Heavyweight boxing

OLEKSANDR USYK’s manager will jet into London TODAY to hash out a deal for an undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury.Negotiations over the historic showdown have stagnated since they resumed last December, laying waste to the initially targeted March 4 date.
Tyson Fury is on course for an undisputed heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr UsykCredit: REUTERS
But negotiations have hit a standstillCredit: GETTY
Fury’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk is jetting into London today for showdown talksCredit: INSTAGRAM@ALEXKRASSYUK
Krassyuk will meet with Queensberry Promotion’s George Warren to try finalise the dealCredit: BT SPORT BOXING
WBC heavyweight king Fury has grown tired of the delay, flirting with the prospect of a freakshow hybrid fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
But SunSport understands Usyk’s manager and promoter, Alexander Krassuyk, will fly into London today to finalise the fight.
The Ukranian will meet with Queensberry Promotion’s George Warren tomorrow in a bid to try and save the mouthwatering showdown.
It’s understood a sticking point over the deal is the purse split, which Krassuyk wants to be 50-50.
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A venue for the fight will likely be discussed, too.
Saudi Arabia was initially the frontrunner to land the first undisputed heavyweight dust-up in nearly a quarter of a century.
But Wembley Stadium is now a serious contender to host the historic fight.
April 29 is the new working date for the bout, which Fury co-promoter Frank Warren is optimistic will come to fruition.
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He told talkSPORT: “The fight will 100 per cent take place on the last Saturday in April.
“Where it takes will be determined within the next six or seven days.
“If we can’t do what we’re being asked to for Tyson and Usyk, then the fight will take place in the UK and we’ll have time to promote it and so forth.
“If it goes to the Middle East, it’s because they will pay a premium for the World Cup of boxing.”
Fury and Usyk have traded several verbal jabs since their face-off last December, with the undefeated Ukrainian recently accusing The Gypsy King of pricing himself out of the fight.
He said: “Fury, you talk about greatness in boxing but, at the same time, you say, ‘Give me a lot of money’.
“Greatness in boxing is not determined by money. Greatness comes from a victorious path.
“You say that I avoid you, but I never have. In fact, I have even come to you.
“I am ready to box you even without any prize money.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has hinted retirement could soon be on the cards as he wants to enjoy life while he’s still young.At the age of 33, AJ has already twice climbed the heavyweight mountain and banked millions of pounds.
Anthony Joshua has twice climbed the heavyweight mountainCredit: REUTERS
But the former heavyweight champion wants to enjoy life while he’s still youngCredit: GETTY
Joshua will hit the comeback trail against Jermaine Franklin in AprilCredit: Rex
The Watford warrior has aspirations of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion and undisputed ruler of the division, although he doesn’t want his love of the fight game to rule his life forever.
He told Sky Sports: “I just want to have time to still live and have fun.
“As an athlete, we try and have fun.
“But even when you’re out you’re still thinking about when you sleep, what you’re eating, you’ve got to drink water, so you’ve always got things playing on the back of your mind.
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“So I want to be young enough to just be free.”
Joshua, however, won’t be hanging up his gloves anytime soon, despite wanting to enjoy life’s pleasures before it’s too late.
He continued: “I think people fear the unknown.
“So when I decided to become a fighter it’s what I dedicated my life to.
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“I don’t know anything else. Because this is the first career I really had and chose to dedicate my life to.
“So, for me to step into a different career, retirement for example, it’s the unknown. So, who knows what that looks like.
“For a certain amount of time I want to give my life and energy to fighting and I haven’t hit that time yet.
“So, I’m just going to continue working towards that.”
Joshua will hit the comeback trail – which he hopes will be a road back to world title contention – in April with a must-win showdown against Jermaine Franklin at the O2.
Credit: SUNSPORT
🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
The fight will be his first since consecutive defeats to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk, who is currently on course for a historic undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury.
The Brit said: “I’m looking forward to stepping back into the ring on April 1 at The O2 in London. Mentally and physically I feel ready..
New head coach Derrick James will be the lead cornerman for Joshua’s first for his first outing at the O2 in six-and-a-half years.
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AJ added: “I want to put on a show and impress my coach as he has high standards.
“Franklin has a good style and a great attitude, which he has shown in recent fights.” More

TOMMY FURY has confirmed brother Tyson WILL be in his corner in Saudi Arabia against Jake Paul. Tommy is set to at last meet Paul in the ring after they once again rescheduled their grudge match, this time for February 26.
Tommy Fury confirmed Tyson and his other brothers will be at his fight with Jake PaulCredit: Instagram @tommyfury
YouTuber Paul faces Fury on February 26 in Saudi ArabiaCredit: PA
Brother Tyson’s attendance was in question with the Gypsy King in training for his undisputed super fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
But Tommy, 23, has revealed Tyson will be among those in his travelling entourage to the Middle East in a huge fight boost.
He told SunSport: “Everybody’s going to be out in Saudi. We’re coming with everybody.
“Tyson’s going to be there, all my brothers, everyone you’re used to seeing on fight night on the cameras on TV, they’ll all be there with me in Saudi Arabia.
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“We’re all here, we’re all as one team and we’re ready to get the job done.”
Tommy has had a front row seat to watch Tyson reach the pinnacle of the sport.
It leaves him with an encyclopaedic knowledge of boxing to turn to whenever he is in need.
Tommy said: “It’s absolutely amazing, I can’t say anything but.
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“To have the heavyweight champion of the world – and in my opinion the best fighter ever – it’s amazing. What more can I say about it?
“Whatever problem I have in this game I can always go to him. He’s always going to be there, he’s always going to be there right with me.”
Tyson has headlined in some of boxing’s biggest fights of late, both Stateside and in the UK.
But it is now the turn of younger sibling Tommy, who gets his first pay-per-view taste against YouTuber-turned prizefighter Paul.
Both Tyson and dad John warned he can vacate their famous fighting surname and pack it in if he loses to Paul, 26.
But Tommy responded: “I think we all know Tyson by now – and my dad – we all know how to sell pay-per-views, we all know how to hype a fight.
“I think that’s all that is really. My dad and Tyson both know what’s going to happen in this fight, Tyson’s been there ever since I started boxing, so has my dad.
“They know what I’m capable of, they know what my opponent is capable of and it’s going to be quite an easy night’s work.”
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury facing off ahead of their fightCredit: GETTY More

GEORGES GROVES revealed he was put on the spot by Tyson Fury over his prediction for the undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Fury and Usyk are still negotiating the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout.
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
George Groves backed Oleksandr Usyk against Tyson FuryCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
And the battle of the unbeaten pound-for-pound stars has divided opinions from the boxing world.
And ex-world champion Groves – a self-professed Usyk “fan boy” – left Fury unhappy with his prediction.
He told ProBoxingFans: “I saw Tyson the other day. He said, ‘Why are you picking Usyk and not picking me?’
“I said, ‘Someone’s gotta go the other way Tyson! It keeps it entertaining, keeps it interesting.’
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“I think Usyk’s his toughest fight to date – what a fighter. And Tyson Fury – what a fighter.”
Saudi Arabia was a frontrunner to host the historic unification bout with Usyk, 36, even agreeing a financial package.
But Fury, 34, has not done so which has led to Wembley Stadium becoming a new alternative for the fight.
Groves – who retired in 2019 – is such a fan of Usyk he could not pick against the masterful Ukrainian.
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He said to Boxing UK: “You’ve asked me the question that I have the unpopular opinion on.
“I’m such an Usyk fan. I don’t know if he is big enough to challenge Fury if Fury’s really on it and up for it.
“But, when it comes to ability, Usyk’s the best heavyweight in the world by a country mile, in my opinion.
“I don’t know. I’ll just go Usyk cause I’m an Usyk fan boy.”
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are in line for a title unficiationCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY has reportedly lined up a FOURTH fight with Deontay Wilder if his proposed showdown with Oleksandr Usyk fails to happen.Talks over the historic undisputed heavyweight title fight resumed last December but the mouthwatering bout has yet to be finalised.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are locked in talks over an undisputed showdownCredit: REUTERS
But the blockbuster showdown hasn’t been finalisedCredit: GETTY
The Gypsy King has reportedly lined up a fourth fight with Deontay Wilder should the bout with Usyk not come to fruitionCredit: POLARIS
Fury, 34, is champing at the bit to fight in April – so much so that he’s teed up a quadrilogy fight with former foe Wilder.
That’s according to World Boxing News, who claim Fury’s teams have been in “secret talks with Wilder for weeks.”

It’s claimed the shock fight would take place at Wembley Stadium.
Fury and Wilder have shared the ring three times in the last four years, with the pair’s first meeting ending in a controversial draw.
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The Gypsy King won their rematch and trilogy fight in emphatic fashion, registering seventh and 11th-round knockout victories.
Fury’s historic clash with Usyk was initially slated for March 4 but delays in finalising the deal have pushed back the date.
Saudi Arabia were the frontrunners to land the bout, although the fight is reportedly unlikely to take place in the Kingdom.
Despite the delay in finalising the deal, Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren is adamant the Brit will lock horns with the undefeated Ukrainian at the end of April.
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He told talkSPORT: The fight will 100 per cent take place on the last Saturday in April.
“Where it takes will be determined within the next six or seven days.
“If we can’t do what we’re being asked to for Tyson and Usyk, then the fight will take place in the UK and we’ll have time to promote it and so forth.
“If it goes to the Middle East, it’s because they will pay a premium for the World Cup of boxing.”
Fury and Usyk have repeatedly traded verbal jabs since their face-off last December.

When is Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk? Date, TV channel – everything we know so far
Usyk said last month: “Fury, you talk about greatness in boxing but, at the same time, you say, ‘Give me a lot of money’.
“Greatness in boxing is not determined by money.
“Greatness comes from a victorious path.
Read More on The Sun
“You say that I avoid you, but I never have. In fact, I have even come to you.
“I am ready to box you even without any prize money.” More