Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY YARDE has built his explosive strength and power by following a strict training regime – which includes NO weights. The British light-heavyweight brute is on the cusp of unified world title glory this Saturday at Wembley Arena.
Anthony Yarde faces Artur BeterbievCredit: Getty
Artur Beterbiev is the WBC, IBF and WBO light-heavyweight championCredit: Getty
All that stands in his way is Russian Artur Beterbiev – boxing’s only champion with a 100 per cent knockout ratio from his 18 fights.
But fearless Yarde, 31, is up for the challenge and has whipped himself into sensational shape for the WBC, IBF and WBO title bout.
In 2021, the Londoner revealed the secrets behind his gruelling training camp in an interview with online outlet Coach.
And Yarde is no fan of new-school techniques, preferring to keep it tried and tested, swerving weights for the classics.
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He said: “Some people try to complicate things but, for me, doing old-school long runs works well.
“Of course, different things work for different people but I don’t really touch weights – it’s mainly explosive bodyweight stuff.
“Most of the time I’m just running with my dog! What do I say to people who don’t like that part of training?
“Well, if you want the results you need to do the work. That applies whether you’re training for a fight or running a business.”
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Yarde is known as one of the most feared punchers in the country, with 22 KOs in his 23 wins, and revealed it is all in the legs.
He explained: “Legs are so important in boxing. It’s about being explosive and agile, and you also want to avoid being static in the ring.
“I do jump squats at the end of my sessions. They are just bodyweight but the intensity is an all-out effort.
“I also do explosive press-ups, which help with punching power.”
Yarde also insisted letting his body recover is just as important as the tireless training in the gym.
He said: “I’ve changed my nutrition a lot in recent years.
Of course, different things work for different people but I don’t really touch weights – it’s mainly explosive bodyweight stuff. Anthony Yarde
“Now I work with a nutritionist through Maximuscle and the biggest difference I see is in my recovery.
“I always just used to deal with the post-training pain – but now, with more attention to detail with my nutrition, I recover faster.
“A big thing for me is using BCAAs during training and then in my post-workout shake.
“I also get cravings for sweet things and I find the flavour satisfies that, which means it helps to regulate my appetite.”
Yarde was once a budding footballer before switching to boxing and likes to freshen up his sessions with a good ball game.
He revealed: “When you see some guys who’ve only ever done boxing they can be a bit stiff in their upper body and a bit flat-footed.
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“My football background taught me to have quick feet and my athletics background gave me dynamic flexibility and explosive power.
“Having different influences also makes you open to new training ideas – I’ve always been open-minded about how to train.”
Anthony Yarde has 22 KOs in his careerCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Anthony Yarde does not use weights in trainingCredit: Getty
Anthony Yarde using weights in his sessionCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

DEONTAY WILDER was left in tears after talks to face Anthony Joshua broke down – but the door is still open to finally make the fight happen. The pair of heavyweight stars were in 2019 close to agreeing a deal for a historic four-belt heavyweight unification bout.
Deontay Wilder was left in tears after talks to face Anthony Joshua broke downCredit: Getty
Anthony Joshua could still fight Deontay Wilder in 2023Credit: Getty
Wilder’s team say they matched AJ’s demand of a $50million purse, though promoter Eddie Hearn questioned the legitimacy of the offer.
And when negotiations finally came to a heartbreaking collapse, a distraught Wilder sobbed as his dream-fight fell through.
His manager Shelly Finkel told SunSport: “I was on the phone with Deontay when it came that they weren’t going to fight us.
“He cried he was so upset. I bet you Joshua didn’t and if he did, it was from relief.
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“Deontay was on the phone and he went, ‘Oh no, I gave him everything he wanted.’
“Joshua said, ‘If I get $50milion I’ll fight.’ We offered him $50million for Las Vegas, he didn’t take it.
“He didn’t want to fight us, and you know, that’s his prerogative. But he can’t tell the public that he doesn’t want to fight Deontay.”
Wilder, 37, would go on to complete an epic trilogy of bouts with Tyson Fury, 34, losing the two rematches after they first drew in 2018.
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Meanwhile Joshua, 33, lost the WBA, IBF and WBO belts to Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, in June 2019 but won the sequel six months later.
He again suffered defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, 36, in September 2021 – although this time failing in his revenge mission a year later.
With Fury and Usyk set for in an undisputed title decider next, it leaves Joshua and Wilder free to at last settle the score in the ring.
And Finkel is happy to let AJ have up to two confidence-building comeback bouts – so long as they can lock in an agreement to fight at the end of 2023.
He said: “We could make it for the summer, as long as neither fighter loses or is injured, the fight can happen. Period.
“But somehow – and you can mark it down – Anthony Joshua will try wiggle into a fight in the summer with Dillian Whyte.
“I’d even go as far to say, lock in now November or December for Deontay and Joshua.”

Finkel and Hearn have suffered a fractured relationship over the years.
But they came together over the phone in December to hold talks for a fight between their star clients.
Finkel says Hearn proposed Whyte fight Wilder first, something they were not interested in.
But suddenly, in an interview with GQ, Joshua claimed he will “definitely” fight Wilder this year.
Finkel revealed: “Deontay calls me and says, ‘Did you read that?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He then says, ‘I don’t believe him.’ So right now, Deontay is right.”
Joshua is in line to return on April 1 against Jermaine Franklin, 29, who in November lost a disputed decision to Whyte, 34.
And Hearn has talked up a super-fight for AJ against either Wilder or Fury later in the year.
He cried he was so upset. I bet you Joshua didn’t and if he did, it was from relief. Deontay Wilder’s manager on Anthony Joshua fight collapse
But there are still fears from Wilder’s side on whether Joshua truly wants the bout or not.
Finkel said: “They want to take an easy fight just to get back in the ring and I don’t blame them.
“He then wants to fight Dillian Whyte and then they say they’ll either fight Fury or us.
“I didn’t think so before as much, but I do think Joshua is concerned, I don’t want to say afraid, of fighting Deontay Wilder.
“There’s no other explanation for his actions. And if he fights Fury, he’s not going to crush you like he would with a big punch from Deontay.”
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Finkel, despite half a decade of failed talks with Joshua’s team, is refusing to give up hope in the heavyweight blockbuster.
He said: “If they wanna take two fights, April and then June or July, with Dillian Whyte, as long as you win you can have Deontay after.”
Anthony Joshua with Deontay Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

TYSON FURY is set to open talks with the Saudis to finalise his historic undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk. The pair of unbeaten champions are negotiating the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout.
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
And due to the magnitude of the title fight, the Middle East are frontrunners to host with a mega fee to prise both men over to the desert.
Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum says Usyk’s side have already agreed a financial package they are happy with.
And now it could be over to the Gypsy King to do the same in order to get the genuine super-fight over the line.
Arum told Gareth A Davies: “I think the fighters want to fight each other, the question is where and the question is under what terms.
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“If the fight ends up in Saudi Arabia each fighter will make his deal with the Saudis.
“Usyk’s people tell me that they have a deal that they’re satisfied with and now and if the Saudis are truly interested they’ll make a deal with us for Tyson Fury and we’re off to the races.
“The fight would take place either before or after Ramadan but the fighters don’t need a long window to prepare if it’s after Ramadan because neither are Muslim.”
It is claimed April 29 is a date being explored for the fight, which will likely land in Saudi Arabia or Wembley Stadium.
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Hall of Famer Arum is in town this week as his fighter Artur Beterbiev, 38, defends his unified light-heavyweight titles against Anthony Yarde, 31.
And he plans for further talks with Fury’s UK promotional team of Frank Warren and son George.
Arum said: “I’m going over to London next week for the Artur Beterbiev – Anthony Yarde world title fight so I’ll be liaising in person with Frank and George and we’ll make whatever alternate arrangements we have to.”
Oleksandr Usyk, Bob Arum and Tyson Fury in New York in 2021Credit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA will return to the ring against American Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena on April 1.The two-time world heavyweight champion, 33, has not fought since losing to Oleksandr Usyk for a second time in Saudi Arabia five months ago.
Anthony Joshua has not won since beating Kubrat Pulev in December 2020Credit: AFP
Jermaine Franklin, right, lost a close decision to Dillian Whyte in NovemberCredit: Getty
The defeat was AJ’s third as a professional following his knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 and schooling by Usyk in 2021.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist was then linked with a December clash against long-time British rival Tyson Fury.

But when talks broke down, it quickly became apparent Joshua would not return to the ring until 2023.
Now The Mail are claiming the paperwork for an AJ-Franklin clash is set to be signed on Monday afternoon.
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The financials for the fight have been agreed, with the deal expected to be finalised imminently.
It will see Joshua return to the O2 Arena for the first time since he beat Dominic Breazeale in June 2016.
And he will be looking to secure a first win in more than two years when he faces Franklin in a make-or-break heavyweight dust-up.
Franklin, 29, saw his unbeaten pro record end with a majority decision defeat to Dillian Whyte back in November.
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The Michigan-born boxer felt he did enough to win the fight – with one judge scoring it 115-115 – but the other two officials gave it 116-112 in Whyte’s favour,
Despite the loss, Franklin’s promoter, Dmitry Salita, has insisted his man would beat Joshua.
He said: “Joshua, coming off two losses, changing trainers, is vulnerable.
‘Let’s be honest. Jermaine realises it. He feels like he has his own future and path.
“He’s ready to go out there and score the upset. Some feel like it could be an upset, and some don’t. But Jermaine’s going out there looking to score the win. 
“After, he wants the rematch with Dillian Whyte, and then he wants to fight the winner of [Tyson] Fury vs. Usyk.”
A loss for Joshua against Franklin could end his hopes of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion.
It will be AJ’s first non-world title bout since 2015 when he knocked out Whyte to win the British crown. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’S new coach has been tipped to get the former heavyweight champion “applying the pressure” again.The Brit has a huge year ahead of him as he looks to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua is set to return to action in AprilCredit: Reuters
Joshua, 33, has not confirmed his new coach, but is believed to be working with Derrick James.
Roy Jones Jr reckons that James is a brilliant appointment, and can get AJ back to his best.
Jones, 54, told Pro Boxing Fans: “Great decision, great decision.
“I told him before he did it that I thought it was a great decision, a great move.
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“I said if you feel comfortable there, don’t keep going around looking. If you’re comfortable, stay where you’re comfortable.
“[I told him], don’t come to me, it’ll just confuse you more. And now he’ll be like, ‘Should I go here or…?’ No — don’t do that. If you’re comfortable there, stay there, where you’re at.
“And then a couple of days later he said OK.
“He stayed with James, and that was perfect for him because I think James may be able to get him to apply the type of pressure that he needs to apply as a bigger man when he fights people like Usyk.”
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Roy Jones Jr reckons that AJ has made a brilliant coaching appointmentCredit: Getty
Joshua is expected to make his much-anticipated return to the ring in early April.
As revealed by SunSport over the weekend, Jermaine Franklin is one of three names in the frame to be Joshua’s next opponent.
Franklin’s team are in talks with AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn – while Demsey McKean and Gerald Washington are also in the frame.
This will be the second time in a row that AJ has gone into a bout with a new team, having ditched Rob McCracken last year and worked with Robert Garcia ahead of his Usyk rematch.
Joshua will fight at London’s O2 Arena on April 1 for the first time in seven years.
Quizzed if AJ can be a champion again, Jones Jr said: “Of course he can. Of course he can.
“He’s a very intelligent fighter, he’s a very talented fighter. Of course he can become world champion again.”
‘JOSHUA IS AN AMAZING HEAVYWEIGHT’
Franklin’s promoter Dmitriy Salita told SunSport: “I think that Jermaine is one of the frontrunners.
“Joshua is an amazing heavyweight. But at this point the question is how much does Joshua want to test himself and risk?
“Jermaine is waiting for confirmation and the fight announcement press conference.
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“Jermaine’s side is on board as soon as Joshua gives that green light.”
Last time out in November, Franklin, 29, lost a controversial decision to Dillian Whyte at Wembley Arena.
Jermaine Franklin was last in action against Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty More