Boxing

RICKY HATTON has another heavyweight super-fight on his wishlist as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk close in on a deal. Fury and Usyk are in talks to put all four titles on the line for the first time in heavyweight history.
Ricky Hatton at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awardsCredit: Alamy
Oleksandr Usyk facing off with Tyson FuryCredit: Getty
But British boxing legend Hatton revealed pairing Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder would be his dream bout.
He told BeanymanNews: “You want to see Usyk and Tyson because they are the top two but if you ask me which fight I would rather see in the heavyweight division, it is Joshua vs Wilder.
“You would pay all day long for that. I wouldn’t like to call it, I think it would be a case of who lands first.”
Joshua, 33, is coming off consecutive losses to Usyk, 35, and is set to return in the spring of 2023.
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Meanwhile Wilder, 37, knocked out Robert Helenius, 38, in round one of his October comeback fight.
His manager Shelly Finkel is in talks with AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn over a blockbuster next year.
And Wilder’s coach Malik Scott wants the pair of former world champions to settle their score in the ring.
Scott told Kate Abdo: “I’m very interested in that. At this level of his career, I would.
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“One, the fight was supposed to have been happening, and two, he lost to Oleksandr Usyk two times.
“Three, I also believe Anthony Joshua is a big-time boxer. These guys are not getting old. Let’s get these big fights made.
“I would hate for so much time to go by, and we end up with another Riddick Bowe – Lennox Lewis type of situation.
“These greats didn’t get a chance to fight each other. These types of fights aren’t just good for boxing.
“They’re good for the world, for culture, and for the young kids that want to see this kind of fight.
“So, I just think it should happen, but we can want it all we want. AJ has to want the fight, his team has to want it, and Eddie has to want to do good business.
“Him and Shelly have to connect to make this happen. Otherwise, Deontay is going to do bigger and better things, whatever that may be.”
Deontay Wilder pictured with his trainer, Malik ScottCredit: AFP
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TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk could still fight in London in front of 95,000 at Wembley Stadium. The unbeaten champions are in talks for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification.
Tyson Fury facing off against Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
And the Middle East is the frontrunner to host with a hefty fee to bring the pair over being tabled.
But US promoter Bob Arum warned not to rule out a home fixture for Fury, who has sold over 150,000 tickets this year alone.
Arum told Sky Sports: “We are balancing a couple of significant offers from the Mid East and also there’s the possibility of doing the fight in the UK at Wembley with a massive 95,000 crowd in attendance.
“Fighters have a relatively short life and money is important. So if the money which has been proposed to us is real that has to be taken into consideration.
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“To go back to Wembley and do a fight before 95,000 people for me really stirs up the blood.
“It would be crazy. It would just be wonderful. It shouldn’t be too long before a final decision is made.
“We’ll have it all sorted out. I hope maybe by the end of the year.”
Fury, 34, packed out 94,000 at Wembley in April when he knocked out Dillian Whyte, 34.
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And in December he brought 60,000 over to Tottenham’s stadium for his ten-round beating of Derek Chisora, 38.
Usyk, 35, was ringside and faced off against Fury and the two are ready to put all four titles on the line by March of next year.
Arum said: “Both of them want the fight and so there’ll be very little, if any, [messing] around. We’ll be able to make that happen. I’m very, very confident.
“As I said the fighters have both agreed to fight each other next without any interim fights.
“Now the question is what’s the date and what’s the site. That fight is definitely going to happen and it will happen in the first four months of next year.”
Tyson Fury pictured with Bob ArumCredit: Getty More

FRANK WARREN said Tyson Fury’s undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk HAS to happen by March – or it will face total collapse. The unbeaten champions are in talks for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification.
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury have a deadline of March to fightCredit: AFP
Warren is leading negotiations on Fury’s behalf but admitted they face a race against the clock.
He told talkSPORT: “Both fighters absolutely want it.
“The managers and promoters all want it, so we’re just getting it together and working out where we’re gonna put it on – that’s really the situation.
“It’s gotta go on by March and so we’ve gotta all move quickly so over the next couple of weeks we will or we won’t get it sorted out.
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“But everybody wants to do the fight, absolutely want to do it.”
Middle East money men are ready to front huge sums to host the historic undisputed clash.
But Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum warned not to rule out Fury gaining home advantage with a stadium showdown in London.
Arum said: “Both fighters have agreed to fight, that is clear.
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“The question then is where the fight is held and that will be decided by the end of the year.
“There’s a couple of places in the Middle East that have expressed big interest and made offers and of course there is the possibility of doing the fight in Wembley Stadium.
“Whenever that fight happens and I believe it will happen within the first four months of the year, it’s going to be a huge, massive fight and I can’t wait to see it.”

Brad Jacobs of Top Rank with Bob Arum and Frank WarrenCredit: Getty
Tyson Fury facing off against Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters More

FRANK WARREN has warned boxing fans to expect a pay-per-view hike for Tyson Fury’s fights against Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. Fury is in talks to face Usyk in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification.
Tyson Fury pictured with promoter Frank WarrenCredit: Reuters
And such is the magnitude of the undisputed decider, Warren admitted an increase from the £27.95 price is expected, as would be the case against AJ.
He said on talkSPORT:“If they [the broadcaster] put up some sort of guarantees, then they’re looking to recover their guarantees, which will determine the price.
“If there isn’t a guarantee and it’s done on a share basis, then again that determines what the price will be.”
Asked about a price jump, Warren said: “Oh yeah. With the four belts on the line – without discussing it with anyone, yeah, I’m sure the price will go up.
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“The same as if Tyson would have fought Anthony Joshua, the price would go up. They are the two big money fights.”
Warren is negotiating a deal for Fury, 34, to fight Usyk, 35, with the Middle East ready to front mega money to host.
But the Hall of Famer acknowledges they face a deadline to get it over the line.
He said: “Both fighters absolutely want it.
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“The managers and promoters all want it, so we’re just getting it together and working out where we’re gonna put it on – that’s really the situation.
“It’s gotta go on by March and so we’ve gotta all move quickly so over the next couple of weeks we will or we won’t get it sorted out.
“But everybody wants to do the fight, absolutely want to do it.”
Oleksandr Usyk is in talks to fight Tyson FuryCredit: Getty More

FANS have been blown away by a sporting icon’s grandson – as he’s the spitting image of him.The image resurfaced online on Wednesday and left people astonished by the similarity.
Teenager Curtis alongside his mother Laila
The teenage boy, Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr, posed alongside his 44-year-old mother Laila – the legend’s daughter.
But can you guess who he is the grandson of?
Reacting on social media, one person said: “Wow. Just like him indeed.”
Another added: “Yes! He definitely looks like your dad, especially in his early boxing photos!”
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Another said: “OMG!! He looks just like your dad.”
That’s right, it’s legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
Ali, nicknamed “The Greatest”, shot to fame in the 1960s as a formidable fighter.
He won 56 of 61 bouts during his 21-year professional career and claimed the world heavyweight title three times.
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The American is widely considered to be the greatest fighter of all time, while his impact outside the ring is as impressive.
Ali died in 2016 aged 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s.
He had nine kids in all, including Laila, who also competed as a professional boxer for eight years before retiring from the sport in 2007.
Muhammad Ali is one of the most iconic ever sportspeopleCredit: Getty More