Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA will not fight this year as Eddie Hearn revealed when the heavyweight will likely return. The former unified champion faces a rebuilding job following consecutive losses to Ukrainian great Oleksandr Usyk.
Promoter Eddie Hearn with Anthony JoshuaCredit: PA
AJ’s promoter Hearn had earmarked December 17 as a potential return date after talks to fight Tyson Fury two weeks earlier collapsed.
But now Joshua is expected to return in early 2023, to set up a busy year in the ring.
Hearn told FightHub: “Joshua will be back very early next year now and I wanna see him get active.”
Recently, Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin, 31, and American veteran Chris Arreola, 41, emerged as potential options for AJ.
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A rematch with Dillian Whyte, 34, who Joshua knocked out in 2015, is also on the cards for the summer.
Fury, 34, called out AJ after Usyk, 35, ruled himself out of a unification bout through injury.
But he instead fights Derek Chisora, 38, in an unpopular trilogy on December 3 following his prior one-sided wins in 2011 and 2014.
Fury now fears a super-fight with Joshua, 33, will NEVER happen, claiming his rival is too tough to negotiate with.
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He said: “At least I’ve got this to show for all the time I wasted on that big dosser of a coward.
“The fight didn’t happen because they didn’t want it. After the first seven days of discussions they never had any intentions of it taking place. 
“Joshua realised how daunting the task was and he got talked out of it by his people and himself.
“If that wasn’t the reason, he’d be here now instead of Derek. He doesn’t have any belts.
“He doesn’t have anything I need and there will not be a fight between him and me ever. Ever.
“There was just too much messing about. I’m not going through that all over again.
“They’re too hard to deal with. No more wasting time with idiots. I’m going to tell you what I told his promoter Eddie Hearn.
“That the difference between me and his man is that his man is a businessman and I’m an effing Spartan.”
Tyson Fury ruled out ever fighting Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty More

JOSHUA FRANKHAM has boxing in his blood, with his family history dating back to Muhammad Ali’s day and even reaching Hollywood. The welterweight, signed to Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, is a 6-0 prospect with high hopes in the sport.
Joshua Frankham is a 6-0 boxing prospectCredit: @j_frankham

Joshua Frankham pictured with Tyson FuryCredit: @j_frankham

Johnny Frankham once knocked down Muhammad Ali
Frankham is one of several fighters from his family, as a nephew to a former champion and relative of Tyson Fury’s.
His uncle John was a former British light-heavyweight champ, who in 1971 famously fought and knocked down Ali.
Frankham, 23, told SunSport: “There’s a good picture of my uncle John standing over Muhammad Ali.
“So seeing that in his place when I was younger, you don’t get much more motivation than that.”
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Amazingly, John is not Frankham’s only uncle who mixed in with greatness.
His other uncle Bobby, a former boxer himself, coached movie star Brad Pitt before Guy Ritchie’s 2000 classic Snatch.
Frankham revealed: “I’ve got photos with Brad Pitt in my nan’s house. He stayed with my family for a couple of weeks.
“I was only a baby, but it’s a pretty good story!”
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Frankham, who admitted he was “always going to be a fighter”, was a talented amateur, winning 30 of his 36 amateur bouts.
He represented England before turning professional in 2020.
After deciding to turn over to the paid ranks, Frankham took a trip to Las Vegas with his cousin Levi.
But after being stuck in Sin City, the pair decided to spend a few days in Los Angeles, where they would unexpectedly train with Manny Pacquiao.
He said: “I pulled up to his gym and Manny Pacquiao was just coming up, we took a quick photo.
“We were talking to his brother, and he said to us, ‘We’re going running tomorrow in Griffith Park, why don’t you come.’
“Straight away we took this fellas number and we couldn’t believe it, we didn’t think it was going to happen.
“We got up at 6am in the morning, met at Griffith Park and it was the best experience I ever had. It was all meant to be.
Joshua Frankham with Manny Pacquiao and cousin leviCredit: @j_frankham

Joshua Frankham on a run with Manny PacquiaoCredit: @j_frankham

“We went back to his house, had loads of photos with him and he signed some stuff.
“He actually asked us over for dinner but he had to have a massage first. But we had to get back to the hotel, so we couldn’t go in.”
Frankham has had a front row seat to watch Fury’s rise to the top of the heavyweight division.
His cousin is first cousin’s to Fury’s wife Paris, but Frankham sees the Gypsy King as a friend and mentor.
He said: “Tyson is a very good pal of mine. Just to have Tyson on board and to be able to ring him and say, ‘Tyson, what would you do?’
“He’s always there for me and I can’t thank him enough for that.”
Fury, 33, helped Frankham receive a deal with promoter Warren, paving the way to his unbeaten career.
And he has aspirations of going all the way in the sport but first once to pick up the British title his uncle John formerly held.
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Frankham said: “I want the British title, that’s my goal. I’m coming for that welterweight British title and then we can say.
“Next year I want to go for international titles but I don’t want to skip the British, I want it and it means a lot to my family.
“I’d love to be world champion, it’s a dream of every fighter, but at the minute my goal is the British title.”
Tyson Fury with actor Mark Wahlberg and Joshua FrankhamCredit: @j_frankham

Promoter Frank Warren and Joshua FrankhamCredit: @j_frankham More

TYSON FURY could look to get another one over old rival Dillian Whyte… by training Jermaine Franklin to beat him. Fury KO’d Whyte in April at Wembley, which was the last time either stepped foot inside the ring.
Tyson Fury knocked out Dillian Whyte in April and is now set to train with his rival’s next opponentCredit: Getty
The WBC champion, 34, is now set to return on December 3 at Tottenham’s stadium in a trilogy bout with Derek Chisora, 38.
And he is set to bring Franklin in for sparring, while the American also prepares to fight Whyte on November 26.
Franklin, 29, told the Daily Mail: “I am very honoured they even invited me go to the training camp with them.
“I am honoured and it’s a great opportunity. I just want to learn all I can from a world champion.
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“Tyson has been in the game for a while. He comes from a family of boxers.
“I am pretty sure they have got their own insight into how they do things and how they manoeuvre. They have certain tactics they do in the ring.
“I am pretty sure he’s not going to give me all the tricks of the trade but I’m sure I will learn a little something from him.”
Franklin’s representative, Dean Caslake, hopes Fury will pass on his knowledge of sharing the ring with Whyte, 34.
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Caslake said: “Chisora and Jermaine are relatively similar in terms of physicality and style.
“Also, Dillian is similar to that as well. Tyson obviously beat Dillian before so there’s going to be a lot of tips and pointers that Tyson can give him.
“It was quite a comprehensive win. It wasn’t like Tyson was ever really in any trouble.
“He is currently the greatest heavyweight on the planet. No one can really deny that until someone faces him and beats him.”
Jermaine Franklin fights Dillian Whyte on November 26Credit: Getty More

FRANK WARREN was forced to deny putting a “gag” clause in Derek Chisora’s trilogy fight contract with Tyson Fury. Chisora, beaten by Fury in 2011 and 2014, gets a third crack at his old rival on December 3 at Tottenham’s stadium.
Derek Chisora claimed he has a ‘gag’ order in his Tyson Fury fight contractCredit: PA
The heavyweight veteran came face to face with the Gypsy King at a pre-fight press conference.
And it was there that Chisora, 38, suggested he was restricted to what he could say while on stage.
He said: “I’m buzzing. It’s a great fight, this will be a good fight. I can’t really say much, because they put a gag on me in the contract.”
Hall of Famer Warren, once Chisora’s promoter, denied the allegation.
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He told The Mirror: “Bull****, he is trying to hook us up for more money to talk at the press conference.
“I can’t be a**** with him; I am in the Tyson Fury business not the Derek Chisora business.”
Fury, 34, offered Chisora an unlikely trilogy once talks to fight Anthony Joshua, 33, collapsed.
And 35-year-old Oleksandr Usyk – who started his amateur career at middleweight – is ruled out of a unification until next year.
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It left Fury giving his old pal a world title shot and an early Christmas present.
He said: “I’m not gonna sit here and call Chisora names.
“I respect him. I’ve got nothing bad to say about Derek; he’s a good fighting man, and he brings his A game every time.
“In my reign right now, I’m reigning supreme. I’ll beat him, and then I’ll beat the little middleweight guy.
“I’m gonna go home and have a good Christmas with my family, and Derek can do the same with his.”
Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora ahead of their trilogy fightCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

DILLIAN WHYTE will make his boxing return on November 26 against Jermaine Franklin in his first fight since defeat to Tyson Fury. Whyte was knocked out by WBC champion Fury at Wembley in April, when challenging for the world title.
Dillian Whyte makes his boxing return on November 26Credit: Reuters
In the seven months since, he has been in negotiations with several promoters and TV networks.
But Whyte, 34, has chosen to return to Eddie Hearn and sports streaming service DAZN to fight Franklin at Wembley Arena.
He said: “It’s great to be back, doing what I love doing.
“I can’t wait to get into the ring and show the world that when push comes to shove I can get right back up in Wembley and remind everyone why I was WBC number one for over four years. 
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“As an undefeated heavyweight, Franklin is a dangerous guy but I’m going to teach him quite a few lessons at the OVO on November 26.
“Most importantly, I’m going to teach him how to lose.”
Franklin, 29, is 21-0 with 14 KOs but is without a marquee names on his record.
He said: “I’m super hyped to fight in the UK. They love boxing and I plan on making a statement when I beat Dillian.
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“I want them to be loud and love my boxing style and have them embrace me as the people’s champ.
“The world will see the real Jermaine Franklin Jr.”
Whyte’s return is not the only piece of heavyweight action on the night.
Unbeaten Fabio Wardley, 27, to fight Nathan Gorman, 26, for the vacant British title.
And light-heavyweight Craig Richards, 32, also faces Latvian Ricards Bolotniks, also 32.
Jermaine Franklin faces Dillian Whyte in LondonCredit: Getty More