Heavyweight boxing

TYSON FURY fancies sparring Wayne Rooney in preparation for his Oleksandr Usyk undisputed decider.The Manchester United and England legend was ringside at Wembley for the 34-year-old WBC Gypsy King’s one-sided defence against Derek Chisora on Saturday.
Wayne Rooney has been invited into the ring the heavyweight championCredit: Alamy
Tyson Fury says he wants to spar with the Man Utd and England legendCredit: Getty
The boxing-mad Scouser – who was infamously knocked out by fellow player Phil Bardsley in a friendly 2015 sparring session – hailed the Morecambe giant and put him forward for a knighthood.
And Fury responded by offering 37-year-old Wazza the chance to impersonate 6ft 3in southpaw Usyk in the ring over a few rounds, ahead of their spring showdown.
United fan Fury told talkSPORT: “Wayne Rooney is a proper legend.
“I grew up watching him as a youngster for England and United. So, that’s an amazing speech from him.
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“He’s a massive boxing fan, he comes from a boxing family as well. So, hopefully, we can have a little spar in the future sometime. 
“I do need someone smaller to prepare for Usyk. Wayne, if you’re listening, get on the blower, son!”
After dominating Del Boy over 10 hard-to-watch rounds, Fury called Usyk up to his ring and set-up their duel perfectly with some trash talk.
Away from the 60,000 fans he was more measured and complimentary about the London 2012 Olympic and undisputed cruiserweight champion.
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And Rooney reckons Fury’s ability to batter opponents with one hand and hold the public in the palm of his other, marks him out for a special commendation.
Roo said: “I think he’s an absolute legend for what he’s done for boxing. He’s entertaining, his skills are incredible, his mentality is incredible.
“If I’m being honest, I probably think he should be knighted because he hasn’t been afraid to go abroad, he’s won titles abroad, defended them abroad and he epitomises everything that boxing is.”
But Fury – who demanded to be withdrawn from the 2021 BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards – played down his nomination for a meeting with King Charles.
Fury said: “As daft and bizarre as this might sound to people, I’m really happy with who I am.
“I’m the people’s champion. I don’t really need some accolade, award, or promotion to let me know who I am, what I do, or who I am inside. 
“I know that I don’t really need a claim to say, ‘Oh, he’s a Sir or he’s a whatever.’” More

TYSON FURY has shown off a gruesome bruise on his waist in the aftermath of his fight with Derek Chisora.The Gypsy King comfortably defeated Del Boy for a third time last weekend at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tyson Fury shows off his nasty bruiseCredit: TALKSPORT
Derek Chsiroa did manage to catch Fury a few timesCredit: PA
Fury, 34, was rarely troubled and won via tenth round TKO.
Despite never looking like winning, however, Chisora did manage to leave a mark on his opponent.
Appearing on talkSPORT, the Gypsy King lifted his shirt to show hosts Alan Brazil and Ray Parlour a nasty-looking bruise.
When asked how he’s feeling by Brazil, Fury responded: “I’m alright. I’ve got a massive bruise on my hip.
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“Derek Chisora really punched me hard. He had those small gloves on and how hard did he hit me.
“It went right through the abdominal protector. Let me show you.”
As he lifted his top up, Fury added: “That was a proper one.”
Despite engaging in a war of words going into the fight, Fury and Chisora ate burgers together in the dressing room after the fact.
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Speaking about his conquered opponent, Fury admitted that he has checked on his wellbeing since the night of the fight.
He continued: “It’s a boxing match. We both know what we are getting in for.
“We are in there to put a show on for our fans and fighting for our families.
“As fighters, we never want it to be stopped but maybe the referee or corner could have stopped it earlier.
“Thank God Derek is alright. I spoke to him a couple of days ago.”
Fury comfortably beat Chisora for a third timeCredit: EPA More

FRANK WARREN expects Tyson Fury to STOP Oleksandr Usyk in their fight – and will work hard to wrap a deal up.Usyk was in attendance to watch as Fury dominated Derek Chisora at Tottenham on Saturday.
Tyson Fury faced off with Oleksandr Usyk after beating Derek ChisoraCredit: REUTERS
And the Ukrainian was joined by his promotional team who, together with Warren and Bob Arum, are in talks to finalise terms.
Usyk was offered a shot at Fury this month but has had to rule out a bout until next year as he recovers from injury.
Warren told Queensbury Promotions: “He couldn’t fight, and he gave his reasons why and we confirmed that’s the fight we’re going to make now.
“We’re going to work hard to get it over the line.”
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Usyk, 35, is coming off consecutive wins over Anthony Joshua to win and then retain the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
And after Fury, 34, beat Chisora for the third time in their trilogy series, it set up a historic unification bout.
The pair of unbeaten heavyweight champions are set to meet in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed fight
And Warren predicted: “I think Tyson will stop him. I think he’s too big, much too big for him.
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“I think they’re quite similar and have good boxing brains, but I just think Tyson, everything he’s got, he’s got better than Usyk.
“Usyk is a really good, he’s a great cruiserweight, and he’s been a good heavyweight.
“Looking at the two of them, Tyson, in every box that you tick, he’s better.”
Top Rank’s Brad Jacobs, Bob Arum and Frank WarrenCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY said a fight with “19 stone juggernaut” Joe Joyce would be tougher than Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk was joined by Joyce ringside at Tottenham’s stadium to watch as Fury dominated and stopped Derek Chisora in their trilogy bout.
Tyson Fury is set to fight Oleksandr Usyk in 2023 but reckons Joe Joyce would be tougherCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
Usyk and Joyce ringside at Tottenham for Fury’s fight
And it sets the pair of unbeaten heavyweight champions up for a historic unification showdown next year.
But Fury, 34, reckons he will have it easier in the ring against ex-cruiserweight king Usyk than he would against granite-chinned Joyce.
He said: “People have been asking me all night, ‘Who is a tougher fight, Usyk or Joyce?’
“And in my opinion, Usyk is the slicker boxer, but Joe Joyce is The Juggernaut, and I think Joe gives me a tougher fight than Usyk, 100 per cent.
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“Big Joe, 6’7′, and 19-and-a-half stone like a juggernaut coming forward at me, trying to smash me to pieces.
“Or Usyk trying to steal a jab, running around the ring, trying to nick a point here and there.
“So, I think that Usyk is a very good fighter, I’m not going to take anything away from him.
“He’s the undisputed cruiserweight champion, and he’s the unified heavyweight champion.
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“So he’s had a fantastic career, but I think I’ll do a job on him.”
Fury is braced for the heavyweight division’s first ever four-belt unification bout with Usyk, 35, with Saudi Arabia the frontrunner to host.
He said: “We’re hopefully gonna see the biggest year of my career. 2023, we’re gonna get the big fights that the fans really crave.
“First of all let’s talk about Usyk. I’m ready, I’m willing, to take on Usyk next – whether it’s gonna be in Saudi Arabia or back here in the UK. Both places will be fantastic.
“And let’s give the fans one champion, one name, one face. Usyk’s up to the challenge. He came over tonight, so fair play to him.
“He’s not an easy boxer to figure out, he’s a slick, southpaw mover with very good skills, Olympic gold medallist.
“And he’s coming on some good form so I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
Oleksandr Usyk facing off with Tyson FuryCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY called Oleksandr Usyk and “old man” with “250,000 miles on his clock” as he broke down their undisputed super-fight. Usyk, 35, was in attendance at Tottenham’s stadium to watch as Fury dominated Derek Chisora, 38, to win the third of their trilogy bouts.
Tyson Fury called Oleksandr Usyk and ‘old man’Credit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk is in line to fight Tyson Fury next yearCredit: Getty
It sets up a historic unification clash between them which could promise the heavyweight division’s first four-belt champion.
But Fury, 34, is not phased by Usyk’s unbeaten record or extensive amateur career in which he amassed a 335−15 record.
He said: “Usyk’s older than me actually, so he’s about 35, I’m 34.
“So, it’s an even match, if he was 22, it might be different, but he’s an old man. He’s had 300 amateur fights, he’s worn out too.
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“He’s got about 250,000 miles on his clock. He’s had 315 amateur fights or something and he’s had about 20 professional fights.
“I don’t believe he’s got the best footwork in boxing, I don’t believe he out-speeds me either.”
The pair of undefeated heavyweight stars are closing in on a deal for the unification bout in early 2023, likely set for Saudi Arabia.
Fury said: “We’re hopefully gonna see the biggest year of my career. 2023, we’re gonna get the big fights that the fans really crave.
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“First of all let’s talk about Usyk. I’m ready, I’m willing, to take on Usyk next – whether it’s gonna be in Saudi Arabia or back here in the UK. Both places will be fantastic.
“And let’s give the fans one champion, one name, one face. Usyk’s up to the challenge. He came over tonight, so fair play to him.
“He’s not an easy boxer to figure out, he’s a slick, southpaw mover with very good skills, Olympic gold medallist.
“And he’s coming on some good form so I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk facing offCredit: Reuters More

ANTHONY JOSHUA would have suffered the same fate as Derek Chisora had his domestic dust-up with Tyson Fury come to fruition.A shock December dance between the rivals was on the cards when the Gypsy King offered AJ a crack at his WBC crown weeks after seeing him lose his August rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
Tyson Fury put a ten-round beating on Derek Chisora in their Tottenham trilogyCredit: GETTY
The Gypsy King was on course to face Anthony Joshua before his fight with Chisora was finalisedCredit: GETTY
Promoter Frank Warren believes Fury would’ve put the same beating on AJ had the pair foughtCredit: GETTY
Negotiations, however, failed to bear fruit – paving the way for Fury to batter old pal Derek Chisora in a Tottenham trilogy fight last weekend.
But Fury promoter Frank Warren has no doubt in his mind that Joshua would’ve been picked apart the same way old warhorse Chisora was.
He said: “Even though Tyson was a convincing winner, I strongly believe it would’ve been a similar outcome had Anthony Joshua stepped up.
“Derek did better than Dillian Whyte did in April and clearly takes a better shot than Deontay Wilder.”
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The entire boxing world is eager for Joshua and Fury to share the ring before they walk away from the sport, although the latter doesn’t foresee the fight ever happening.
When asked if he thinks he’ll one day fight the former two-time unified heavyweight champ, he iFL TV: “Nope.
“Because man’s a sausage and it should have been him here tonight – but he had poor old Derek take a good hiding again stepping in his boots.”
Joshua, however, isn’t given up hope of the biggest fight in the history of British boxing coming to fruition.
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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.”
Tyson Fury is on course for a blockbuster undisputed fight with Oleksandr UsykCredit: REUTERS
Fury’s sights are currently trained on an undisputed heavyweight title fight with unified champ Usyk.
Joshua, meanwhile, is hoping to return to the ring in March. More