Heavyweight boxing

BOXING is the only sport that could stumble accidentally into the two biggest possible events when they make almost no sense.Tyson Fury – the 34-year-old WBC champion – should clearly be boxing newly crowned WBA, IBF and WBO king Oleksandr Usyk, 35
Anthony Joshua was twice beaten by Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
Tyson Fury has turned his attention to Anthony Joshua with Oleksandr Usyk eyeing Deontay WilderCredit: Rex
These two have won their group stages and knockout matches and reached the final of the heavyweight World Cup.
But in the ludicrous way this sport operates, the Gypsy King has put the undisputed decider with Usyk on ice and thrown Anthony Joshua a voluntary shot at his crown – despite him suffering two consecutive defeats.
You have to go back to 1951 and underrated legend Jersey Joe Walcott for the last time a heavyweight got a crack at the title off of back-to-back defeats.
But the WBC have parachuted AJ into their rankings at 6 to lubricate the greasy game even more, so their champ can do the business.
READ MORE in BOXING
But it’s not exactly great business either.
Just 18 months ago – after AJ had regained the three belts from Andy Ruiz in a Riyadh rematch and battered Kubrat Pulev – Saudi Arabia were ready to help make the Fury vs Joshua showdown a £200m scorcher.
And the Wembley rematch would have broken all British records, taking their potential earnings for a double-header close to £500m.
Now AJ has twice been dominated by Usyk, it’s pencilled in for Cardiff on a damp December night where they might make £5m on the gate and nick £60m in PPV buys – as long as they smash the UK record.
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
The truth is both warring teams think the other side is bluffing.
AJ Boxing reckon Fury is cunningly trying to use their man to rush Usyk back into a four-belt decider when he has not yet recovered from outpointing Joshua on August 20 or seeing his beloved nation suffer Russia’s invasion. 
Team Fury fancy AJ’s broadcast backers and big-money sponsors will eventually baulk at the idea of their man suffering a hat-trick of humbling losses on the bounce.
It’s a high stakes game of chicken and even deadly serious Usyk is now having a crack at it.

Instead of believing in or sulking about AJ and Fury’s potential clash, Usyk has casually upped the ante and revealed he’s targeting a fight with former WBC ruler Deontay Wilder.
The same man Fury outsmarted once and pummelled twice in a brilliant but one-sided trilogy.
Wilder will at least have a comeback win on his record to end his painful baron run when he pummells Robert Helenius on October 15.

🥊 When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
So in a couple of months we could have two heavyweight world challengers with a combined recent record of 1 win and 4 losses.
Boxing fans – paying Sky Sports, BT Sport and DAZN monthly subscriptions as well increasingly regular PPVs – deserve to see an undisputed champion in the blue riband division.
We should get AJ vs Wilder as a semi-final shootout to decide who faces the winner.
Finally throw Errol Spence vs Terence Crawford on to shut us all up for once, too.
But this is cruel and self-sabotaging modern boxing, where our heroes fight as many times in a year as KSI does in a night, Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao happens almost a decade too late and Lennox Lewis vs Riddick Bowe doesn’t happen at all.
So let’s put away our calculators and up-to-date rankings and sanctioning body guidelines.
And blindly hope that the most backwards sport on the curriculum bluffs its way arse-about-face into a couple of unexpected, unlikely and unbelievable bouts.
Read More on The Sun
But don’t be surprised if our Christmas stocking is actually stuffed with Fury vs Chisora 3 and Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin.
Because in boxing we seem to have nothing to fear but hope itself. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA accepted Tyson Fury’s fight offer against the odds in fear he would not get the opportunity again. AJ has conceded to a 60/40 split in favour of Fury in return of a WBC title shot on December 3 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Promoter Eddie Hearn pictured with Anthony JoshuaCredit: AFP
Joshua does so coming off consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, most recently in Saudi Arabia last month.
But after Usyk ruled himself out of a unification bout until next year, Fury surprisingly turned his attention to British rival AJ.
And promoter Eddie Hearn claimed Joshua will take the same deal the Gypsy King snubbed after drawing with Deontay Wilder in 2018.
Hearn told Sky Sports: “The reason he accepts these terms is he feels this is the only chance he’ll get to fight Tyson Fury.
READ MORE in BOXING
“So therefore, okay, it would have been better to come off a victory but we’re here and [Joshua thinks] I can beat him and I feel good.
“When he drew to Wilder, we offered Fury the fight against AJ and we offered him 60-40 and he said no and he said I’ll only take 50-50.
“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to push back on some of the terms.
“But in the end it was AJ who overruled and said no just accept it. He’s always believed he can beat him.”
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Usyk, 35, has just returned to his war-torn home in Ukraine after months of training away from his friends and family.
So Fury, 34, who is determined to return before the end of the year, offered Joshua, 32, an unlikely shot at his title and unbeaten record.
Hearn has met with George Warren, son to promoter Frank, in a bid to thrash out a deal which previously failed to come together.
And while a date, venue and financial split appear to be agreed, putting together a shared TV deal remains on the agenda.
Fury is signed to BT Sport while AJ’s brand new deal with DAZN comes into play with his next fight.
Although the sports streaming service have just launched a box office platform, making a rare duel pay-per-view possible.

🥊 When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
Hearn said: “Broadcasters need to have their discussions. Which I don’t think will be a problem. It’s actually not that complicated.
“If they’re genuine and George tells me they are, then I think the fight will get made.
“I think George feels his instructions are to make the fight. But you just never know with Tyson Fury.
“Is this a ploy to speed up the Usyk fight, get more money from a site?
“It might have been a bluff, or a bit of publicity that actually turns into it happening.
“Or maybe it was genuine from the start. It could be anything.
“That’s a sceptical view but right now I’m going along the lines of I believe him because I want to be positive and work together to make it happen.”
The reason he accepts these terms is he feels this is the only chance he’ll get to fight Tyson Fury. Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua
Joshua had planned to fight in a confidence building comeback in December before Fury’s out-of-the-blue challenge.
But if the unpredictable Gypsy King pulls another trademark stunt, Hearn has alternate options in case.
He revealed: “I can’t put AJ’s future in the hands of Tyson Fury.
“Whilst we’ll be as positive as we can, we’ll be as helpful as we can, I need to have plan B up my sleeve because this might not happen.
“But it was looking at other options for his next fight that also enthused Joshua about potentially boxing Fury.
“We’ve been looking at opponents for AJ for December and his list is very different to my list.
“So I don’t think he’s interested in opponents that he’s just going to get no credit or respect for.
Read More on The Sun
“Straightaway when I asked him about this fight, he went, ‘Let’s do it’. He hasn’t got any major injuries or anything like that. They want to do it.
“I think he’s coming off a decent performance. He just fancies the fight and fancies his chances. He’s willing to roll the dice.”
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Anthony Joshua in DecemberCredit: PA More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been told by Deontay Wilder’s trainer that he CAN beat Tyson Fury, who is “more vulnerable than he’s ever been”. The heavyweight rivals are closing in on a shock deal to fight on December 3 at Cardiff’s 75-000-seat Principality Stadium.
Malik Scott pictured with Deontay Wilder
Joshua, 32, is coming off two consecutive points losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 35, most recently in Saudi Arabia last month.
Meanwhile, Fury, 34, knocked out Dillian Whyte, also 34, in devastating fashion at Wembley in April.
Although Malik Scott, who coached Wilder for his epic trilogy fight against the Gypsy King, has given hope for Joshua.
Scott, 41, told Fair Betting Sites: “It’s a tough job for AJ but in my opinion, he has a pedigree, he has a gold medal, he has ability.
READ MORE in BOXING
“AJ can punch, he’s a strong kid. He’s big. It can almost come across, when you think about all those attributes, like, hold up, this is Anthony Joshua.
“Let’s back up. How could he not win? I think personally the people who are giving him no shot at all are crazy.
“I think people who are giving AJ no shot at all – that’s blasphemous. I do not agree with that at all. 
“Very tough fight and when I say tough, I mean very tough to decide who I think will win. And most people will say, well, how is it tough?
Most read in Sport
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“Fury’s been on fire. He’s been smoking everybody. Yeah, but he’s also more vulnerable than he’s ever been.
“Fury also gives you an opportunity to hit him more than he ever did too, and in the heavyweight division, I just can’t have full confidence in someone that gives you an opportunity to hit them, I just can’t do that.
“He said it himself, he’s very vulnerable. He’s very vulnerable as a fighter. But that’s what makes him exciting as well.”
Fury was expected to unify all four heavyweight belts – for the first time in history – against Usyk.
But the Ukrainian has ruled himself out until next year having returned to his war-torn home and family after months training away.
So Fury turned his attention to AJ, who later conceded to a 60/40 split and is already in training for the short-notice Battle of Britain.
Scott helped Usyk in the gym for his rematch with over Joshua and cornered Wilder in defeat last October against Fury.
It followed after 11 classic rounds, in which Wilder, 36, scored two knockdowns but was floored three times himself in the loss.
Fury’s been on fire. He’s been smoking everybody. Yeah, but he’s also more vulnerable than he’s ever been.Deontay Wilder’s coach Malik Scott
And Scott insisted Fury is not invincible and pointed to his trips to the canvas as evidence.
He said: “With Fury giving you opportunities, that’s him taking the opposition for granted.
“That’s why my prediction was, you know, I thought Wilder would knock him out inside of five rounds.
“And my prediction almost came true because in the fourth round we had him down.
“That happened because tell me one time you’ve ever seen Tyson Fury walk to somebody straight with his hands like this and just walk forward with his shoulder squared?
“It doesn’t happen. But when he thinks he’s in control, he comes out of himself and becomes a little bit more vulnerable.
“And I believed that if he did that with us, Deontay would be able to strike and keep him down.
“It almost happened. It didn’t, credit to Fury. He got up and continued on to do what he did.
Read More on The Sun
“But I believe you give someone like Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder opportunities to hit you over and over and over and over, I think that [unbeaten run] can only last so long.
“But then again, this is Tyson Fury. He’s made us all wrong so many times. And that’s the exciting part about him as well.
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
Anthony Joshua accepted Tyson Fury’s terms to fight on December 3Credit: Getty More

OLEKSANDR USYK has accused Tyson Fury of robbing fight fans of their undisputed showdown.After the 35-year-old Ukraine hero beat Anthony Joshua for a second time on August 20, to retain his WBA, IBF and WBO world titles, the world expected a clash with the WBC Gypsy King.
Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua to defend his WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight titlesCredit: Getty
Tyson Fury called out AJ with the pair set to fight on December 3Credit: Alamy
Saudi Arabia put together a £125million package but insisted on a December 17 date to upstage rival neighbour Qatar’s World Cup final on the following day.
But father-of-three Usyk wanted more time to recover from the 12-round battle, spend time with his family and help his homeland fight back against Russia’s invasion.
So mastermind Fury, 34, has offered battered-and-bruised AJ, 32, the shock chance of a December 3 duel and the big-money deal is almost done, leaving Usyk feeling short-changed.
He told the Ring magazine: “I’m not p***ed off at all. The bigger problem is Tyson Fury is not letting fans see one of the best historical bouts in boxing history. 

🥊 When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
READ MORE IN BOXING
“That’s his fault. Not mine. So, I’m not p***ed off at all. 
“Tyson Fury can fight whoever he wants to fight but, from the standpoint of sportsmanship, of course it’s not correct.”
Team Joshua are waiting on a contract from Fury’s hall-of-fame promoter Frank Warren, after the crucial 60-40 purse split was agreed upon, as well as the date and location.
There is a suspicion in the AJ camp that Fury is trying to use them as a ploy to rush Usyk back into the ring for their Middle East mega-fight.
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)
But the ice-cool southpaw is happy to call his bluff and is interested in fighting former WBC boss Deontay Wilder instead once he feels content enough to leave his brave nation again.
He said: “I have people around me who respect me, and we talk about that, I really don’t care about anyone else’s opinion.
“I care what my people think. I have my country that I love and it’s why I wanted to come back home.
“I’m sitting in my backyard right now and the country is at war. You hear sirens. You learn how to survive all of this.
“That’s the most important message. I feel personally how the rest of the world feels about us.” More

TYSON FURY could be “using” Anthony Joshua as a negotiation tactic to secure his unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk.That is according to Chinese boxing star Zhilei Zhang’s manager Tommy Lane.
Tyson Fury could be ‘using’ Anthony Joshua as a negotiation tacticCredit: PA
AJ has accepted a 40/60 purse split offer in favour of the Gypsy KingCredit: Getty
AJ, who suffered defeat to Usyk in their rematch last month, is desperate to take on the Gypsy King due to a worry that he may never get the opportunity again.
Joshua’s team have publicly accepted Fury’s offer of a 60/40 purse split in the WBC champion’s favour with talks on-going for a fight which is pencilled in for December with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium the front-runner to stage the Battle of Britain.
However, some feel that Fury is hoping to spark Saudi Arabia into action and get an offer of a mega-money clash with Usyk, who holds the  WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles.
Boxing manager Lane has admitted that he feels that way as well, telling Vegas Insider: “I’m not sure if Fury vs Joshua gets made. I think Joshua wants it, but you never know what Fury’s intentions or plans are.
READ MORE BOXING
“This might be a negotiation tactic with Usyk, or someone else. Only Fury knows.
“I don’t think Joshua beats Fury, but it’s another shot at the heavyweight championship for a ton of money, so I don’t think you can say it’s the wrong fight for AJ.”

Zhang wants revenge on Joshua after suffering defeat in their amateur days in the quarter-finals at the 2012 Olympics in London.
And Lane says that his 39-year-old fighter is ready to step in should the AJ and Fury bout breakdown.

🥊 When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
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)
“If that fight falls through we’re ready, willing, and able to come to London to fight Joshua when he’s ready.
“Given their styles, AJ v Zhang would promise to be an explosive fight for the fans.
“AJ and Zhang are on the same schedule. They fought last on the same night. Zhang didn’t get hurt during his fight, he’s already back in the gym and will be fresh and ready to go if AJ want’s it.
“Zhang and Joshua also have history and unfinished business from the amateurs, when they fought in the 2012 Olympics.
“Zhang has all of China behind him, and AJ is still one of the main faces of professional boxing.
“Joshua v Zhang is by far the biggest fight out of the other options Eddie Hearn has publicly mentioned.”
Zhilei Zhang’s manager Tommy Lane says the Chinese star is ready to face Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is already back in sparring as he closes in on a Battle of Britain bout with Tyson Fury.The 32-year-old has accepted a 60/40 purse split in the Gypsy King’s favour to fight the WBC heavyweight champ before the end of the year.
Anthony Joshua sparred with Richard Riakporhe
The duo sparred at Loughborough University
Joshua’s much-anticipated bout with Fury is expected to go ahead on December 3 – with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium favourite to host the fight.
Despite having gone 12 rounds with Oleksandr Usyk less than three weeks ago, AJ is already back in training.
The British star sparred with former cruiserweight champion Richard Riakporhe at Loughborough University’s facilities.
After their session, Riakporhe posted a series of snaps of himself in the ring with Joshua.
Read More Boxing Stories
He captioned them: “No retreat, no surrender no quit in our blood.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn offered an update on negotiations with Fury’s camp last night.
He said: “We’ve accepted the terms in principle, there’s not a lot more to go in the agreement.
“The broadcasters – DAZN and BT – have got to get together and make that happen, which they’re all saying, the basis of sharing the pay per view is not a problem.
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)
“So I actually think that we’ll be OK. I think it’s just with Fury you just never know.
“He could decide now I don’t fancy fighting this year or retire again, or is this a ploy to get the Saudis to pay more money to bring in Usyk?
“I don’t know. But all I can go on is what I’m being told by George Warren, which is 100 per cent they want this fight.”
Trainer Robert Garcia would have liked AJ to have two or three more fights before stepping back up to elite level against Fury.
The American is eager to train Joshua to reclaim heavyweight champion status – and would like him to come to his gym in California for his camp.
Like Hearn, however, Garcia is also wary of Fury’s motives.
Read More on The Sun
He told Izquierdazo: “For me, if you want to know what I think: I think Fury is doing all this to put pressure on Usyk to make the unification.
“It’s a great fight, and I also think Fury started talking. And they have talked about it with Joshua ‘s team, because they told me about it, but it could be part of the strategy of putting pressure on Usyk and thinking that he is losing the opportunity.”
Joshua is preparing for arguably his biggest fight yet
AJ is training less than three weeks after fighting Usyk
Joshua, 32, is determined to get back on track More

OLEKSANDR USYK wants to fight Deontay Wilder next – NOT Tyson Fury.WBC champion Fury had been targeting a mouthwatering undisputed bout with the Ukrainian early next year after his December showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Oleksandr Usyk has picked out his next opponent after beating Anthony JoshuaCredit: AFP
The Ukrainian wants to fight Deontay WilderCredit: Getty
An undisputed match with Tyson Fury appears off the cards, for nowCredit: Getty
But Usyk has turned his attention elsewhere after learning of Fury and AJ’s epic meeting.
The IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring heavyweight champ now has Wilder in his sights and slammed Fury for denying fans of a fight for the ages.
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas claimed the Ukrainian had been keen to fight Fury next until he arranged his Battle of Britain with Joshua instead.
That dust-up includes a rematch clause, meaning a meeting between Fury and Usyk could be some time away.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Usyk though is eager to get back on the canvas, and told The Ring that he had already picked out his next opponent in Wilder.
Through manager Klimas, Usyk said: “I’m not p***** off at all (about being bypassed by Fury for Joshua). The bigger problem is Tyson Fury is not letting fans see one of the best historical bouts in boxing history.
“That’s his fault. Not mine. So, I’m not p***** off at all. Tyson Fury can fight whoever he wants to fight.
“From the standpoint of sportsmanship, of course it’s not correct.”
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)
Then when asked who he wanted to fight next, Usyk himself responded: “Deontay Wilder.”
Usyk went on to say: “Wilder is a dangerous fighter, and that fight would most likely be in the United States.”
The former cruiserweight confirmed he is likely to be ringside when Wilder returns to action on October 8 against Robert Helenius in New York.
The Bronze Bomber has not fought since being knocked out in his trilogy fight with the Gypsy King last October.

When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
Usyk’s manager Klimas labelled Fury as “afraid” of the Ukrainian, and his potential two fights with AJ delays the prospect for an undisputed bout.
He said: “What happens when Joshua beats his ass? What will happen next?
“They will go to a rematch, which will push back the chance to have an undisputed world champion.
“I think Fury is most likely afraid of Usyk. Why does he run away from Usyk? Why? Because Fury sees danger in Usyk.
Read More on The Sun
“Usyk wanted to fight Fury by the end of the year. You know what, we’re not running after him. We have three belts. He has one belt.
“Who cares? It’s a situation Fury created. Not Usyk. Usyk would fight Tyson Fury in his backyard. Usyk would fight anyone in their backyard.” More