Boxing

TYSON FURY has claimed the height and reach advantages he possesses over Oleksandr Usyk aren’t guaranteed to guide him to victory in their Saudi showdown.The pair will vie for all the heavyweight marbles on May 18 in the division’s first undisputed title fight in nearly 25 years.Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will throw down for all the heavyweight marbles later this monthCredit: EPAFury has significant height and reach advantages over the UkrainianCredit: EPAThe Gypsy King insists they’ll matter little in the Saudi straightenerCredit: GETTYFury, 35, is the bookies’ favourite going into the desert dust-up – with many believing Usyk’s height and reach disadvantages will work against him.But The Gypsy King told Queensberry Promotions: “It won’t come down to, ‘He’s bigger than me or he’s smaller than me.“I think it will come down to who wants it most on the night.”If he wants it more than me, he will win and if I want it more than him, I’ll win, but either way I think we’re in for a real treat.”READ MORE ON FURY VS USYKUsyk’s shot at undisputed heavyweight glory comes after back-to-back points wins over Anthony Joshua and a ninth-round stoppage of Daniel Dubois.Fury said of the Ukrainian: “He’s proved he can mix it with the big heavyweights, he’s beat Joshua and Dubois.”They’re pretty big heavyweights.”I’m messing with an elite fighter who’s got more than boxing ability, he’s stubborn and wants to win like I do.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSTYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT”We both have talent, we both have good attributes and bad attributes, it will come down to who wants it most on the night.”Fury has put down Usyk at nigh-on every opportunity throughout the near three-year-long build-up to their unification bout.Fans torn as Tyson Fury posts training clip three weeks ahead of Oleklsandr Usyk fight and boasts ‘Wish it was tonight’But he’s seemingly changed his tune on the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, who he’s likened to the great Evander Holyfield.The WBC heavyweight king said: “Usyk is a bad man. “He’s a real bad man and any underestimation of Oleksandr Usyk – you’d be a mug.”I’m training hard for him, I’m doing everything I can, I respect Usyk as a man.”I respect his career as well, he’s been Olympic champion, he’s had 350 amateur fights or something.”And he’s been an undisputed cruiserweight champion, and he’s a unified heavyweight champion. So, you have to respect that.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I’m not fighting a guy that’s had 14 and won 11, I’m fighting the real deal, as real a deal as Holyfield.”I’m looking forward to the challenge.”Inside the Gypsy King’s royal courtTYSON FURY is one of the biggest characters in sport. More

THE potential date for the long overdue showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been revealed.The biggest fight in all of boxing is back on the table following Joshua’s recent career revival, which included a brutal KO of former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou in March.Anthony Joshua is back on a collision course with Tyson FuryCredit: GETTYFury has the small matter of back-to-back showdowns with Oleksandr Usyk to deal with firstCredit: EPATurki Alalshikh plans to have AJ face Fury in March 2025Credit: REUTERSAnd Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh already has tentative plans in place to pit the pair against one another in 2025.The most powerful man in the sport revealed to ESPN that he’s hoping to have the long-awaited Battle of Britain come to fruition in March 2025.The proposed date, however, is contingent on Alalshikh’s plans for Fury to rematch unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.The Gypsy King will face the undefeated Ukrainian for all the heavyweight marbles in a lucrative Riyadh rumble on May 18.READ MORE IN BOXINGA two-way rematch clause is in place and the current plan is for the second instalment to take place on either October 12 or 13.That’s contingent on neither fighter sustaining a serious injury in their upcoming Saudi straightener.Injury or a concussion for either man could push back their second dust-up to early 2025 and have a knock-on effect on Alalshikh’s plans for Fury and AJ to throw down next March.Former two-time unified heavyweight king Joshua, 34, is set to return to the ring in September.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe told talkSPORT: “Whenever they tell me there’s a date, you know I’ll be ready 100 per cent.”It’s gonna be in London, Wembley Stadium.Anthony Joshua gets grilled by a nine year old in interview”This is what I’m being told. If that’s what they say, they normally back their word so let’s go with that.”Wembley, September 20 or 21.”When pressed on his next opponent, he continued: “On June 1 in Saudi Arabia they’ve got the 5 vs 5 card.”You’ve got Filip Hrgovic vs Daniel Dubois, and you’ve got Zhilei Zhang vs Deontay Wilder.”So providing one of those looks good – the one who looks the best, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh said to me, ‘I want you to fight [him].'”What he says is, ‘In the future I want people to look back at your record and say that you took on the best.'”I said, ‘Now you’re speaking my language.’ So out of that pool, I believe that’s who I’m gonna be fighting, one of those.”We’re on the same page and he’s on the same page as the fans as well.READ MORE SUN STORIES”But Fury’s got his obligations with Oleksandr Usyk so I’ve gotta make sure I stay focused and disciplined.”Keep steamrolling through opponents so I can get closer and closer to having the opportunity of me vs Tyson Fury.” More

MOSES ITAUMA has linked up with Anthony Joshua’s trainer Ben Davison.Davison made his name coaching Tyson Fury but has recently been working with AJ. Tyson Fury with sparring partner Moses ItaumaBen Davison is Anthony Joshua’s coachCredit: GettyAnd now 8-0 Itauma is the latest edition to the trainer’s Harlow gym, joining Joshua and ex-featherweight world champion Leigh Wood.Both announced the partnership on social media. The 19-year-old sensation has been likened to boxing’s youngest heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson. Tyson famously achieved the feat at just 20 when he ruthlessly knocked out Trevor Berbick in 1986. READ MORE IN BOXINGAnd Itauma set his sights on breaking the record and becoming a world champ by next year. He told The Mirror: “I want to become the youngest heavyweight world champion since Mike Tyson who was 20 years old.”I need to take small steps but also ensure that I step up the tasks very quickly. I want to do short steps but not too much with them.”Youngest ever world heavyweight champion is in my mid-term goals but it is something that I can believe I can achieve before 2025.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”It is not what I am thinking about right of this second, but I want to let that come once I have grown as a professional. “I have gone from not having any press at all to this and it is crazy.Teenage heavyweight Moses Itauma has sparred both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua “I am in the right place because Frank Warren has all the other big heavyweights at the moment so I think I have a bright future.”Itauma last fought in March, knocking out Dan Garber in the first round and returns on May 18 in Saudi Arabia against 25-3 Ilja Mezencev. Later that night, Fury, 35, faces Oleksandr Usyk, 37 in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification. Tyson Fury facing off with Oleksandr UsykCredit: EPA More

THE proposed dates for Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk have been revealed.The pair will throw down for all the heavyweight marbles later this month in the division’s first undisputed title fight in nearly 25 years.Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will throw down for all the heavyweight belts later this monthCredit: REUTERSA two-way rematch clause in the lucrative contract for the Riyadh rumbleCredit: EPASaudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh plans to host the rematch in OctoberCredit: REUTERSA two-way rematch clause is in place for the historic Riyadh rumble, which has fallen through THREE TIMES already.And should the loser choose to exercise it, the pair will renew their rivalry in October.Saudi kingpin Turki Alalshikh has earmarked October 12 and October 13 as potential dates for the duo to throw down again.Boxing’s new matchmaker extraordinaire revealed the proposed dates to ESPN.READ MORE IN BOXINGThe proposed dates for Fury vs Usyk II are continent on neither fighter sustaining a serious injury in this month’s eagerly-anticipated Saudi straightener.The plans could go up in smoke if either man suffers a serious concussion and is forced to take time out by doctors.Should Fury and Usyk, 35 and 37 respectively, agree to a rematch they WON’T be competing for all the heavyweight titles.That’s because the winner of the bout will be STRIPPED of the IBF title in order for mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic to finally vie for it.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSTYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT BOUTThe exact date of the title stripping is currently a mystery, but it will take place before Hrgovic throws down with Brit Daniel Dubois on June 1.That means, at best, Fury or Usyk could be the first undisputed king of the heavyweights in nearly a quarter of a century for less than TWO WEEKS.Fans torn as Tyson Fury posts training clip three weeks ahead of Oleklsandr Usyk fight and boasts ‘Wish it was tonight’WBC heavyweight king Fury arrived in Riyadh last Saturday with his massive entourage to acclimatise ahead of the biggest fight of his career, which he reckons he’ll win with ease.He said last month: “I think if I didn’t train at all for this camp and came in at 25 stone and sank 15 pints of Peroni beforehand, then the next day go in there.”What’s he going to do? Jib and jab me around?”Take nothing away from him, but he couldn’t do anything with Derek Chisora, it was a 50-50 fight.”He added: “It’s not personal, it’s strictly business for both fighters.”There’s a lot of stuff on the line, but I don’t hate him and he don’t hate me. “I respect him as a man, as a fighter, he’s undisputed cruiserweight champ, he’s undefeated heavyweight champion. READ MORE SUN STORIES”Anyone would have to respect the man’s achievements.”[But] we have weight divisions for a reason. When the cruiserweights step up to the big boys, they get found wanting.” More

NAOYA INOUE left fans stunned with his brutal knock-out of Luis Nery – but only after suffering his first ever knock down.The Japanese sensation proved why he is one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world as he extended his unbeaten streak.Naoya Inoue knocked out Mexico’s Luis Nery with a devastating punchCredit: AFPNery was put down twice previously but was able to continueCredit: AFPInoue defended his world titles with the winThe Japanese fighter won praise for his style from fansCredit: AFPInoue is now 27-0 but he suffered a scare after being knocked down in the first round.It is the first time the bantamweight world champion has ever had to pick himself up of the canvas, but he responded in spectacular fashion.In the next round it was Inoue’s turn to land a big blow as he floored Nery with a left hook.He produced a similar shot in the fifth to stun his opponent once again, with Nery looking hurt by the blow.READ MORE IN BOXINGIn the next round Inoue continued to play with the Mexican, with his lighting speed allowing him to dodge punches before delivering a knock-out blow Nery could not get up from.Fans were in awe at his knock-out power and showered the 31-year-old with praise.One reacted saying: “Inoue is a bad bad man.”Another added: “Naoya Inoue’s a real bad man. Elite fighter 👏🏽”Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSA third wrote: “What a fighter! Generational talent. Pound for pound great!”And another commented: “Pound for pound number one on the planet.”Naoya Inoue lives up to ‘Monster’ nickname as ref saves opponent Aran Dipaen Inoue was knocked down for the first time in his careerCredit: AFP More