joshua had been due to face Miller in 2019Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      Anthony Joshua’s ex-trainer says Francis Ngannou fight will be ‘easy’ and claims it ‘shouldn’t even be sanctioned’

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’S ex-trainer said a fight with Francis Ngannou would be “easy”… and “shouldn’t even be sanctioned.” Ngannou is being touted as a potential next opponent for AJ after Deontay Wilder blew their £100million deal.
      Anthony Joshua with former coach Robert GarciaCredit: Getty
      Francis Ngannou is being touted to potentially fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Reuters
      Joshua had beaten Otto Wallin, 32, in Saudi Arabia but moments beforehand Wilder lost to Joseph Parker, 31.
      So AJ’s super-fight with the American former heavyweight champion has been KO’d for now.
      Joshua’s promoter named ex-UFC champion Ngannou along with Filip Hrgovic, 31, and Zhilei Zhang, 40, as alternatives to Wilder.
      But Robert Garcia – formerly coach to AJ – slammed the idea of Ngannou facing Joshua.
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      Garcia told ESNEWS: “It’s an easy fight for Joshua. Those fights shouldn’t even be sanctioned.
      “Ngannou, fighting the heavyweight champion of the world, Fury, it shouldn’t have been sanctioned.
      “It’s a disrespect to boxing not to train one single day for that fight. It was embarrassing.”
      Ngannou, 37, put on hold his MMA career this year to fight WBC champ Tyson Fury, 35, in Saudi Arabia in October.
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      He astonishingly dropped Fury only to be controversially beaten on points but his stock has risen.
      So much so that he is now in the running for another huge boxing payday against Joshua, 34.
      Hearn told iFL TV: “Right now, we have three fights that we’re in discussions for.
      “They’re all big and that doesn’t involve Deontay Wilder for March. Our aim, and they’ve expressed this is to fight the winner of Fury-Usyk.
      “That’s all we want to do, obviously there’s the Hrgovic fight out there for the world heavyweight title.
      “There’s a Francis Ngannou fight out there which would be absolutely colossal.
      “There’s other heavyweights as well, there’s a Zhang fight possible as well with Queensberry.” More