Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA could end up making his boxing return on the SAME NIGHT as Tyson Fury’s proposed fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Fury and Usyk announced they had signed for the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt unification.
Anthony Joshua with promoter Eddie HearnCredit: Reuters
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have signed to fight on December 23Credit: Reuters
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are slated to fight on December 23Credit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
And although no date has been confirmed, December 23 in Saudi Arabia is a frontrunner.
Interestingly, Eddie Hearn revealed that is the same day he plans to stage the grudge match between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr.
Meanwhile, Hearn has been in talks with Deontay Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel over a blockbuster between the American and AJ.
But big bucks backers from Saudi have since pulled out, meaning the two handlers are now negotiating with new potential hosts.
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So Hearn has warned Joshua’s mega-fight with Wilder could be backdated to February and March.
And he even claimed Joshua could choose to stay busy with a return in December on the touted Eubank and Benn card.
He said: “It could go on December 23, maybe even as well.
“December 2nd is a fantastic card that we’re announcing on Saturday night for Britain and 23rd is our date for Benn-Eubank.
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“And I truly believe that fight will get made for that date.”
Fury, 35, returns on October 28 in Riyadh in a crossover clash against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37.
But he has already announced his historic title unification with Usyk, 36, which is just eight weeks removed from the Ngannou bout.
Hearn – facing a clash of cards if he stages Eubank against Benn that night – is in the dark on whether the two bills will go head to head.
He said: “Look if we get the Eubank fight made, we will go December 23rd. Because we will have to announce that in the next two weeks.
“I don’t know whether they’re going to go December 23rd, maybe there’s some conversations with them before we announce our fight.
“But that’s our date and whilst the other fight is not announced there’s a good chance we’ll go straight up and announce.
That fight, in my opinion, will 100 per cent happen in the first half of next year, maybe even in the first quarter. Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder
“But we’ll have to see. Obviously, we don’t want to go on the same night, it doesn’t make sense for either fight. But we’ll see.”
Hearn insisted both Joshua, 33, and Wilder, 37, are still on course to finally fight each other.
But after Saudi funders fell out the picture, he revealed America or Britain could instead stage the bout.
He said: “That fight, in my opinion, will 100 per cent happen in the first half of next year, maybe even in the first quarter.
“I can’t tell you any more than I’m talking to Shelly Finkel and we’ve made it crystal clear, as they have to us, we want this fight.
“We’re talking about Vegas, we’re talking about Wembley and we appreciate the money might not be completely the same as what we’ve been offered by Saudi Arabia…
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“And money’s always important but I think both guys actually genuinely want the fight and when you get fights like Fury-Usyk made it does give everybody a little nudge to say, ‘Let’s make ours now.’
“And there’s a definite feeling from their team and ours to get that fight over the line.”
Deontay Wilder is still in talks to fight JoshuaCredit: AFP More

JOSHUA BUATSI and Anthony Yarde struck an agreement to fight each other next year – thanks to the help of rapper Stormzy. The London light-heavyweight pair have been primed for a British blockbuster ever since bursting on to the scene.
Joshua Buatsi revealed he spoke to Anthony Yarde and they agreed to fight in 2024Credit: Getty
Yarde recently called out BuatsiCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
And after Yarde’s most recent win, he went out of his way to call out Buatsi, who puts friendship aside on October 21 against Dan Azeez.
But in secret, the two already made a verbal agreement to finally fight in 2024 after attending a bash hosted by Stormzy.
Buatsi told SunSport: “Stormzy had like a birthday party. We were both invited and we were talking and that’s when we mentioned it as well. 
“The only thing about that was I think a couple of days later I see an interview where his energy was a bit different. 
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“And I was thinking, ‘That’s mad. Because when I was with you a couple of days ago you wasn’t saying any of that. You was talking normal.’
“But again, he’s saying what he’s supposed to say, so hopefully it can happen next year.” 
Americans Errol Spence Jr, 33, and Terence Crawford, 35, had enough of middle men and decided to call each other up to negotiate their super-fight.
Crawford ran out a convincing winner over nine rounds but it was his work outside the ring which has made the most impact.
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Buatsi said: “The Spence and Crawford fight, they took matters into their own hands and made it happen.
“It’s important and good to see that boxers are doing that.” 
Yarde, 32, has twice failed in his world title attempts and most recently shared a hellacious eight-round war with Artur Beterbiev, 38.
Meanwhile Buatsi, 30, can put himself next in line for Dmitry Bivol’s WBA belt with a win over close pal Azeez, 34, at the O2 Arena.
But Yarde is hoping to tempt the winner into a domestic detour as he issued out a public challenge.
But Buatsi hit back: “I think he’s saying what he’s supposed to say.
“What would have caught my attention is anything Azeez may or may not have said. 
“I’m fighting Dan next, what Yarde is saying I don’t really care about.
“But of course, it’s a fight that people are interested in, a fight that people want to see happen and a fight I’d like to have myself. 
“So it’s great that he’s calling me out, it’s fantastic.” 
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Yarde pictured with rival Buatsi in the past
Dan Azeez and Joshua Buatsi facing offCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun

Watch Buatsi vs Azeez live on Sky Sports on October 21st from The O2 in London. Tickets available via BOXXER.com More