Boxing

TYSON FURY finally snapped and shoved Oleksandr Usuk at their undisputed weigh-in before launching an x-rated rant at him.Fury dwarfed the former undisputed cruiserweight champ by whopping 29lbs.Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk clashed at their weigh-inCredit: GettyThe two men were pulled apart after squaring offCredit: ReutersFury embarked on a sweary rant ahead of tomorrow’s fightCredit: ReutersBut he had still dropped 15 pounds since his last bout in October.And Usyk packed on almost a stone since he won last won in August, coming in at a career heaviest.The two men came to blows when they finally squared off against each other after Fury had refused to look at Usyk during yesterday’s press conference.They went head-to-head for seconds before shoving each other, forcing minders and security to quickly step in.READ MORE IN BOXINGFury then embarked on an expletive-laden rant as he warned Usyk “I’m coming for your heart.”Fury said: “We are ready to rock and roll fireworks to come.”I am going to knock this f****r out.”I am coming for his heart, f**k his belts and f**k his team too. S**thouses.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe 6ft 9in Brit tipped the scales at 262lbsWhile 6ft 3in southpaw Usyk looked powerful at 233lbs.Tyson Fury fans chant ‘you big dosser’ at boxing legend Wladimir KlitschkoFury weighed in at a whopping 262lbsCredit: PAUsyk was up from his usual weight at 233lbsCredit: PATomorrow will surely prove to be an explosive fightCredit: GettyIce cool Usyk told Fury: “Don’t be afraid. “I won’t leave you alone. This is my plan.” In October when he scraped by boxing debutant Francis Ngannou, Fury was a poorly prepared 19st 11lbs.It’s no surprise he was flat as he was 26lbs heavier eight weeks out, up towards 22st.But he was way too light for the 2019 Otto Wallin bloodbath when he overtrained down to 18st 2lbs.After Usyk completed the 14st 4lbs cruiserweight division in 2018, he targeted 16st as his ideal heavyweight heft.But 15st 11lbs has been perfect for him, with two wins over Anthony Joshua and another over Dubois. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA will leap in and fight Saturday night’s undisputed winner – if Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk’s opener is a one-man show.The 35-year-old WBC Gypsy King and Ukraine’s 37-year-old WBA, IBF and WBO champ already have a big-money rerun pencilled in for this winter.Anthony Joshua is ready to challenge the winner of Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr UsykCredit: PAHis two heavyweight rivals clash in Saudi Arabia on SaturdayCredit: ReutersBut AJ trainer Ben Davison, 31 – who trained Fury for almost three years – reckons a one-sided beatdown opens the door for 34-year-old Joshua to swoop in for another world title crack.The London 2012 legend has been in Riyadh all week training and will commentate on this iconic clash between his domestic rival and two-time conqueror.And Davison – who has now had the reins for two convincing wins – reckons he can really gatecrash the party if one of the current champs disappoints in Saudi.The Harlow coach told SunSport: “Maybe I am looking at it with an Anthony Joshua hat on.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“But if this is a one-sided fight, either way, I think the fans will demand Anthony Joshua fights the winner.“If Fury wins, then the AJ fight is the biggest fight in British boxing history – I don’t even think it is up for debate.“You couldn’t even put a label on what that fight would mean for British boxing, from grassroots to football stadiums.“And if Usyk wins, I am very passionate about having the opportunity to put those two defeats right.”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBritain’s last undisputed ruler Lennox Lewis reckons Davison’s time spent in the minds and careers of both Brits could play an integral part in any potential mega fight.When SunSport suggests Fury could look across the ring and see AJ and his old mentor as the ultimate threat, or Rejects United, he plays down his part in the perfectly-poised rivalry.Tyson Fury REFUSES to look at Oleksandr Usyk during Press Conference stare downTrainer Ben Davison has confidence in AJ’s abilityCredit: GettyDavison holds no grudges against Fury for his brutal axeCredit: GettyHe said: “I understand the sentiment. But the reality is I was 24 years old when I was training Tyson.“I am now 31 and have developed as a trainer.“I am sure Tyson has developed as a fighter and AJ is changing and improving as a fighter, so the situation is very different.“They’re two elite fighters so it will boil down to lots of different things deciding how the fight is won or lost. I don’t think I am that big of a factor.”Despite bringing Fury back from the abyss, as a trainer and a friend and even in the Fury family home for months, Davison was harshly axed after the bloody, underwhelming 2019 Otto Wallin win.In impressive fashion, for a sport plagued by trash talk and gossip, neither man has ever publicly slated the other.And Davison will rightly look back on his part of Fury’s odyssey with pride, if he completes the division for the first time in 25 years.He said about a Fury win: “It would be great to look back on it and think I played a small part in it.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But what I have done in terms of his whole life and getting to this point, it’s minor.“There will always be those positive memories and there’s never been a bad word between us and I always wish him all the best.” More

OLEKSANDR USYK is the favourite against Tyson Fury, claims Evander Holyfield.The former world champion believes both fighters are capable of winning but believes Usyk has the upper hand.Evander Holyfield believes both fighters are capable of winningCredit: ReutersHolyfield, a former cruiserweight and heavyweight like Usyk, believes the Ukrainian can use his size to his advantage against 6ft9 Fury.He told the Daily Mail: “I think, if Tyson Fury can keep him out there, keep hitting him with the jab, he is going to win.”Usyk is going to try and get in, so Tyson needs to keep him out there and keep him out there for a long time.”But, if Usyk manages to get in, the fight could go in his favour. He is going to win because he throws more punches and he’s got the faster hands.READ MORE IN BOXING”Usyk actually has the advantage because he is the smaller guy, but he’s also got good punching power and he has quick hands. So, he’s really got more of an advantage, he’s really got more.”Usyk, 37, has adjusted well since moving up to heavyweight and has beaten big hitters like Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua, twice.Holyfield likes Usyk’s energy and claims his experience in dealing with tall opponents should suit him well against the Gyspy King.He added: “Usyk has a lot of energy. He likes working. He’s one of the those guys, you just look at him and you know he is trouble. Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”He has that look in his face that you know he is willing to go through anything.”He hasn’t been a really big guy his entire life, so he’s constantly been tested more than the taller guys. When you’re a big guy, people don’t mess with big people.”Tyson Fury transforming rundown car park into ‘Grand Designs’ luxury six-bedroom mansion More

THE man who calls himself “probably the only Englishman” to beat Tyson Fury is now feeling the heat in a whole new career after quitting the ring.The Gypsy King will attempt to unify the heavyweight division on Saturday night when he faces Oleksandr Usyk.David Price knows what it is like to beat Tyson FuryCredit: GettyThe Gypsy King faces Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia tomorrowCredit: ReutersPrice retired after a loss to Derek Chisora in 2019Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdFury is still undefeated as a professionalCredit: EPAPrice, in black, on his way to victory over Fury in 2006Fury has the WBC title around his waist, while Usyk possesses the WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine straps.Both fighters are putting their undefeated professional records on the line as well in the Middle East.However, one man who knows what it is like to defeat the Brit is star David Price.Fury was beaten four times out of his 31 amateur bouts, and one of those was to the Liverpudlian.READ MORE ON BOXINGThe bad blood with Price, 40, began just before the now retired star won the super-heavyweight bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games.Speaking in association with Grosvenor Sport, Price said: “He wrote a letter to Boxing News saying he was going to take my place in the Olympics and beat me and beat me again, this and that.“No one had ever really seen that as an amateur, a letter to the Boxing News, but that was typical of the background he’d come from. I had to deal with that.“I was like, ‘who’s this kid?’ He won a medal in the World Junior Championships as well at the time, which is not easy to do, so I knew he was capable of doing what he said.”Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSPrice went on to beat him on points after going into the 2006 clash fired up after the barbs from the Gypsy King.He said: “Maybe that wasn’t his intentions, but I just remember getting in there and wanting to do a number on him and put him in his place.Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk Ring of Fire press conference“It was a good fight and I never ever thought he’d go on to do what he’s gone on to do. He used to talk and talk and I just never, ever thought he would walk what he was talking.“He proved me wrong, and good on him. I‘ll probably be the only Englishman to beat him, unless AJ fights him and manages to do a number on him.”Price retired after losing to Derek Chisora in 2019 with a record of 25 wins from 32 fights but he admits that he has one big regret from his career – not facing Fury as a pro.He said: “That was down to me losing, basically. I was one fight away from it happening. That was one regret, that I didn’t get a big fight.“My biggest fight was probably [Alexander] Povetkin or Chisora. I was involved in some of my own big fights, but I would like to have fought someone like Tyson Fury and at the time I was supposed to fight him.“Even to this day, I think I had a great chance of beating him at that time, but then once I lost, everything seems to fall off the rails a bit for me.”Despite still retaining a huge passion for boxing, he now loves life running his own heating business.He added: “I’ve run my own business doing insulation, heating and renewable energy stuff.It’s just back-to-back busy every single day apart from the weekend, but I love it.“I’m lucky that I’ve found something that I enjoy after sport. I know that a lot of sportsmen have that problem when they retire. It’s working out for me, touch wood.”Meanwhile,  Fury REFUSED to even look at rival Usyk in the pre-fight press conference.Thursday began by the Gypsy King pulling out of a live interview for ITV’S Good Morning Britain.And Usyk’s team continued the eventful build-up to the weekend blockbuster by reportedly filing a complaint that parts of the Riyadh ring canvas could be a trip hazard.Things then came to a head – or rather they didn’t – when the Gypsy King refused to look at, let alone do the traditional face-to-face posturing, with his Ukrainian opponent.But it was the WBC champion’s father John who had stolen the headlines after he shockingly HEADBUTTED Stanislav Stepchuk – a member of the Usyk team – on Monday.READ MORE SUN STORIESJohn, who was left with a bloodied forehead, was then screaming in the resulting melee: “We can’t be beat! We can’t be beat!”The 59-year-old then threatened to headbutt Tony Bellew after he predicted a Usyk win and then launched a bitter attack on “traitor” British fans who believe that his undefeated 6ft 9in boy will be beaten this weekend.Saudi Arabia is no place for Fury vs Usyk… the blockbuster undisputed fight will sound desertedBy Dave Kidd
IT is the single greatest individual sporting title on the planet — the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
It is the crown worn by Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey.
And it is an honour which has not been bestowed for a quarter of a century.
Yet when Tyson Fury steps into the ring to face Oleksandr Usyk for the ultimate accolade in prize-fighting, he will do so in the dead of an Arabian night, in front of a largely disinterested crowd, one with little atmosphere or sense of occasion.
What ought to have been The Greatest Show on Earth will feel like a ding-dong held in a vortex.
The Saudification of elite sport is reaching crisis point — from the civil war in golf, to the march of football’s filthy-rich Saudi Pro League, to the awarding of the 2034 World Cup.
But this event, at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, in the early hours of Sunday morning local time, is a true crown jewel, allowing the Sheikhs to bask in its reflected glory, to marvel at their own wealth and power.
But this event, at Riyadh’s  Kingdom Arena, in the early hours of Sunday morning local time, is a true crown jewel, allowing the Sheikhs to bask in its reflected glory, to marvel at their own wealth and power.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr met Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami at the same venue earlier this year but that was an exhibition match, this is the real deal.
The tragedy for British boxing is that it currently holds the balance of power in the heavyweight  division — thanks to Fury, Anthony Joshua and several other decent contenders.
To read more from Dave Kidd, click here. More