Heavyweight boxing

FRANK WARREN said Tyson Fury’s undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk HAS to happen by March – or it will face total collapse. The unbeaten champions are in talks for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification.
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury have a deadline of March to fightCredit: AFP
Warren is leading negotiations on Fury’s behalf but admitted they face a race against the clock.
He told talkSPORT: “Both fighters absolutely want it.
“The managers and promoters all want it, so we’re just getting it together and working out where we’re gonna put it on – that’s really the situation.
“It’s gotta go on by March and so we’ve gotta all move quickly so over the next couple of weeks we will or we won’t get it sorted out.
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“But everybody wants to do the fight, absolutely want to do it.”
Middle East money men are ready to front huge sums to host the historic undisputed clash.
But Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum warned not to rule out Fury gaining home advantage with a stadium showdown in London.
Arum said: “Both fighters have agreed to fight, that is clear.
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“The question then is where the fight is held and that will be decided by the end of the year.
“There’s a couple of places in the Middle East that have expressed big interest and made offers and of course there is the possibility of doing the fight in Wembley Stadium.
“Whenever that fight happens and I believe it will happen within the first four months of the year, it’s going to be a huge, massive fight and I can’t wait to see it.”

Brad Jacobs of Top Rank with Bob Arum and Frank WarrenCredit: Getty
Tyson Fury facing off against Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters More

FRANK WARREN has warned boxing fans to expect a pay-per-view hike for Tyson Fury’s fights against Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. Fury is in talks to face Usyk in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification.
Tyson Fury pictured with promoter Frank WarrenCredit: Reuters
And such is the magnitude of the undisputed decider, Warren admitted an increase from the £27.95 price is expected, as would be the case against AJ.
He said on talkSPORT:“If they [the broadcaster] put up some sort of guarantees, then they’re looking to recover their guarantees, which will determine the price.
“If there isn’t a guarantee and it’s done on a share basis, then again that determines what the price will be.”
Asked about a price jump, Warren said: “Oh yeah. With the four belts on the line – without discussing it with anyone, yeah, I’m sure the price will go up.
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“The same as if Tyson would have fought Anthony Joshua, the price would go up. They are the two big money fights.”
Warren is negotiating a deal for Fury, 34, to fight Usyk, 35, with the Middle East ready to front mega money to host.
But the Hall of Famer acknowledges they face a deadline to get it over the line.
He said: “Both fighters absolutely want it.
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“The managers and promoters all want it, so we’re just getting it together and working out where we’re gonna put it on – that’s really the situation.
“It’s gotta go on by March and so we’ve gotta all move quickly so over the next couple of weeks we will or we won’t get it sorted out.
“But everybody wants to do the fight, absolutely want to do it.”
Oleksandr Usyk is in talks to fight Tyson FuryCredit: Getty More

FANS have been blown away by a sporting icon’s grandson – as he’s the spitting image of him.The image resurfaced online on Wednesday and left people astonished by the similarity.
Teenager Curtis alongside his mother Laila
The teenage boy, Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr, posed alongside his 44-year-old mother Laila – the legend’s daughter.
But can you guess who he is the grandson of?
Reacting on social media, one person said: “Wow. Just like him indeed.”
Another added: “Yes! He definitely looks like your dad, especially in his early boxing photos!”
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Another said: “OMG!! He looks just like your dad.”
That’s right, it’s legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
Ali, nicknamed “The Greatest”, shot to fame in the 1960s as a formidable fighter.
He won 56 of 61 bouts during his 21-year professional career and claimed the world heavyweight title three times.
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The American is widely considered to be the greatest fighter of all time, while his impact outside the ring is as impressive.
Ali died in 2016 aged 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s.
He had nine kids in all, including Laila, who also competed as a professional boxer for eight years before retiring from the sport in 2007.
Muhammad Ali is one of the most iconic ever sportspeopleCredit: Getty More

JOHNNY NELSON has backed Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk for three reasons. The pair of unbeaten champions are in talks for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt title unification next year.
Johnny Nelson has backed Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr UsykCredit: Action Images – Reuters
And former world champion-turned pundit Nelson has backed Fury to trump the ex-cruiserweight king.
He told Sky Sports: “I think it’s the perfect match-up for two unorthodox fighters. It’s going to split opinion.
“In my opinion I’d say Tyson Fury will win. He’s too big, too smart, too strong, in and out of the ring.
“But I think it’ll be lost in translation if he tries the old mind games.
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“Fighting doesn’t just begin in the ring. It’s the mental aspect, it’s the build-up to it, it’s how you approach the fight.
“But Tyson Fury has proved himself to be a fully-fledged fighting man, and a big one.
“It’ll be Usyk that has to prove: ‘No matter how big you are, I’m going to make you fall’. I’m going with Tyson Fury on this one.”
Fury, 34, beat Derek Chisora, 38, in ten rounds of his last fight, his third victory in their series.
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And Usyk, 35, watched from ringside in Tottenham and negotiations for the unification kickstarted soon after.
Promoter Bob Arum said: “The two fighters have agreed to fight each other next.
“With Fury and Usyk we’re dealing with two adults, not a lot of [rubbish] back and forth.
“Usyk is a good friend of mine, he’s very intelligent and Tyson is Superman, both as an athlete and as an intellect.
“So they want the fight. Both of them want the fight and so there’ll be very little, if any, [messing] around.
“So we’ll be able to make that happen. I’m very, very confident.
“As I said the fighters have both agreed to fight each other next without any interim fights.”

Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Oleksandr Usyk nextCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk watched Tyson Fury’s last fight from ringsideCredit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA could be given another crack at fighting Tyson Fury next year.A shock domestic dust-up between the pair was in the works just weeks after AJ’s second successive loss to Oleksandr Usyk but talks failed to bear fruit.
Anthony Joshua was on course to face Tyson Fury this month but the fight fell throughCredit: GETTY
Tyson Fury has since chopped and changed his mind of the Battle of BritainCredit: GETTY
But co-promoter Bob Arum reckons the fight could come to fruitionCredit: GETTY
WBC king Fury vowed never to fight his Brit rival after the bout collapsed but has since softened his stance, so much so that co-promoter Bob Arum believes there is a small chance the pair could clash next year.
He told Sky Sports: “Tyson was teed off because he offered Joshua the fight for the end of this year.
“The one that [Derek] Chisora took and Joshua agreed and then pulled out.
“So Tyson is really [annoyed] at Joshua and says he won’t fight him. But let’s see.
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“Joshua and Fury down the road could be a massive fight in the UK. We’ll have to see.”
Wythenshawe warrior Fury is currently on course for a March undisputed fight with two-time Joshua conqueror Usyk.
But the prospect of a showdown with AJ won’t be entertained until after The Gypsy King trades leather with the undefeated Ukrainian.
Top Rank Boxing chief Arum, 91, said: “But one fight at a time.
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“Right now the only heavyweight championship fight that I’m looking at is Tyson and Oleksandr Usyk.”
Former two-time unified champ Joshua has remained steadfast in his belief a clash with Fury will happen – despite his rival’s toing and froing.
He told iDBoxing: “Well, on my behalf, I would like the opportunity.
“Because the longer we leave it, it’s not good for anyone.
“So, yeah, I would like the opportunity. Good luck with his next fight if he comes through.
“Then I think he’s going to go on to undisputed, and then I’ll be fighting somebody else.
“Then hopefully, we both come victorious, and then we look to fight each other.”
Joshua, 33, is set to be back in the ring in March – but an opponent has yet to be finalised for the former champ’s return.
Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring in MarchCredit: GETTY More

BARRY HEARN has revealed son Eddie dropped him twice during a “fight” in the ring.Matchroom founder Barry believes tough love as a kid helped Eddie become the success he is today, including promoting ex-world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Barry Hearn and his son, Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie, sandwich the British boxer, who hopes to reach the top againCredit: Getty
And that included arranging a bout between the two of them because Hearn junior was getting a “little bit public school-ish”.
Barry was delighted with the resulting sparring as it showed his son “had some character about him”. 
He even reckons Eddie was only frustrated that they stopped the bout before the third round!
The father-and-son team have now built up a huge sporting empire.
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And Hearn senior, 74, explained to the High Performance Podcast how sport came into his parenting techniques.
He said: “We would play cricket and I wouldn’t hold back. 
“I was quite a quick bowler when I was younger and I bowled flat out to him. It didn’t matter what age he was.
“If you want to be in this game, then find out.
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“When I thought he was going a little bit public school-ish, I took him down to the gym and we had what was supposed to be a proper three-round fight.
“He dropped me twice in the second round and we never had the third round.
“But, I left happier than he did, because I found out something about my son that I hoped was inside him.
“He didn’t swallow it, he had some character about him and he took a couple, not many, and he handed it out. It was nice.
“He was just disappointed that he didn’t get the chance to go one extra round!”
Sports agents Barry and Eddie had ‘what was supposed to be a proper fight’ in the ring, aimed at building Hearn junior’s characterCredit: Getty – Contributor More

EDDIE HEARN wouldn’t risk putting Anthony Joshua within “ten feet” of Joe Joyce at this stage of his career, according to Mike Tyson’s former coach.A domestic dust-up with his former sparring partner is a possibility for Joshua’s next outing following his consecutive defeats to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua is in a rebuilding phase of his career following losses to Oleksandr UsykCredit: AFP
A domestic dust-up with ex-sparring partner Joe Joyce could be on the cards
Boxing legend Teddy Atlas, however, doesn’t forsee the fight happeningCredit: Getty
But boxing legend Teddy Atlas believes Joyce’s “concussive” power will put Joshua and Hearn off the tasty tussle.
During a recent episode of his The Fight podcast, the former trainer said: “There is no way on God’s Earth – no way – that Joshua and his promoter are getting within.
“They wouldn’t get within a ten-foot pole of Joyce in that boxing ring. No way.”
WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury has tipped stablemate Joyce to run through Joshua should the fight come to fruition.
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He told iFL TV: “I think so, I think he [Joyce] wipes the floor with Joshua anyway.”
Joyce catapulted himself into the upper echelons of the division in September with a sensational 11th-round TKO victory over former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.
And Atlas, the former trainer of Mike Tyson, has been thoroughly impressed by what he’s seen of the Juggernaut since he turned pro.
He said: “I’ve been saying this guy’s a player. This guy’s got a chin of granite.
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“He reminds me of a younger Foreman – although I gotta be careful with that because he is 38 years old.
“But Joyce reminds me of George Foreman when he was in his first life before the comeback.
“Just a big guy, a ponderous puncher, a concussive puncher.
“Not a snappy puncher… just a blunting type puncher that does damage.
Joe Joyce scored a brutal 11th-round JO victory over Joseph Parker in SeptemberCredit: GETTY
“He’s big. He’s relentless. As I said, he’s got a great heart, great chin so far.
“I’ve been calling for this guy to be in there instead of some of the other guys to get the shot.”
Joshua, 33, is set to return to the ring in late March – although an opponent for his comeback fight has yet to be finalised.
Joyce, meanwhile, is hoping to return to action in March also. More