Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA took some time to relax and brush up on his tactical skills while playing a game of chess in the sun.And the British heavyweight made sure he still looked scary ahead of a potential fight with Tyson Fury, showing off his physique with his top off in the pics.Anthony Joshua showed off his physique in some new Instagram snapsCredit: InstagramThe boxing star got his brain ticking with some chess in the sunCredit: Instagram AJ, 35, soaked up the UV in Riyadh, away from the dull UK as he looks ahead to a potential fight on the horizon.And despite not taking to the ring since his fifth round defeat to Daniel Dubois in September of last year, fans reckon he’s still looking in good enough shape to glove up once again.On wrote: “Unstoppable, humble warrior.”While another added: “Bro, they’re not ready.”READ MORE IN BOXINGA third simply put: “My champ”.And a fourth posted: “Undisputed…”Joshua looked to be in line to finally come to blows with fellow Brit heavyweight Tyson Fury this year.But plans to face off were scuppered when The Gypsy King announced that he was hanging up his gloves in January.Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThere remains speculation about whether Fury has truly given up the sport or not, given that the has “retired” four times in the past and returned to the ring.But for now Joshua appears to be looking elsewhere for his next fight, with promoter Eddie Hearn suggesting he will take on the winner of this weekend’s bout between Dubois and Joseph Parker.Deontay Wilder and huge world title bout among SIX options for Anthony Joshua’s next fight if Tyson Fury stays retired Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn said: “I think without Tyson Fury, AJ’s number one priority is to fight for the world heavyweight title.”He’s not going to fight Usyk, is he? So it is going to be the winner of Saturday night [between Parker vs Dubois].”Joshua, who is in Saudi Arabia to watch the fight first hand, does have a plan B if that doesn’t come to fruition, however.Discussing who else he could fight, Hearn revealed: “[Martin] Bakole, the winner of [Zhilei] Zhang vs [Agit] Kabayel, Deontay Wilder.”I can’t even tell you for sure because there hasn’t been a conversation.”I don’t even know. The only thing I know granted fact is that AJ wanted to fight for Fury and AJ wanted to fight for the world title, fact.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Maybe there is a conversation in a week or so when we [ask Fury] ‘Just to let you know, you definitely don’t want to fight AJ?”In the summer, August or September because if you do come out of retirement now is the time to do it because we may have to wait until next year”.Eddie Hearn has opened up on who AJ could fight nextCredit: Richard Pelham / The SunTyson Fury has ‘retired’ from boxingCredit: PA More

FLOYD SCHOFIELD’S late withdrawal from his world title fight with Shakur Stevenson is at the centre of wild allegations of spying and food poisoning.The two former lightweight sparring partners were due to feature on Saturday night’s super-card in Saudi Arabia.Floyd Schofield’s camp claim a spy infiltrated their campCredit: GettyFloyd Schofield Sr posted a video of his son in a hospital bed after an alleged ‘spiking’Credit: Twitter Shakur Stevenson was set to fight Schofield on Saturday nightCredit: GettyBut cracks appeared to show at Tuesday evenings glitzy Grand Arrivals in Riyadh – a day before every boxer spoke to on-ground media.It was on the Monday that both Schofield and his dad and trainer Floyd Sr accused Stevenson of hiring a MOLE to spy on their camp.Jr told SecondsOut said: “We had a couple things in camp that was like, ‘What the hell.'”But we got past that. It didn’t effect nothing from our training, it didn’t effect anything it was just certain people that we thought that we could trust that we couldn’t trust.”READ MORE IN BOXINGExplaining how he caught the alleged double agent, Schofield added: “We caught them doing stuff. Before it was accusations until we were actually able to prove it.”It was sad because we knew these people since I was like seven-years-old. So we just had to remove them from camp and get back right.”Schofield claimed his passport was tampered with and tyres on his car stabbed by the apparent double crosser.But then Schofield amazingly backtracked: “We’re not saying it’s Shakur, we’re having fun with everything. We’re doing what he does, we love trolling.”Most read in BoxingSchofield’s no-show at the Grand Arrivals led to questions over the state of Stevenson’s WBC title defence.And on Wednesday, news broke that the undefeated 22-year-old had been pulled out of the bout by the British Boxing Board of Control – overseeing the event.Floyd Schofield health update as boxer’s father shares scary video from hospital amid ‘poison’ scandal It came just hours after Schofield Sr sensationally claimed his son had been SPIKED.He shared a text message which read: “This isn’t something to take lightly. I’m not trying to play no games. I got love for y’all and looking out, but they spiked your son”.And Floyd Sr later told talkSPORT: “Floyd will be OK and make a full recovery… Someone tried to kill him.”Stevenson denied the allegations of poisoning and spying on opponent Schofield.He told Ring Magazine: “I try not to get into all the clown stuff. I know it’s clown business. When you try to insert yourself into that y’re kinda going with the circus.”I’m trying to stay away from the circus. Truthfully, I know it’s some clown stuff. None of my former opponents have ever said any of this stuff. They never complained about anything.”BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith also responded to the allegations live on radio.Smith said: “All I can tell you is that he went to a hospital and he’s been deemed not to box.”Of course, it concerns me. It concerns me a lot about what the parents say when they don’t know the full facts.”When we get the full facts we will be able to find out what the full situation is. “At the moment we don’t know other than the fact that the kid is unfit to box.”But of course, it concerns me what people say. People can throw things out there all the time and then we have to look into, which we will.”Stevenson, 27, will now fight late substitute Josh Padley, 29, who flew out with just three days till fight night.And Schofield was hospitalised with illness as his promoters Golden Boy released a statement.It read: “Yesterday, Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. fell ill and was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure.”In the interest of Schofield’s health and safety, the British Boxing Board of Control made the decision to cancel his scheduled bout against Shakur Stevenson.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Schofield has since been discharged from the hospital and is awaiting the results of his medical evaluation.”We extend our gratitude to HE Turki Alalshikh, SELA, and the medical professionals who provided Schofield with care.”Beterbiev vs Bivol 2: Start time, TV channel, full card – everything you need to know for MASSIVE Saudi rematch More

DMITRY BIVOL lies on a bed of nails to relax – so fighting Artur Beterbiev again is a bed of roses.The 34-year-old pinned his hopes on three judges awarding him the light-heavyweight undisputed honour in October, after a classy display.Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev went to war for all the 175lb titles last OctoberCredit: GETTYThe judges spiked Bivol’s dream of undisputed glory by giving Beterbiev the nodCredit: GettyBivol is no stranger to a sharp sticking as he regularly lays on a bed of nailsCredit: GQ SPORTSBut they spiked his dreams by handing his bearded 41-year-old rival a majority decision that left fans of the super-killer Canelo conquered deflated.Somehow, Bivol refused to rage at none of the three judges preferring his brilliant back-foot skills to the Chechen’s thudding blows.But, when the father-of-two chills out on a net of needles, we shouldn’t be surprised he took the disappointment with an ice-cool head.Opening up on the bizarre contraption he uses for a form of meditation, Bivol said: “I use it to relax – not to sleep on!READ MORE BOXING NEWS “Of course it’s painful but you need to relax to not feel the pain. If you tense then you feel pain.“When you relax, your body melts and you don’t feel the pain. If you tense, then of course it hurts.“It’s just a personal thing I like, I have some problems with my lower back so I use it to relax my lower back.”And when I relax my lower back it helps my legs and everything else relax.Most read in BoxingJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBeterbiev vs Bivol 2: Start time, TV channel, full card – everything you need to know for MASSIVE Saudi rematch“In life, you need to work and also relax, everything needs balance. “I walk and run and work all day and it’s just another way for me to relax. It is good for the mind too.”SunSport boxing reporter Wally Downes left stunned after Beterbiev beats BivolAnother unlikely hobby that is good for Bivol’s laser-focused mind – but not for his bones – is his new love of snowboarding.Despite having mega-money fights in the pipeline with Bivol and beyond, Bivol hits the slopes and occasionally damages his body and ego.He explained: “I tried snowboarding once and then I had to buy two and am trying to learn.”I have had a couple of small accidents but nothing big.“I had a problem with my collarbone, I fell on it and felt like an idiot because I am supposed to be a professional boxer.Of course it’s painful but you need to relax to not feel the pain. If you tense then you feel pain.Dmitry Bivol“But snowboarding helps clear my mind, I focus only on my balance, no boxing, and I am in amazing mountain places, surrounded by fresh air and floating down a mountain.”Bivol had to miss the eighth birthday of his youngest son Nikon, at the start of fight week.But he and 10-year-old Miron were in camp for the first battle and know that his daddy’s sacrifices are all for them.But the old man is in no rush to push his boys into the same sport that has made him, especially after watching unknown American kids and his hero Arturo Gatti destroy themselves.“I am missing them,” he said. “I call them everyday but kids don’t like video calls, they want face-to-face time.Dmitry Bivol will bid to exact revenge on his countryman on Saturday nightCredit: GETTYBivol had to miss his youngest son’s eighth birthday in preparation for the fightCredit: GETTYDmitry Bivol doesn’t foresee himself and Artur Beterbiev having a warm embrace after their rematchCredit: GETTY“They have gloves and have trained but I haven’t pushed them.“I remember being in America and watching young kids there spar and every round was a war, it was not sparring, it was fighting. Sparring should not be like that.“I want them to understand what those three minutes mean but, when I saw that, I knew I never wanted my sons to train like that.“I respect Arturo Gatti so much but I would never want my sons to fight like Arturo Gatti.”Despite years on the Russian amateur team together, the pair have never bonded.And even after a potential 24 rounds spent in each other’s pocket, Bivol rejects the idea the final bell will be the precursor to the sort of brotherly hug and lifelong connection that boxing’s greatest rivalries are usually sealed with.“I have my kung fu and he has his – both are good,” he perfectly puts it.“But, when this bell ends, we will just walk away.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We were in the same national team for a long time and we were not friends then, so we will not be friends now?“If we weren’t friends then, why would we now?” More

FLOYD SCHOFIELD’S father has shared a video of the boxer in hospital.The American, 22, was withdrawn from his scheduled bout with Shakur Stevenson this Saturday amid online rumours that he’d been “poisoned”.Floyd Schofield Sr posted a video of his son in a hospital bedCredit: TwitterSchofield, 22, had performed his media commitments as planned on MondayCredit: GettySchofield had arrived in Saudi Arabia as planned and turned up to his Monday media events.But following leaked texts claiming that Schofield had been “spiked” allegedly received by his father, the boxer did not turn up to his Tuesday commitments.Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn initially believed that the fight would still go ahead.But the world title challenger was then withdrawn by the British Boxing Board of Control.READ MORE IN BOXINGSchofield Sr subsequently posted a worrying video of his son in a hospital bed.He captioned it: “God got our back.”The boxer’s dad then wrote on X: “I would like to thank everyone for their prays. I also would like to thank Your Excellency for the hospitality and great support.”Our host RaKan has been amazing. He has been at the hospital with us and very supportive in honor of Your Excellency.Most read in BoxingSchofield had been set for a shot at Shakur StevensonCredit: Getty”Thank you to the Saudi people.”He also posted: “Please pray for my Son.”Floyd Schofield pulls out of Shakur Stevenson fight after wild claims of ‘spiking’Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol: When is it, UK start time, live streamOn Wednesday, he cryptically wrote: “People are going to feel dumb when they see the proof.”People fear Floyd and this just made him more focused. Karma is very real… All things will be revealed in time.”A statement from promoter Golden Boy revealed that Schofield Jr has now been discharged from hospitalIt read : “Yesterday, Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. fell ill and was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure. “In the interest of Schofield’s health and safety, the British Boxing Board of Control made the decision to cancel his scheduled bout against Shakur Stevenson. “Schofield has since been discharged from the hospital and is awaiting the results of his medical evaluation. “We extend our gratitude to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, SELA, and the medical professionals who provided Schofield with care.”Boxing chiefs are seeking a short-notice replacement for Schofield.Saudi-owned Ring Magazine claim that Brit Josh Padley could step in to fight Stevenson.The stacked card is led by Joseph Parker vs Daniel Dubois and Dmitry Biviol vs Artur Beterbiev 2.READ MORE SUN STORIESEarlier in the week, Schofield Jr had told talkSPORT, he said: “It’s a very huge opportunity. I’m ready to take the opportunity by storm.”I’m just going to go out there and do my best”. More