Heavyweight boxing

DEREK CHISORA claimed he told Tyson Fury that Jake Paul will knock out his brother Tommy. Chisora is helping promote the grudge match between Paul and Tommy on February 26 in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora sat ringsideCredit: Getty
The celebrity boxing rivals came face to face for the first time last weekend at Wembley Arena.
Tyson was sat ringside and pictured having a word with Chisora, who he has beaten three times in the past.
And Chisora claimed Tyson seemed unbothered by the prospect of his little brother losing the mega-money fight.
He told iFL TV: “We were just talking family talk, nothing much. Just hanging out.
READ MORE IN boxing
“I told him his brother is going to get knocked out and then he goes, ‘As long as he’s getting paid.'”
Tommy, 23, is finally set to meet Paul, 26, in the ring having pulled out twice before amid injury and US visa issues in the past.
And heavyweight champion Tyson, 34, has publicly stated he can stay in the Middle East and vacate their famous fighting surname if he loses.
It has upped the ante even more, as tempers threatened to boil over when Tommy and Jake went nose to nose.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
Chisora, 38, had the task of getting in between the two and talked up the pay-per-view clash.
He said to BT Sport: “It’s a delicious fight. I call it delicious.
“You know when you eat something and you go, ‘Wow, this is so delicious.’ This fight is going to be so delicious.”

Jake Paul, Derek Chisora and Tommy FuryCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

EDDIE HEARN insists Anthony Joshua will make “a statement” in his high-stakes showdown with Jermaine Franklin.AJ, 33, will look to resurrect his career against the American at London’s O2 Arena in April in what will be his first outing since consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua will return to the ring in April for his first outing since back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY
The former unified heavy champ will throw down with Jermaine FranklinCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
Promoter Eddie Hearn is confident AJ will return to the win column in emphatic fashionCredit: PA
Defeat to Franklin would likely banish the Watford warrior from the world title picture, but promoter Hearn is confident the former two-time unified heavyweight champ will return to winning ways in style.
He told The BBC: “It’s a really tough fight with loads of pressure to come back because if AJ doesn’t win this fight, then we’ve got a major problem.
“I believe you’ll see a statement from a guy who is very dangerous, very motivated to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.”
Heavy-handed Franklin has been dismissed as a gimme opponent for AJ, despite going the distance with recent WBC title challenger Dillian White last November.
READ MORE BOXING NEWS
Hearn said: “There’s so much contradiction, ‘Anthony Joshua is finished, mentally he’s shot.
“‘But he’ll knock out Jermaine Franklin inside three rounds.’
“The same people that say Jermaine Franklin beat Dillian Whyte but he’s a terrible opponent for Anthony Joshua, in a comeback fight after two defeats to the pound-for-pound number one.
“What this guy has done from a resume perspective is unbelievable.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
“And I’m telling you now, this guy – still top-three heavyweight, capable of regaining his heavyweight world title.”
Although Hearn is confident Joshua will return to the win column, he admits it’ll be curtains for the Olympian’s career if he suffers a third loss on the trot.
He told iFL TV: “You go into that fight in April and you know that defeat, it’s all over, really.
“It would be a third back-to-back defeat and yet a great performance and a showroom knockout will get everyone saying, ‘We’re back, baby.’
“That’s what I can’t wait for because I love it when our backs are against the wall.
“I’m excited. I’m really excited. This is the most excited I’ve been in Joshua’s journey so far.” More

TYSON FURY has tipped recent sparring partner Alen Babic to get his hands on a world title.The Gyspy King got up close and personal with the Croatian clubber late last year as he helped him prepare for his Tottenham trilogy fight with Derek Chisora.
Tyson Fury has tipped Alen Babic to get his hands on a world titleCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
Tyson Fury has tipped Alen Babic to get his hands on a world titleCredit: INSTAGRAM@ALENTHESAVAGEBABIC
The hard spars in Morecambe impressed the WBC heavyweight king, who has no doubt in his mind that The Savage will eventually get his hands on a belt.
Babic told Boxing Social: “We had four sparring sessions a week, so we really tried each other.
“He was impressed and he – Tyson Fury – told me I was gonna be the world champ.
“There is not doubt about that. I like oh god that means so much.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“The first man who said it was Dillian Whyte, so there is no comparison to that, but when Tyson Fury tells you what you’re gonna be, that is the second best.”
Babic’s ferocity also impressed Fury’s recent opponent Dillian Whyte, who currently acts as his manager.
When pressed on the pair’s assessments of him, he said: “They saw me in the ring.
“I’m not gonna stop. You can knock me the f**k out I’m gonna be back up.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
“I don’t care about being punched in the face.
“Everybody keeps saying, ‘Oh you gotta reserve your health!’ F**k you, you’re not me. You reserve your health.
“You keep after yourself, don’t look after me.
“Because nobody looked after me when I was nothing – so I will say where were you then?”
Babic, 32, claimed the inaugural WBC silver bridgerweight world title in his last outing against Adam Balski last May.
Alen Babic is determined to become a world champion at heavyweightCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
But the 6ft1′ sluggerhe’s hellbent on becoming a champion at heavyweight.
Fifteen stone Babic said: “I’m the smallest heavyweight alive, and I’m gonna fight for the belt one day.
“You’re gonna see it. You are all gonna witness it.”
Read More on The Sun
Babic currently doesn’t have a fight booked but is expected to return to the ring in the coming months.
Fury, meanwhile, is gearing up for a historic undisputed fight with pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk. More