Boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA delivered a vicious verbal jab to a host of legendary British boxers who have criticised him ahead of his comeback.AJ returns to the ring on Saturday hoping to relaunch his career against American Jermaine Franklin at the O2.
Anthony Joshua (left) makes his comeback against Jermaine (right) on SaturdayCredit: PA
Carl Froch is one former star to question whether AJ is coming to the end of his careerCredit: Twitter @Carl_Froch
Amir Khan had a famous fallout with Anthony Joshua in the pastCredit: Doug Seeburg
The star suffered the first defeat of his career when he came up against 25/1 underdog Andy Ruiz Jr in New York back in 2019.
The Englishman was left battered and bruised after he was knocked to the canvas four times by the hard-hitting Mexican before he went on to beat him in the rematch to regain the heavyweight titles and then defended them against Kubrat Pulev.
Joshua was then outpointed by Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as he lost his belts for a second time before he suffered a repeat in August against the Ukrainian and now knows nothing but victory over Franklin will do.
He has vowed to put his opponent into “a grave of his own digging” – but he has also come out swinging against his critics.
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Retired icons Johnny Nelson, Tony Bellew, Carl Froch and Amir Khan have all cast doubt on whether Joshua can climb back to the top of the mountain and cast aspersions on whether he is coming to the end of his career.
But AJ blasted back: “These people don’t get me. Not on my wavelength. Not at my level.
“I don’t use boxing as a platform to rant and rave and disrespect other fighters.
“If these people have something to say, say it to me. They have my number. Call me.
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“If I have something to say about you , I’ll say it face to face.
“I won’t talk about my enemies on line. I prefer to stay silent. These people want me to talk back but why should I get dragged in by clowns?”
Joshua continued: “When it was Carl talking s*** about me I messaged him direct to ask what it was all about.
“When it was Amir and that s*** about me with his wife why did he go online? At least message me.
“And then when I see these guys at a fight or somewhere they’re coming up and saying ‘hi AJ how are you?’ How does that work?
“Where I come from it’s not about getting clouts it’s about results.”
Credit: SUNSPORT
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ANTHONY JOSHUA has been told to pick up the phone if he is serious about fighting Joe Joyce.The two-time heavyweight champion returns on Saturday at the O2 Arena against Jermaine Franklin.
Anthony Joshua has been told to pick up the phone if he is serious about fighting Joe JoyceCredit: Rex
Joyce is among the names Joshua wants to fightCredit: Getty
But victory would put him back on track for a massive 2023 and he named Joyce among those he is interested in fighting.
In response, Warren told talkSPORT: “Well he hasn’t got to go far if he wants to fight him, just pick the phone up.
“Provided my man comes through and he comes through, we could do that in the summer. Not a problem.”
Joyce, 37, returns on April 15 against China’s Zhilei Zhang, 39, and is the WBO mandatory challenger.
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Meanwhile Joshua, 33, looks to bounce back from consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 36, in his must-win comeback bout.
After Usyk’s title unification against Tyson Fury, 34, collapsed, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn hinted at reviving talks with the Gypsy King.
And American superstar Deontay Wilder, 37, is also a free agent now, leaving Joshua with three super-fights on the table.
He said: “If you were to ask me what my ambitions are, one is to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world.
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“The second is my motivation to make money and the third is to fight Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Joe Joyce.”
Despite Hearn’s hopes to kickstart negotiations with Fury’s team, Joshua believes a fight with Wilder is more likely.
He told told Dan Rafael: “It seems like Deontay Wilder’s more realistic, because I just think that the stuff that goes on with Fury is a bit crazy, man.
“I’ve been in this situation for a long time – even with them two I’ve been in this same situation – but I just feel like Deontay’s coming to a stage in his career where he’s realistic.
“It’s not like, ‘I just want this fight’, I think he needs it. So that’s more realistic if I’m honest with you, especially with the place that we’re both at in our careers.”
Joshua ahead of his fight with Jermaine FranklinCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has lashed out as his former coach for a lack of respect and his two-faced critics for being “clowns”.In the aftermath of Joshua’s second loss to Oleksandr Usyk in August, outgoing Robert Garcia ended his one-fight role as trainer with parting shots against AJ’s training methods and close-knit team.
Anthony Joshua lashed out as his ex-coach for a lack of respect and his two-faced criticsCredit: /Mark Robinson#3/ Matchroom Boxing
Joshua with old coach Robert GarciaCredit: Getty
Ahead of Saturday’s comeback bout with Jermaine Franklin, a handful of TV analysts have questioned the quality of the American opponent, doubted Joshua’s remaining resolve and called for him to retire if he suffers a fourth defeat.
But the 33-year-old London 2012 Olympic legend has come out swinging for his former coach and the commentators who smile to his face and stab him in the back.
Asked if Garcia’s snipes were fair, he said: “When it comes to your head coach it is important to keep things in-house, especially when you are talking about your fighters.
“There are things I didn’t like about some of my old coaches that I could talk about but I don’t.
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“No one is perfect but, when you come together in arms to go to war, there should be a level of respect.
“I have worked with Sean Murphy and John Oliver in the amateurs, all the GB coaches, Tony Sims and Rob McCracken in the pros, Angel Fernandez, Joby Clayton, Robert Garcia and Derrick James and Garcia is the first one to say the things he said. I didn’t like that, I found it weird.”
Joshua brought in Garcia for August’s rematch against Usyk.
But after the Brit lost via split decision, the American coach said: “I don’t have to lie about things.
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“The first week that I was there, I told his management team ‘I need to go home, fly me home cause I don’t wanna be here.’
Credit: SUNSPORT
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“There were so many new people – who believed were not going to be there to help out – I told them ‘I need to go home’.”
Former world champions such as Carl Froch and Johnny Nelson have been ruthless about AJ’s defeats to Andy Ruiz and Usyk.
Both have earned the right to their opinion but Joshua wonders why they don’t message him directly and hopes they are as forthright in person.
He added: “These people that talk about me are looking for me to say something back but I don’t have much to say because these people are not on my level.
“What do I want to entertain a clown for? If someone has something to say to me, they can call me, they have my number.
“I don’t need to go online and voice my opinions on my enemies, I prefer to be silent.
“If I’ve something to say about you, you’ll see me face-to-face.”
Froch seemed to turn on AJ after he axed Froch’s friend and mentor McCracken.
But when Amir Khan went on social media in 2017 to suggest AJ was romantically involved with his wife, it was too bizarre to get caught up.
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Joshua said: “I messaged Froch direct and said ‘what you talking s*** about me for? Message me. With Khan and that s*** with his missus, why was he going online?
“Just message me if you have something to say. I find it awkward because where I come from, it’s not about chasing clout, it is about results.”
Anthony Joshua celebrates with Carl Froch in 2017Credit: Getty More

DEREK CHISORA has confirmed he is in talks for a trilogy fight against old rival Dillian Whyte. The pair of British heavyweight stars treated fans to two thrillers, with Whyte winning both.
Derek Chisora confirmed he is in talks for a trilogy fight against old rival Dillian WhyteCredit: Reuters
Dillian Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin in his last fightCredit: PA
According to the Daily Mail, Chisora has revealed negotiations are ongoing for a third bout and they are “pushing to get a deal done now”.
The two put on a fight of the year contender in 2016 which ebbed and flowed throughout.
Whyte ultimately emerged victor in a disputed split-decision verdict.
But he left no doubt in their rematch two years later with a brutal left-hook knockout in round 11.
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Promoter Eddie Hearn has always left the door open to a trilogy, such was the excitement of the first two fights.
Both Chisora, 38, and Whyte, 34, even opened the door to taking their rivalry to the MMA cage.
Whyte last fought in November, beating Jermaine Franklin on points and believed it would earn him a rematch with Anthony Joshua.
But Joshua, 33, instead returns on Saturday at the O2 Arena against Franklin, 29, despite the American’s loss.
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Meanwhile, Chisora faced Tyson Fury, 34, in December in their trilogy bout but lost to the Gypsy King for the third time in their series.
Chisora left Hearn and sports streaming service DAZN to do so and the duo continue to have a love-hate relationship.
And the promoter even claimed Del Boy is the “most challenging” fighter he has worked with.
Hearn said during the On A Mission podcast: “It’s maybe Derek Chisora. He has gotten better as time’s gone on.
“But he’s always looking for an edge and is always on the wind up. But he’s a good guy.”
Derek Chisora lost to Dillian Whyte on points in 2016Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Derek Chisora was knocked out by Dillian Whyte in their rematchCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

DEONTAY Wilder has revealed why he hugged Tyson Fury at last month’s Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury fight. Fury and Wilder have shared the ring on three occasions with the Gypsy King winning twice and drawing the first fight.
Wilder and Fury in action in Las VegasCredit: Getty
Wilder is a former world championCredit: Getty
The two were re-united in Saudi Arabia when Tyson’s brother Tommy beat Paul via split decision and shared a cuddle.
Wilder spoke to reporter Seckbach about the hug between the pair, and seemed to still be sticking to his claims that Fury is a cheat.
He said: ” I can’t stand that motherf***er. They know what’s up, he’s a cheater. But [Saudi Arabia] is a peaceful ground. There’s a time and a place.”
Fans took to Twitter to react to Wilder’s comments.
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One user tweeted: “After all these years, he still can’t accept the L.”
A second said: “Can’t handle his knockout.”
A third replied: “When will he stop doing this ? He got smashed to pieces two fights straight and is still convinced that he got cheated in some way.”
While a fourth added: ” Let it go man, would get so much more respect.”
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Whiel Wilder wasn’t keen on the reunion, Fury joked that he “nearly got a stiffy” after the meeting.
Wilder is back in training and his trainer Malik Scott posted some footage of him hitting the pads after he announced he was ready to return to the ring after five months away.
Fury’s fight with Oleksandr Usyk recently fell through and it remains to be seen if that will be rescheduled.
Anthony Joshua will look to get his world title aspirations back on track as he returns to the ring against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night.
Fury looks please to see Wilder in Saudi Arabia at least More