Heavyweight boxing

DEONTAY WILDER has been following a gruelling training regime ahead of his return fight against Robert Helenius. The American faces his former sparring partner on October 15 in what will be his first bout since losing to Tyson Fury last year.
Deontay Wilder training for his boxing returnCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The American faces Robert Helenius on October 15Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Wilder, 36, held an open workout in Las Vegas with his coach Malik Scott and revealed just how intense his comeback camp has been.
He said: “We’ve been doing 30 or 40 rounds nonstop. Only time I get water is during the break.
“I’ve just been doing things like that to challenge myself, doing things that have never been done before, or that you don’t really do in boxing.
“I wanted to see how my body adjusts to the long length of time without a break.
READ MORE IN BOXING
“When you can go a long time without taking a break, you’re in shape.”
Wilder’s career was left in doubt following a brutal 11th-round knockout to Fury, 34, last October.
But after a state of himself was put up in his home of Alabama, it inspired the ex-WBC champion to carry on fighting.
And now Wilder feels rejuvenated as he gets set to begin his road back to the heavyweight throne.
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
He said: “It feels good. Even in my first reign, a lot of it was my way. But this right here is totally 100 per cent Deontay Wilder’s way.
“I’m in a different position right now. And it just feels great to be in the position I’m in with no pressure.
“I don’t need the business anymore. When I do it, I do it for my own personal reasons.
“I’m doing it for the people and I’m doing it for some hardware, some titles.”
Deontay Wilder pictured training in Las VegasCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA rubbed shoulders with Alica Schmidt and Naomi Campbell at Milan Fashion Week.Schmidt, dubbed the world’s sexiest athlete, shared snaps from the glamorous event to her social media feed.
Anthony Joshua poses with Alica Schmidt and Naomi Campbell
AJ models for Hugo Boss
Joshua and Schmidt chatted as they posed for snaps
Her Instagram story featured AJ posing in a smart brown jumper, black trousers and riding boots.
Campbell, meanwhile donned a long, dark overcoat, while Schmidt dazzled in a cream and white number.
Posing for pictures arm in arm with Joshua, the German runner wrote: “Sport unites”.
Schmidt, 23, also posed with Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll at the glitzy event – fresh from her dazzling recent holiday in Thailand.
READ MORE IN BOXING
Joshua, 32, is no stranger to the world of modelling.
The British heavyweight star works with luxury brand Hugo Boss, when he’s not donning Under Armour in the ring.
AJ looks set for a quick return to action following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last month.
He has been offered a shock shot at WBC champ Tyson Fury – but the Gypsy King’s camp are getting impatient having so far failed to get contracts signed.
Most read in Boxing
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Promoter George Warren said: “We need to be getting contracts signed next week.
“I don’t think that’s difficult. If everyone wants to make it, it can be done and I believe the other side wants to make it.
“My dad Frank and Eddie Hearn have gone on record to say 90-95 per cent of it’s been agreed.
“There are parts of contracts need to be refined and negotiated — tickets and hotel rooms — the biggest thing is the broadcast but it should not slow down the contract.”
The German runner has been dubbed the ‘world’s sexiest athlete’
Schmidt also posed with Lance Stroll More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned he must sign off on a clash with Tyson Fury by the end of next week.Fury offered fallen hero AJ a shock December shot at the WBC heavyweight crown.
Anthony Joshua has been told to sign contracts next week or risk losing shot at Tyson FuryCredit: Instagram / @anthonyjoshua
Fury has given his Brit rivals a shock shot at his world titleCredit: Reuters
But promoter George Warren said: “We need to be getting contracts signed next week.
“I don’t think that’s difficult. If everyone wants to make it, it can be done and I believe the other side wants to make it.
“My dad Frank and Eddie Hearn have gone on record to say 90-95 per cent of it’s been agreed.
“There are parts of contracts need to be refined and negotiated — tickets and hotel rooms — the biggest thing is the broadcast but it should not slow down the contract.”
Read More Boxing news
AJ’s promoter Hearn admitted his new exclusive broadcasting deal with DAZN still poses issues.
Joshua’s management have already accepted the fight on terms of a 60-40 split in Fury’s favour.
Queensberry promoter Warren insists Fury’s side and BT Sport are doing everything to get the Brit megabout sealed.
Warren added: “BT have been an amazing partner.
Most read in Sport

🥊 When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
“Sensible heads will prevail to make the fight.”
Oleksandr Usyk says AJ acted like a brat after the Ukrainian beat him for a second time last month.
Joshua, 32, slung Usyk’s belts out of the ring and grabbed to mic to speak.
Usyk said: “He reminded me of a boy who loses his ball over the neighbours’ fence and is angry.”
Usyk confirmed his next three fights will be his last and a two-fight undisputed decider with Fury remains his priority. More

OLEKSANDR USYK revealed he once fainted underwater after trying to hold his breath for four minutes.Usyk comes from a generation of Ukrainian boxers that trained under unique and extreme methods, which led him to a gold medal at London 2012 and various world titles later on.
Oleksandr Usyk once fainted underwater when he tried to hold his breath for four minutes
Oleksandr Usyk swims 10km non-stop during trainingCredit: PA
The 35-year-old’s manager Egis Klimas revealed prior to his rematch with Anthony Joshua that he watched him swim 10km non-stop.
Klimas added that his champion could hold his breath underwater for a staggering four minutes and 40 seconds.
However, that almost cost the undefeated heavyweight as he fainted underwater and was rescued by his trainers.
Usyk said in his USYK17 YouTube channel: “All these challenges such as 10km of swimming for example.
Read More on Boxing
“You’re swimming and suddenly you feel such a pain in your knee and you think you can’t go, you just can’t continue.
“A muscle’s so tensed and the pain’s just unbearable. The pain is in your shoulder, your knee or even the tips of your moustache.
“And you’re thinking, ‘Okay, I’m done, it’s better to stop and try next time.’
“This means that you can’t stop – when you start to think like that it is the signal to continue.
Most read in Boxing
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“You can’t give up. If you give up now, that’s what you’ll do when you’re fighting.
“It’s a breaking point which you’ll definitely reach during your fight. Every athlete knows what it is. No one can do anything ‘next time’, so you just don’t stop.
“You know I’m a bit crazy and so my coaches are carefully watching me. If I faint, they’ll rescue me.
“Once, holding my breath underwater, I fainted for a moment and immediately was taken from the pool.”
This comes after Usyk admitted he is planning to retire from boxing after a maximum of three more fights, which he hopes to have against Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez. More

OLEKSANDR USYK has revealed his plans for retirement – but wants to fight Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarev first.Usyk declared via his Usyk-17 promotion company that he will hang up his gloves after a maximum of three more fights as he does not intend to keep fighting once he passes his peak.
Oleksandr Usyk has confirmed he will retire after three more fightsCredit: PA
Oleksandr Usyk is targeting a dream match with Tyson Fury before retirementCredit: AP
Oleksandr Usyk also wants a bout with Canelo Alvarez before hanging up his glovesCredit: Getty
And the Ukrainian superstar stated that a dream match with Fury is among his priorities.
The 35-year-old would also like to lock horns with Canelo Alvarez before a farewell bout in Ukraine.
The undefeated heavyweight extended his streak to 20 victories after overcoming Anthony Joshua for the second consecutive time last month in Saudi Arabia.
Usyk has since been linked with a dream match with Fury, who seems set to come out of his own retirement.
Read More on Boxing
The Gypsy King, who is also still undefeated, is expected to take on the Ukrainian at some point.
But Usyk is first eyeing a bout against Deontay Wilder, who lost two out of three fights to British superstar Fury.
Alvarez, on the other hand, emerged victorious out of last week’s trilogy bout with Gennady Golovkin.
The Mexican star boosted his record to 58 wins in 62 fights, of which he has lost two.
Most read in Boxing
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)

A fight with Alvarez would see them meet somewhere in the middle on weight, with the Mexican having gone up to light-heavyweight twice in the past and Usyk making his name at cruiserweight.
Meanwhile, Fury is closing in on a fight with Joshua on December 3, with official confirmation seemingly all that remains for the ‘Battle of Britain’ to take place.
The two heavyweights have agreed a 60-40 split purse in the Gypsy King’s favour, with AJ’s stock at an all-time low after losing twice to Usyk. More