Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Deontay Wilder are closing in on a super-fight sure to divide opinions. The question of whether Wilder’s feared power or Joshua’s brute strength will prevail has raged on for over five years.
Anthony Joshua has sparred with Deontay Wilder’s old opponent Gerald WashingtonCredit: @gwgallonegro
Wilder knocked Washington out in 2017Credit: @gwgallonegro
But promoter Eddie Hearn revealed a deal is now in place for the pair to finally settle the score, eyed for December in Saudi Arabia.
It would promise to pit two of the heavyweight division’s top stars against each other in a true clash of styles.
And one man with inside knowledge on the duo is heavyweight veteran Gerald Washington.
The American in 2017 was knocked out by Wilder, 37, and three years later he was hired as a sparring partner for Joshua, 33.
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And breaking down the blockbuster bout, Washington, 41, admitted he sees only one winner.
He told ESNEWS: “I sparred everybody. I’m not trying to get hit by them, but I got wobbled by Wilder. I didn’t get wobbled by Joshua.
“I got Wilder in that. I see Joshua getting caught.”
Hearn previously revealed Joshua’s purse could be as much as £60m for the Middle East mega-fight.
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But AJ must first beat Dillian Whyte, 35, after the pair announced they will rematch on August 12 at the O2 Arena.
Hearn told talkSPORT: “I don’t know how the Whyte fight goes, but we’ve been told categorically that the deal on the table is not the deal if he loses to Dillian Whyte.
“They didn’t want him to fight Dillian Whyte. It was almost like, ‘Please, don’t fight Dillian Whyte.
“You don’t need to. We’ve got this fight in December. But AJ was like, ‘No. I want to fight.’
“If he wins on August 12, he’ll go into the Deontay Wilder fight with loads of momentum and again it’s just adding to that incredible CV.
“I think he should be praised for the fact he wants to give you a real fight instead of just a tick-over fight until he fights Deontay Wilder – this is very dangerous.”
Joshua beat Dillian Whyte in 2015 and will face him again nextCredit: AFP More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is risking a £60million payday against Deontay Wilder by first returning to settle a score with Dillian Whyte. Promoter Eddie Hearn has a deal in place for Joshua to face Wilder in Saudi Arabia, which is set for the end of the year.
Anthony Joshua is in training for his next fightCredit: Instagram/@anthonyjoshua
Deontay Wilder and Joshua have a deal in place to fight in DecemberCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And he previously revealed his purse could be as much as £60m for the Middle East mega-fight.
But AJ must first beat Whyte after the pair announced they will rematch on August 12 at the O2 Arena.
Hearn told talkSPORT: “This one is wild because AJ has got the Wilder fight locked in for December.
“We had meetings last week with the Saudis. Obviously, that’s one of the biggest fights in boxing, and he wanted to fight in the interim.
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“You know, he’s been working with Derrick James, he wanted to have that fight and he was insistent it was Dillian Whyte.
“I wasn’t over the moon because I know it’s dangerous. It’s a fight that is built off emotion, they don’t like each other.
“You saw what happened last time at the O2, it’s going to be an absolute firefight on August 12. That’s why it’s so dangerous.
“You’ve got that Deontay Wilder fight in December, he could’ve just waited and had an easy, gimme fight at the O2 – but he’s decided to roll the dice.”
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Joshua’s history with Whyte, 35, dates back to their amateur days when he was beaten in a thriller.
But AJ got revenge in 2015 when the pair rematched in the professional ranks with a seventh-round stoppage.
The two have continued to feud ever since and have finally got a deal over the line to decide their trilogy once and for all.
But a defeat for Joshua, 33, would KO his blockbuster bout with Wilder, 37.
Hearn said: “I don’t know how the Whyte fight goes, but we’ve been told categorically that the deal on the table is not the deal if he loses to Dillian Whyte.
“They didn’t want him to fight Dillian Whyte. It was almost like, ‘Please, don’t fight Dillian Whyte.
“You don’t need to. We’ve got this fight in December. But AJ was like, ‘No. I want to fight.’
“If he wins on August 12, he’ll go into the Deontay Wilder fight with loads of momentum and again it’s just adding to that incredible CV.
“I think he should be praised for the fact he wants to give you a real fight instead of just a tick-over fight until he fights Deontay Wilder – this is very dangerous.”
Joshua beat Dillian Whyte in 2015Credit: AFP More

JAKE PAUL reckons the heavyweight division is an absolute “shambles” due to the big names not fighting one another.Pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk was due to face Tyson Fury in an undisputed heavyweight title fight in the spring.
Tyson Fury’s undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk collapsed in the springCredit: REUTERS
The Gypsy King has also yet to share the ring with fellow Brit Anthony JoshuaCredit: PA
YouTube sensation Jake Paul believes the division is in disarrayCredit: EPA
But their historic showdown fell through following a very public and back-and-forth negotiations.
British boxing fans have also been denied a mouthwatering domestic dust-up between Fury and former two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua.
And YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, like many others, reckons boxing’s once premier division is now trailing the lighter weight classes.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, he said: “For me the heavyweight division’s in shambles.
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“The heavyweight division right now is the only division that’s not stepping up to the plate and making the big fights happen.
‘The lightweight division’s doing it, obviously Errol Spence vs Terence Crawford [at welterweight].
“But for some reason in the heavyweight division we’re not getting it.
‘We’re not getting Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua, we’re not getting Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk, we’re not getting Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder, we’re not getting Deontay Wilder vs Andy Ruiz Jr.
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‘Like, what are these guys doing?”
Paul, 26, reckons the entire of sport boxing would benefit if the big boys at heavyweight put it all on the line.
He roared: “Come on, let’s make the sport a better place.
“You guys get paid to fight, so get in there and stop ducking each other.”
Although Paul believes the likes of Fury, Joshua and Wilder are to blame for fights not being made, he doesn’t just lay at the feet of this current crop of heavyweights.
He added: “Honestly a lot of the times it goes back to the promoters in boxing blocking everything and wanting to make the most money.

“And who owns the rights to air the content on what platform.
“A lot of times it’s DAZN vs Showtime vs ESPN and it’s all these big parties that get involved.
“But it’s up to the fighters to say, ‘No, let’s push this forward, let’s make this happen regardless of all these crazy things going on.’
“That’s why I give a lot of props to Ryan Garcia, because he was the reason the Gervonta Davis fight happened.
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“He compromised a lot to make it work.”
Former Disney star Paul is currently gearing up to face UFC legend Nate Diaz in a Dallas dust-up on August 5. More

BOXING fans are up in arms over Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte’s PPV price.The Brits are set to clash again at the O2 Arena on August 12.
Fans are not happy with the PPV price for Anthony Joshua vs DIllian WhyteCredit: Getty
DAZN are charging the fee on top of their subscription priceCredit: Getty
They last fought in December 2015 when AJ stopped Whyte in the seventh round to retain his WBC heavyweight belt.
But Joshua’s stock has fallen after losing his world titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021, while he also failed to impress in his most recent win against Jermaine Franklin.
So boxing fans cannot understand why the PPV for the fight will cost £26.99.
DAZN are showing the contest and fans have taken aim, suggesting the bout is not worthy of such a big fee.
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One fan wrote: “Are they having a laugh, that ain’t worth it,not PPV fight.”
Another added: “Waste of money.”
A third said: “They won’t get that from me, I pay the monthly fee and then they try and shaft us for £26.99 for two fighters who have lost form.”
And another commented: “Daylight robbery 😂”
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There is a lot of history between the pair with Whyte winning their 2009 amateur showdown that happened above a North London pub.
But AJ got revenge with a 2015 pro barnstormer for the British heavyweight title.
Both reformed bad boys are now millionaires enjoying the backend of their fight careers but both sound desperate to roll back the years and roll around the floor fighting.
“I’ve been clear that my plan is to be active this year,” said Joshua. “August 12 is the date, I’ll be ready to fight. I look forward to dealing with business.”
Whyte – who knows Joshua has a mega-money December clash with Deontay Wilder waiting in Saudi Arabia – is desperate to spoil the party.
The Jamaica-born brawler got a rematch clause ripped out of the original contract, in the hope he can stun the London 2012 legend and take his place in the Middle East.
He said from his Florida training camp: “I’m looking forward to returning to the London O2 on August 12 and going to war. It’s 1-1 so this is the decider!” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Dillian Whyte’s bitter trilogy clash has finally been confirmed for August 12.The all-London rubber match should have happened in April after Brixton brawler Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin.
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will renew their rivalry later this summerCredit: TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTD
The pair have fought twice before, once in the amateurs and once in the pro ranksCredit: GETTY
AJ came out of the professional domestic dust-up victoriousCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
But, in a surprise move that left the Body Snatcher raging, 33-year-old AJ cautiously outpointed the unknown American instead.
After a couple of weeks of tense negotiations, 35-year-old Whyte has accepted what he feels is a poor deal, just for the chance to fight his oldest foe.
The football stadium sell-out shared promoter Eddie Hearn has always promised has been swapped for an O2 clash in the middle of the school summer holidays.
And that cut in earning potential has added fuel to Whyte’s fury over being overlooked in the Spring.
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Whyte won their 2009 amateur showdown that happened above a North London pub. 
But AJ got revenge with a 2015 pro barnstormer for the British heavyweight title.
Both reformed bad boys are now millionaires enjoying the backend of their fight careers but both sound desperate to roll back the years and roll around the floor fighting.
“I’ve been clear that my plan is to be active this year,” said Joshua. “August 12 is the date, I’ll be ready to fight. I look forward to dealing with business.”
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Whyte – who knows Joshua has a mega-money December clash with Deontay Wilder waiting in Saudi Arabia – is desperate to spoil the party.
The Jamaica-born brawler got a rematch clause ripped out of the original contract, in the hope he can stun the London 2012 legend and take his place in the Middle East.
He said from his Florida training camp: “I’m looking forward to returning to the London O2 on August 12 and going to war. It’s 1-1 so this is the decider!”
Team Joshua will be hoping AJ will be able to showcase his work with new coach Derrick James and blow Whyte out of the water.
But former WBC heavyweight title challenger Whyte is adamant he won’t be cannon fodder for AJ to get his mojo back before a Saudi showdown with Wilder.
He told talkSPORT late last month: “Listen, I’m no warm-up fight for no-one.
“I’ll give anyone hell on the night.
“One advantage I have over anyone fighting AJ is I’m able to get in his head mentally.
“I’m able to offset him and I’m able to drag him into a scrap because we have that energy and we have that history.
Anthony Joshua got back to winning ways with a scrappy win over Jermaine Franklin in AprilCredit: THE TIMES
Dillian Whyte scraped past the American in a razor close fight last NovemberCredit: GETTY
“Just that alone makes me a massive danger for him and they don’t wanna risk the Wilder fight.”
Joshua knows his domestic dust-up with Whyte could be a potential banana skin on his road to becoming a three-time heavyweight champ.
The Watford warrior said: “What am I doing this fight for?
“I want to become three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
“I want to test myself.
“I’ve been through a lot and I want to see what I have left to give.
When I say what I have left to give, I am not resting on what I have, I am building on what I have and I want to see how far I can take myself.
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“I know what it takes, I know what this game is about and I’m going to push myself beyond the limits where I’ve been before.
“Hence why I find myself in Dallas because I’m trying to find an environment that can stimulate me, motivate me and push me onto higher highs.” More

OLEKSANDR USYK’s unified heavyweight title defence against Daniel Dubois has been confirmed.Boxing’s pound-for-pound king was set to face Tyson Fury in an undisputed showdown in the spring.
Daniel Dubois is the mandatory challenge for Oleksandr Usyk’s WBA heavyweight titleCredit: GETTY
Triple D will get his crack at boxing’s pound-for-pound king on August 26Credit: AP
The pair’s title fight will take place in Wroclaw, PolandCredit: GETTY
But talks over the historic bout collapsed after very public and heated negotiations.
Team Usyk then turned their attention to the mandatory challenger for the WBA strap – Brit bruiser Dubois.
And the pair will throw down in a Polish punch-up in Wroclaw on August 26.
Former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk announced his second defence of the unified thone on Instagram on Thursday.
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Along with the official fight poster, the undefeated Ukranian wrote: “See you 26 August.”
Boxing fans were quick to comment, with several expressing their frustration with the bout.
One said: “Heavyweight boxing is finished.”
Another said: “Another heavyweight match nobody cares about. Well done.”
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And another said: “Dubois gonna see 10 Uysk’s dancing around him!”
One remarked: “Dubois isn’t ready for Usyk he’s not on that level.”
Another chimed in: “Easy night for Usyk. He’s a different league than DD – no comparison.”
Usyk vs Dubois came to fruition after the WBA ordered the bout following the collapse of the former’s undisputed clash with Fury.
Dubois’ punch-up with Usyk will be his first full world title fight, in which promoter Frank Warren expects him to cause a major upset.
The Queensberry Promotions chief told SecondsOut: “I look at the fights [Usyk] had at heavyweight.
“Derek Chisora about 18 months, maybe two years ago springs to mind.
” For six, seven rounds Chisora gave him a lot of problems. He was there with him, there was nothing in it.
“They picked Chisora for a reason but look what Tyson [Fury] did with Chisora and look at that.
“His two fights with [Anthony Joshua], AJ weren’t at the races, he was on the back foot all the time. For me, AJ is not the fighter he was.
“I look at that, I look at [Daniel] and I just know that’s he powerful, he’s got a good jab, he’s faster than people think.
“If Usyk gets clipped and tastes some of that power it’s gunna be interesting to see how he reacts.
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“Usyk hasn’t had a performance that has been a jaw-dropping and dramatic performance.
“No disrespect, he’s done what he has to do, but I feel Daniel will be in the right place at the right time [to win.]”
Daniel Dubois goes into his first world title fight as a huge underdogCredit: GETTY More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned his chin has been cracked and he can no longer “take a shot”.The Watford warrior has only been stopped once in his career but has shown a susceptibility to being hurt since his stunning upset defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr four years ago.
Anthony Joshua was stopped four years ago in a huge upset defeat to Andy Ruiz JrCredit: GETTY
AJ has boxed cautiously since being dethroned by Ruiz JrCredit: AFP or licensors
Barry McGuigan reckons Joshua has lost his killer instinct can no longer take a shotCredit: GETTY
AJ has boxed cautiously ever since that fateful night at Madison Square Garden, which Barry McGuigan believes but did a number on his willingness to stay in the fire.
During an appearance on William Hill’s Up Front with Simon Jordan, the former WBA featherweight champion said: “I really like Anthony Joshua and I don’t really know him personally.
“But his ability to take a shot has disappeared.
“He’s not willing to run into the lion’s den and get shots fired at him, shots that miss him by whiskers that could knock him unconscious.
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“I don’t know if he has the want to do that anymore.”
McGuigan reckons AJ’s reluctance to stay in the pocket will be his undoing against his fellow elite heavyweights.
The Irishman continued: “Once that happens, I don’t think he will beat any of the top guys.
“He’s still a great fighter, but I just don’t think he beats the top guys because of that.”
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Joshua, 33, is set to have his chin tested in an August rematch with long-time rival Dillian Whyte.
It’s understood the pair’s third showdown is on the brink of being announced after both teams finally reached a suitable agreement.

Should Joshua get past the Brixton banger, he’ll tee up a December dust-up with long-time rival Deontay Wilder.
And promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed the duo’s long-overdue grudge match is on the verge of being finalised.

He told Boxing News: “Obviously with our meetings with Saudi on Friday, Thursday.
“We’re in a really great place we virtually have a deal agreed in principle subject to a few final discussions.
“We’re meeting them again on Monday.
“I think we’re in a good place but we want to fight on August 12th, and it’s important to his development and his momentum that he does and that’s still the plan.” More