Boxing

TYSON FURY has again mocked Anthony Joshua while calling out Oleksandr Usyk for a unification fight.The Gypsy King accused AJ of running scared of a Battle of Britain fight with him and “crying like a girl” after his second defeat to Usyk.
Tyson Fury (above) accused Anthony Joshua of ‘crying like a girl’ after his second defeat to UsykCredit: Getty
Joshua is rumoured to be ready to fight Dylian Whyte, who he beat in 2015, in his next bout.
But Fury said to IFL TV: “Why isn’t this lad [Joshua] stepping up to the plate and taking on the challenge?
“What does he want to fight Dillian Whyte for? He’s already beaten Dillian Whyte.
“Fight me, come to the party. It’s only a fight, isn’t it? You’ve already lost before.
READ MORE BOXING NEWS
“I can guarantee you, 100 per cent, it’s not happening.
“I’m looking to fight Usyk – Joshua’s nemesis, the man who’s got AJ’s kryptonite, the man who made him cry after the fight like a little girl.
“I’ll beat him, I’ll take that little sausage out. He ain’t got no kryptonite to me, he’s f*** all to me, little f*****.
“I’m gonna make him dance. We’ll see how good he is.
Most read in Boxing
“I’d like to get him in [Saudi Arabia] in February, make an example of him, and then give him a rematch and do it back at Wembley.”
Anthony Joshua is likely to fight Dylian Whyte nextCredit: PA
A unification fight between Fury and Usyk (left) would take priority over a mandatory challenge from Dubois to the Ukrainian, it has been claimedCredit: Getty
There have been fears, however, that a potential Fury fight with Usyk could have to wait after Daniel Dubois was made mandatory challenger for the Ukrainian’s WBA title.
But Fury’s promoter Frank Warren assured fans that a unification fight between the two champions would take priority if agreed.
He told his Queensbury YouTube channel: “He [Dubois] is next in the rotation. It’s agreed by the governing bodies.
“He’s next, but obviously, a unification, which we’re working on, will take precedence. It will take priority.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s former coach Robert Garcia has broken his silence on his axing – revealing he was given the boot in a frank phone call.Garcia – the trainer of 14 former world champions – was drafted in by the Watford warrior ahead of his crunch rematch with Oleksandr Usyk in August.
Anthony Joshua teamed up with Robert Garcia ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY
But he parted company with the American after his second defeat to UsykCredit: GETTY
Garcia has no hard feelings about his departure from the teamCredit: REUTERS
But the American couldn’t guide Joshua to victory in the Saudi showdown, which ultimately led AJ to go in a different direction with his coaching.
Garcia told ES News: “Anthony called me and told me what he was doing.”
Joshua, 33, is currently in the USA feeling out potential new head coaches for the rebuilding chapter of his career.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champ was recently spotted training in Los Angeles with Virgil Hunter – the ex-trainer of fellow Brit Amir Khan.
READ MORE IN BOXING
And Garcia completely understands Joshua’s reasoning for giving him his marching orders.
He continued: “I understand you know, the way he is seeing things and honestly, I wish him the best.
“Even if it was me again, I understand they are trying to fight sometime in the spring, having to go to camp in England it was very difficult for me because I know that Jose [Ramirez] is fighting during that time.
“So, I’ve got to train his a*** off to get him ready to fight. Also, Bam [Rodriguez] will be fighting during that time.
Most read in Boxing
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“It’s not about Virgil Hunter doing a better job, Derrick James doing a better job or me doing a better job than his previous trainer.
“It’s about him getting out of his comfort zone and not being the boss and doing what he’s told to do in a place where he’s not comfortable.”
He added: “It doesn’t matter who it is, when he comes back, I know they’re going to pick him two or three easy fights so that’s going to make any trainer look good.
“But it’s a big difference. I went in there against Usyk and we still did better than anyone expected.”
Joshua suffered a split decision defeat to Usyk in their Saudi showdown, although Garcia, like many others, believes he gave a much better account of himself than they did in their Tottenham tussle last September.
Joshua is expected to return to the ring in late March once he finalises his new coaching team, with a domestic dust-up with Dillian Whyte in his sights.
But promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed talks over a long-awaited grudge match with Deontay Wilder have taken place.
Anthony Joshua is hoping to return to the ring early next yearCredit: GETTY More

TYSON FURY’s blockbuster undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk is on the verge of being finalised – and it could be announced next week.Negotiations over a spring showdown resumed earlier this month after The Gypsy King retained his WBC heavyweight title with a tenth-round TKO victory over Derek Chisora.
Tyson Fury and Olekandr Usyk are on course to throw down early next yearCredit: REUTERS
The pair went to face-to-face at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this monthCredit: GETTY
Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum has revealed a deal for the huge dust-up is almost finalisedCredit: Getty
And Fury’s American promoter Bob Arum has revealed a site deal for the showdown is close to being finalised.
The Top Rank Boxing chief told Fight Hub TV: “We’re now fielding offers from around the world and hopefully by next week we’ll be able to have an announcement.”
Usyk manager Egis Klimas revealed last week that the bout – which is expected to take place in the Middle East – was close to coming to fruition.
He said: “We are almost done.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“There is not much to talk, two heavyweights, the undisputed heavyweight championship bout, that’s what people need.
“Most likely, we are aiming for Saudi.”
It’s understood that Usyk vs Fury is being targeted for late February or early March as the latter is weighing up undergoing elbow surgery.
Fury and Usyk, 34 and 35 respectively, took part in a heated face-off after the former’s glorified sparring match with Chisora.
Most read in Boxing
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Fury called undefeated Ukrainian every name under the sun but the slick southpaw remained stoic amid the verbal tirade.
And he’s relishing the stylistic showdown with the former undisputed cruiserweight king.
He told iFL TV: “Why isn’t this lad [Anthony Joshua] stepping up to the plate and taking on the challenge?”
“What does he want to fight Dillian Whyte for? He’s already beaten Dillian Whyte.
“Fight me, come to the party. It’s only a fight, isn’t it? You’ve already lost before.
“I can guarantee you, 100 percent, it’s not happening.
“I’m looking to fight Usyk – Joshua’s nemesis, the man who’s got AJ’s kryptonite, the man who made him cry after the fight like a little girl.
“I’ll beat him, I’ll take that little sausage out.
Read More on The Sun
He ain’t got no kryptonite to me, he’s f** all to me, little f****r. I’m gonna make him dance.
“We’ll see how good he is. I’d like to get him in [Saudi Arabia] in February, make an example of him, and then give him a rematch and do it back at Wembley [Stadium].”
Tyson Fury is champing at the bit to get his hands on UsykCredit: Reuters More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has revealed he’d extensively study Tyson Fury’s weaknesses if their dream domestic dust-up ever came to fruition.British boxing fans have been dreaming of the duo trading leather for the best part of a decade but the fight, so far, hasn’t come to fruition.
British boxing fans are still eager to see Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua throw downCredit: AFP
Former two-time heavyweight champ AJ is still hoping to get his hands onCredit: GETTY
Joshua would extensively study Fury’s weakness if the domestic dust-up came to fruitionCredit: AP
But that hasn’t stopped AJ from strategising how he’d get the better of The Gypsy King.
During a fan Q&A with GQ, the former two-time unified heavyweight champ said: “How do I prepare for Tyson Fury?
“What do I do? I go back in history, I watch other heavyweights that I fought.
“Taller opponents, opponents that are elusive.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“Also watched a coach who’s training Tyson Fury, how he prepares his fighters.
“And then I’ll also watch Tyson Fury from a mental standpoint and understand where he’s weak mentally.
“And then I’ll combine it all together and go in there and go in there and do my best and give it my best and I’m sure that should be enough.”
A long-awaited Battle of Britain almost came to fruition earlier this year when Fury offered AJ a shock world title lifeline.
Most read in Boxing
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST OFFERS FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS FOR DECEMBER 2022
Joshua, 33, publicly accepted the offer, although negotiations over the showdown failed to bear fruit.
The failed talks paved the way for Fury to have a Tottenham trilogy fight with Derek Chisora, who he stopped in ten rounds.
Joshua, however, is hopeful he will one day share the ring with the WBC heavyweight king.
He told iDBoxing: “Well, on my behalf, I would like the opportunity.
“Because the longer we leave it, it’s not good for anyone.
“So, yeah, I would like the opportunity. Good luck with his next fight if he comes through.
“Then I think he’s going to go on to undisputed, and then I’ll be fighting somebody else.
“Then hopefully, we both come victorious, and then we look to fight each other.”
Anthony Joshua is still hopeful of one day sharing the ring with Tyson FuryCredit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s former coach is adamant he did “better than expected” in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.Former two-time unified heavyweight champ AJ renewed his rivalry with the slick southpaw in a lucrative Saudi showdown in August – just under a year after being turned over in their Tottenham tussle.
Anthony Joshua renewed his rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk in AugustCredit: GETTY
AJ suffered a second successive defeat to the undefeated UkranianCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
But former head coach Robert Garcia is adamant the Brit gave a good account of himself second time aroundCredit: GETTY
The Watford warrior had more success than he did in their first encounter – hurting the undefeated Ukranian in the ninth stanza – but ultimately suffered a split-decision defeat.
Robert Garcia helped devise the game plan for the Rage on the Red Sea and believes AJ gave a much better account of himself second time around.
The American told ESNews: “I went in there against Usyk and we still did better than anyone expected.”
Garcia, who was brought in to replace Joshua’s former long-time trainer Robert McCracken, has found himself out of a job following AJ’s second successive defeat to Usyk.
READ MORE ON ANTHONY JOSHUA
He was given his marching orders in a frank phone call with the former champion.
He revealed: “Anthony called me and told me what he was doing.
“I understand you know, the way he is seeing things and honestly, I wish him the best.
“Even if it was me again, I understand they are trying to fight sometime in the spring, having to go to camp in England it was very difficult for me because I know that Jose [Ramirez] is fighting during that time.
Most read in Boxing
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“So, I’ve got to train his a*** off to get him ready to fight. Also, Bam [Rodriguez] will be fighting during that time.”
Joshua is currently in America shopping around for a new head coach and was recently spotted training in Los Angeles with Virgil Hunter.
Garcia continued: “It’s not about Virgil Hunter doing a better job, Derrick James doing a better job or me doing a better job than his previous trainer.
“It’s about him getting out of his comfort zone and not being the boss and doing what he’s told to do in a place where he’s not comfortable.”
He added: “It doesn’t matter who it is, when he comes back, I know they’re going to pick him two or three easy fights so that’s going to make any trainer look good.
“But it’s a big difference I went in there against Usyk and we still did better than anyone expected.”
Joshua is expected to return to the ring in late March once he finalised his new coaching team, with a domestic dust-up with Dillian Whyte in his sights.
Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring in “late March.”Credit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has revealed shock plans to become an ACTOR after boxing – and has his eye on a surprising genre. The heavyweight is an Olympic gold medalist, two-time unified world champion and one of boxing’s biggest superstars.
Anthony Joshua has revealed shock plans to become an actor after boxingCredit: Handout
A career in the limelight has afforded AJ several opportunities to showcase his talents in TV adverts and on billboards.
And when looking ahead to life after boxing, Joshua fancies himself as a man for the big screen.
He told GQ: “I think after boxing I’ll be able to do acting because I’ve done a lot of commercial work.
“I understand what production teams want, I’m quite comfortable in front of the camera as well now.”
READ MORE ON BOXING
Asked what role he would take, Joshua replied: “I wouldn’t limit myself but it’ll probably be more romantic.
“I don’t know how much success I’ll have in the film industry because I don’t know how good my American accent is.”
Joshua, 33, has starred in several ads for the likes of Lucozade, Lynx and JD Sports during his victory-laden career.
AJ took some time away from boxing following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 35.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
But he is set to return in spring as part of a massive 2023 – as Joshua admitted to trying to make the most of the remainder of his career.
He told GiveMeSport: “I’m baffled, I’m an old man, where’s the time gone?

“So I always look at it like I’m not at the start of my career and I’m not in the middle, I’m at the end.
“So that’s how quick time has gone, I’ve gotta really make sure now I put in the most work I’ve ever done and make these last years count.”
Anthony Joshua has not returned since defeat to Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY More

TYSON FURY’S undisputed super-fight with Oleksandr Usyk has been given a boost despite the WBA ordering Daniel Dubois into a title bout with the Ukrainian. The pair of unbeaten champions are in talks for the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt unification clash.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk facing offCredit: Reuters
But amid negotiations, the WBA ordered their 25-year-old “regular” champion and mandatory challenger Dubois to fight Usyk.
It led to fears the title defence would get in the way of an undisputed decider, set for the Middle East next year.
But promoter Frank Warren reassured fans that the unification would supersede any mandatory defence – leaving everything on track.
He told his Queensberry YouTube channel: “He [Dubois] is next in the rotation. It’s agreed by the governing bodies.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“He’s next, but obviously, a unification, which we’re working on, will take precedence. It will take priority.”
Usyk, 35, faced a similar situation when it was suggested the IBF could order him to fight No1 contender Filip Hrgovic, 30.
And Joe Joyce, 37, remains in line for a shot at his titles while standing as the WBO mandatory challenger.
Fury, 34, has named Brit Joyce, a former sparring partner of his, as a back-up alternative if talks with Usyk collapse.
Most read in Boxing
He made the claim after beating Derek Chisora, 38, in round ten of their trilogy bout at Tottenham.
Fury said: “If it doesn’t happen, for X, Y or Z reasons, then we’ll have Joe Joyce at Wembley.
“If the Usyk one does happen, then I’ll do him and we’ll have Joe Joyce at Wembley as well. Why not?”
Joe Joyce and Tyson Fury have sparred each other before More