Heavyweight boxing

JAKE PAUL will mentally pummel Tommy Fury into defeat before they collide in their Saudi showdown, according to Eddie Hearn.The social media sensations will meet in a Diriyah dust-up nearly two years in the making at the end of the month.
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will clash in a Saudi showdown later this monthCredit: MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS
Paul has seemingly got under the skin of former Love Island star FuryCredit: GETTY
Eddie Hearn expects The Problem Child to mentally batter Fury into defeat before they trade blowsCredit: GETTY
Problem Child Paul has played plenty of mind games with the youngest Fury brother – including revealing the birth of his child.
Fury cut a frustrated and angry figure when the pair faced off in London last week, so much so that Hearn reckons Paul may strike a telling blow before they trade heavy leather.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, the Matchroom Boxing chief said: “The way that Jake talks about, personally, about stuff like the Tommy Fury fight, you’ve got to be careful.
“Not necessarily with Tommy Fury, but there’s a fine line in that world between something going badly wrong.
READ MORE ON PAUL VS FURY
“But I think he’ll mess with Tommy mentally.
“And I just think by the time they get in the ring — if they do get in the ring — I think Tommy will be defeated.”
Fury – the 23-year-old brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson – is a perfect 8-0 in his professional career but has, so far, failed to impress boxing purists.
Hearn said of the Love Island star: “Tommy Fury’s unbelievably limited, but he is a fighter, he is a boxer.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
“All the criticism about Jake is ‘you’ve never fought a boxer’ — he’s about to.
“Not a very good one, but still a boxer.
“For Tommy Fury, it’s just a bit embarrassing if he was to lose.
“It’s embarrassing full-stop to lose to Jake, that’s the reality — for a boxer.

🥊 How to watch Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury: Date, UK start time, live stream, TV channel

“I mean, I’d be embarrassed to lose to Jake Paul, and I would.
‘”He’s still not very good.”
Paul has vowed to end Fury’s career with a viral knockout, something Hearn believes will come to fruition.
He said: “I think Jake Paul will win by knockout.” More

TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk are “100 per cent” set to fight on a new target date – with two venues in the running to host. The pair of unbeaten champions have been negotiating the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed decider since the new year.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk squaring up in DecemberCredit: REUTERS
Saudi Arabia are frontrunners to host on April 29 with the UK a back-up alternative.
Frank Warren told talkSPORT: “The fight will take place 100 per cent the last Saturday in April.
“Where it takes place I genuinely think will be determined within the next six or seven days maximum.
“If we can’t do what we’re being asked to do with Tyson and Usyk [in Saudi Arabia], then the fight will take place in the UK.”
READ MORE IN BOXING
Usyk, 36, is believed to have already come to financial terms with the Saudis.
Fury, 34, is now left to do the same and his Hall of Fame promoter Warren claimed they are getting close.
He said: “I don’t think we’re that far apart from where we need to get to.”
Wembley is another avenue promoters can explore if a deal in the Middle East cannot be agreed.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
But Fury admitted he will follow the cash – even if that means heading to Derek Chisora’s back yard.
He said: “I’m a prizefighter. I go where the money is. If it’s in Saudi Arabia, if it’s in Hong Kong, or if it’s in Derek’s back garden.
“I go for the money. That’s what I do. I go in, get my brains beat out of me for a few quid.
“And it becomes obsessive, the old prize fighting game, and that’s why it’s difficult to walk away.”

Promoter Frank Warren pictured with Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters More

CHEEKY Anthony Joshua joked he would “buy more h**s” when asked how he would spend his “body count” in cash.The British boxing ace made the naughty remark while playing a TikTok game with The Shade Borough.
Anthony Joshua joked he would ‘buy more h**s’ after being asked a cheeky questionCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
AJ is preparing for an April 1 fight against American heavyweight Jermaine FranklinCredit: Reuters
Joshua, 33, was required to choose a random card with a question on it.
And after picking the one he wanted, AJ was asked: “If your body count was money, what could you buy?”
Joshua pulled a face as he absorbed the words from the card.
But as he burst out laughing, the heavyweight star quipped: “More h**s.”
READ MORE ON BOXING
AJ’s bruising banter came after his April 1 fight against Jermaine Franklin was all-but-confirmed.
The two-time champ will collide with the American at the O2 Arena.
And Joshua hopes to get back to winning ways after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, with the Ukrainian now looking to fight Tyson Fury in a division unifier.
Meanwhile, AJ’s fight with Franklin means Dillian Whyte will have to continue waiting for a British grudge match.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
SunSport revealed the Brixton ace is FUMING he didn’t get a shot against Joshua after beating Franklin himself in November.
But AJ is remaining focused as he gets his head down in a training camp in Texas, USA.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said: “This guy is out there, he’s in Texas, he’s working and grinding every day.
“This guy’s got money in the bank, he’s got world championship belts on the wall, he don’t care about either of them.
“He cares for the sport of boxing, he cares for regaining his world heavyweight title, and I’m telling you, he’s coming back with a vengeance.
“Anyone who wants to doubt Anthony Joshua, this guy’s a fine young man who’s about to make an assault on the world heavyweight title again.
“I can’t wait, I’m so excited. I’m more excited than when this journey began.” More

DILLIAN WHYTE is raging that his Anthony Joshua showdown has been axed for an April 1 ‘battle of the fools’.Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn billed Whyte’s November win over Jermaine Franklin as the semi-final for the chance to meet his man.
Dillian Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin back in NovemberCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Now he is fuming that the American will face Anthony Joshua instead of himCredit: Sportsfile
AJ got his revenge in a 2015 British title barnburner after Whyte’s amateur victory six years before.
So, when Whyte beat Franklin with new trainer Buddy McGirt, the trilogy fight was expected  to be signed and sealed.
But Joshua is now set to face Franklin on April 1 — on a pricey DAZN pay-per-view — and Whyte believes fans deserve better.
Whyte told SunSport: “I am all right but facing the usual b******s, I just want to make some fights but it’s f***ing frustrating.
READ MORE BOXING NEWS
“Everyone was told, all the boxing fans, the winner of me and Franklin fights AJ, so this is a f***ed up thing.
“I would have been better off losing the Franklin fight and getting the AJ fight!”
He continued: “I know DAZN need content for their subscribers but why choose to fight a low-profile American coming off a loss instead of having a massive British tear-up?
“It’s no surprise to me that they have chosen April 1 for this battle of the fools.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS

“I faced Franklin, the most dangerous and undefeated version of him, and beat him.
“Eddie was promising him many millions to fight AJ if he beat me.
“It’s protecting AJ because they all know if he loses again he will probably jack it in and a lot of people will be left with limp d***s in their hands.” More

OLEKSANDR USYK has taken to his SWIMMING POOL to continue his trolling of Tyson Fury.The undefeated Ukrainian is on the brink of finalising a historic undisputed heavyweight showdown with the Gypsy King.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to collide in a blockbuster showdown in AprilCredit: REUTERS
P4P king Usyk has repeatedly poked fun at Fury over the last few weeksCredit: INSTAGRAM@USYKAA
The Ukrainian has constantly poked fun at Fury’s fleshy stomachCredit: INSTAGRAM@UYSKAA
All that remains is for the venue for the mouthwatering clash to be finalised, although that hasn’t stopped Usyk from repeatedly trolling Fury on social media.
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion posted a video of himself running in a pool and tapping his belly as he said: “Hey, belly, I’m coming for you.”
Pound-for-pound king Usyk has repeatedly mocked Fury over his midsection since their heated face-off last December.
But the WBC king has lapped up the tummy taunts, saying: “I am the belly and big bellies eat rabbits.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“That’s what I’m going to do, eat him up. Let’s get the fight on first.
“There’s no good talking smack when the fight isn’t even happening yet.
“When the fight gets done and we get it all done with a date and venue, then it’s on.”
The biggest heavyweight fight in the last 25 years is on course to take place in Saudi Arabia on April 29, although Wembley is still in with an outside chance of hosting the bout.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST NEW CUSTOMER SIGN UP DEALS
But Fury claims to be in the dark over the location of the potentially career-defining fight.
The Gypsy King told Sky Sports: “We are just waiting on an announcement really.
“I’m in limbo like the rest of the world, I just want to fight.
“I’m not interested in who, what, where or when, I just want to fight.
“That’s it. If I’m not going to fight, then tell me, so I can just walk away and do something else.”
Usyk recently slammed Fury over his financial demands for the unification bout, writing on social media: “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.”
Fury vs Usyk is set to take place in Saudi on April 29Credit: Getty More

JOE JOYCE wants to lose his rag and wipe the floor with China’s giant Zhilei Zhang.The 37-year-old Putney Juggernaut faces the giant 39-year-old on April 15 at East London’s Copper Box arena.
The future is looking bright for Joe Joyce after his victory over Joseph Parker last yearCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Zhang is set to pose a difficult test for JoyceCredit: PA
The 6ft 6in iron-jawed ace is on a flying run of form, with recent wins over Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker.
While 6ft 6in ‘Big Bang Zhang’ suffered a harsh points loss last time out against Filip Hrgovic and is now 24-1-1.
Joyce is the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight world title currently around Oleksandr Usyk’s waist, so he could be at the front of the queue for the winner of Usyk and Tyson Fury’s planned April 29 undisputed decider.
Predicting a slugfest, Joyce roared: “It will be carnage in the centre of the ring! 
READ MORE ON BOXING
“I have lost my temper a few times in sparring and once was against a come-forward southpaw who was trying to knock me out. It was an exciting spar.”I think with me and Zhang there will be real heavy punches exchanged and I am sure it will be a good fight.
“It will be a good preparation for Usyk or Fury, plus I haven’t fought a southpaw since I won the Commonwealth title against Lenroy Thomas.”
Zhang is a huge attraction in China and was earmarked as a possible Anthony Joshua comeback opponent.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
But he has slipped down the pecking order since he was robbed in Saudi Arabia, on the last AJ vs Usyk undercard, and Joyce agrees he will be out for revenge.
Most read in Boxing
“He had a tough fight against Hrgovic,” Joyce said. “But I thought he won the fight.
“Zhang is a big, strong southpaw who is massive and he has been to the Olympics and all that. So, he has the experience and I think it will be a great fight.
“He bangs so I will have to watch out for it. As Hrgovic and I have a similar style, they had a great fight, so when we fight it should be entertaining.” More