Heavyweight boxing

DEONTAY WILDER is ready to leave behind a world title eliminator to instead fight Anthony Joshua next. The American has been ordered to face Andy Ruiz Jr by the WBC, with the winner challenging for Tyson Fury’s belt.
Deontay Wilder is ready to leave behind a world title eliminator to instead fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Andy Ruiz Jr has been ordered by the WBC to fight Deontay WilderCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Anthony Joshua has been offered a fight by Deontay Wilder’s teamCredit: Getty
Both are promoted by Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions stable and talks between the pair are underway.
But Wilder’s Hall of Fame manager Shelly Finkel CONFIRMED they will favour a fight with Joshua, 33, right away over Ruiz, also 33.
Finkel told SunSport: “There are conversations with Ruiz, but that is not an impediment if Joshua will fight us next.” 
Joshua is coming off consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 35, and looks set to return in early 2023.
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Meanwhile Wilder, 37, knocked out Robert Helenius, 38, in round one of his comeback fight in October.
Finkel is ready to come to the table with AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn to strike a deal for as soon a February and will even conceded home advantage.
He said: “Either February, March or April, whenever they want. I don’t know why Joshua can’t be ready in February, which is three months away. 
“Joshua hasn’t had any fights in months, Deontay is ready, we’ll fight him in the UK or in the Middle East. Period.” 
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In the past, TV network and promotional allegiances have seen the heavyweight clash between Wilder and Joshua fall by the wayside.
But Finkel insisted all parties – from their side at least – are ready and willing to come to terms with the opposition.
He said: “Deontay, Shelly Finkel and PBC are willing to make a fight for Deontay to fight Joshua next.” 
After Dillian Whyte, 34, beat Jermaine Franklin, 29, by disputed majority decision, Hearn lined Joshua up for a rematch against the man he beat in 2015.
And the promoter then had eyes on a summer super-fight between AJ and Wilder.
Deontay, Shelly Finkel and PBC are willing to make a fight for Deontay to fight Joshua next.Deontay Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel
But Finkel questions why the pair of former world champions cannot go straight into the long-anticipated bout.
Or he suggests if Joshua is to have one more more before facing Willder, an agreement to make the fight afterwards can be struck right now.
Finkel said: “Eddie says Joshua will fight Deontay after their next fight, why? 
“They want to fight Dillian Whyte, who yesterday was in a questionable win.
“The fight before that, he got knocked out, and two fights before that he got knocked out. 
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“How does the press and anyone else rationalise Joshua fighting someone like that in his next fight? 
“And if they say, ‘We’re definitely fighting Deontay after’ why isn’t there an agreement done?” 
Shelly Finkel with Deontay Wilder in 2018Credit: AFP or licensors
Anthony Joshua pictured with Shelly Finkel in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

JERMAINE FRANKLIN fumed that he deserves another shot at Dillian Whyte after being “robbed” of a win. The American was on the wrong end of a disputed majority decision verdict at Wembley Arena.
Dillian Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin on points but the American felt hard done byCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Franklin made his feelings known after the fight and was adamant he deserved to travel home with an upset win.
He said: “I feel like I got robbed, I feel I’ve done enough to get the decision.
“I felt like I won earlier rounds. I just felt I got robbed on the decision. I had a seven week camp, I’ve done what I could.
“I’m down for a rematch if they give it to me, but I felt like I won, I felt like I got robbed on the decision.
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“I proved a lot of people wrong. I prove people wrong everyday , that’s what we do.
“A lot of people look and they judge but they don’t have the heart to step in here and fight.”
Whyte, 34, had the right to exercise a rematch clause if he lost but Franklin, 29, was not given such a luxury.
But the beaten contender feels he is owed a second fight and that Whyte knows that too.
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Franklin said: “He knows he didn’t win the fight, that’s how I feel.
“Honestly, as a man, you know when you take an L and you know when you win.
“I know deep down inside, he knows that he didn’t pull that victory through, so I feel I deserve another shot, honestly.”
Dillian Whyte has been called out to a rematch by Jermaine FranklinCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is confident John Fury will not let his son walk away from boxing without the pair finally fighting. The heavyweight rivals have tried but failed to agree terms in the past for a Battle of Britain, most recently for December 3 in Wales.
Anthony Joshua is still holding out hope of a fight with Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury pictured with his dad JohnCredit: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
But AJ is hoping Fury’s no-nonsense father John will be the man to help finally get the fight over the line before they both retire.
Joshua told iFL TV: “If you listen to what he says, it’s up and down. But I’m sure he’ll fight me.
“I don’t think his dad will let him not fight me. His dad’s a proper guy. I like his dad.”
Joshua, 33, is coming off consecutive points losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 35, which set the Ukrainian up for a unification bout.
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But Usyk had ruled himself out until next year, which led to Fury, 34, calling out AJ to fight next month in Cardiff.
Eventually, negotiations collapsed and the WBC champion will instead return in a trilogy bout against Derek Chisora, 38, who he has twice beaten.
Whereas Joshua is primed to return in early 2023 and has Fury and Deontay Wilder, 37, in his plans for next year.
He said: “(Fury) or Wilder. Both. Both of them will be a hard night’s work. Yeah, 2023 is him (Fury) or Wilder. Or both.”
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Joshua was ringside to watch Dillian Whyte, 34, edge past Jermaine Franklin, 29, in a razor thin majority decision victory.
It has set up a rematch for the pair in the near future – possibly next – but AJ was left unimpressed.
He said: “If I was a trainer I would expect my fighter to knock someone like Jermaine Franklin out.
“With all due respect, with the experience and power Dillian has. Let’s be honest, Jermaine Franklin was not there to give Dillian any problems.
“That was his time to go out and put on a spectacular performance: ‘bang, bang, I’m back on the scene, I ain’t messing about, my passion, power and skills are still there’.
“That was the type of fight Dillian wanted but it was difficult, Jermaine Franklin made it tough, credit to him. Dillian will go again next year.”
Anthony Joshua embraces with Dillian WhyteCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

DEONTAY WILDER is willing to do whatever it takes to fight Anthony Joshua next and cancel out a rematch with Dillian Whyte. Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed AJ and Whyte are in line to complete a hat-trick of bouts between them sometime in 2023.
Deontay Wilder is ready to fight Anthony Joshua nextCredit: Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions
Anthony Joshua is in line to rematch Dillian Whyte in 2023Credit: Getty
But Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel CONFIRMED the American is ready to return right into a super-fight with Joshua, 33.
Even if that means surrendering their WBC title eliminator bout against Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, such is their desperation to finally face AJ.
Finkel told SunSport: “We might fight Ruiz, because Joshua won’t fight us, but we will fight Joshua next.
“The biggest fight for either is with us, maybe in your area the biggest fight is Joshua versus Fury, but Fury is fighting Oleksandr Usyk next. 
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“If Joshua is ready or willing to fight us next, that is what we want and we will give anything to fight him. 
“This has been a five-year campaign and each time they always try to say we have avoided it. 
“Right now is the 28th of November, we’re saying why not fight next? Let’s just make the fight.”
If Hearn insists on Joshua rematching Whyte, 34, before fighting Wilder, 37, Finkel is open to at least making it official.
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He said: “If you’re telling us you want a fight first before us, then sign to fight after, let’s make a deal.” 
Whyte set up a potential rematch with Joshua after edging past Jermaine Franklin, 29, in a disputed majority decision victory.
It was his second win in four fights, following knockout losses to Tyson Fury, 34, and Alexander Povetkin, 43.
So Finkel slammed the idea of Joshua returning against Whyte, when a deal is there to be made with Wilder.
The Hall of Famer said: “He says Joshua will fight Deontay after their next fight, why? 
If Joshua is ready or willing to fight us next, that is what we want and we will give anything to fight him. Deontay Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel
“They want to fight Dillian Whyte, who yesterday was in a questionable win.
“The fight before that, he got knocked out, and two fights before that he got knocked out. 
“How does the press and anyone else rationalise Joshua fighting someone like that in his next fight? 
“And if they say, ‘We’re definitely fighting Deontay after’ why isn’t there an agreement done?” 
Joshua has taken a break from boxing after consecutive losses to Usyk, 35, while Wilder knocked out Robert Helenius, 38, in his October return.
In the past, TV network and promotional allegiances have seen a fight between AJ and the Bronze Bomber fall by the wayside.
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But Finkel is adamant all parties – from their side at least – are on board to finally strike an agreement with the opposition.
He said: “Deontay, Shelly Finkel and PBC are willing to make a fight for Deontay to fight Joshua next.” 
Anthony Joshua pictured with Shelly Finkel in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Shelly Finkel with Deontay Wilder in 2018Credit: AFP or licensors More

DILLIAN WHYTE punched his way into a rematch with Anthony Joshua after narrowly edging past Jermaine Franklin. Whyte left Wembley Arena with a disputed majority decision win, returning for the first time since defeat to Tyson Fury.
Dillian Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin by majority decisionCredit: Rex
But Eddie Hearn warned the heavyweight and AJ could instead have different fights in early 2023 before a summer stadium rematch.
So it leaves the door open for who Whyte will fight next, with several options on the table.
Here, SunSport looks at the contenders in play.
Anthony Joshua
Joshua, 33, remains a frontrunner to face Whyte, 34, next year as the pair embraced at ringside.
Hearn has opened the door to the pair rematching right away, with AJ keen to return straight into a big fight.
Joshua lost to Whyte in the amateurs in 2009 but won their rematch six years later by brutal stoppage.
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte embraceCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
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Otto Wallin
Whyte still has unfinished business with Wallin, 32, having pulled out of their proposed October 2021 through injury.
He instead went on to challenge Fury, 34, for the WBC belt, while leaving Swede Wallin in the lurch.
Should the AJ rematch fail to come off next, Whyte and Wallin have the shared history to build interest in a fill-in fight.
Otto Wallin still wants to fight Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty
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Daniel Dubois
Before signing to fight Franklin, 29, Whyte almost agreed a deal to face Dubois, 24, on BT pay-per-view.
Eventually, his financial demands were not met, leaving the bout shelved for now.
But it remains a massive fight should Whyte need to look elsewhere and Dubois has the WBA’s secondary “regular” title to bring to the table.
Daniel Dubois came close to fighting Dillian WhyteCredit: Reuters
Jermaine Franklin rematch
Franklin felt he was “robbed” of a win against Whyte, leading to calls for a rematch by the American and fans online.
Whyte seemed less convinced in the post-fight press conference but a lack of options could see the pair box once more.
And it could even pave the way for Whyte to do so Stateside, although any alternative seems unlikely.
Dillian Whyte narrowly beat Jermaine Franklin on pointsCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Deontay Wilder
Wilder, 37, has long feuded with Whyte dating back to his years as WBC champion, when he never defended his belt against the Brit.
The Bronze Bomber is now in line to fight Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, for the right to challenge for Fury’s belt.
It makes a fight with Whyte unlikely, although Hearn previously teased that he had a deal in place for the pair in the Middle East.
Deontay Wilder has long feuded with Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty Images – Getty More