Heavyweight boxing

HEAVYWEIGHT Michael Hunter labelled Anthony Joshua’s return fight against Jermaine Franklin “HORRIBLE.” AJ is set to announce Franklin as his comeback opponent on April 1, back at the O2 Arena for the first time in seven years.
Michael Hunter slammed Anthony Joshua’s return fightCredit: @MichaelHunterII
Anthony Joshua is set to announce Jermaine Franklin as his return opponentCredit: PA
Joshua, 33, is in need of a confidence-building win following consecutive points losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
Meanwhile Franklin, 29, made a name for himself in November when he was beaten in a disputed decision by Dillian Whyte, 34.
But the bout has left Hunter, 34, less than impressed despite acknowledging Joshua is in a must-win situation.
He told Pro Boxing Fans: “The fight, I think, is horrible. Them training? I think that’s a good fit for Anthony Joshua because of his simplicity.
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“I think that’s a horrible fight, but I think that maybe it’s good for Anthony Joshua as a personal fight for him. I do think that. But as far as a fan fight, no.”
Joshua is without a knockout since 2020, when he disposed of Kubrat Pulev, 39, in nine rounds.
And ex-world champion-turned retired pundit Dave Haye fears something is amiss if AJ does not make quick work of Franklin.
Haye, 42, said:  “He should beat Jermaine Franklin.
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“It was a good fight he gave Dillian Whyte, so he’s shown he has some skills, he’s shown he’s got a nice jab and some good head movement.
“But if AJ can’t blast him out of there in three or four rounds, then he’s doing something wrong.
“He’s so much bigger and stronger, so much more athletic and punches so much harder – and he’s an Olympic gold medallist.
“So, he’s got everything in his favour, he just needs to go out there and let his hands go.
“If he goes out there and tries to have a boxing match with him then he will have a hard time because the guy is quite a tricky little boxer.”
Dillian Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin in NovemberCredit: PA More

TYSON FURY has warned brother Tommy that he can become Cristiano Ronaldo’s personal trainer if he loses his grudge match with Jake Paul.The social media sensations will meet in a Saudi showdown on February 26 – nearly two years after their online feud began.
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will collide in a grudge match on February 26Credit: MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS
The pair took part in a heated face off last weekendCredit: GETTY
Tommy’s brother Tyson has vowed to leave him in Saudi if he loses to PaulCredit: JOE UK
Tyson has claimed Tommy can become Ronaldo’s PT in Saudi if he losesCredit: GETTY
The Fury family have publicly threatened to disown the former Love Island star if he loses to the YouTuber-turned-boxer.
And Tyson has told him he can make a new living by tending to Al-Nassr hitman Ronaldo’s physio needs if he doesn’t win the desert dust-up.
After gatecrashing Paul’s interview with the outlet, the Gypsy King told Joe: “I’ll leave him in Saudi Arabia.
“He can become Cristiano Ronaldo’s best pal and he can be a PT for Ronaldo in Saudi.”
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Despite the prospect of leaving Tommy in Saudi, WBC heavyweight king Tyson is looking forward to seeing his little brother go toe-to-toe with The Problem Child.
Tyson said: “Listen, I think it’s a great fight. The two guys are putting it on.
“They’re both undefeated and whoever loses is pretty much f***ed, I think.
“There’s not a lot to say. It’s like me, when you speak a lot of s*** you have to back it up and that’s it.
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“I’ve been doing these for years, 30-odd times in a row and now it’s time for the big boys to do it. I’m excited, I’m really excited.”
Tommy and Paul, 23 and 26 respectively, took part in a heated face-off last weekend and had to be separated by security.
A fired-up Tommy told the YouTuber: “Come 26th of February, this s***’s been going on too long, he’ll never box again.
“I’m not 50, I ain’t 40, I ain’t an MMA guy.
“I’ve been doing this my whole life and I swear to God you’re finished come 26th of February.”
He added: “I’ve beaten better people than you when I was 14 in the amateurs. I will school you. I’m not an MMA guy.

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

“I was beating people better than you when I was 14, when you was messing about on Disney Channel, so don’t come round here pretending you’re about it when you’re not.”
Paul replied: “He’s going to get knocked out by a Disney star, plain and simple, that’s it.
“You’ll see, you’ll see who the real professional boxer is.
“All these critics, all these people saying, ‘Fight a real boxer.’ Here we go.
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“Tommy has so much to lose, his family is going to disown him when I knock him the f*** out, plain and simple, that’s it.
“Sorry Tyson, I love you but it’s over for your brother.” More

TOMMY FURY revealed his dad could miss his fight with Jake Paul in Saudi Arabia – after breaking his ankle on a jog. The celebrity boxing rivals have once again rescheduled their anticipated grudge match, for February 26.
John Fury pictured with his son TommyCredit: Alamy
Fury has been training for the night of his life in Bolton but under the watchful eye of his coach and father John.
But there is no certainty his old man will make the fight night, having suffered a running injury.
Fury said: “My dad is currently on crutches with a broken ankle so he won’t be diving over any ropes.
“Hopefully it can heal up in the next four weeks, I don’t know.
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“But we are only going over to Saudi to do a job and come home safe and sound.”
John revealed the injury came from running on ice.
He told BBTVBoxing: “Listen, injuries happen, it’s my own fault being careless, jogging on the ice when I shouldn’t have been.
“It is what it is, I’ll get through it. I’ll put my best foot forward, which is my left one.”
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John’s son gets a third shot at Paul, having pulled out in December 2021 with a rib injury and then last August amid US visa issues.
But he now settles the score with his American opponent in Riyadh, with unbeaten records, reputations and bragging rights on the line.
And Fury, 23, admitted he DOES respect 6-0 Paul, 26, and any other social media star-turned fighter.
He said: “I have no bad blood toward influencer boxers. They all have the stones to get in that ring and have a go in front of a big crowd. 
“A lot of people that hide behind keyboards say a lot of stuff and then cannot back it up. 
“These guys are putting the training in, going out in front of big crowds and throwing down.
“Big respect to them, I hope they all earn millions of pounds and get the life they’ve always dreamed of.
“I want success for everybody. There’s no jealousy or bad blood in my body.”

Jake Paul and Tommy Fury facing offCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

TYSON FURY’s historic showdown with Oleksandr Usyk is reportedly “heading to” Wembley.Negotiations over the undisputed heavyweight title fight – the first in nearly 24 years – resumed after Fury’s lopsided beatdown of Derek Chisora last December.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to meet in a historic undisputed heavyweight bout in the springCredit: REUTERS
The mouthwatering clash was expected to take place in Saudi ArabiaCredit: JAMIE MCPHILIMEY
But Wembley is reportedly now the frontrunner to land the boutCredit: GETTY
The oil-rich King of Saudi Arabia was expected to land the mouthwatering duel – which is set to take place in April.
But according to ESPN, the eagerly-anticipated clash of undefeated heavyweights could take place under the famous Wembley arch.
Reporter Mike Coppinger said: “This fight was headed to Saudi Arabia.
“Now it could be headed to England, which means less money in the pot for everybody.
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“And Tyson Fury wants a lot of money to fight Usyk regardless of what he said in the past that it wasn’t about money, that he’d fight for free, but this is prizefighting, after all.
“They have to figure this out, and it’s looking like it’s heading to Wembley Stadium in London in late April, which is a better site for the fight.
“You can get 90,000 to 100,000 packed in there.
“Tyson Fury is a huge star, but they’ve got to figure this money problem right now.
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“They’ve gone to the Usyk side to get some money from there, and it’s not worked out, of course.”
Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum revealed last week Wembley was the preferred venue for the bout.
The Top Rank chief told Sky Sports: “It depends [on] what the deals are and so forth.
“There are a number of us that would prefer the fight to be in Wembley, but again it depends on the money.

“The fighters have a very short limit of their careers and they have to make whatever money.
“Particularly large amounts of money, because in a few years it’s not going to be available.
“I just think it’s going to be a tremendous fight.”
WBC king Fury has been left frustrated by the delay in finalising the career-defining fight, telling Sky Sports: “I’ve been training and we’re just waiting on an announcement.
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“I’m in limbo like the rest of the world.
“I’m not interested in who, what, where or when. I just want to fight and that’s it.” More