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      Former boxing champ Joseph Parker has miserable Christmas saved by Morecambe neighbour Tyson Fury

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      JOSEPH PARKER has saint Tyson Fury to thank for saving him from the most miserable Christmas in sport.The 30-year-old New Zealand heavyweight has left his beautiful wife and four daughters at home in their island paradise for another gruelling training camp in his adopted town of Morecambe.
      Joe Parker was left bloodied and bruised by Joe Joyce in September but is racing back to the businessCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Following September’s spectacular yet punishing loss to Joe Joyce, Kiwi Parker has a comeback bout against Jack Massey confirmed for January 21 in Manchester.
      That means his Christmas has been cancelled and his New Year will be almost anything but happy, after the rest of his team flew out to be with their families.
      But the Gypsy King, who has been based in Morecambe almost 20 years, will open the doors to his family mansion for his training partner and friend, to make sure his only Christmas companion is not a poxy plastic tree.
      The former WBO world champion said: “I was at home training but my wife saw that it had no purpose and told me ‘you need to get a fight’. 
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      Joe Parker and Tyson Fury are good friends and training partners in Morecambe.Credit: Instagram / @joeboxerparker

      “She was the one who saw that in me and she told me ‘get back over to England and fight again’. So it’s thanks to my wife while I am here.
      “Me and my trainer Andy Lee trained this week but he has rightly gone back to Ireland to spend Christmas and New Year with his young family, even my live-in chef Pressley has gone to Spain for five days with his missus.
      “It’s just me here in the flat and this Christmas tree, bit of a crappy plastic one.
      “But everyone in Morecambe is so welcoming, I have been invited to so many homes and gatherings but I can’t risk getting ill before a fight so I need to stay healthy and fit.
      “Tyson has invited me over to have dinner with him and his family but I have to focus on the fact that I have left my family to work, so that is what I am here to do; work.
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      “I suppose I could go and buy myself a present, wrap it up myself and then act surprised when I open it on Christmas morning but I have everything I need.  
      “I just want to train and fight.
      “I will take the day off and take up Tyson’s offer but then it will be back home to my tree, maybe sing a little carol and back to training on Monday.”
      Parker won his crown in 2016 and made two defences before being paid a life-changing £6m to meet Anthony Joshua and lose a decision in 2018.
      He has since banked more PPV money for British battles with Dillian Whyte, Derek Chisora and Juggernaut Joyce.
      Joe Parker lives in New Zealand and holidays in Fiji but swaps it all for Morecambe when it comes to boxingCredit: Instagram @joeboxerparker

      But he insists a burning desire to compete is what keeps dragging him away from heaven to hell.
      Even in the bonkers world of boxing, Parker’s willingness to still swap white Pacific beaches, ocean fishing and coconut roasted pork for Morecambe Bay, crabbing and fish’n’chips looks crazy.
      “A lot of people do ask me why I keep coming back to Morecambe when I have lovely weather back home, my family and the beaches back home,” he laughed.
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      “They know I have achieved some good things and made some money.
      “But I just love boxing and the challenges. All real fighters are like that.” More

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      Five boxers to watch in 2023 including 17-year-old wonderkid Enriko Itauma and Olympic silver medallist Ben Whittaker

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      BOXING superstars can be moulded over years and years or spring up overnight – and in 2022 we saw a fine mix.With amateur boxing in growing disarray and facing the axe from the Olympics, we are on a miserable course to lose a crucial part of the sport.
      Jesse Bam Rodriguez, right, is being tipped for a bright future in boxingCredit: Getty
      Recent Games have provided us with iconic names and glistening golds like James DeGale, Anthony Joshua, Luke Campbell, Nicola Adams, Galal Yafai and Lauren Price.
      And if that route into the pro ranks is robbed from fighters and fans alike by bungling bureaucrats, then we all lose out.
      Thankfully these starlets have emerged just before the dismal turn of events and could bring some joy to our screens in 2023.
      SunSport runs down FIVE stars to look our for in the new year…
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      Jesse Bam Rodriguez
      The 22-year-old Mexican-American southpaw grabbed the super-flyweight world title in February – as a late stand-in challenger – and defended twice by September in stylish throw-back fashion.
      At just 5ft 4in the pocket rocket has power, as well as skill and guts, with 11 of his 17 wins inside the distance.
      Hardcore boxing fans are already purring about this new ace but casuals should take a look at the lower waits to catch a glimpse of this young talent.
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      Moses Itauma
      In April, aged just 17, this Kent ace won gold at the European Youth champions with FOUR first-round finishes.
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      The brother of light-heavyweight Frank Warren prospect Karol Itauma, the wonderkid laid waste to his super-heavy division to take top spot on the podium.
      The Olympics feel a lifetime away and there will be huge intrigue to see what the punching prodigy does when he turns 18 and free to turn professional.
      On the circuit there are already shocking stories of young novice Itauma travelling the country and bashing up some of our most highly regarded professional cruisers and heavies in sparring – sometimes even being told never to return for fear of unravelling their confidence.
      Moses Itauma burst onto the scene in 2022 and could go on to great thingsCredit: Instagram
      Adam Azim
      This 20-year-old super-light ace has everyone in British boxing excited for plenty of reasons.
      The Shane McGuigan-trained starlet has raced through his first few fights, celebrated them with some sensational gymnastics and promised plenty more.
      Sky Sports are so excited by the Slough ace that they built their November 27 Sunday afternoon show around the rising ace.
      Doors at the iconic Ally Pally opened at midday and finished by 7pm in a brilliant bid to get a whole new generation of young fight fans excited by the sport and Azim.
      And if he can follow in the footsteps of his idol Amir Khan then he can change the face of the sport again – like his Bolton hero did – over the next decade.
      Adam Azim is being tipped for huge things, with Amir Khan a huge admirerCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Andy Cruz
      Aged 27 it might appear silly to call his amateur standout a prospect but his home nation of Cuba does not allow their boxers to turn professional.
      But rumours are growing that the 2020 Olympic lightweight gold winner has defected and fled his home, with a view to turning over.
      The light and super-light divisions – with brilliant young talents like Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez and Gervonta Davis – are some of the most exciting.
      But, without the star names fighting each other, it is also one of the most frustrating.
      But if Cruz can parachute in – with no time to waste – he could really mix things up.
      Andy Cruz, right, is believed to have defected from Cuba and could now be able to turn professionalCredit: AFP
      Ben Whittaker
      When the Brummie ace only landed a silver at the 2020 Olympics he upset a few sad saps for not celebrating what he felt was a failure.
      But that mindset should be celebrated among our elite athletes.
      The light-heavy ace has not changed his approach in the pros either, causing a stir when he made his debut in July with a ruthless and flashy performance.
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      And he shot from the lip when he boxed on the Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua undercard and had a dig at the talent at the pre-fight press conference and joked about being scheduled to fight so early they would still be building the ring.
      Watch out for everything this 25-year-old lad does – and says – in and outside of the ring.
      Ben Whittaker, right, is attracting plenty of fans with his performances, in and out of ringCredit: Getty More

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      Jake Paul says he’d KO Conor McGregor with hand tied behind his back in boxing ring but offers to fight UFC star in cage

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      JAKE PAUL says he would knock out Conor McGregor with one hand tied behind his back in the boxing ring – but instead offered to fight in the cage. The YouTuber-turned boxer found himself weighing in on a verbal feud between rival KSI and McGregor.
      Jake Paul has called out Conor McGregorCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Conor McGregor was in a war of words with KSI onlineCredit: Instagram / @thenotoriousmma
      The Irishman slammed the new age of influencer boxing scene as his training partner Dillon Danis prepares to face KSI.
      KSI, 29, tweeted: “I’m sorry but I’m about do some serious damage to your boy.”
      McGregor, 34, replied: “Brother you’re a friendly little nerd I don’t care.
      “He should be back doing MMA if he is doing this little nothing burger match with you.
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      “I couldn’t care less about this genre of boxing, I am sorry. Have a good one.”
      When a fan predicted McGregor would one day find himself in the crossover boxing space, he responded: “Ah go on then, will there be belts? hahahaha.”
      Paul, 25, snapped back: “You fight for belts? Last time you fought for a belt was 4 years ago. Lost 3 of your last 4 fights.
      “I would knock you out in the squared circle with one hand tied behind my back.
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      “To be fair, in the cage I would need two hands. But same result.”
      McGregor lost his one and only professional boxing bout to American legend Floyd Mayweather, 45, in 2017.
      He is set to make a UFC comeback in 2023 following over a year out due to the horror leg break he suffered in his last fight.
      Paul meanwhile is eyeing a February return fight having last beaten UFC icon Anderson Silva, 47, in October.
      Jake Paul beat UFC legend Anderson Silva in his last fightCredit: Esther Lin/ SHOWTIME More

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      Meet Adam Azim, the 20-year-old Brit lightweight star aiming to shine a light on boxing’s battle with ADHD

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      ADAM AZIM wants to be the scarred face of boxing’s battle against ADHD.Slough’s 20-year-old lightweight ace has a mush covered in battle wounds but none from his glittering amateur career or 7-0 pro start.
      Adam Azim is hoping to shine a light on boxing’s battle with ADHDCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Adam Azim is the next big thing in British boxing despite his childhood fight with ADHDCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
      Adam Azim hopes to emulate his hero Amir Khan, pictured, and become championCredit: Reuters
      Every dent, scrape and blemish is the result of his Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder causing him to crash into or fall off of something in his accident-prone childhood.
      But – in a story that’s similar to that of 35-year-old idol Amir Khan – boxing was the perfect sport for Azim to channel his relentless energy into and beat his bad boy tag.
      At Shane McGuigan’s Leyton gym, where he trains alongside welterweight brother Hassan, Azim told SunSport: “Everybody thinks the scars are from boxing but not one of them are, I was just always crashing into things and hurting myself.
      “It took a long time to be diagnosed properly, I was just thought of as a naughty boy but my dad helped me use my energy in sports like kickboxing and then boxing and thankfully I have never needed any medication.

      “They tried me at cricket first and I liked the batting and bowling but standing out in the field for ages was impossible for me.
      “I know Amir has a similar story, his parents sent him to the gym as he was so energetic, and it must have been harder for him to handle as there was a lot less understanding of hyperactivity.
      “Even ten years ago with me people didn’t understand what was happening but hopefully I can show any other children suffering that ADHD can be a gift that you can turn to your advantage.”
      Much like Bolton icon Khan, who won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics aged just 17, Azim has frighteningly fast hands.
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      They also share Pakistani heritage and Khan’s path from Asian outcast to world champion and British national treasure is one Azim aspires to.
      After capping his breakout year with a headline slot on Sky Sports beating Rylan Charlton at Ally Pally, he said: “Amir is the only British-Pakistani world champion in history and I want to be the next one.
      “Amir has very kindly said in some interviews that he thinks I can do it so that is a huge motivation for me as well.
      “I was in Birmingham 15 years ago to watch Amir win against Michael Gomez, my dad took me and there is a photo of us ringside.
      “So it feels like a completed journey, it feels like this was meant to be and I cannot wait to grab the opportunity and make it the start of a great career.”
      McGuigan’s gym is a hotbed of young British talent with siblings Daniel and Caroline Dubois also in the ranks.
      And Azim revealed to SunSport that he and 20-year-old lightweight Caroline played crucial parts in improving each other over a decade ago.
      He explained: “Me, Caroline and Daniel all started at the same great amateur gym, Dale Youth, when we were kids.
      “Aged around eight and nine, me and Caroline actually used to spar each other.
      “I have seen that when she first started boxing at another gym, she had to pretend to be a boy called Colin, but the Dale was happy to have female fighters and she was Caroline there.
      “I remember the very first day she came down and I trained alongside her, I told my dad that was going to be very special.
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      “All these years later I am back training alongside her and Daniel and my brother every day.
      “It’s a really exciting time for all of us and for British boxing hopefully”. More

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      Nigel Benn flies home to Australia believing son Conor will WIN doping fight as he slams traitors in ‘witch hunt’

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      NIGEL BENN has flown home to Australia believing son Conor is about to win his doping fight — but not before settling a few scores.The British boxing legend returned to the UK in August to help his 26-year-old boy finish the family feud against Chris Eubank Jr and his father on October 8.
      Conor Benn has insisted he will be found innocent over doping chargesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      But the catchweight bout was cancelled by the British Boxing Board of Control two days out after it was revealed Conor had failed a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test for female fertility drug clomifene.
      Undefeated welterweight Conor passionately insists he is innocent — and SunSport understands the World Boxing Council are close to clearing him following their investigation.
      But the Benn name could be forever tarnished by the saga and the Dark Destroyer has been hurt by a string of industry insiders turning on his heir without having all of the facts.
      The 58-year-old told SunSport: “I can finally fly home now, put my head on the pillow and sleep soundly, knowing that my son is going to have his name cleared.
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      “The strain this whole thing has put on the health of my family was devastating, we have all suffered. It has been like a witch-hunt out of the 1800s.
      “So many people we considered friends have turned on my son, labelled him guilty and tried to throw away the key.
      “We have had to sit in silence while people bad-mouth us. But that’s about to change and I want all the apologies to be just as loud as the criticisms.”
      SunSport is privy to the facts of the case that seem set to clear Benn of any wrongdoing.
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      But, after three months of rumours and speculation, the damage among the boxing public might already be done.
      Conor is also at war with the BBBofC for their handling of the situation, only intervening long after they were made aware and despite the fighter passing all of his UK Anti-Doping tests.
      Two-weight world champ Nigel can cope with sceptic fans who do not have the scientific data but not those in the boxing community who condemned his son without speaking to them first.
      He said: “The science is going to prove that Conor is innocent.
      “People could have waited to hear it all and reserved judgment. But instead they attacked him and put us through hell.
      “Everyone that got on that bandwagon won’t be able to get off and switch sides.” More

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      Five best boxing performances of 2022 including brutal Tyson Fury, skilful Oleksandr Usyk and classy Claressa Shields

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      BOXING at its best is two evenly matched heroes going toe-to-toe for as many rounds as possible.But occasionally one side of the show puts on such a sublime performance that what on paper looks to be a 50/50 nail-biter turns into a one-sided stroll in the park.
      Jack Catterall put on a stunning display as he was robbed of a win against Josh TaylorCredit: Kenny Ramsay
      In 2022 we sat down for dozens of hard-to-call fights.
      And we were treated to some humdingers that went right down to the wire.
      But on a few spectacular occasions, one warrior had too much skill, strength or spirit for their rival and made their fight a formality.
      SunSport takes a look at the top five individual performances of 2022…

      Jack Catterall vs Josh Taylor – February 26
      Scotland’s Tartan Tornado was supposed to breeze into his hometown show and blow understated southpaw Catterall away.
      But the Manchester southpaw put on a masterclass of boxing and won almost every round in the 20-20 eyes of all the sane people who watched.
      But scandalous scoring from Ian John Lewis and Victor Loughlin robbed Catterall of the win and handed Taylor a poisoned victory.
      The bitter rivalry is now almost a year old and still neither man has returned to the ring but hopefully it is settled in February.
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      Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall – October 15
      This was a decade-old rivalry dating back to a 2012 amateur bout that Hartlepool’s Marshall won.
      It was supposed to be a nip-and-tuck affair where the heavy-handed Brit would pose a serious threat to the smaller two-time Olympic queen.
      Instead Shields danced into the ring like Queen B Beyonce and laid waste to Marshall like Queen Boudica.
      Shields earned a few critics for proclaiming herself as the Greatest Woman of All Time. But the GWOAT moniker now fits perfectly.
      Claressa Shields proved she really could be the GWOAT with a sublime showing against Savannah MarshallCredit: PA
      Kell Brook vs Amir Khan – February 19
      Both brilliant British welterweight heroes were well past their primes, with a shared age in excess of 70. So neutral fans were struggling to pick a winner.
      But Brook came out and utterly dominated the decade-long rival he had felt undervalued and disrespected by.
      The sensational sixth-round stoppage from Sheffield star Brook is hopefully the last action we ever see these two men engaged in a boxing ring.
      …Especially as Brook was treated as the B-side and made to jump through hoops surrounding the 149lb catchweight and the cruel rehydration clause and possible penalties.
      It was a retirement moment almost as perfect as Carl Froch’s.
      Kell Brook was in dominant form as he breezed past long-time rival Amir KhanCredit: Getty
      Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II – September 20
      AJ hugely improved on his original performance against the Ukraine southpaw.
      But he was still outfoxed, outworked and outgunned by the utter sensation.
      The former undisputed cruiserweight king once again bullied a man four inches taller and almost 2st heavier.
      It’s a testament to Usyk’s skill and resilience that he rarely looks close to stopping his heavyweight opponents but manages to be in almost total control and never look in danger when he is mixing it with giants.
      Oleksandr Usyk once again proved far too skilled for Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty
      Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte – April 23
      The Brixton body snatcher had waited so long for his WBC heavyweight world title shot that the UK was expecting something special.. a slugfest worthy of the 94,000 tickets sold to pack Wembley out.
      But the giant Gypsy King kept his KO streak running by detonating a sickening uppercut that felled Whyte like an oak tree.
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      Mandatory world title defences – especially in the top division – should not be as easy as the showman made it look.
      It was impressive enough to even plaster over the latest fake retirement he revealed moments after.
      Tyson Fury racked up yet another easy win as he breezed past Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty More

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      SunSport’s boxing P4P rankings revealed but which star pips Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue AND Canelo Alvarez to No1?

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      CRUCIAL. Mythical. Farcical.However you want to bill a boxing pound-for-pound list, fight fans still love to compile and compare them.
      Tyson Fury just keeps winning but will his 6ft 9in, 268lb frame prevent him from being our P4P king?Credit: Getty
      Oleksandr Usyk has now beaten Anthony Joshua twice as a heayweight despite his comparative lack of sizeCredit: Getty
      If we rounded up all our elite fighters at one shared weight and put them in fantasy fights, who would reign supreme?
      There are far too many variables, far too many questions to ever know.
      For example, how much does Tyson Fury rely on his size?
      After all, he’s 6ft 9in and most-recently tipped the scales at 268lb.

      Could Japan pocket powerhouse Naoya Inoue take his KO prowess even higher?
      Inoue most-recently beat Paul Butler to become undisputed bantamweight king.
      Does Gervonta Davis need a bigger test?
      You’d think so… the American is 27-0 with 25 of his wins coming via KO.
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      Has two-time Olympic king and three-weight master Vasily Lomachenko lost his spark?
      The Ukrainian won his last fight against Jamaine Ortiz to take his pro record to 17-2 but was pushed all the way and only scraped through via unanimous decision.
      What these questions mean is this… none of us really know and we look silly when we guess.
      But anyway, here’s our most-recent crack at a pound-for-pound top ten…
      Oleksandr Usyk takes the top spot as he once again bested a much bigger, stronger fighter as he waltzed his way to a second-straight win over Anthony Joshua.
      Tyson Fury comes second despite another impressive year. Having beaten Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora in 2022, you could argue he just needed that one big fight… Anthony Joshua, anyone?
      Naoya Inoue racked up yet another win earlier this month as his sensational career goes from strength-to-strength. He gets our P4P bronze medal.
      Canelo Alvarez slips down to fourth after a mixed year – following up his light-heavyweight defeat to Dmitry Bivol with a super-middleweight win over Gennady Golovkin.
      Canelo Alvarez slips down to fourth on our list after a mixed bag in the past yearCredit: AP
      Terence Crawford only fought once in 2022 – but retained his WBO welterweight title for a SIXTH time with a comfortable win over David Avanesyan. Cracks our top five.
      Gervonta Davis beat Rolando Romero in May to retain the WBA lightweight crown and already has TWO fights early in 2023 on his calendar – against Hector Garcia and Ryan Garcia.. no relation. Deservedly takes sixth on our list.
      Jermell Charlo fought just once this past year, winning his Brian Castano rematch, but it helped him retain his WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring light middleweight titles as well as get his hands on the WBO light middleweight title. Our No7.
      Errol Spence Jr beat Yordenis Ugas in his first fight since 2020 in April to retained his WBC and IBF welterweight titles and also add the WBA welterweight title. Comes in eighth in our rankings.
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      Dmitry Bivol moved to 21-0 after beating Canelo and Gilberto Ramirez in a productive 2022 and is still WBA light-heavyweight champ. No9 on our top ten list.
      Vasily Lomachenko won his only fight this year against Jamaine Ortiz, but doesn’t rank any higher than tenth in our P4P rankings. More

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      Anthony Joshua vows to become a three-time heavyweight champ as he targets career rebuild after failed Tyson Fury fight

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA insists a third world title reign remains his dream despite turning down a Christmas crack at Tyson Fury.After 33-year-old Olympic legend AJ suffered a second consecutive loss to Oleksandr Usyk, in August, mastermind WBC champ Fury made him a short-notice offer for a December showdown.
      Anthony Joshua is the rebuilding phase of his career following defeats to Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY
      AJ is currently a million miles from the world title pictureCredit: GETTY
      Joshua is hellbent on becoming a three-time heavyweight titleCredit: REUTRS
      Joshua wisely turned down the Battle of Britain – leaving the 34-year-old Gypsy King to batter stablemate and friend Derek Chisora toward retirement – to rebuild his career again.
      The two-time heavyweight boss has been on another US tour looking for a new trainer and is expected to return in April against a couple of tune-up opponents.
      After back-to-back defeats, the idea of a Spring stunner with American KO artist Deontay Wilder is utterly fanciful – even at this time of year.
      But the Watford ace has at least promised a third world title run is his New Year’s resolution.
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      “I like to see my name constantly mentioned amongst other fighters,” he said.
      “The opportunities are always there for me, there are big opportunities to fight.
      “I’ll fight whoever’s ready, I’m ready and we’ll get cracking in the New Year.
      “I want to be consistent, be fit to fight, and everything comes off the back of that.
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      “I’m dying for the world championship, 100 per cent. That’s all my heart and soul is leading towards.”
      After the second Usyk loss, AJ grabbed the microphone and got about a decade’s worth of passion and emotion off of his giant chest.
      In the post-fight press conference, he broke down in tears when trying to explain the pressure of carrying a nation’s expectations into the ring.
      With Fury and Usyk now to clash to decide an undisputed ruler and a long list of mandatory lining up after that – which doesn’t include AJ – he has had to reevaluate his career.
      “I lost a fight this year which took me out of the championship title race,” he said.
      “So when you’re constantly fighting for championships after championships you’re constantly in the race for a long time.
      “When I lost, I was finally out of the race and overcoming that was a new beginning, something I’ve been used to, being in the title race for seven years and then finally realising that this isn’t my norm anymore.
      “It’s challenging to overcome that.
      “I’ve always been a competitor, a challenge to me is just another obstacle that I can get over, and for some, I feel like it’s easier to knock them down and keep them down
      “But as a competitor, it’s just something that you look at as another challenge that I can overcome.
      Anthony Joshua was overcome with a wave of emotion after his defeat to Oleksandr UsykCredit: EPA
      WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury offered AJ a crack at his titleCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
      But the domestic dust-up didn’t come to fruitionCredit: GETTY
      “It’s going to take work, being in that race I’m used to being in that competitor’s mindset, but I’m overcoming it for sure.
      Joshua was little more than a passenger when Ukraine icon Usyk outpointed him for the first time, in September 2021, at Tottenham.
      But he put in a drastically improved performance in the Saudi Arabia rerun and restored much of his reputation by being aggressive until the final bell.
      The London 2012 hero suggests it’s a new approach he will use on both sides of the ropes from now on.
      He said: “If you’re someone that doesn’t like confrontation, but you know that being shy and timid doesn’t get you what you want, sometimes you have to be confrontational to get what you want.
      “I am someone now, this year, that would go after what I want and to get what I want I need to be the person I need to be.
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      “Being more confident in myself, being more confrontational with things, and being honest with people so they know who you are and what you stand for.
      “Love me for it, or hate me for it, I’m quite content with who I am.” More