Heavyweight boxing

EDDIE HEARN says Anthony Joshua could fight Deontay Wilder for the WBC title if the belts become vacant. Champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are lined up for a historic first ever four-belt heavyweight unification next year.
Eddie Hearn warned Anthony Joshua could fight Deontay WilderCredit: Getty
Deontay Wilder has been ordered into a WBC final eliminatorCredit: Getty
But the winner could then be faced with up to FOUR mandatory challengers, making it difficult to hang onto all of the marbles.
Wilder, 37, has been ordered into a WBC final eliminator with Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, meaning the winner is guaranteed a shot at Fury’s title.
And Joshua’s promoter Hearn is ready to get his man into position to then face the winner of the all-American showdown.
And by that time, the title could already be up for grabs if Fury, 34, or Usyk, 35, fail to keep up with their mandatories.
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Hearn told Matchroom Boxing: “I think belts are going to become vacant over the next six-12 months. They always are when there’s an undisputed champion.
“So now it’s about positioning yourself, Dillian Whyte, AJ of course, into a shot at the world heavyweight title.
“AJ could be fighting the winner of Wilder – Ruiz for the WBC world heavyweight title, could be fighting Filip Hrgovic.
“Dillian Whyte could be fighting Joe Joyce for the WBO world title. There’s all kinds of eventualities.
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“But the pressure will come from the mandatories, that’s just natural when there’s a unified and in this case potentially undisputed champion.”
Joshua, 33, is taking time out of the sport following consecutive losses to Usyk.
He could return to face the winner between Whyte, 34, and unbeaten Jermaine Franklin, 29, who fight next weekend.
Meanwhile Fury defends his title next in a trilogy bout against Derek Chisora, 38, the man he one-sidedly beat in 2011 and 2014.
It comes with Usyk ruling himself out next year for the undisputed decider, which is already in talks for March in Saudi Arabia.
AJ could be fighting the winner of Wilder – Ruiz for the WBC world heavyweight title, could be fighting Filip Hrgovic.Eddie Hearn
Although a spanner was thrown into the works with the IBF primed to order the Ukrainian into a mandatory defence against Filip Hrgovic, 30.
Hearn said: “Obviously Usyk’s team and Fury’s team, particularly Usyk’s team will do everything they can to avoid Filip Hrgovic for now because they’d like to make the big fight with Tyson Fury.
“For us it’s difficult because obviously we have a job to do for Filip Hrgovic but we also know the Saudi team very well, who have been working very hard to the undisputed fight.
“So I’ve spoken to them, who obviously had their concerns and for boxing, that fight is very important.
“But also, Filip Hrgovic is mandatory so I’m sure there will be a resolution.
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“Now they’re talking about the chronological situation of perhaps the WBA mandatory as well, which I think is Daniel Dubois.
“This is just what happens when there’s unified and undisputed fights. But I’m sure that it will get worked out.”
Filip Hrgovic is the IBF mandatory challengerCredit: Getty More

JOHN FURY wanted his son Tommy to fight Jake Paul at Tottenham’s 62,000-seat stadium NEXT MONTH. John claimed he verbally struck a deal with Paul’s manager Nakisa Bidarian over a bout in February.
Tommy Fury with dad John after his last fightCredit: lee hamilton-cooper
Jake Paul with his manager Nakisa BidarianCredit: lee hamilton-cooper
And Paul has publicly agreed to the date and is even willing to come to the UK, so long as Tommy returns a signed contract in seven days.
But John was willing to match the celebrity boxing rivals in just over three weeks time on the undercard of son Tyson’s boxing return.
The WBC heavyweight champion, 34, defends his belt on December 3 at Spurs’ stadium against Derek Chisora, 38, in a trilogy bout.
And John wanted a primetime spot on the undercard for Tommy, 23, and Paul, 25, to settle the score, but said Bidarian rebuffed him.
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He told Boxing Social: “His manager, or whatever he is, his closest man shook my hand and gave me his word.
“I said, ‘Let him fight in Tottenham on the 3rd in the world title fight.
“The WBC heavyweight champion of the world him and Tommy will fight then. You know, ‘No, no, no, no February, February.’
“So I thought about it and I went back to him, I thought you’re not gonna fight in December, you haven’t got the b****.

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“He shook my hand and gave me his word as a man, he’s fighting in February. So let’s just see.”
Paul was a special guest commentator at the Coca-Cola Arena as Fury boxed late replacement Rolly Lambert in an exhibition.
He heckled from ringside and the two later clashed post-fight with security having to restrain them as their rivalry hit new heights.
But amongst the carnage, John and Bidarian were captured exchanging words and soon after shook hands.
Paul later tweeted: “I agree to fight Tommy in Manchester or London in February.
“I’ll come to his country, no more running. His baby is due then and you’ve said it’s no issue.
“Since John is adamant we’ve agreed, I am giving you seven days to present a signed contract by Tommy or I’m moving on.”
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Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions company revealed they will pay their man while Frank Warren will take care of Fury’s financials.
And Hall of Fame promoter Warren expects a deal to be wrapped up within “the next week or so.”
Tommy Fury and Jake Paul have agreed to fight in FebruaryCredit: BT SPORT More

DEONTAY WILDER’S coach said there is only ONE man who can test the ex-champion as the likes of Anthony Joshua do not “come close”. Wilder emphatically returned to the ring in October by knocking out Robert Helenius inside one round.
Deontay Wilder with his trainer Malik ScottCredit: Instagram @malikkingscott
Anthony Joshua has been linked with fighting Deontay WilderCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
And it set the American up for super-fight with Joshua, 33, Oleksandr Usyk, 35, and Andy Ruiz Jr in the future.
Wilder’s trainer believes the former WBC king, 37, has the beating of all three, having only ever lost to Tyson Fury, 34.
But with the heavyweight new and improved, his trainer Malik Scott believes not even Fury could get the better of him now.
Scott told BT Sport: “His test is the Tyson Fury’s of the game.
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“I don’t believe the likes of Joshua, Usyk and Andy Ruiz – I don’t think they come close to Deontay when he’s focused and on point, I just don’t.
“Believe it or not, with this Deontay, I don’t think even Tyson Fury can beat him.”
Wilder could work his way into a sensational FOURTH fight with Fury having been ordered into a WBC final eliminator against Ruiz, 33.
It means the winner of that bout would earn the right to challenge for the belt held by the Gypsy King.
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Scott said: “A Deontay that’s disciplined and a Deontay’s on a game plan, with all due respect that’s not a tough fight for Deontay at all and that’s saying a lot because Andy Ruiz is tough.”
Fury, who drew with Wilder in 2018 but won the subsequent rematches, is open to another but only in the UK.
He said: “That’d be amazing here. I’ve been over there three times, if he wants the fourth fight, he’s gotta come to England.
“Do that at Wembley, break all records again.”
Tyson Fury is open to a fourth fight with Deontay WilderCredit: Getty More

DANIEL DUBOIS is primed for a shot at the heavyweight world title against either Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk. The British heavyweight holds the WBA’s secondary “regular” title, giving him a guaranteed shot at Usyk’s full version.
Daniel Dubois at the heavyweight world titleCredit: The Sun
And the governing body are next in line to call their mandatory challenger, meaning Dubois, 24, is front of the queue.
He may face a wait, with Usyk, 35, and Fury, 34, in talks for an undisputed decider next year, but Dubois sits pretty in the division.
His trainer Shane McGuigan told Sky Sports: “He’s the WBA regular champion. People might discredit it, we boxed Trevor Bryan for it.
“[But Dubois] still holds a version of a world title that puts him in line for being in a powerful position. He’s highly, highly ranked with the WBA.
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“We get that shot, next in line. Because Usyk’s got all the other belts, he’s got the IBF, the WBO and the WBA, Fury’s got the WBC.
“Out of the IBF, WBA and WBO, Daniel is the first in line, the WBA is the first in line to get the shot.”
If Usyk and Fury do in fact meet in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification, Dubois hopes to be the first to challenge the victor.
For now, he returns on December 3 at Tottenham’s stadium against 28-1 ex-cruiserweight champion Kevin Lerena, 30.
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McGuigan said: “He’s got a slippery opponent in Kevin Lerena, a guy that’s come up from cruiserweight, decent mover, good head movement.
“He’s not like Usyk, he doesn’t dart around on his feet but he’s got the ability to move his head and he makes himself small, he’s hard to hit clean.
“It’s a good test for us. We need to get through this and see how he does with a southpaw.”
Oleksandr Usyk could face Tyson Fury in a heavyweight unification next yearCredit: Reuters
Tyson Fury is the current WBC championCredit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has jumped a place in the WBC rankings – despite not winning since his last defeat. The former heavyweight world champion is currently rated No5 by the governing body, after Robert Helenius, 38, dropped out.
Anthony Joshua has jumped a place in the WBC rankings
Following consecutive points losses to Usyk, 35, Joshua, 33, was frozen out of the title picture.
But he was handed a shock No6 ranking in the WBC after talks emerged for him to challenge champion Tyson Fury.
Negotiations for the proposed December 3 Battle of Britain bout later broke down.
And it leaves Fury, 34, still returning on the date in a trilogy fight against Derek Chisora, 38, who he beat in 2011 and 2014.
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Whereas AJ is taking some time off the sport to mentally recover, with his return eyed in early 2023.
But he does so well placed in the WBC, ranked behind only Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez, Andy Ruiz Jr and Deontay Wilder.
Joshua looked ready to return before the year’s end but promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed when his next fight will likely take place.
Hearn told IFL TV: “When you miss an opportunity like Fury, then your mojo goes a little bit, then you get to November and you’re like: ‘I’m probably not going to fight in December’.
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“Then it’s like ‘I’ve got Christmas and I’m not going to fight in January’ and then February’s there and before you know it you’re looking at March.
“[Joshua’s] stayed out in the Middle East, he’s having a holiday and then he’s going to go back into camp.
“The plan for us is the middle/end of March really. Then you get comments like ‘Why’s he’s going to March?’
“Just because he wanted a couple more weeks holiday really. He’s still focused, still hungry.”
Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn pictured in Abu DhabiCredit: /Mark Robinson#3/ Matchroom Boxi More

TYSON FURY may be the king of the heavyweight division right now but he already has an idea who will be the heir to his throne. Fury is the unbeaten, two-time heavyweight world champion and the No1 ranked in the world.
Tyson Fury returns against Derek ChisoraCredit: The Times
His two knockouts wins over Deontay Wilder, 37, helped him reach the pinacle of the sport.
But Fury, 34, had a help in hand in the form of unbeaten prospect David Adeleye, 26, one of his chief sparring partners.
And Adeleye has been tipped to go all the way by the Gypsy King in quite possibly the highest praise possible.
Fury said on BT Sport’s Chatterbox: “David Adeleye is the future of this division.
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“I told him the other night in the changing rooms, I said, ‘You’ve got believe in yourself Dave, because you’re going to take over the division, mate.’
“And he’s great sparring, very very good sparring. If he was no good to me, then I wouldn’t bring him into my training camps.
“But he gives excellent work, so I keep bringing him in – ever since the second Wilder fight. I keep bringing him in time and time again.
“He keeps learning, keeps listening and he can be the next Lancaster Bomber I think for sure.”
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Adeleye was also hired before Fury’s most recent win, a knockout over Dillian Whyte, 34, at Wembley in April.
The British contender is now back in camp again ahead of the WBC champ’s title defence against Derek Chisora, 38, on December 3.
And Adeleye revealed he is such a part of the furniture that he is even insured on one of Fury’s cars.
He said: “I’ve been here for so long now, I mean ask Tyson I’ve been insured on his car for the last three years.
“Even when I’m not up there I’m insured on his car so I give him a text, ‘Tyson, can I get the car?’
“He gives me his car, ‘Dave, are you still insured on it?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, we’re still on the insurance.’
“But yeah, you kind of get used to it and you’re always learning, like I said I’m like a sponge.
“I go there, I sit down and observe everyone and any questions I do have I just ask and get the answers.”
David Adeleye pictured in camp with Tyson FuryCredit: INSTAGRAM@DAVIDADELEYE More

FRANK WARREN has slammed the “silly” and “ridiculous” antics between Tommy Fury and Jake Paul in Dubai. Paul was a special guest commentator at the Coca-Cola Arena last weekend as Fury boxed late replacement Rolly Lambert in an exhibition.
Tommy Fury and his dad John in DubaiCredit: Lee Hamilton-Cooper
Jake Paul heckled from ringside at Tommy Fury’s fightCredit: Lee Hamilton-Cooper
The American heckled from ringside and the two later clashed post-fight with security having to restrain them as their rivalry hit new heights.
Fury’s dad John at one point even ripped off his shirt and offered to fight Paul bare-knuckle in the ring.
Promoter Warren was not present at the event in the Middle East, headlined by Floyd Mayweather, and was happy not to be.
He said on talkSPORT: “I’m glad I wasn’t there.
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“It’s all a bit silly and gets a bit ridiculous, but I don’t know, but for some reason it is what it is.
“This sort of YouTube type of thing, remember I come from the purest boxing background, and I look at it sometimes and I just scratch my head, but maybe I’m just getting older and I’m missing the point.”
Paul publicly stated online that he is ready to travel to the UK to face Fury at the third time of asking.
And he has given his celebrity boxing rival just a week to return a signed contract by.
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Warren reckons the seven-day deadline is enough time to get a deal over the line.
He said: “It will probably be in late February or March.
“The reason why it didn’t go [before], the contracts were all signed, because of the problems he had with the US immigration.
“We are all past that now. Jake is up for coming over here and we have to get the deal finalised in the next week or so.”
Twice the famous boxing foes have signed to fight but both times Fury, 23, was withdrawn.
He suffered a rib injury last December and then was pulled out in the rehashed date in August amid a US visa issue, which still persists.

Fury’s dad and coach John claimed he shook hands with Paul’s manager Nakisa Bidarian over a bout in February.
And the YouTuber-turned 6-0 boxer insisted he has no problem crossing enemy territory to finally commence battle.
He tweeted: “I agree to fight Tommy in Manchester or London in February.
“I’ll come to his country, no more running. His baby is due then and you’ve said it’s no issue.
“Since John is adamant we’ve agreed, I am giving you seven days to present a signed contract by Tommy or I’m moving on.”
Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions company revealed they will pay their man while Warren will take care of Fury’s financials.
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MVP posted: “John Fury has asked for February. Jake Paul has agreed.
“All that is needed now is for Frank Warren to get Tommy Fury to sign. MVP is paying Jake Paul and Frank Warren is paying Tommy Fury.”
Tommy Fury and Jake Paul are still linked with a grudge match in FebruaryCredit: BT SPORT More