Heavyweight boxing

TYSON FURY has returned from a family holiday in Tenerife as he prepares to ramp up his training for the blockbuster bout with Oleksandr Usyk.The Gypsy King, 34, has been enjoying some downtime in early 2023 as he jetted off to the Spanish island for some relaxation.
Tyson Fury hugging wife Paris in the airportCredit: SWNS
The pair have been together since they were teenagersCredit: SWNS
Tyson and Paris have six children with one anotherCredit: SWNS
Fury has returned to England and will now train for the Oleksandr Usyk fightCredit: SWNS
Fury and Paris with their six childrenCredit: Instagram
Fury, wife Paris and their six children, flew out for a two-week vacation at the start of January.
But they are now back in the UK and the world heavyweight champion was snapped hugging Paris as they waited to collect their suitcases.
Paris has six kids with Tyson – Venezuela, 13, Prince John James, nine, Prince Tyson II, four, Valencia, three, Prince Adonis Amaziah, two, and baby Athena.
Athena was rushed straight to the ICU after her birth in August 2021.
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The worried parents were by their daughter’s side around the clock as she was treated in intensive care.
And to their delight, she was eventually discharged and able to return home.
Fury’s eight-person family will now return to Morecambe as the boxer begins his latest training camp.
He ended 2023 with a one-sided beatdown of Derek Chisora to defend his WBC title for a third time.
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Now he is on a collision course with undefeated Ukrainian Usyk, 36, for the undisputed heavyweight crown.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren revealed earlier this week that the clash between the two unbeaten fighters is set to take place in early April.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, he said: “We’re expecting a couple of offers this week, but none of them have come through and then Tyson has to make his decision.
“I hope it’s going to happen at the end of March, early April, that’s where we’re looking at the moment.
“So, fingers crossed we get it over the line for that date, but it will definitely, definitely happen.”
Negotiations are understood to be at an advanced stage, with a site deal one of the few matters to be resolved.
Warren said: “We’re very far down the road, but there are a couple of things we’ve got to work on.
“We’re trying to get to a point where we can announce it fairly soon and we all think it’s going to happen.”
Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, right, came face to face last monthCredit: Reuters More

JOE JOYCE’S mum has sent out a warning to Tyson Fury by saying: “He’s coming to knock you off the throne.” Joyce is the unbeaten mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO belt.
Joe Joyce celebrates victory over Joseph ParkerCredit: PA
Joe Joyce’s mother Marvel Opara pictured in 2020Credit: Rex
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
But Usyk, 36, is set to face Fury, 34, in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed title decider.
It leaves Joyce, 37, primed to challenge the winner of the historic unification.
Fury named his former sparring partner as a part of his three-fight plan in 2023.
But Joyce’s mum Marvel has warned the Gypsy King to be careful what he wishes for.
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She told The Mirror: “He’s going to juggernaut Fury.
“He’s coming to knock you off the throne. The Juggernaut is coming to get you.”
Marvel, who has been blind since childhood, has trained in martial arts and provides Joyce with his biggest motivation.
He said: “I get my drive to succeed from her.
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“I’ve always been inspired by her determination – she doesn’t let anything get in the way of what she wants to do.”
Joyce won the WBO “interim” title in September by knocking out former champion Joseph Parker, 31, in 11 thrilling rounds.
It means he would inherit the full title should it be vacated or at a minimum guarantees him a shot at the gold.
And promoter Frank Warren has tipped a championship bout between Fury and Joyce to sell out Wembley’s 90,000-plus stadium.
Warren said: “Fury v Joyce is a fight everyone wants to see.
“It’ll sell out Wembley Stadium. With all things going to plan, I’d hope to see that fight this summer.”
Joe Joyce and Tyson Fury have sparred each other before More

TYSON FURY has been warned by his ex-coach Ben Davison he will “STRUGGLE” against Oleksandr Usyk should he fight a certain way. The pair of unbeaten rivals are in talks for a historic undisputed title decider this year, which is set to be pushed back to April.
Trainer Ben Davison with Tyson Fury in 2018Credit: Action Images – Reuters
Oleksandr Usyk is in talks to fight FuryCredit: Instagram / @uskyaa
Fury, 34, is the odds-on favourite to emerge as the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed champion.
But his old trainer Davison believes the longer the fight goes, the more it favours ex-cruiserweight king Usyk, 36.
He told Queensberry’s YouTube channel: “Personally, I think he will struggle if he tries to play the long game with Usyk.
“I think a massive strength of Tyson’s is his agility for a guy of that size, so when he’s against guys of that size it really shows out.
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“However, against someone like Usyk those advantages will get taken away. Someone one-dimensional will struggle.
“Tyson is very versatile, very good at locking up, stepping to someone, he’s able to do that.
“He’s got a great engine, he’s got bundles of heart, extremely tough and does tuck up well. Good on the inside for a man of that size which is very rare.
“Can cut the ring off, so me personally, I think that’s how the fight will go for a Tyson victory.
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“I think he’ll struggle if he looks to play the long game with Usyk, in my opinion.”
Davison helped bring Fury back from 28 STONE and a deep depression all the way to challenging for the world title again.
But following a disputed 2018 draw with Deontay Wilder, Fury instead hired American Sugarhill Steward.
With Steward, he has twice stopped Wilder, knocked out Dillian Whyte and halted Derek Chisora in ten rounds.
Usyk, off the back of two wins over Anthony Joshua, watched Fury dispatch of Chisora at Tottenham and the pair faced off after.
Talks for the two two unify their belts have been ongoing ever since and promoter Frank Warren provided an update.
He said on talkSPORT: “We’re expecting a couple of offers this week, but none of them have come through and then Tyson has to make his decision.
“I hope it’s going to happen at the end of March, early April, that’s where we’re looking at the moment.
“So, fingers crossed we get it over the line for that date, but it will definitely, definitely happen.”
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Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk squaring up in DecemberCredit: REUTERS More

JERMAINE FRANKLIN has urged Anthony Joshua to “give fans what they want” and sign on the dotted line.The American is the front-runner to be the man opposite the former two-time unified heavyweight champion in his crucial April comeback fight.
Anthony Joshua is on course to return to the ring in AprilCredit: GETTY
Several names are in the running to face AJ in his crunch return boutCredit: GETTY
American Jermaine Franklin has publicly laid down the gauntlet to AJCredit: GETTY
SunSport understands talks are progressing well but a deal has not yet been reached, which has prompted Franklin to take to social media to try get the fight over the line.
Along with a twinned picture of himself and AJ, the 29-year-old tweeted: “I’m ready.
“Time to give the fans what they want.
“Two great boxers who want to put the fans’ interest first, USA vs UK.”
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An official offer has yet to be tabled to Franklin, although that hasn’t dampened his excitement at potentially facing the golden boy of British boxing.
Promoter Dmirty Salita told Sky Sports: “Yes, Jermaine is excited about the opportunity to once again show the British boxing fans that he is the best American heavyweight in the world.
“As you saw in the [Dillian] Whyte fight, Jermaine is not intimidated by a big name even if it’s thousands of miles away from home.
“His mindset is to be the heavyweight champion of the world. Beat Joshua, beat Whyte in the rematch and fight the winner of Fury vs Usyk.”
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Franklin suffered a controversial points defeat to Brixton Body Snatcher Whyte last November.
Joshua, meanwhile, endured a second successive decision defeat to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk last August.
Defeat to the Ukrainian has put AJ on the periphery of the world title picture, so much so he can ill-afford another loss.
Promoter Eddie Hearn recently admitted: “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’s historic showdown with Oleksandr Usyk is set to take place later than initially expected.Talks over a blockbuster undisputed clash between the undefeated heavyweights resumed after Fury’s lopsided beatdown of Derek Chisora last December.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are on course for a blockbuster undisputed boutCredit: REUTERS
The mega-fight was initially targeted for March 4Credit: GETTY
But promoter Frank Warren has revealed the bout will likely happen in early AprilCredit: PA
March 4 was the initial working date, but Fury co-promoter Frank Warren has revealed a delay in finalising the deal has paved the way for an “early April” dust-up instead.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, he said: “We’re expecting a couple of offers this week, but none of them have come through and then Tyson has to make his decision.
“I hope it’s going to happen at the end of March, early April, that’s where we’re looking at the moment.
“So, fingers crossed we get it over the line for that date, but it will definitely, definitely happen.”
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Negotiations are understood to be at an advanced stage, with a site deal one of the few matters to be resolved.
Warren said: “We’re very far down the road, but there are a couple of things we’ve got to work on.
“We’re trying to get to a point where we can announce it fairly soon and we all think it’s going to happen.”
Despite the delay, Warren insists Usyk and his team have been easy to work with.
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He said: “They have no promotional ties, they are free agents, they have no TV contracts, so that side of it is very simple.
The first undisputed heavyweight title fight in nearly 24 years is expected to land in the Middle East, although Warren has refused to rule out the prospect of it taking place at Wembley.
He said: “Tyson’s the attraction.
“In his last two fights, he’s had 160,000 people watching.
“But we’re working it out and they’re sensible people and we’re sensible people.”
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have been going back and forth on social mediaCredit: Reuters
WBC king Fury has been on the receiving end of multiple call outs from slick southpaw Usyk of late, which he responded to on Tuesday.
In a video on his social media channels, he said: “Tyson Fury here.
“WBC heavyweight number one – get up world champion!
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“Usyk, calling out the Gypsy King with your pathetic little callouts, dosser.
“Rabbit. I’m coming for you, rabbit. You’re getting it, rabbit.” More