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    Deontay Wilder finalising boxing return on October 15 in first fight since Tyson Fury trilogy against Robert Helenius

    DEONTAY WILDER is on course to make his return to the ring in October.The former long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion hasn’t fought since being knocked out cold in his epic trilogy fight with Tyson Fury last October.
    Deontay Wilder hasn’t fought since his epic trilogy fight with Tyson FuryCredit: POLARIS
    But he’s on course to face Robert Helenius on October 15Credit: GETTY
    Wilder and Helenius know one another well having sparred each otherCredit: PBC
    Helenius prepared the Bronze Bomber for his trilogy fight with Fury last OctoberCredit: PBC
    SunSport revealed last week that Wilder, 35, was in contention to face former sparring partner Robert Helenius in his comeback fight.
    And according to Boxing Scene, the fight is being targeted for October 15.
    The Barclays Center in Brooklyn is the front runner to land the return of the Bronze Bomber.
    Wilder knows Helenius and his power well having sparred the Finnish giant ahead of his third clash with Fury.
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    Wilder has been ramping up his training in recent weeks and was recently spotted getting back in the “groove” at the UFC’s Performance Institute in Las Vegas.
    Retirement seemed to be on the cards for the American after he was brutally knocked out in the 11th round of his Sin City showdown with Fury.
    But the Alabama slammer recently roared: “I can’t stop right here.
    “I must continue my journey. I have to, I have to.
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    “I’m looking to resume my career for sure. I’ve got a lot of other things I’ve got to get out of the way.
    “I’m taking away from my children if I come back, because now I’m able to enjoy my life fully like I want to.
    “I sacrificed so much to be in this position in my life, to be able to live my life like I want for the rest of my life.”
    He added: “I’ve been highly requested. So many people have told me ‘Come back, come back.’ I’d say I’m back by popular demand.
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    “And the business of boxing needs me. When there’s a thriving American champion, there’s nothing like it.
    “When there’s not, you see it’s dead. There’s a drought in [the sport]. People know the difference now.”
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    ‘What are we, crazy?’ – Tyson Fury’s promoter Bob Arum reveals why he is NOT leading talks for Derek Chisora trilogy

    BOB ARUM has confirmed he is not leading talks for Tyson Fury’s trilogy bout with Derek Chisora. Fury claimed he was ending retirement – after four months – to fight Chisora for a third time, despite his 2011 and 2014 wins.
    Promoter Bob Arum pictured with Tyson Fury in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
    Derek Chisora is in talks for a trilogy with Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
    According to ESPN, the fight is targeted for December in Wales, where Anthony Joshua has twice headlined.
    And it is claimed Goldstar Promotions – the company that handles Fury’s meet-and-greets across the UK – are behind the offer.
    That is despite Hall of Fame pair Frank Warren and Arum leading the WBC champion’s career in recent years.
    Arum has spoken out to say he is not involved in the talks and poured cold water on the fight entirely.
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    He told Fight Freaks Unite: “Of course not. Nothing. What are we, crazy?
    “Everybody is waiting for the fight to happen a week from Saturday and then we’ll explore whether it’s feasible to do a fight for the complete unification.
    “He’s having fun, for Christ sake! Don’t take it seriously!”
    Oleksandr Usyk, 35, rematches Anthony Joshua, 32, on August 20 following his win last September.
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    And Fury, 33, has been linked with challenging the winner in what would be a historic, first-ever four-belt heavyweight unification.
    And Arum insisted if Fury is to make a return to the ring, it will be against either Usyk or AJ, not 38-year-old Chisora.
    He said: “The truth is that he gets up in the morning and he figures how he can best stir up s*** and that’s what he does.
    “You think Isaac takes it seriously? Of course not, for Christ sake. (Fury) is just having fun. It’s his idea of fun.
    “He’s getting a little antsy as we all are because we’re waiting.
    “If Usyk wins then there’s one path to take because then everybody is close and friendly and if Joshua wins then we’ve got to deal with (Joshua promoter) Eddie (Hearn) and all that stuff.”
    Derek Chisora has twice been beaten by Tyson FuryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
    Anthony Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in SeptemberCredit: REUTERS More

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    Jake Paul CONFIRMS interest in fight with Andrew Tate and vows to ‘f*** up’ controversial ex-kickboxing champion

    JAKE PAUL has revealed he’s open to fighting controversial kickboxer and fellow social media star Andrew Tate.Former Big Brother contestant Tate called out the YouTuber turned boxer during a recent appearance on The Nelk Boys podcast.
    Social media sensation Andrew Tate has called out Jake PaulCredit: INSTAGRAM@COBRATATE
    Tate, 35, is a former world champion kickboxerCredit: Twitter
    Paul is happy to throw down with the controversial BritCredit: INSTAGRAM@JAKEPAUL
    Paul didn’t initially address the challenge, although he’s since admitted he’d happily throw down with the world champion kickboxer.
    After revealing he’d once received an Instagram message from Tate, Paul said on brother Logan’s Impaulsive podcast: “He unsent it.
    “But it shows that he tried to send me a message at some point.
    “He called me out like two years ago and I remember seeing it and swiping because I was like ‘who is this guy?’
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    “There’s always someone calling me out.
    “Then this interviewer asked me recently would I fight Andrew Tate and that’s when I started to see this guy pop up all over the internet.
    “I was like, ‘Oh that’s Andrew Tate’, but what I’m saying is that Andrew, if my brother doesn’t f*** you up, I will.”
    As excited as he is to fight Tate, Paul doesn’t believe the 35-year-old will ever agree to share the ring with him.
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    He said: “It has to go down, but I don’t think he gets in the ring with one of us.
    “It’s too big of a risk for him because he’s an alpha male, right?
    “That’s his whole entire thing, and when he loses to either one of us that he fights, his whole shtick will go out of the window.”
    Tate – who has made a string of misogynistic and abhorrent comments about sexual assault – recently claimed negotiations over a fight with The Problem Child are underway.
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    During a Twitch stream with Adin Ross, the Brit said: “I know everyone wants that.
    “These are sophisticated negotiations that involve a lot of parties so we shouldn’t be talking about it on here.”
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    ‘It’s going to slow him down’ – Oleksandr Usyk warned over dramatic body transformation ahead of Anthony Joshua rematch

    OLEKSANDR USYK has been warned against piling on the pounds for his rematch with Anthony Joshua. The Ukrainian outclassed AJ over 12 rounds last September after weighing in at 15st 11lb.
    Oleksandr Usyk looks beefy in training camp for Anthony JoshuaCredit: INSTAGRAM
    But in recent training material, ahead of their second fight on August 20 in Saudi Arabia, Usyk appears to have bulked up.
    According to trainer Dave Coldwell, who coached Tony Bellew against the heavyweight champion, this is the wrong approach to take.
    Coldwell told The Express: “From an Usyk point of view, I get that he is going to be more aggressive and look to land bigger shots but with his mobility and speed being his two greatest assets they will take a hit.
    “It’s going to slow him down, if you’re losing speed, you’re giving more options to be hit and not only that I believe that AJ really needs to focus on going to Usyk’s body to take away his legs.
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    “Now, if that is what he’s going for and he’s looking at landing to the body then if you put on manufactured weight and muscle mass, then when you’re getting banged downstairs to the body you tend to gas a little quicker.
    “We always look at AJ and say ‘he’s too big, he’s too bulky’ and that’s why he gasses out quicker and so if you land a few body shots on him he tends to gas quicker.
    “Not just AJ, but in general a lot of fighters that have that high muscle density.
    “But you don’t know how old that video clip is, I’ve got stuff on my camera roll of my boxers in the early days of camp which I could put out and people would say, ‘Wow, that’s him now?’
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    “And it’s not, so you have to take things with a pinch of salt but if that’s right now then it’s almost another twist and turn in the analysis of this fight.”
    Joshua, 32, has replaced long-time cornerman Rob McCracken with American mastermind Robert Garcia.
    But Usyk, 35, has changes of his own in mind having spent his training camp down the road in Dubai.
    He told Parimatch: “Anthony Joshua is a strong guy and a strong boxer, and he cannot be written off in any way.
    “In the rematch, he will be different. He will prepare differently. I will do that too.”

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    Anthony Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk last SeptemberCredit: Getty More

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    Floyd Mayweather, 45, ‘gearing up to start camp’ for next exhibition fight on September 25 against ‘dangerous’ MMA star

    FLOYD MAYWEATHER is “gearing up to start camp” for his next exhibition fight. The boxing legend announced he will face Japanese MMA star Mikuru Asakura on September 25 in Tokyo.
    Floyd Mayweather training for his next exhibition
    Floyd Mayweather is set to face Mikuru Asakura on September 25 in JapanCredit: Getty
    And Mayweather appears ready to start preparations after his coach Gerald Tucker uploaded a video of the American doing sit ups.
    Tucker posted: “Working out is a lifestyle for us; so we don’t have to be around each other in order to get it in. We’re both there spiritually!!
    “@floydmayweather is gearing up to start camp in a couple weeks to get ready for an exciting exhibition on Sept. 25TH in Japan vs their biggest and most popular MMA fighter who’s a very sharp and dangerous striker.”
    Asakura, 30, has 16 wins and just three losses in his MMA career, with eight knockouts.
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    His background is in karate and he most recently beat Yutaka Saito, 34, on points in December.
    Whereas Mayweather, 45, has boxed in three exhibitions since retiring in 2017 after beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor, 34.
    They came against featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, 23, YouTuber Logan Paul, 27, and ex-sparring partner Don Moore.
    And the newly-inducted Hall of Famer recently opened the door to coming back and putting his illustrious 50-0 record on the line.
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    He told FightHype: “I got three more exhibitions this year, could be one fight and two exhibitions.
    “But guess what, you better know it’s at least and this is the lowest I’m talking about $200million.”
    It comes amid rumours Mayweather is currently negotiating a rematch with McGregor.
    Floyd Mayweather is in rumoured talks to rematch Conor McGregorCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Anthony Joshua must go ‘toe to toe’ with Oleksandr Usyk in rematch as Joe Joyce recalls intense sparring with Brit rival

    ANTHONY JOSHUA will have to go on the “offensive” against Oleksandr Usyk if he’s to have any hope of winning their high-stakes rematch.The Watford warrior will bid to become a three-time heavyweight champion in his make-or-break Saudi showdown with the undefeated Ukranian on Saturday week.
    Anthony Joshua will renew his rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk next weekendCredit: GETTY
    A tentative AJ was turned over by the slick southpaw last SeptemberCredit: GETTY
    Former sparring partner Joe Joyce has urged Joshua to be more “offensive” in the rematchCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS
    A tentative AJ was outboxed by the slick southpaw in their Tottenham tussle last September, a scenario Brit rival Joe Joyce can foresee playing out again if he doesn’t put his foot on the gas.
    He told Sky Sports: “Unless Joshua can really change his style and also become an offensive fighter again.
    “When we were on the GB squad I always used to like going to toe to toe with him, that used to be fun.
    “But then all of a sudden he was kind of bit more [on the] back foot.
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    “[Against Usyk] he seemed very tidy in his technique and his footwork and everything. But he was trying to outbox Usyk.
    “Maybe it was Usyk that was keeping him away. But he seemed very clinical.
    “He could have roughed him up a bit more inside and took a few chances with pot shots.”
    Joyce reckons his former sparring partner needs to implement aspects of his old aggressive style to win the desert dust-up.
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    He recalled: “There was a stage especially early where we were going toe to toe all the time
    “Then it got to a point, kind of when he turned pro he started to be a bit more on the back foot and not really willing to engage.
    “Especially with the (Andy) Ruiz Jr rematch he probably went into that defensive on the back foot [mode].
    “[He] was kind of scared to engage. I guess rightly so because he must have seen the shadow of Ruiz putting him down.

    “Even (Wladimir) Klitschko put him down and he was in trouble for a whole round when they fought.
    “Klitschko, if he’d been more an offensive fighter, he could have taken him out there.”
    Joshua has brought in multiple-time world champion coach Robert Garcia to cook up an aggressive game plan for the Saudi showdown.
    But Joyce believes it’ll take more than brute force for AJ to wrestle the titles back from the undefeated Usyk.
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    He said: “[Usyk] already knew what to do in the first fight, he went straight to work. So this fight he’s already beaten him.
    “So he knows exactly what to do again. He’s probably three, four moves ahead of him. “So it’s a tough one.” More

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    ‘The king is coming back’ – Tyson Fury demands Derek Chisora trilogy at Man Utd’s Old Trafford in homecoming fight

    TYSON FURY has demanded a homecoming at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium when he fights Derek Chisora. The heavyweight boxing legend has already confirmed he will end his four month retirement to return for a trilogy with Chisora.
    Man Utd fan Tyson Fury wants to fight Derek Chisora at Old TraffordCredit: Getty – Contributor
    Derek Chisora is in talks for a trilogy with Tyson Fury in DecemberCredit: Reuters
    The fight is targeted for December in Wales, where Anthony Joshua has twice headlined, according to ESPN.
    But Fury himself wants it at United’s 70,000-seater home in front of his home supporters.
    He said: “This fight with Chisora should be in Manchester, in my opinion at United football ground.”
    Training partner Isaac Lowe, 28, added: “Definitely, because obviously, he is the king and he’s returned.
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    “He’s already been back in London so it’s only right he comes back to his hometown in Manchester.
    “And there’s nowhere else better than Manchester United football ground. So, it’s the Theatre of Dreams and the king is coming back.”
    Manchester United fan Fury, 33, announced his retirement in April after knocking out Dillian Whyte, 34, at Wembley, his first UK fight in four years.
    But the Gypsy King CONFIRMED he is coming back for an unlikely trilogy with Chisora, 38, who he already beat in 2011 and 2014.
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    It is claimed Goldstar Promotions – the company that handles Fury’s meet-and-greets across the UK – are behind the offer.
    That is despite Hall of Fame pair Frank Warren and Bob Arum leading the WBC champion’s career in recent years.
    Arum has confirmed he is NOT leading negotiations for Fury to fight Chisora once more.
    He is instead awaiting the result of Joshua’s August 20 rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, 35, where the winner is in line for an undisputed decider.
    Arum told Dan Rafael: “Of course not. Nothing. What are we, crazy?
    “Everybody is waiting for the fight and then we’ll explore whether it’s feasible to do the complete unification.”
    Derek Chisora has been beaten twice by Tyson FuryCredit: Getty More

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    UFC champ Kamaru Usman prefers to ‘gamble’ with £83m boxing switch against Canelo Alvarez instead of Jake Paul

    UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman admits he’d prefer to “gamble” in the boxing ring with Canelo Alvarez than Jake Paul.The UFC’s pound-for-pound king has been calling for a clash with undisputed super-middleweight king Canelo for close to a year but has yet to seriously get the Mexican’s attention.
    UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman wants to test himself in the boxing ringCredit: GETTY
    Usman is eager to test himself against former pound-for-pound king CaneloCredit: GETTY
    The prospect of facing YouTuber Jake Paul doesn’t interest The Nigerian NightmareCredit: AFP
    Usman, however, has also been subjected to multiple taunts from YouTuber turned boxer Paul during that time – although the social media star has done little to entice The Nigerian Nightmare to fight him.
    During an appearance on The Athlete Podcast, Usman said: “Me fighting Jake Paul, I’m helping him.
    “I beat Jake Paul, nobody cares. You’re supposed to beat him. I still get a bank account now, I still get that.
    “I beat Canelo, biggest athlete in the world, not even close, 100 million in the bank. If I’m gonna gamble, I’m gonna gamble well.”
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    Former Disney star Paul has made serious waves in the boxing world since making his pro debut in January 2020.
    The Problem Child brutally knocked out former UFC 170lb champ Tyron Woodley – who Usman dethroned in March 2019 – in the sixth round of their rematch last December.
    Usman said of the YouTuber: “Absolutely [fighting Jake Paul is a risk]. Listen, me and him get in a scrap right now, he could touch me.
    “I’m not naive or ignorant enough to think – let them put it on the news. I’m a realist.
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    “I know I’m gonna dog walk him, but at the same time, everyone has a puncher’s chance.”
    Usman’s eagerness to test himself against Canelo stems from his desire to become “the face of fight game”.
    The UFC star recently told SunSport said: “Obviously, the bigger the dream, the bigger the manifestation.
    “And the more it scares me, the more I’m willing to prepare and go through [hell] to achieve it.
    “It’s no surprise. Canelo is a tall glass for anybody – a tall pint.
    Fighting Canelo scares and excites Kamaru UsmanCredit: AFP
    “And it scares me, it scares me to death. But the real reason [I want the fight] is: I wanted to be welterweight champion, I got it.
    “I wanted to be pound-for-pound, I got it.
    “I always thought this phrase was special, and the phrase that I’m after now is: ‘The Face of the Fight Game’.
    “And Canelo, right now, can’t say [he’s the face of the fight game].
    “Yeah, he’s the face of boxing, but he can’t say he’s the face of the fight game.
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    “And I can’t claim to that as well. So, there’s only one way for me to stake claim to that.
    “And that’s taking on something that seems astronomically impossible to everyone, except myself.”
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