Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA isn’t mentally tough enough to fight Deontay Wilder on his boxing return, according to the Bronze Bomber’s coach. Wilder, 37, knocked out Robert Helenius, 38, in round one of his October comeback fight which followed after a year out.
Malik Scott pictured with Deontay WilderCredit: Refer to Caption
Anthony Joshua walks the runway of the Boss Fashion ShowCredit: Getty
But two months earlier, AJ was beaten for the second time on points by Oleksandr Usyk, 35, and subsequently took the rest of the year off.
Promoter Eddie Hearn warned Joshua, 33, is expected to return by April for a comeback fight against a top 15 contender.
That is despite Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel and trainer Malik Scott opening the door for an anticipated super-fight between them.
But Scott expects consecutive losses to ex-cruiserweight Usyk will have a major effect on Joshua’s confidence.
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Scott told Kate Abdo: “This is what I do understand. The lack of mental strength might not be there because he lost to a smaller guy.
“To go up against a specimen like Deontay Wilder, you may need to build yourself up to take on that kind of fighter. I get it.
“The advantages and the things I see Deontay doing to whatever AJ shows up, mentally tough, not mentally tough; it’s a three-round fight, in my opinion.
“He can’t get out of the way. Deontay is not a big guy. That is a big guy that punches slowly. It comes fast, and you can’t get out of it.
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“If you can’t get out of the way of it, you’re in trouble. And I think AJ is in trouble if he signs the contract.”
Hearn is ready to negotiate for Joshua to finally fight Wilder, but teased an end of year blockbuster after two return fights.
He told DAZN: “We pretty much know his date. We’re down to three or four opponents that we’re talking to.
“Obviously, rumours of his new training team, and there will be a full announcement from Joshua on that.
“The plan now is to rebuild him to become a three-time heavyweight world champion, and the trainer will want to take the appropriate steps to do that.
“It’s all very well being brave, listening to Twitter, going out, and fighting Deontay Wilder [next] and doing this and doing that, but there has to be a plan, a smart plan.
“A smart plan is he wants to return against a top 15 guy in a credible fight and return in the summer against probably Dillian Whyte and then move forward against Wilder or Tyson Fury in a mega-fight in the ultimate 2023.”
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn with Anthony JoshuaCredit: PA More

ANTHONY JOSHUA already has up to FOUR potential opponents pencilled in – with his return date all-but finalised. The former unified heavyweight champion has been out since August when he lost to Oleksandr Usyk for the second time.
Promoter Eddie Hearn pictured with Anthony JoshuaCredit: PA
And following failed talks with Tyson Fury, 34, in December, AJ took the rest of the year off to rest and recover.
It now leaves him primed for a comeback fight in April with promoter Eddie Hearn considering opponents.
Hearn told DAZN: “We are down to three or four opponents.
“He is ready to start camp and will likely start that camp this week. Honestly, I couldn’t give Anthony Joshua an opponent he will turn down.
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“It’s all about putting together the right training team.”
Joshua, 33, is on the scout for a new training camp following consecutive losses to Usyk.
After the first, in September 2021, Joshua parted ways with long-time cornerman Rob McCracken, who led him to gold in the amateurs and pros.
He replaced McCracken with esteemed US mastermind Garcia, but following rematch defeat by Usyk, 35, the two have now also split.
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It leaves Joshua heading back to the drawing board ahead of his return, which could pave the way for a three-fight 2023.
Hearn said: “He wants to return to return with a Top 15 guy.
“Then in the summer probably versus Dillian Whyte and then a mega-fight with Deontay Wilder.
“The plan now is to rebuild him to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
“It’s all very well being brave, listening to Twitter, going out and fighting Deontay Wilder. But there has to be a plan, a smart plan.”
Anthony Joshua could fight three or four times in 2023Credit: PA More

TYSON FURY has vowed to crush Oleksandr Usyk when the pair meet later this year.The undisputed heavyweight clash could take place in March according to Fury’s promoter Frank Warren.
Tyson Fury belives Oleksandr Usyk is no match for himCredit: Getty
The pair are set to face off in MarchCredit: Getty
There has been plenty of trash talk between the pair and the Gypsy King added fuel to the fire in a recent interview with The Telegraph.
Fury believes Usyk will be no match for him and vowed to “hunt down” the Ukrainian.
He said: “I don’t think he’s big enough and strong enough to stand up to the punches.
“It’s a challenge but he’ll be running away like a little b**** all night.
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“I will hunt him down and when I get hold of him he’ll be crushed.”
Fury previously branded Usyk a “bum” and launched an x-rated rant at the 35-year-old when the duo came face-toface after Fury’s victory over Derek Chisora.
The Brit, 34, said: “Where’s Usyk the rabbit?
“Me and you, sucker, next. Me and you! You’re getting it, little sucker. Rabbit! P***Y!
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“Look, a 15-stone little midget beat a bodybuilder. But I ain’t a bodybuilder, sucker. I’m gonna write you off!
“I already done one Ukrainian in (Wladimir) Klitschko didn’t I? And I’ll do you as well, gappy teeth.
“You ugly little man. Lets get it on b****. You may laugh now but I’ll end this lil sucker. I’ll end you.
“You little sucker. What are you gonna do? You’re gonna do f*** all you little sausage.” More

EDDIE HEARN has revealed the three-fight plan designed to make Anthony Joshua world champion once again.Joshua lost his heavyweight crown to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and failed to win it back in a Saudi Arabia showdown last August.
Anthony Joshua is bidding to win back his world titlesCredit: Getty
Eddie Hearn has a three-fight plan in place for AJCredit: Getty
But promoter Hearn has a plan in place to get AJ back to the top, and it could begin with a fight against a top 15 opponent in April.
Hearn revealed an announcement on that bout is expected in the next week, and once Joshua overcomes that hurdle he could fight Dillian Whyte for a second time, or Deontay Wilder.
But Hearn wants his fighter to take the smart option and hinted that Wilder could be Joshua’s third fight of the year, with Tyson Fury another option.
Hearn told the DAZN boxing show: “Anthony Joshua and Canelo Alvarez are in the works to announce that first slate of 2023. AJ is fighting a month earlier than Alvarez, so he’ll be pretty much ready to go with an announcement in a week or so.
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“We pretty much know his date. We’re down to three or four opponents that we’re talking to. Obviously, rumours of his new training team, and there will be a full announcement from Joshua on that.
“The plan now is to rebuild him to become a three-time heavyweight world champion, and the trainer will want to take the appropriate steps to do that.
“It’s all very well being brave, listening to Twitter, going out, and fighting Deontay Wilder [next] and doing this and doing that, but there has to be a plan, a smart plan.
“A smart plan is he wants to return against a top 15 guy in a credible fight and return in the summer against probably Dillian Whyte and then move forward against Wilder or Tyson Fury in a mega-fight in the ultimate 2023.”
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Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield advised Joshua to “play the game” if he wants to get back to the top.
That could mean a first fight of the year against a boxer where he is the heavy favourite, with Otto Wallin mooted as a possible opponent.
Then could come a showdown with Whyte which Hearn previously tipped for the summer, before a blockbuster tie against Wilder or Fury. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s trilogy fight with Dillian Whyte is set to take place in “the summer”.The Watford warrior targeted a third showdown with his old rival following back-to-back losses to undefeated unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte have twice gone to warCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
Joshua won their professional dust-up via brutal seventh-round KOCredit: REUTERS
Eddie Hearn has revealed the pair’s trilogy fight is on course for ‘the summer’Credit: GETTY
But promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Brixton Body Snatcher won’t be the first fight of Joshua’s career rebuild – which is set to get underway in the spring.
The Matchroom Boxing chief said: “I think AJ against Dillian Whyte is always going to be a huge fight, and I think you’re going to see that in the summer.
“Two heavyweights that really don’t like each other. A big year for both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.”
Joshua and Whyte, 33 and 34 respectively, own victories over one another – with the former’s coming in the professional ranks.
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And settling their rivalry once and for all is high up on his wishlist, so much so he’d rather face Whyte than WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury.
When asked who he’d prefer to fight out of the two, AJ told GQ: “It has to be Dillian Whyte. South London, North London.
“Fury’s good, but he’s a Manchester boy.
“I think Dillian has more swag in general, but he’s come up short a few times.”
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Joshua and Whyte agreed to a series decider during an impromptu meeting in London in May.
Joshua recalled the conversation by saying: “‘Bruv, can you see I’m in Black Air Forces, bruv.
“‘I’m not messing about with you, you know, bruv. I want that fight.”
He added: “No, I’m joking. Dillian’s cool, Dillian’s only messing about.
AJ and Whyte agreed to throw down again during an impromptu meeting last yearCredit: DILLIAN WHYTE
“This was just after his fight with Fury, he was just explaining to me what he had been through.
“From that picture, it looks like he’s putting me under pressure, but I’m under no pressure there.
“I’ll still smoke Dillian anyway.”
Joshua, 33, is set to return to action in March at London’s O2 Arena, although an opponent for his first outing of the year has not yet been finalised. More

JAKE PAUL and Tommy Fury are “close” to agreeing to fighting one another for a THIRD time.The social media sensations have twice signed on the dotted line to throw down but have yet to share the ring.
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury have been twice scheduled to face one anotherCredit: BT SPORT
Fury was twice forced to pull out of the grudge matchCredit: GETTY
Promoter Frank Warren has revealed third deal is close to coming to fruitionCredit: PA
SunSport understands talks over the grudge match resumed not long after Fury’s short-notice Dubai dust-up with Rolly Lambert last November.
And promoter Frank Warren has revealed both parties are not “far off” reaching a third agreement.
He told iFL TV: “Both sides are really eager to making it happen and I don’t think we’re far off getting it on.
“I think we’re quite close to making it happen.”
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Former Love Island star Fury – the brother of WBC heavyweight champ Tyson – will receive a career-high purse for the showdown.
Warren said: “It’s a life-changing money fight for him and obviously he wants it.”
Paul and Fury, 25 and 23 respectively, were first scheduled to trade leather in December 2021 but injury and illness to the latter scuppered the bout.
The showdown was rebooked for last August but fell through in July when Fury was banned from entering the United States.
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But Warren is confident it’ll be third time lucky once the deal is finalised.
The Queensberry Promotions chief said: “It was on, then he couldn’t get into the States which was a problem.
“But we’ll get it on, we’re really determined to make it happen.
“All sides are really good on getting it over the line – we will get it over the line.”
YouTuber turned boxer Paul has gone a perfect 6-0 since turning pro in December 2019 and is confident of wiping the floor with the youngest Fury.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: “The kid’s a novice, he’s never fought anyone good.
Jake Paul believes he’ll easily get the better of Tommy FuryCredit: REUTERS
“He’s never even fought an eight-round fight.
“He just doesn’t have the experience like I do, which is crazy to say because he’s been doing it his whole life.
“But people call him a professional boxer and they respect him as a professional boxer.
“So I would love to strip that title from him.
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“I wouldn’t even have to actually train for that fight.
“I would still train because I’m a professional, but I wouldn’t have to train to fight him.” More

TYSON FURY’s historic undisputed heavyweight title fight with Oleksandr Usyk is on course to take place in “early March”.Negotiations over the clash of undefeated champions resumed after Fury’s Tottenham trilogy fight with Derek Chisora last December.
Tyson Fury resumed negotiations over a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk after his Tottenham trouncing of Derek ChisoraCredit: PA
The pair faced off after Fury’s third defence of the WBC heavyweight titleCredit: REUTERS
Promoter Frank Warren has revealed the bout is in the works for ‘early March’Credit: PA
Elbow surgery was set to rule Fury, 34, out until after the spring, but promoter Frank Warren has revealed it’s all systems go for a March meeting.
When asked to provide an update on the fight, the Queensberry Promotions chief told iFL TV: “The date will probably be in March.
“That’s basically where we’re at, early March.”
The oil-rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a serious contender to land the undisputed showdown – the first since Lennox Lewis’ rematch with Evander Holyfield 24 years ago.
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But a site deal has yet to be finalised – leaving the door open to a potential Wembley war for all the heavyweight marbles.
Warren continued: “No location has been finalised, once we get the fight done then the rest will just fall into place.
“We’re still negotiating as to the site but until we’ve got the fight done then we’ve got nothing.
“Let’s get the fight done and then get to where it’s going to take place.
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“You never know, it could take place at Wembley.”
Both parties will move quickly to finalise a venue for the bout, which will go to the bidder willing to stump up the most cash.
Warren said: “The decision will be made with the site very quickly because we want to get it on in March.
“And if we want it to go on in March it has to go on sale soon, no matter where it takes place.
“We are not going to mess around and put one against the other, it is going to be about where the boys can make the most money.”
Fury and Usyk, 35, sized one another up after the Gypsy King’s lopsided beatdown of old rival Chisora.
Tyson Fury reckons Oleksandr Usyk will be an easier night at the office than against Derek ChisoraCredit: REUTERS
And the WBC champ reckons the slick southpaw will be an easier night at the office than against Chisora.
He told iFL TV: “I don’t think it is a tough fight: “I don’t think it’s nowhere near as tough as old Del Boy [Derek Chisora].
“He will not stand up to those punches that Derek did against me.
“When I watch the fight between him and Derek, whether people want to admit it or not, it was a 50/50 fight.
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“It might have been 55/45, but it wasn’t a landslide.
“It wasn’t like he didn’t win a round, like he didn’t against me.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been advised to “play the game” if he wants to regain his title as a heavyweight champion. Following back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk, which saw Joshua lose the WBA, WBO and IBF titles, he has now been told how he can return to his glory days.
Anthony Joshua has been told how he can get back to winning waysCredit: PA
Evander Holyfield has told Joshua to “play the game” to reclaim his crownCredit: Getty
Boxing legend Evander Holyfield, who is the only four-time heavyweight champ, has encouraged the Brit to be more aggressive in his approach and to use his physical advantages.
Speaking to iFL TV, he said: “Anthony Joshua is a good fighter, but if you don’t throw enough punches, you don’t use your size to your advantage.
“He is a big guy, he’s got to use the jab, everybody knew (Adonis) Stevenson had a great jab and that’s pretty much what he is throwing.
“Every time he catches you asleep with the jab, then you get hit with a right hand and you are out of there.
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“Anthony Joshua can pretty much do the same thing, he is big and large and a good fighter.
“He actually can box, but he has to be a bit more aggressive you have to use your size to your advantage.
“Sometimes he gets with a guy, he won’t overbear him, he won’t push you down but they are trying to push him down.
“You have to play the game out right to not let somebody out-hustle you.”
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Joshua is looking to return to the ring early this year.
Last month, promoter Eddie Hearn earmarked Spring as the time of his return, though an opponent is yet to be confirmed.
A number of candidates are said to be in the running for the bout including Dillian Whyte and Deontay Wilder, while Otto Wallin has been declared the “perfect” opponent for AJ.
Another defeat could be catastrophic for his career, and despite Joshua changing his support staff TWICE in one year trainer Barry McGuigan insists the ultimate blame lies with him.
He told Boxing King Media: “The fact is he’s been around a few different trainers and that automatically makes you think he is blaming the trainer for not performing.
“The bottom line is it is with you.
“You are responsible for your performance. I think Joshua is going through a crisis, he needs to stop questioning himself. He’s got to knuckle down and get on with it.
“Whoever he goes with he has to concentrate on fighting aggressively whether he fights Usyk again or fights Tyson Fury.”
Joshua has gone to America to find his next trainer after splitting with Robert Garcia, with the former coach claiming Joshua needs a “stricter camp” to get back on top. More