Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been told to jack his boxing career in if he fails to beat Jermaine Franklin in his return fight. Franklin travels to London to spoil AJ’s comeback plans on Saturday night at the O2 Arena.
Anthony Joshua, promoter Eddie Hearn and Jermaine FranklinCredit: Rex
Joshua, 33, is coming off two consecutive points losses to pound-for-pound star Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
Promoter Eddie Hearn hopes a confidence-building win over Franklin, 29, puts them right back on track for the big names and titles.
But former cruiserweight world champion-turned Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson insists another defeat should spell the end for AJ.
He said in a column: “If Anthony Joshua loses, he jacks it in. If he doesn’t jack it, he should jack it (in).
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“Because it’s a hard mountain to climb. Especially when you’ve had the success and the heights that he’s had.
“So he can’t afford to lose. That’s a must. Then from that, it’s confidence building.”
Joshua believes this is the start of his road back to the heavyweight title, which would make him a three-time champion.
And Nelson feels if AJ is not contending for the belts then he is better off hanging them up.
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Credit: SUNSPORT
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He said: “We’ll see if he really thinks ‘you know what, I can eventually become world champion again, I’ll fix what I got wrong’.
“Because he’s only been boxing 10, 11 years as a professional fighter.
“So if he thinks he can fix what he think he got wrong in regards to why he’s not world champion, then there’s a reason to stick around still chase the guys that are there, one of them has beaten him twice.
Of course there’s that lucrative fight that everyone’s talking about, which is him and Tyson Fury, which personally, I fell in love with the idea at first but it was teased so much and it never happened.
“So I don’t even don’t want to talk about it.”
Johnny Nelson says Anthony Joshua should retire if he loses to Jermaine FranklinCredit: Rex More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is already teeing up his summer showdown with Dillian Whyte by revealing the violent way he won their last brawl remains his favourite KO.The London heavyweights first clashed in a 2009 amateur slugfest that 34-year-old Whyte won on points.
Anthony Joshua is eyeing a trilogy fight with Dillian Whyte this summerCredit: TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTD
AJ knocked out the Brixton Body Snatcher in their 2015 rematchCredit: Getty
Joshua is eyeing another ‘conclusive’ knockout in his third clash with WhyteCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
Six years later they met in the pros for the British title and 33-year-old AJ got the victory with a vicious uppercut knockout.
Once Joshua deals with comeback opponent Jermaine Franklin on Saturday, the deciding bout is set to be announced.
And the build-up has already begun with Joshua ranking the brutal stoppage higher than his world title wins over Charles Martin, Dominic Breazeale, Wladimir Klitschko and Kubrat Pulev – based on the state he left his nemesis in.
When DAZN asked for his favourite KO, ruthless Joshua said: “I would say the Dillian Whyte uppercut.
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“Klitschko was stopped on his feet, the ref jumped in.
“Dillian was rendered unconscious, they had to put him in the recovery position.
“That is a conclusive knockout.”
Even after two fights, there is respect between the reformed bad boys.
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In 2019, Whyte boxed on AJ’s Saudi Arabia undercard and flew over to the Middle East and sat next to his enemy’s mum.
The pair shared a warm six-hour flight and when the two fighters met they enjoyed a private moment.
When Whyte beat Franklin in November, he fairly assumed he had secured the AJ fight next.
But promoter Eddie Hearn chucked in a curveball when it was revealed Franklin – who did impress plenty of people in the 12-round fight – was getting the big-money shot on the back of a loss.
Credit: SUNSPORT
🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
And the Brixton Body Snatcher did not hold back, telling SunSport: “Everyone was told, all the boxing fans, that the winner of me and Franklin fights AJ.
“So this is a f***ed up thing.
“I would have been better off losing the Franklin fight and getting the AJ fight!
“It’s no surprise to me that they have chosen April 1 for this battle of the fools.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is on the Rocky Marciano dull diet this week – the same boring three meals, three times a day.The 33-year-old London 2012 Olympic legend has the world of sports science and nutrition at his disposal and usually adores rich and spicy Nigerian foods.
Anthony Joshua has ditched the Nigerian food for fight weekCredit: Getty
AJ is set to take on Jermaine Franklin on SaturdayCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Credit: SUNSPORT
🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
But in fight week AJ employs a throwback idea credited to the undefeated 1950s superstar, who would resort to a bland menu to make sure his stomach was settled for the Saturday night showdown.
AJ revealed to broadcasters DAZN: “It’s the Rocky Marciano diet.
“What he did was, in the week of the fight, he would have the same meals every day.
“That way your digestive system gets used to it, your stomach is not trying to break down different foods, your body gets used to what you’re eating on a daily basis.
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“So it’s the same breakfast, same lunch and same dinner.”
Marciano, a brawling American-Italian who finished 49-0 with six heavyweight world title defences, had a surprisingly scientific approach to his diet.
At just 5ft 10in and rarely much more than 13st, The Brockton Blockbuster gorged on fruits and vegetables, carried around a pot of honey to sweeten his coffee and only chewed his steaks, spitting the meat out after absorbing all the flavour and juices.
AJ – at a vastly different 6ft 6in and 17st – seems equally as dedicated but he has his team constantly around him counting the calories so he can focus on his training, sometimes even forcing him to refuel when he is shattered.
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He explained: “After a hard training session, the last thing I want to do is eat a big meal because it’s tiring.
“But the guys are pushing me to get the fuel back in, ‘come on, eat, eat, eat’.
“So I scoff it down.
“The results in the long run are that my engine can go a lot further.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is determined to become world heavyweight champion again within the next 16 months.The 33-year-old is set to face Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.
Joshua is set to take on Franklin on SaturdayCredit: Rex
The 33-year-old wants to regain his title within the next 16 monthsCredit: Getty
Credit: SUNSPORT
🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
It will be his first fight since last year’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua lost his unified titles to the Ukrainian in September 2021 and failed to win them back 11 months later.
But he is eager to bounce back at the weekend in Saturday’s heavyweight bout with Franklin.
When reflecting on his previous reign as champion, Joshua said: “The thing is, I do and I did want respect from people in the industry that I admire, ex-legends in the game and when you’re not a champion any more you feel like that goes away.
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“So, that was definitely something I was yearning for, is the respect from ex-champions and when I’d lost it, it was like ‘f*** I’ve lost that invincibility’, but it’s all good.
“We move forward. I’m not really doing it for that purpose any more because I’m not in that position, but the desire?
“One is definitely to become champion, which I think is possible within the next 16 months.
“I think we’ve got to see what happens this year with the belts. Let them be competed for and then potentially let them go up in the air and then we’ll see where the belts land.
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“Then just stay consistent, stay focused on improving for these next 12 to 16 months while I’m in title contention.”
Although Joshua remains determined to reach the summit of boxing again, he has also hinted that he will consider retiring if and when he gets his hands on the belts.
He added: “This run is like, what can it go on for? Three, four years?
“If I was going to do another run after this, you’re talking about fighting into my forties and I truly believe that boxing’s a young man’s sport.
“It takes a real solid character like Bernard Hopkins, (George) Foreman, Klitschko, Povetkin to go on into their forties and stuff, but I think this is a run I want to make successful and then, you know, hopefully go out on top.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is dreading the prospect of negotiating another fight with Tyson Fury after seeing how the Gypsy King scuppered a historic clash with Oleksandr Usyk.Fury’s proposed undisputed heavyweight showdown with the Ukranian went up in smoke last week after months of negotiations.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed showdown went up in smoke last weekCredit: REUTERS
Gypsy King Fury made a number of outrageous demands to Usyk before the fight fell throughCredit: GETTY
Fury’s demands have made Anthony Joshua dread the prospect of negotiating a second fight with himCredit: AP
Team Usyk pulled the plug on the April 29 bout due to a squabble over a rematch clause after sensationally agreeing to a 70-30 split in favour of the Brit.
And Fury’s antics on social media and behind closed doors have made Joshua less than excited at a second round of negotiations with the WBC heavyweight king.
He said: “I tell you what, if he is doing a 70/30 split for an undisputed heavyweight world title fight, to an already undisputed cruiserweight and unified heavyweight champion, imagine what he is going to try to offer me.
“It’s just a nightmare.”
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AJ, who returns to the ring on Saturday night against American Jermaine Franklin, is adamant his team wouldn’t be bullied by Fury.
The 33-year-old said: “When that fight happens – God willing it does – then my management and promotional team will be in my corner, they will back me, they know what I bring to the table.
“They would negotiate fiercely to make sure I get a lion’s share of what’s on the table.”
Joshua’s clash with Franklin will be his first outing since back-to-back defeats to pound-for-pound king Usyk.
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And he’s fully aware a third defeat on the bounce will spell the end of his title-challenging days.
He told SunSport: “How long can this run go on for, three or four years?
“And you know how quick time goes.
“We’re saying this now and we can look back in two years, three years, and be like, ‘F***ing hell where’s the time gone?’

Credit: SUNSPORT
🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
“So, if I was going to do another run after this, you’re talking about fighting into my forties.
“And I truly believe that boxing is a young man’s sport.
“It takes a real solid character like Bernard Hopkins, George Foreman, Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin, to go on into their forties.
“But I think this is a run I want to make successful and then, you know, hopefully, go out on top.” More

TYSON FURY has been labelled a “diva” and slammed for “ducking” Oleksandr Usyk by former world champion Tim Bradley.Negotiations for an undisputed heavyweight clash between Fury, 34, and Usyk, 36, have broken down after they failed to reach an agreement to fight on April 29 at Wembley Stadium.
Tyson Fury has been accused of ducking Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
Talks between Fury and Usyk’s teams have broken downCredit: AP
Usyk had surprisingly agreed to take just 30 per cent of the pot for the first bout, but wanted a 50/50 split in the rematch.
This was something Fury refused to agree to as the teams could not come to a mutual agreement.
And American Bradley, 39, a two-weight world champion, has criticised Fury for his part in the bout not taking place.
Speaking to ESPN, he said: “This Fury issue. He’s become a diva in my eyes, a huge diva.
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“Fury understands now that he can sell out arenas, and it doesn’t matter who he fights.
“I asked him in the past, ‘What about legacy?’ He’s like, ‘I don’t care about legacy. I care about that money. Forget the legacy.’ I feel like he doesn’t really want the Usyk fight at all.
“He will get in there with Joe Joyce or whoever it is, and he can control everything, and he can pay them a little amount of money and go from there.
“A small piece of me feels like Fury doesn’t want to fight Usyk because it’s almost like remnants when he fought against [then 39-year-old Wladimir] Klitschko [in 2015], and he won the heavyweight championships, won all the belts and then went on that downslope.
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“There was nothing else for him. There’s no doubt about it. He ducked him.
“Fury is the one to blame. I’m sick of the mess. I call this a legitimate duck by Fury, he’s ducking Usyk. He didn’t think Usyk was going to take 70/30. The goalposts got moved again, they kept getting moved.”
Last week, Tommy Fury came out to defend his brother’s actions in the Usyk clash falling apart.
And he insisted the bout between the two undefeated heavyweights WILL happen.
He told Soccer AM: “He (Tyson) does not like Usyk at the minute. Listen, there’s a lot of politics involved in boxing, but I want to say this first-hand.
“The reason why this fight isn’t getting made isn’t down to Tyson at all. He wants to fight and he’s proved to everybody… he’s gone and fought Deontay Wilder after three years out.”
He then added: “He’ll fight any man. He doesn’t fear any man, especially not a cruiserweight who can’t do anything anyway.
“You know he’s too small. What’s he going to do? It’s not Tyson’s fault. I think all of these fights will happen, but it just takes a while to get made.”
Tim Bradley is not happy with Fury’s recent anticsCredit: Getty Images – Getty More