Boxing

RICKY HATTON reckons a fight with Anthony Joshua will prove too good to turn down for Tyson Fury. Fury announced his retirement in January following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. Tyson Fury retired following a second loss to Oleksandr UsykCredit: GettyAnthony Joshua looks set to lose out on a fight with FuryCredit: GettyAnd in doing so he walked away from a potential two-fight deal with Joshua – but Fury’s close friend Hatton has raised some hope in a return. He told Sky Sports: “Tyson’s retired before. It just so happens they were trying to make the Joshua fight. “They were trying to make it for 10 years and it looks like they’re still not going to make it now Tyson’s retired.”But I would take that retirement with a pinch of salt knowing Tyson. If he gets offered the right money, the right purse for the AJ fight, knowing Tyson as I do, I think he’d jump at it.”READ MORE IN BOXINGHatton – who helped corner Fury during his 2018 comeback – backed the Gypsy King to leave no regrets in his career. He said: “I think Tyson will kick himself if he’s sat on his sofa 10 years down the line and thinks to himself: ‘I wonder what would have happened if I’d have fought AJ?'”He’s in a position to do something about it now rather than be cursing himself for the rest of his life.”But if Fury does remain retired, Hatton would be a happy man. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe said: “I’d like to see him retire. I think he’s done enough. I would like to see the AJ fight but I think he’s done enough. “Let’s have it right, a few years ago when he was 26st, we never thought he’d fight again.Tommy Fury opens talks with Misfits Boxing over return fight with huge KSI rematch on the cards”He nearly wasn’t here for all the problems that he had. So for him to do what he’s done, he’s done us all proud and I’d like to see him retire now.”Fury was twice beaten by on points by Usyk – who did the double over AJ and beat Daniel Dubois in 2023. And Hatton said: “His fights against Usyk were I think a lot closer than AJ’s fights with Usyk. “Daniel Dubois obviously got beat by Usyk and there was a bit of controversy in that one.”I think Usyk won both the fights against Tyson but I can see why other people thought Tyson might have won them. “Because they were that close. Tyson, he’s still got plenty in the tank as far as I’m concerned. He’s pushed Usyk furthest out of anyone else.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Look what he’s done and what he’s achieved. He’s had that trilogy with Deontay Wilder which was an absolutely sensational three-fight battle. “He’s come back when no one thought he could and became heavyweight champion of the world. He’s got nothing left to prove.”Tyson Fury with Ricky Hatton and son Campbell More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been hit with an injury blow – but Eddie Hearn has revealed fresh hope in a fight with Tyson Fury. Joshua has not fought since his knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September and looked set to face Fury this year.Anthony Joshua has been hit with an injury blowCredit: GettyEddie Hearn hopes Tyson Fury will still fight JoshuaCredit: GettyBut the Gypsy King, 36, announced his shock retirement in January following two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 38. It has left AJ in the lurch over his next bout but promoter Hearn revealed he has picked up an injury in training. And he “won’t be able to punch again or train properly for eight to ten weeks” – according to BoxingScene. But Hearn added: “In my deluded head, Fury comes out retirement at some point in the next few months, and they end up fighting this year. read more in boxing“But again, no guarantee. Nothing’s led me to think that. I just think that at some point Tyson Fury is gonna sit there and go, ‘F*** it.’ “It’s the biggest fight to make and it’s not like he’s deteriorating. It’s not like he looked shot against Usyk, he just got beat by the better man.”So, yeah, I think Dubois and Fury are the two that light the fire, but we’ll see what happens.”Hearn admitted only Fury and Dubois, 27, will likely motivate Joshua, 35, for his next fight. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe said: “He’s pretty relaxed, but I’ll be honest, I think the only fights that really get his juices flowing are Dubois and Tyson Fury. “Doesn’t mean he won’t fight someone else. But he’s beaten Joseph Parker already, although Parker’s on a great run. “Agit Kabayel is on a great run, but if you’re AJ, can you get yourself up for that? I don’t know.”Tyson Fury teases spectacular boxing comeback at Old Trafford as fans say ‘it’d better be Anthony Joshua’ More

CHRIS EUBANK JR stormed out of a sit-down interview with Piers Morgan after being pressed on his stance over Conor Benn’s failed drug tests.Benn’s positive drug tests – which scuppered his first scheduled grudge match with Eubank Jr in October 2022 – was just one of several talking points during the pair’s joint appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored.Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn did a joint sit-down interview on Piers Morgan UncensoredCredit: PIERS MORGAN UNCENSOREDEubank Jr chastised Benn over the pair of failed drug tests that scuppered their proposed meeting in 2022Credit: PIERS MORGAN UNCENSOREDSun columnist Morgan attempted to get Eubank Jr to understand that Benn may very well be innocentCredit: PIERS MORGAN UNCENSOREDEubank Jr flat-out refused and stormed out of the joint interviewCredit: PIERS MORGAN UNCENSOREDBenn, 28, tested positive for clomiphene but was cleared of intentionally taking the banned substance – which can elevate testosterone levels in men – by the National Anti-Doping Panel.The welterweight claimed clomiphene was in his system due to his ingestion of eggs, which, if consumed in vast quantities, can leave trace amounts of the substance.Eubank Jr doesn’t buy Benn’s explanation for his anti-doping violations, so much so that he slapped him with an egg, or Morgan’s suggestion that his rival could be potentially be innocent.He said: “If someone was to have pinned him down and jabbed a syringe into the side of his ass and squeezed it in, if that had happened and I saw it.READ MORE IN BOXING”Guess what? He’s still a cheat. He shouldn’t have let it happen.”It’s his responsibility to protect himself at all times, he didn’t do that. He’s a cheat. End of story.”Morgan tried to get Eubank Jr to see his point of view, saying: “I’ll give you one last chance.”Hove hitman Eubank Jr angrily replied: “Don’t ask me again, Piers. Don’t ask me again.”Most read in BoxingJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSHe then cut short the joint interview by standing up and storming out of the studio.Eubank Jr and Benn traded several verbal jabs during the tense sitdown, during which security had to separate the pair.’You f—ed up’ – Explosive moment Conor Benn tries to attack Chris Eubank Jr on Piers Morgan’s UncensoredBenn blew a gasket after Eubank Jr said there’d be “consequences” for his old man Nigel, who grabbed ‘Next Gen by the throat after his egga antics.”You f****d up talking about my dad!” Conor raged. “What the f**k are you looking at?”Come on, we can have it outside, no problem. Yeah we can.”Think I’m mucking around? Threatening my dad. You think I’m playing games? Don’t ever talk to my dad like that.” More

CHRIS EUBANK JR refused to shake Conor Benn’s hand following a fiery sitdown with Piers Morgan.The bitter rivals traded verbal jabs during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored.Piers Morgan tried to facilitate a handshake between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor BennCredit: PIERS MORGAN UNCENSOREDBenn was willing to shake his bitter rival’s hand – despite his egg anticsCredit: PIERS MORGAN UNCENSOREDEubank Jr flat out refused and then took aim at MorganCredit: PIERS MORGAN UNCENSOREDBoth men aimed personal digs at one another as Sun columnist Morgan quizzed them on their heated rivalry, which will come to a head at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26.After mediating one of the tensest sitdowns in the show’s history, Morgan asked the duo if they’d be open to a handshake.The 59-year-old asked: “You can’t even shake each other’s hand?Benn, 28, quickly replied: “I could, I could.”READ MORE ON EUBANK JR VS BENNMorgan replied to ‘The Destroyer’, “I know you’ve offered to” before asking Eubank Jr: “But you won’t do that?””What would it achieve, apart from giving you views?” Eubank Jr asked as two security guards stood between himself and Benn.Morgan replied: “It doesn’t give me any views.”A fired-up Eubank Jr replied: “So why are you asking me then if I want to do it?”Most read in BoxingJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThe pair clashed in Morgan’s studio over the aftermath of Eubank Jr slapping Benn with an egg – which was a reference to his rival’s failed drug tests – in the Manchester leg of their press tour last month.IBO middleweight king was grabbed by the neck by Benn’s dad – Nigel – following his brazen act, which saw him slapped with a £100,000 fine from the British Boxing Board of Control.’You f—ed up’ – Explosive moment Conor Benn tries to attack Chris Eubank Jr on Piers Morgan’s UncensoredEubank Jr warned the Brit boxing legend against repeating his actions at the second presser in London, which sparked a fiery response from Conor.And the pair clashed over the incident again during their sitdown with Morgan, in which security had to separate them.Conor blew a gasket after Eubank Jr said there’d be “consequences” for Nigel if he touched him again, asking: “Consequences to what?”If I slap you right now, what are you gonna do? Don’t talk about my dad.”After lunging at ‘Next Gen’, Benn raged: “You f****d up talking about my dad!”What the f**k are you looking at? Come on, we can have it outside, no problem. Yeah we can.”Think I’m mucking around? Threatening my dad. You think I’m playing games? Don’t ever talk to my dad like that.”Security had to separate Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr from one anotherCredit: PIERS MORGAN UNCENSORED More

TYSON FURY has spoken out in support of Joseph Parker – who is on the verge of fighting Oleksandr Usyk. Parker was due to lose his WBO interim belt and shot at Usyk’s belt after agreeing to face IBF champion Daniel Dubois on February 22.Joseph Parker with Tyson FuryCredit: https://www.instagram.com/joeboxerparker/Oleksandr Usyk twice beat FuryCredit: GETTYBut Dubois pulled out with just days to go as Martin Bakole filled in as a replacement – only to be knocked out by Parker in one round in Riyadh. And now Parker has retained his spot as Usyk’s mandatory challenger – with the two camps ordered into talks. Taking to Instagram, Fury wrote: “About time as well give @joeboxerparker his shot!!” Fury, 36, was twice beaten on point by Usyk, 38, and retired after their December rematch. READ MORE IN boxing His protege Parker, 33, also called out Dubois, 28, to reschedule their bout but now looks set to focus on Usyk. His promoter David Higgins told Sky Sports: “We have no idea whether or not it will happen next.”But I can tell you this. I’ve spoken to Joseph Parker today and he would love to fight for a world title. “He will fight anyone, anywhere for a world title. That’s his goal, to fight for a world title. Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”Joseph is patiently waiting, keeping fit, and if an opportunity comes to fight for a title, he would love to grab it. We’d take it in a heartbeat.”Usyk – who beat Dubois in 2023 – was linked with a rematch at Wembley for the undisputed crown. He now has to face Parker in order to retain his WBO belt and make that possible. And Serhii Lapin, from his team, stated: “No matter what, Oleksandr Usyk’s goal is to become an undisputed heavyweight champion – again. The path to it? As God wills.”Usyk spotted ‘giving Anthony Joshua tips on how to beat Tyson Fury’ in ringside footage at Beterbiev vs Bivol 2.mp4 More