Heavyweight boxing

BRITISH former heavyweight boxer Mark Potter has died at the age of 47.The London-born fighter fought for the British heavyweight title against Danny Williams at Wembley Arena in 2000.
Former boxer Mark Potter has died aged 47
Potter fought for the British heavyweight title at Wembley Arena in 2000 bu was diagnosed with stomach cancer earlier this year
Potter was diagnosed with aggressive stomach cancer in November 2021.
He was given just 18 months to live after it spread to his spine.
However, Potter – called “as brave as they come” by promoter Frank Warren – has lost his short battle with the disease.
Tributes from across the boxing world have poured in for the Brit, who enjoyed a six-year career starting in 1997.
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Warren emotionally wrote: “I and everyone at Queensberry Promotions are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former British heavyweight title challenger Mark Potter.
“Mark was a great fighter and an even bigger character who was involved in many entertaining fights over the years and was a hugely popular face around the fight scene, particularly in the London area.
“Mark fought some great fights during his career and was as brave as they come, but sadly he succumbed to one opponent that abides by and respects no rules at all.
“We send our heartfelt sympathies to Mark’s family and friends.
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“We will honour his memory and pay tribute to him next weekend when we will observe boxing’s traditional ten bells at the O2 Arena in London – a city where he enjoyed so many good nights and lived his life to the full.
“Mark was a fighter right to the end and never stopped punching — may he rest in peace.”
Fellow promoter Eddie Hearn also tweeted: “Rest in Peace Mark Potter.”
Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison added: “RIP Mark & condolences to his family & friends.
“He gave me a hell of a battle in the London ABA’s & went on to have a decent pro career too – looking back, a lot of boxers have passed in the last few years. Definitely makes you appreciate our time here.”
Potter, nicknamed “The Great White Shark”, won 21 of his 26 career fights.
He would go on to have spells in MMA and kickboxing following his career in the ring and most-recently worked as a personal trainer.
Late last year, Potter was diagnosed with stage four cancer of the stomach and bone.
Potter revealed his life changed when he started to experience numbness in his calves, which he initially thought was the result of a pinched nerve due to his active lifestyle.
The numbness continued to spread and Mark visited his GP, who told him he may only have another 18 months to live.
In March 2022, Potter revealed he was still in fighting fit shape.
He claimed: “[At the time of diagnosis] in November I was almost in fighting shape, I could run six kilometres in 30 minutes.
“I was squatting 200kg for six reps regularly, and deadlifting 200 for 10 reps.”
Just two weeks ago, Potter was pictured in a wheelchair at the Tottenham with Martin Chivers and Paul AllenCredit: Instagram @marksharkpotter
Potter leaves behind wife Hannah.
Earlier this year, a distraught Hannah, 46, claimed: “When they told us the diagnosis, I had a complete meltdown.
“He has tumours in his stomach that spread to his spine, which caused the numbness.
“When he said his calf was feeling really weird, I thought it must be a pinched nerve or something.
“He was regularly doing squats and deadlifts, so we just assumed it was down to that.
“He had said to me he was feeling the best he had done in months.”
Just two weeks ago, Potter was pictured in a wheelchair at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with legends Martin Chivers and Paul Allen. More

DILLIAN WHYTE claimed he twisted two ligaments in his foot after Tyson Fury “pushed” him over. Whyte was knocked out by the WBC champion in April following a brutal right uppercut in round six.
Tyson Fury was accused by Dillian Whyte of pushing him to the floorCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
But Fury, 34, clearly shoved the challenger after the punch connected but referee Mark Lyson waved off the contest.
Whyte, 34, still protests that he should have been given until the count of ten to try and recover and that he was illegally pushed down.
He told Matchroom Boxing: “I think the fight obviously got stopped too early you know, I got hit with a good shot. It’s boxing, you get hurt.
“I’ve been down in fights before and obviously you get back up and obviously got hit with a good shot, pushed me over.
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“When he pushed me over I ended up f***ing twisting two ligaments in my foot.”
Whyte was halted at the count of eight as he got to his feet dazed and confused while stumbling towards ref Lyson.
But per the rules, pushing an opponent is considered an illegal move, categorised alongside kicking, headbutting and biting.
It leaves Whyte, who returns next Saturday against 29-year-old Jermaine Franklin, feeling hard done by.
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He said: “The boxing board didn’t follow the rules as well because if you go down, after the bell they’re not allowed to stop the fight.
“They’re allowed to send you to your corner, send the doctor intervene if you beat a ten count.
“They didn’t even do that they just stopped the fight you know which is a big, massive breach.”
Dillian Whyte was knocked out by Tyson FuryCredit: Jamie McPhilimey More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been handed another coaching offer as he looks to rebuild his team. The heavyweight is taking a break from boxing following consecutive points losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua suffered consecutive points losses to Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
After his most recent defeat in August, AJ revealed he will look to trial a different set of trainers having lately worked with Robert Garcia.
Joshua, 33, told Sporting News: “So in terms of Robert Garcia, thank you for asking, I respect him a lot. He’s a really good man, really good trainer.
“Will I work with him again? Yeah I would, but what I’ve said to Robert and the team as well is that I want to be a free spirit.
“You know, I locked myself down for 11 years with one coach, and now I just feel like I just want to learn as much as possible.
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“Honestly, if you know me closely, which a lot of the viewers probably don’t, what it is is it’s not the trainer it’s about the fighter, what he has up here [in his head].
“So I feel I’m in a position where I’m able to work with anyone. So, yeah, who knows what will happen next year.”
Boxing great Roy Jones Jr, 53, offered his services to Joshua and the pair could set up a trial period together.
And now renowned British coach Shane McGuigan, who formerly worked with ex-champion David Haye, has thrown his name into the hat.
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McGuigan said to SecondsOut: “It’s Anthony Joshua, of course, I would fancy it.
“Athletic guy, he’s got things to learn, and he needs to get the belief back in himself.
“Genuine belief back in himself, a couple of good victories and then roll the dice again.”
Shane McGuigan is open to training Anthony JoshuaCredit: Sportsfile More

DEREK CHISORA reckons Tyson Fury has REGRESSED since their rematch eight years ago.The veteran heavyweight will renew his rivalry with the Gypsy King in a Tottenham trilogy fight a week on Saturday.
Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora will renew their rivalry a weekCredit: GETTY
The bruising British heavyweights have fought twice beforeCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
Chisora reckons Fury has regressed and was “better” in their rematch than he is nowCredit: PA
Fury’s wins over Chisora in 2011 and 2014 put him on the path to heavyweight glory – with the Wythenshawe warrior going on to win all the titles on offer.
But Chisora hasn’t been impressed by what he’s seen of his old rival in his back-to-back dust-ups with Deontay Wilder or his Wembley war with Dillian Whyte.
War told BT Sport: “I think he was a better fighter when I last boxed him.
“Last time I fought him he was better, he was good, he was on point.”
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Chisora’s third tussle with Fury will provide him with a second crack at a world title, the first of which came against Wladimir Klitschko ten years ago.
But there won’t be any wild celebrations for the battle-weathered bruiser if he shocks the world.
When asked how he plans to celebrate if he dethrones Fury, he said: “Go home. Do the same thing I do every day.
“Go home and just chill. Winning or losing there’s only one place you’re going to go afterwards, and that’s home.
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“You chill, and then, from then, you know exactly what you’re going to do.”
Despite handily winning their two previous meetings, Fury is refusing to overlook fan favourite Chisora.
He said: “He [Chisora] done very well against [Oleksandr] Usyk.
“And may I say, who the hell is Usyk? People didn’t know his name until he beat the bodybuilder the other day.
“He was a little, small heavyweight who wasn’t going to do anything against AJ when Chisora fought him.
“But then he stepped up and beat the big bodybuilder [Anthony Joshua] and now all of a sudden, he’s the killer. I don’t think so.
“Listen, I rate Derek Chisora as highly as I rate Usyk, and I will train as hard for Derek as I will for any man in the world.
“If I didn’t, I would have to be an absolute idiot – I will not underestimate Derek Chisora.
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“God forbid I got beat, it won’t be for the fact that I had an injury or I didn’t train hard enough, it would be the fact that I lost to a better man on the night.
“We’re going to have a fight and that’s it. It’s going to be a good fight too, because he doesn’t shy away and I’m running nowhere, so someone is getting chinned.” More

DILLIAN WHYTE is so hellbent on settling the score with Anthony Joshua that he’s willing to fight him on the cheap.A rematch between the British rivals – who first fought in the amateurs all the way back in 2009 – has been mooted for early 2023.
Dillian Whyte came up short in his grudge match with Anthony Joshua seven years agoCredit: REUTERS
And the Brixton Body Snatcher is willing to take a pay cut to get his hands on AJ againCredit: DILLIAN WHYTE
Revenge has been on Whyte’s mind ever since he lost their professional domestic dust-up seven years ago, so much so that he’d forego his usual purse demands to get his hands on the Watford warrior again.
The Brixton Body Snatcher told DAZN: “I’ll fight Joshua tomorrow. I’ll fight him for less money.
“Whenever me and him fight, sparks fly. We just want to beat each other up.”
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Whyte doesn’t foresee his rivalry with the former two-time unified heavyweight champion ever dying.
He said: “I’ll fight Joshua even when I’m 60. It’s a fight that will make you me faster, diet better, and make me go to bed at 7 o’clock every day.”
Before Whyte can think about levelling his series with Joshua, he must first get through a tricky tussle with Jermaine Franklin next weekend.
He said of the American: ” He’s the best opponent at the minute. He’s 22-0.
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“It’s very hard to defeat someone that is undefeated.
“He doesn’t know how to lose. For me, it’s going to be an exciting fight.
“He’s very confident. He says he’s going to knock me out and give me a rematch.
“A lot of people underestimate me.
Dillian Whyte will return to the ring next weekend against American Jermaine FranklinCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
Whyte will look to return to the win column following defeat to Tyson Fury in AprilCredit: GETTY
“When they’re actually in there with me, then it’s too late.”
Whyte’s clash with Franklin will be his first outing since his brutal knockout loss to Tyson Fury in April.
And coming up short in his long-awaited crack at a world title was a wake-up call for Whyte.
He admitted: “Coming off a loss is a good time to reassess and question things and try and improve a few things.
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“Me and my team felt these changes were needed.
“My record showed that I fought one dangerous guy are another. I fought guys that no one else wanted to fight.” More

TOMMY FURY and dad John have been branded “frauds” by Jake Paul as negotiations over their grudge match rumble on.The social media stars have once again agreed to settle their differences inside the ring, with a February showdown currently mooted.
Jake Paul clashes with Tommy Fury following his fight with Tyron WoodleyCredit: BT Sport
Fury, however, isn’t happy with the current purse on offerCredit: GETTY
Paul slammed Fury’s claim and branded him a “fraud”Credit: TWITTER
Former Love Islander Fury, however, is unhappy at the purse split on offer and recently vented his frustrations on social media.
That prompted a scathing retort from Paul, who said: “You and your papa are both frauds.
“My team and I will never risk a quid on you again.
“I’m not paying you a pence you dimwit so there’s no old agreement/terms.
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“My team has spoken to the Warrens multiple times this week and the deal is your promoter is paying you. Sign the paperwork.”
Fury and Paul, 23 and 25 respectively, have twice been scheduled to face one another but have yet to share the ring.
Injury and illness to Fury laid waste to their first proposed meeting last December, with visa issues scuppering their second clash in August.
And Fury has claimed the current offer on the table is the same one he received for their last scheduled bout.
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He said: “Dear @jakepaul I’m glad to see you’ve agreed to the location and time.
“Now you can tell your team to get round the table and negotiate properly instead of trying to hide behind the old terms/agreements put in place two years ago.
“I’m ready and waiting to get this over the line.”
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Fury was last in action in Dubai last weekend, going the distance with Rolly Lambert in an exhibition.
Paul, meanwhile, defeated UFC legend Anderson Silva via unanimous decision last month to stretch his professional record to a perfect 6-0. More