Boxing

TYSON FURY’S promoter says his next fight is being finalised “this weekend” with Zhilei Zhang the frontrunner to be his opponent.The WBC heavyweight champion defeated Derek Chisora last time out in December via a tenth round TKO at Tottenham Stadium.
Tyson Fury’s next fight could be finalised this weekendCredit: Getty
Zhilei Zhang is the ‘frontrunner’ to face the Gypsy KingCredit: PA
That was on the back of him knocking out Dillian Whyte at Wembley last April in the sixth.
After talks collapsed for his unification showdown with Oleksandr Usyk, we reported how Wembley Stadium had allegedly been put on hold for two dates in July as Fury plotted his next title defence.
Former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr, who famously beat Anthony Joshua for the belts in 2019 before losing the rematch, was in the mix to be his opponent.
As was China’s 39-year-old Zhang, who is coming off last month’s major upset victory over Joe Joyce.
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Now Top Rank chief Bob Arum, Fury’s US promoter, has said that it is Zhang rather than the WBC ranked number two Mexican who is the frontrunner for the title shot.
And he also revealed that the contract could be all done and dusted before the start of next week.
Arum told Ringside Reporter: “No not really [Andy Ruiz]. We’re focusing on the Chinese kid that beat Joe Joyce, Zhilei Zhang, he’s the frontrunner for that fight.
“It’s likely for July, we’re trying to close that out over this weekend.”
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“Big Bang” Zhang instantly called Fury out as he outlined his ambition for a dream homecoming in China after his stunning upset against Joyce.
The 6ft 6in heavyweight returned to London 11 years after losing to Anthony Joshua in the Olympics.
But he made no mistakes in his quest for redemption in the capital as he brutally left Joyce unable to continue following six rounds due to eye swelling.
Zhang inherited the WBO interim title and mandatory challenger status for the full belt held by Usyk but instead it was WBC champion Fury who he wanted after bouncing back from defeat to Filip Hrgovic, 30, in August.
He told SecondsOut: “Tyson Fury in China.
“I feel like people were questioning about my conditioning and stamina after the Hrgovic fight.
“But for me, I have such a successful training camp. My boxing and conditioning trainers stayed on top of it.
“I know that Joe Joyce wanted to take this to deep water and drown me, but I’m here.
“You can drown me if you want, but I’m ready for twelve rounds.” More

JOHN RYDER is dreaming of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in British boxing history.The 10-1 outsider takes on undisputed super-middleweight king Canelo Alvarez in Mexico on Saturday night with only 50 out of the 60,000 fans there cheering on the Islington southpaw.
Ex-bouncer John Ryder insists he is in Mexico for the dream not the paycheckCredit: Getty
Legend Canelo Alvarez is an overwhelming favourite against Brit RyderCredit: Getty
John H Stracey is one of legendary Brits that John Ryder hopes to emulate, and you’d have to take your hat off to him if he achieved itCredit: Alamy
If 34-year-old Ryder achieves the impossible by winning the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring titles, it would rank alongside previous feats overseas by legends such as Ken Buchanan, John H Stracey and Lloyd Honeyghan.
And it would be some achievement for the boxer who worked as a bouncer at East London nightclubs in 2017 after a couple of defeats left him languishing.
With typical understatement, Ryder said: “I know it’s going to be hostile. But to go and fight a champion, you should go to their backyard to take their titles and that’s what I am doing.
“Most fighters have gone to Vegas or Texas to fight him but I’m in Guadalajara in the lion’s den.
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“People think I am here for the paycheck, I am not. I am here to show that dreams can come true.”
Canelo, 32, has lost just two of his 62 fights with 39 knockouts while Stracey, now 72,  remains the only Brit to ever win a world title in Mexico after he stunned Jose Napoles in 1975.
Over pie and mash in Camden, Stracey told Ryder: “We boxed in the biggest bullring in the world, probably around 40,000 people.
“Just before my ringwalk they put me right next to where the bulls were kept and the smell was awful!
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“I am sure they were trying to put me off. It was hostile, they wanted their man to win and you’ll get that, too.
“It can be daunting and frightening but boxers don’t get frightened.”Ryder, who has won 32 of his 37 pro bouts, promised Stracey he would not be overawed by facing Canelo.
He said: “I have met him a couple of times but that was with a fan-boy cap on.
“The respect is there but it is not going to be handshakes and selfies, I am here to do a job.”
So far Stracey is the only Brit to have lifted a world crown in Mexico after he shocked Cuban-born Mexican Jose Napoles in 1975Credit: Alamy More

ONE of London’s top criminal barristers has spoken out on how he helped save Anthony Joshua’s boxing career.But a family wedding meant he had to turn down ringside seats for AJ’s epic Wembley win against Wladimir Klitschko.
Barrister Tony Wyatt has spoken out on his role in saving Anthony Joshua’s boxing careerCredit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAqRYYQ7fHs&t=2293s
But Wyatt couldn’t be there to see Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in 2017Credit: Getty
Barrister Tony Wyatt has revealed how he helped keep Joshua’s career on track in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.
It came after AJ, who has spoken openly about his past, was discovered by police with a large amount of cannabis in his car.
Wyatt was approached by Joshua’s coach at Finchley Boxing Club in 2011 and was told to be able to fight in the Olympics, AJ had to qualify through the European Qualification Tournament.
However, the “trouble” he had got himself into meant he had his licence taken away from him.
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Recalling a conversation with the judge and prosecutor, Wyatt acknowledged that Joshua had committed the offence.
However, the potential punishment could have ended AJ’s career as he would not have been able to fight in the European qualifying for the Olympics.
As a result, Kent “fronted that up” to the judge, and AJ submitted a guilty plea.
He said on the Anything Goes with James English podcast: “If he were to plead guilty of possession you could give him the harshest possible period of unpaid work.
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“That would allow him to get his licence back. It would allow him to fight in the Europeans. It would allow him to fight in the Olympics.
“It would allow him in his future to fight in America which he could never have done if he had supply on his record.
“It allows him to have his life. It also allows him to spend 300 hours in boxing clubs in a few months time once he’s famous, helping kids who might otherwise be on the streets. So it allows it to be paid forward.”
Wyatt said ultimately going down that route helped save Joshua’s career.
He continued: “As an outcome for a case like this, surely that’s a far more positive outcome to society than sending him into a prison for a short amount of time, ruining his future, no career left. Surely that’s better?
“The judge agreed. Prosecutor ultimately agreed with some encouragement from the judge. And that’s the route we went down.”
Joshua was consequently able to get his licence back, and therefore fight in the European qualifying for the Olympic Games.
He went on to win gold at the 2012 Olympics in London before turning pro the following year.
One of Joshua’s greatest nights came in 2017, when he knocked out Klitschko in the 11th round at Wembley.
But Kent couldn’t be there to see it.
He revealed: “You mention the Klitscko fight. He gave me ringside seats to that and I couldn’t go because of a bloody family wedding.
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“It wasn’t even my family, it was my wife’s family!
“I sat at the wedding watching the fights with my wife kicking me under the table! I was like look ‘I didn’t go to the fight, I’m at least watching the fight!'” More