Heavyweight boxing

TYSON FURY’s potential bout against Oleksandr Usyk has been given a major boost.The IBF had been pushing for Filip Hrgovic to be Usyk’s next fight but have now stepped down.
Tyson Fury’s fight against Oleksandr Usyk has been given a boostCredit: Reuters
The IBF had been pushing for Usyk to fight Filip HrgovicCredit: Getty
But backed down to the WBA mandatory Daniel Dubois who is managed by Frank WarrenCredit: Getty
The IBF had wanted the Croatian to have his shot but accepted that the WBA mandatory, Daniel Dubois, is ahead of him.
However, the British boxer is managed by Frank Warren, who is also the manager of Fury.
This means that there will be less pressure to make Usyk’s next fight against Dubois.
Therefore it is more likely that a clash between the Ukrainian and Fury will happen sooner.
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The pair could fight without all four belts being put on the line.
In December, Warren told talkSPORT: “I’m not sure [about the rematch].
“I mean we haven’t got into that, but I probably think there would be [a rematch clause] because, God forbid, one of them gets a cut eye or anything goes wrong.
“Anything can happen in boxing as we know – then there would be.
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“The four belts are on the line, and the winner gets them.
“If there is a rematch, I don’t think then the four belts will be on the line for it cause I don’t think the governing bodies will allow it.
“I think they’ll just say ‘right, you’ve got to get on with your mandatories now.’” More

JOE JOYCE said Anthony Joshua has “changed” since defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr – and believes his British rival is ducking him because of it. AJ was stopped in seven rounds by Ruiz in June 2019 but reformed his style to win their rematch on points six months later.
Joe Joyce believes Anthony Joshua is ducking himCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Anthony Joshua has been called out by Joe JoyceCredit: Getty
Since then, Joshua, 33, has suffered consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 35, and has not returned since.
A summer rematch against Dillian Whyte, 34, who AJ beat in 2015, has been teased by promoter Eddie Hearn.
And unbeaten contender Joyce, 37, reckons that is the fight to reveal what Joshua has left.
He told iD Boxing: “He’s not gun shy but he’s apprehensive about being knocked out because he’s been knocked out a few times.
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“He prefers to be on the back foot and out of danger. It will tell when we see the rematch with him and Dillian Whyte. 
“In the Dillian Whyte fight, he was getting hit with big shots, he was wobbling on his feet but was still coming forward.
“Something obviously changed after the Ruiz loss but he’s still a good fighter and there’s plenty of interesting fights for him and I’d like to fight him as well.” 
Joshua is expected to return by April against a top 15 rated contender before a rematch with Whyte follows.
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Hearn has also named Tyson Fury, 34, and Deontay Wilder, 37, as end of year blockbuster bouts for AJ.
Although Joyce – the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s belt – was not listed in the mix of opponents.
He said: “It’s not a surprise because when does Joshua mention my name?
“Apart from when I was in the Olympics, soon as I turned pro, he didn’t mention my name or Eddie Hearn.”
Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce at the 2016 OlympicsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

TYSON FURY is “SPENT” and has been urged to avoid Joe Joyce by his sparring partner after complaining about sore arms and elbows. Fury has compared himself to a banged up Ford Escort in the past following years of hard graft in the gym.
Alan Babic has sparred with Tyson Fury
And Croatian Alan Babic can attest to that having shared sparring rounds with the unbeaten WBC champion.
It has even left Babic warning Fury not to fight Joyce, who is in line to challenge for the world title this year.
He told iD Boxing: “He’s one of my favourite personas. I was in his camp for one month and he was so good to me and gave me everything.
“He is a true persona. I think Joe Joyce [doesn’t have that] persona – not even close like Tyson Fury.
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“But Joe Joyce is, in my opinion, a more dangerous guy right now. I think Tyson Fury is more spent, you know?
“He also said his arms hurt, his elbows, everything. He’s f***ed, in his own words. I think Joe Joyce is that kind of juggernaut, he just doesn’t feel pain.
“Something like myself. He just doesn’t feel pain, he just goes on. I don’t know if it’s smart for Tyson Fury [to take that fight.]
“I think that’s the toughest fight, but I will never count Tyson Fury out. He’s the champion and that’s not for nothing.”
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Fury, 34, sparred Babic, 32, before beating Derek Chisora in their December trilogy bout.
Usyk, 35, was ringside at Tottenham’s stadium and the pair faced off as talks for a four-belt title unification continue.
Joyce, 37, is meanwhile the WBO mandatory challenger for Usyk’s belt putting him in line to face the winner of the undisputed decider.
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
Joe Joyce is in line to challenge for the world title this yearCredit: Getty More

JOSEPH PARKER has called out Anthony Joshua to a rematch, with the two heavyweights looking to rebuild their careers. Parker returns on January 21 against Jack Massey, on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr’s fight with Liam Smith.
Joseph Parker has called out Anthony Joshua to a rematchCredit: Getty
Anthony Joshua is yet to make his boxing returnCredit: Marc Aspland – The Times
It comes after the New Zealander, 31, was knocked out by Joe Joyce, 37, in their thriller in September.
Joyce became only the third man to beat Parker behind AJ and Dillian Whyte.
And the former WBO champion is eyeing revenge against his British rivals after returning against Massey in Manchester.
He told Sky Sports: “I would love to fight Dillian Whyte again, I think that first fight [we had] was very exciting and again on that day, he was the winner and he got the better of me.
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“There wasn’t a lot in it. If I can get a good win over Jack, that could be next.
“David Higgins, my manager, sent a message to Matchroom [to ask] if Joshua needed a fight but we got no reply back.
“He’s got to fight someone. I know he’s looking for a trainer or working with a few trainers in America but if AJ wants a fight, let me finish Jack off, if you’re looking for a fight, come to me.
“Dillian Whyte, if you’re looking for a fight, I’m available, after I take care of Jack.
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“Even Joe Joyce, if you want another fight and no one wants to fight you, let’s go again. I don’t really care. I have no worries about fighting anyone.”
Whyte, 34, most recently returned in a disputed majority decision win over American Jermaine Franklin, 29.
It set him up with a potential summer stadium rematch against Joshua, 33, who was ringside at Wembley Arena in November.
AJ is yet to return since losing his Saudi Arabia rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, 35, in August, his second defeat to the Ukrainian in 11 months.
He is expected to return by April against a top 15 rated contender before moving onto a rematch with Whyte.
Anthony Joshua beat Joseph Parker in 2018Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Dillian Whyte beat Joseph Parker in 2018Credit: Getty More

TYSON FURY took another step closer to an undisputed heavyweight showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.The two world champions are in negotiations to secure a deal and step into the ring with all the belts on the line.
Tyson Fury is in line to fight Oleksandr Usyk nextCredit: PA
Usyk holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring heavyweight beltsCredit: Getty
And boxing fans may not have to wait too much longer to see the ultimate blockbuster fight with a March 4 date on the cards.
That is because Fury’s promoter Frank Warren confirmed draft contracts have been sent to the Ukrainian star.
The Queensberry chief told talkSPORT: “We’ve sent them a draft contract, that’s where we’re at.
“Listen, it’s gotta be sorted out very, very quickly now because the time is against us.”
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Fury, 34, retained his WBC title by beating Derek Chisora last month.
Usyk, meanwhile, snatched the WBA, IBF and WBO belts by beating Anthony Joshua in 2021.
The 35-year-old then defended them in their August rematch while adding the vacant The Ring crown too.
And now the race is on to get Fury and Usyk to fight in less than eight weeks’ time – with the venue still not even decided.
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Saudi Arabia could be a possible destination, although Fury fans will want it staged in the UK.
Asked where the fight would take place, Warren added: “Wherever the most money comes from.
“Nothing’s in place from anywhere outside the UK.
“We know what it can generate in the UK, but if it goes elsewhere then that depends on what the numbers are.
“I know a lot of people complain about it and I agree it should be at Wembley, I’d love to see it there.
“But Muhammad Ali and George Foreman went and fought in Zaire, then you had the Thrilla in Manila, you had the big fights in Jamaica.
“They went where the money was and these guys will do the same thing.
“I want to get the fight on in March and so will Tyson.
“We just want to get it on in March and that’ll set them up for another big fight in the autumn.”
That autumn bout could at long last be the Battle of Britain with Joshua after talks collapsed at the end of 2022.

AJ may take on Otto Wallin in the spring followed by a rematch with Dillian Whyte in the summer.
And should he win both of those, an eagerly-anticipated fight with Fury or Deontay Wilder could be on before the end of 2023. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr “changed” him and made him “apprehensive about being knocked out”.The Watford warrior suffered one of the biggest modern upsets in boxing in his 2019 showdown with the American, in which he was knocked down four times en route to a seventh-round TKO loss.
Anthony Joshua suffered a shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square GardenCredit: GETTY
The New York nightmare has made Joshua lessCredit: AP
Joe Joyce reckons AJ is now afraid of getting knocked outCredit: GETTY
A lean and mean Joshua outboxed Ruiz in their rematch six months later to reclaim the unified heavyweight titles but opted against wading into the fire.
AJ has continued to adopt a much more cautious approach ever since, which Brit Joe Joyce believes is the direct result of him getting stopped at Madison Square Garden.
He told iDBoxing: “He’s not gunshy, but he’s apprehensive about being knocked out because he’s been knocked out a few times.
“He prefers to be on the back foot and out of danger.”
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Joyce reckons Joshua’s reluctance to get into a firefight will show when he eventually renews his rivalry with the hard-hitting Dillian Whyte later this year.
He said: “It will tell when we see the rematch with him and Dillian Whyte.
“In the Dillian Whyte fight, he was getting hit with big shots; he was wobbling on his feet but was still coming forward.
“Something obviously changed after the Ruiz loss.”
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Putney pounder Joyce would also like to test the chin of Joshua, who he knows all too well from the sparring sessions.
He said: “I’d like to fight him as well, so.
“We’re still yet to see, and I don’t think it will happen with, [Tyson] Fury.
“I don’t even think he’ll want to fight me even though he’s knocked me out in one round or stopped me in one round in the amateurs.
Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring in late MarchCredit: Getty
“What’s he afraid of?”
Joshua hasn’t set foot in the ring since losing his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last August.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champ is currently on course to return to the ring in late March, although an opponent for his comeback fight has not yet been finaised.
Joyce, meanwhile, is also targeting a March return following his 11th-round TKO win over former WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker last September. More

TYSON FURY would beat Anthony Joshua before he stepped in the ring due to the Olympic gold medallist’s “mental vulnerabilities”, says former world champion Liam Smith.Fury, 34, and Joshua, 33, have been linked with a heavyweight dust-up for many years but a bout has never taken place.
Tyson Fury has not been beaten in his 14-year professional careerCredit: Reuters
Anthony Joshua was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk for a second time in AugustCredit: Getty
UK fight fans had hoped an AJ victory over Oleksandr Usyk last summer would set up a clash with The Gypsy King.
But Joshua, who had already been beaten by Usyk in 2021, was outclassed again by the 35-year-old Ukrainian as he suffered a third defeat of his professional career.
Despite the loss, talks emerged about a Fury-AJ bout at the end of last year, before those discussions broke down.
WBC champion Fury went on to beat Derek Chisora for a third time and move to 34 fights unbeaten as a pro – with the only blemish on his record coming in a controversial draw with Deontay Wilder in December 2018.
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Now an all-British dust-up between the pair seems a way off once more, with Fury set to face Usyk for the undisputed crown in early 2023.
But Smith, 34, still feels there is a good chance we see the WBC king take on Joshua – although he feels the result would be settled before they stepped through the ropes.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Yeah it could happen. They’re still both young heavyweights.
“It’s got to happen. It might not happen next or in the next six to eight months but it will happen.
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“It’s a great fight for the British public but you’d have to go with Fury.
“He doesn’t know how to lose. He’s psychologically so strong.
“Joshua has mental vulnerabilities and Tyson could probably beat him before he stepped into the ring to be honest with you.”
Meanwhile, Smith is gearing up to face Chris Eubank Jr in a middleweight contest on January 21.
The Liverpudlian, who boasts a record of 32 wins, one draw and three losses, is the bookies underdog heading into the clash.
But promoter Ben Shalom has warned Eubank he will be in for a hard night as Smith heads into the contest off the back of wins over Anthony Fowler and Jesse Vargas.
Speaking about Smith, Shalom told Sky Sports: “This is a big, big fight for him, he’s had a wonderful career, he’s done everything that he’s dreamt of, but he’s almost having an Indian summer.
“The past 12 months for him have been an amazing 12 months so people will have enjoyed watching him box.
“He’s one of the most intelligent boxers I would say in British boxing at the moment and he feels that this is a fight ready-made for him and this is the fight that he wanted.
“Liam is a big guy, he’ll be more than comfortable at that weight, it’s a weight I think he feels more comfortable at now so it’s a serious fight and Eubank will be glad that he can fight at his chosen weight as well.
“I really believe the real boxing fans know that’s a real 50-50 fight, it could go either way.
“Liam as I say is an extremely smart fighter. One thing’s for sure, they’re both come-forward fighters and it’s going to be explosive from round one. Delighted that we’re going to see it.
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“This is a real fight, this is a boxing fans’ fight. This is two big names in the sport. Liam Smith former world champion and has achieved things I think Eubank will want to achieve in the next year or two.
“So I think it’s the perfect fight at the right time.”
Liam Smith, right, will face Chris Eubank Jr on January 21Credit: Getty More