Boxing

EDDIE HEARN has revealed a “monstrous” bout on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte rematch which will decide Oleksandr Uysk’s next fight.Due to Usyk, 36, being the unified WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, he has a number of challenges to deal with.
Eddie Hearn has revealed a ‘monstrous’ undercard for Anthony Joshua vs Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk’s possible next opponent will be decided the same night as Joshua vs WhyteCredit: PA
The Ukrainian is in line to fight Daniel Dubios for his mandatory challenge of the WBA on August 26 in Poland.
Should he come through this he will then be ordered to defend his IBF title, with the current challenger being Filip Hrgovic – who beat Zhilei Zhang to the position last August.
However, the 31-year-old is not intent to sit idly by, instead returning to action against Australian Demsey McKean on the undercard of Joshua vs Whyte II at the O2 Arena in London on August 12.
Should McKean, 32, beat the Croatian heavyweight, then he will become Usyk’s next mandatory challenge.
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Promoter Hearn said: “We have a monstrous night of heavyweight boxing in store for fight fans around the world on Saturday August 12 live from the sold-out O2 in London
“Old foes Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte meet again in a must-win clash at the top of the bill and I’m excited to confirm the first two undercard additions of what will be a stacked card.
“The IBF’s number one ranked Heavyweight Filip Hrgovic returns a year on from his final eliminator win over Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia.
“El Animal fights in the UK for the first time as a professional against Australia’s unbeaten Demsey McKean who secures the biggest fight of his career.
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Usyk faces Daniel Dubios as his IBF mandatory challengeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Filip Hrgovic is the current name down to face the winner of Usyk vs DuboisCredit: Getty
But Australian Demsey McKean has the chance to take up the mantleCredit: Getty
“The Romford Bull Johnny Fisher begins his assault on the domestic heavyweight scene when he takes on Harry Armstrong for the vacant Southern Area title, and there’s much more to be announced soon.”
Hrgovic added: “The heavyweight champions cannot avoid me any longer and once I have defeated Demsey McKean on August 12, they will have no other option but to face me.
“I have waited patiently, but the game is up, El Animal is coming for you and is ready to take the belts back to Croatia.
“McKean will be a tough and strong opponent, but he has never faced anyone as powerful and skilful as me.
“August 12, at The O2 in London, is the night the heavyweight division starts to change.”
McKean also declared: “This is what it’s all about, the big fights.
“I’ve been grinding a big portion of my life for a fight like this.
“I’m one win away from fighting Usyk for [three] world titles. This is my world title fight.”
However, there are two ways the winner of the bouts between Usyk vs Dubois and Hrgovic vs McKean may not face each other.
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One would be for the winner of Uysk or Dubois to vacate the IBF belt, while the other would be to secure a unification fight with Tyson Fury.
In the meantime, the Gypsy King is scheduled to face ex-UFC star Francis Ngannou in a controversial crossover bout. More

JOHN FURY has blasted SugarHill Steward as a “snake” within son Tyson’s camp.The Gypsy King has been working with coach Steward since 2020, with the duo enjoying great success together.
Tyson Fury has been working with SugarHill Steward since 2020Credit: Getty
John Fury has labelled Steward as a ‘snake’ and a ‘traitor’Credit: PA
Fury, 34, was linked with an April 29 heavyweight unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year.
He appeared to have begun working with Steward ahead of the huge proposed bout.
But Fury’s trainer later denied that he’d been in the UK to work with Fury, instead claiming to have only been over to work with Lawrence Okolie ahead of his fight with David Light.
These comments appeared to enrage John Fury, who accused Steward of lying while calling on his son to SACK his “Judas” coach.
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Four months on, John is still furious with Steward, branding him a “traitor”.
He told All Out Fighting via Freebets.com Ireland: “I stand by what I say.
“If a man’s a traitor to you and betrays you, turns his back on you and tells lies on you, they’ve got to go haven’t they? But that’s up to Tyson, not me.
“I’m an old fashioned man. Going back to SugarHill, what he said, that he wasn’t training Tyson, that was a lie.
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“He had no need to say that. And I’m waiting to see him and tell him to his face that it was a lie.
“It’ll probably cause problems, but I don’t care what it causes. But he’s getting told off me, one way or another.
“He’ll probably avoid me, and it’s in his best interest to avoid me.
“I won’t have them snakes near me. Be straight. Where was he coming from with that bull****?
“But it’s not my call, if Tyson had any sense he’d get rid of him – he’s not doing a good job for other fighters is he?”
It remains to be seen whether Steward will corner Fury for his exhibition against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
The duo will meet in an October 28 crossover bout in Saudi Arabia – without Fury’s WBC title on the line.
Fury will face Ngannou under Queensberry rules over 10 rounds. More