Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA has joked he is an “old man” and that his days of boxing could soon be behind him. Joshua, 33, is preparing for his next fight after being handed back-to-back defeats by Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua has joked he is an “old man” in boxingCredit: AFP
Joshua has a number of fights lined up after his most recent defeat by Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
A number of big fights are in the works for the two-time champion, but he has admitted he is not getting any younger and will soon hang up his gloves.
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.”
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AJ revealed he was confident about a number of fights going into 2023, including a potential showdown against Deontay Wilder or a rematch bout against Dillian Whyte.
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury ruled out a fight against Joshua following the breakdown of talks ahead of their last proposed fight.
However, he admitted his biggest achievement was yet to come.
The Brit added: “My greatest achievement hasn’t been reached yet.
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“It will be when I make it out the other side of the fight game. I personally always thought I would probably cry when boxing is done, because I put a lot into it inside and outside of the ring.
“Like you put a lot into your work, you wake up, you sacrifice, you’re tired sometimes; all that type of stuff, we all go through it.
“Sometimes you have your bad days but I’ve always tried to be strong, well I am strong.
“I always felt like why I would be emotional after is because I would have reached the ultimate high because I made it through a very dark, tough industry.
“I think now it would be making it through healthy and being able to enjoy commercial stuff without pressures of having to train after, enjoying going back to your family, just chilling.
“So that will be my major achievement, I’m looking forward to that.” More

TYSON FURY is certain he will never fight Anthony Joshua and promised to knock out Oleksandr Usyk instead.Usyk has defeated AJ in back-to-back fights and Fury now wants a piece of the Ukrainian.
Tyson Fury has vowed to knock out Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
Anthony Joshua is still hopeful of fighting the Gypsy KingCredit: Reuters
Usyk and Fury could face each other early next yearCredit: Getty
He has vowed to knock out the world champion, claiming he is no match for the Gypsy King.
Fury, 34, also ruled out a possible match-up with Joshua, despite the latter promising a fight will happen before they both retire.
In an interview with iFL TV, Fury said: “I can guarantee you that you will not see it, 100 per cent.
“Like Carl Froch vs Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton vs Junior Witter, it’s 100 per cent not happening.
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“I’m gonna knock out the guy who just beat him twice.”
Fury then changed his focus to the man he could face next – Usyk.
The pair’s representatives are in talks to make a fight happen and Fury vowed to dispatch the 35-year-old with ease.
He added: “I’m looking to fight Oleksandr Usyk, the man who’s got Anthony Joshua’s kryptonite, who made him cry after the fight,
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“‘I’m 18 stone.’ So? I’m 20 stone. I’ll beat him, he ain’t got no kryptonite to me.
“He’s f*** all to me. I’m gonna make him dance.” More

TYSON FURY plans to face Oleksandr Usyk twice, with a second bout taking place at Wembley. Fury is ready for his next challenge after besting Derek Chisora in their trilogy fight two weeks ago and is targeting unification clash with Usyk.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have been linked with a unification clashCredit: Getty
Tyson Fury wants to face Oleksandr Usyk twice in the Middle East and WembleyCredit: Reuters
The Gypsy King is looking to “make an example” of the Ukrainian with a fight in the Middle East before a rematch in London.
Fury told iFL TV: “There’s no man born who can beat me and I’ll stand and prove it against anybody, not a problem.
“Where I am in my life at the moment and where I am with my career, I wouldn’t want to take him out quite quickly.
“I’d like to get him in there in February, make an example of him and then give him a rematch and do it back at Wembley again.
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“If the Middle East can deliver like they’ve said they can for the last year or so then they’re going to deliver at the end of February and if they don’t then we’ll do it in England at Wembley.
“I don’t think it is a tough fight no. He’s nowhere near as tough as old Del Boy [Chisora]. He will not stand up to those punches like Derek did.
“When I watched the fight between him and Derek it was a 50/50 fight, it might have been 55/45 but it wasn’t no landslide.
“I’ve seen people like Usyk many times before, smaller men coming up to fight the heavyweight champion and 99 per cent of the time they get dusted up. I’m right out there on my own.”
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A fight between Fury and Usyk is being targeted for a date between February 18 and March 4.
However, the highly anticipated clash between the two heavyweights has hit a snag with the WBA ordering Daniel Dubois as the mandatory challenger for the Ukrainian.
But promoter Frank Warren, who represents both Fury and Dubois, has claimed the latter will step aside to allow the dream match to happen. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is confident he will fight Deontay Wilder in 2023. The Brit, 33, is hoping to bounce back from two losses against Oleksandr Usyk and believes next year is going to be huge for heavyweight boxing.
Anthony Joshua is looking forward to a big 2023Credit: Getty
Deontay Wilder beat Robert Helenius in his last fight and is now targeting AJCredit: Getty
Joshua was asked by GQ if he would fight Wilder to which he replied: “Let’s look to the future. It will definitely happen.
“We’re in the same division, we’re in the same era, that means the fight has to happen.
“2023 is looming, it’s a big year for boxing, and that fight will definitely happen.”
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently confirmed that talks have begun between the two fighters.
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It has been reported that the bout could take place as early as March but this could prove too soon.
But fans will be wary of getting their hopes up after discussions over the two stepping in the ring in 2018 broke down and the fight never happened.
Next year could be huge for Joshua as he tries to salvage what some will call a stumbling career.
Dillian Whyte wants to get back in the ring with the 33-year-old in a rematch of the bout that saw AJ win in 2015.
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And there also remains the possibility of him facing Fury with the Gypsy King asking Joshua to “step up to the plate” and fight him.
Fury paved the way for the “big year for boxing” Joshua spoke about as he beat Derek Chisora.
Meanwhile, Wilder would not turn down a fourth bout with Fury and he does look set to favour a fight with Joshua over the mandatory clash with Andy Ruiz Jr. More

OLEKSANDR USYK has joined Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua in calling Tyson Fury “Luke”. The unbeaten champions are in talks for the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt unification next year.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are in talks to fightCredit: Reuters
And the war of words has already started, as Usyk called Fury by his middle name.
He said on his YouTube channel: “When cameras are off he’s a different person.
“When cameras are on he’s Tyson Fury, when they’re off he’s Luke Fury.”
The WBC champion lists his full name as Tyson Luke Fury, having been named after heavyweight legend Mike Tyson.
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But Whyte claimed his team have evidence that he switched his Christian names around to sound like the Baddest Man on the Planet.
Whyte told SunSport in 2020: “My real name is Dillian. I know his real name is Luke. He changed it to Tyson to make himself sound harder.
“People can have a little look around on the internet and see for themselves. In boxing, the name Tyson is a lot more sellable than Luke.
“A lot of what Tyson does and says is a game, you can never take anything he says seriously or at face value.
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“How can you trust a man who doesn’t even use his own name?”
Joshua followed up with a dig of his own last year, as he tweeted Fury: “You’re a good kid, don’t play with me Luke!
“I’ll slap your bald head & you’ll do nothing! Waste man.”
Usyk, 35, twice beat Joshua, 33, to win and then retain the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
Fury, 34, defended his WBC belt against Whyte, 34, and then Derek Chisora in their recent trilogy bout.
And it has set him up for a historic unification against Usyk next year, with talks ongoing.
The pair faced off after Fury’s tenth-round stoppage win against Chisora, 38, at Tottenham’s stadium.
And Usyk goaded: “We negotiated it. If he agreed to fight, I would step onto the ring.
“A lot of things were said since then, like he would slap me in my face.
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“But apparently he changed his mind after having his buttocks burned.”
In a final message, Usyk said: “Luke, I’m coming for you. I’ve been coming for him for a long time.”
Tyson Fury facing off with Oleksandr Usyk in the ringCredit: Jamie McPhilimey More

TYSON FURY has urged Anthony Joshua to “step up to the plate” and fight him instead of rematching Dillian Whyte. Joshua is ready to return to the ring next year after a period out following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua is ready to make his boxing return in 2023Credit: AFP
Tyson Fury after his trilogy win over Derek ChisoraCredit: Getty
And promoter Eddie Hearn has lined AJ up with a summer stadium headliner with Whyte next year.
Joshua even said he would even prefer a derby against his London rival than a long anticipated grudge match with the Gypsy King.
But Fury told iFL TV: “Why isn’t this lad stepping up to the plate and taking on the challenge?
“What does he wanna fight Dillian Whyte for? He’s already beat Dillian Whyte.
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“Fight me. Come to the party, bring your teacakes and your underpants. It’s only a fight, you’ve already lost before.”
After Joshua’s rematch loss to Usyk in Saudi Arabia, Fury offered him a shock shot at his WBC belt.
But when talks collapsed, he instead faced Derek Chisora, 38, in a trilogy bout at Tottenham’s stadium, winning in round ten.
Fury, 34, is now in talks with Usyk, 35, for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed bout.
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Meanwhile Joshua, 33, looks set to return in the spring before setting up a rematch with Whyte, 34, who he lost to in amateurs but beat as a pro.
And Fury has cast doubt on ever fighting AJ as he vowed to knock out Usyk instead.
He said: “I can guarantee you that you will not see it, 100 per cent.
“Like Carl Froch vs Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton vs Junior Witter, it’s 100% not happening.
“I’m gonna knock out the guy who just beat him twice. What are they gonna say about me then?”
Tyson Fury squaring off with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters More