Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA’S trainer Robert Garcia would have liked his man to have “two or three” fights before facing Tyson Fury.Talks are progressing over AJ’s Battle of Britain bout with the Gypsy King, likely to take place in Cardiff on December 3.
Anthony Joshua is trained by American Robert GarciaCredit: PA
Joshua could face Tyson Fury on December 3Credit: PA
The fight hands Joshua an instant opportunity to reclaim a heavyweight belt following two straight defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
Garcia, however, would have liked Joshua to step down a level before going in with Fury.
Speaking to Izquierdazo, he said: “Yes, I have spoken with Joshua’s team.
“But I am the newest member of the whole team, and they are decisions that they have to make between them.
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“For my part, I would like to do about two or three fights before [Fury], but obviously it is a business and a huge fight in Europe.
“I can’t stop them from taking something if it’s a huge fight and the purse I think would be a lot of money.
“I’m the newest on the team, I don’t own the decisions, they have a very smart management team and they will make the right decision and it’s their decision really.”
Garcia, 47, is eager to add training Joshua to a heavyweight title to his impressive resume – and hopes to take AJ’s camp to the US.
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He added: “I told them what I think: that it would be better, and because of my work in California, I recommended doing the camp here.
“He liked the idea and they will take it into account. But for me to go back [to London] is difficult for me.
“I have a lot of work, fighters who fight every weekend.
“But I know that with my dad’s team, my son Mikey, I know I can do it and go another couple of months. I know I can, but I would rather stay. Let the preparation be here.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn offered fans a positive update about fight negotiations – but is wary that Fury is “unpredictable”.
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On a similar cautious note, Garcia said: “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.” More

EDDIE HEARN has revealed exactly where negotiations stand for Anthony Joshua’s fight with Tyson Fury.AJ is desperate to take on the Gypsy King, fuelled by a worry that his chance to take on Fury may never come again.
Anthony Joshua wants to fight Tyson FuryCredit: PA
The Gypsy King is ‘unpredictable’Credit: PA
Talks remain 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. 
On where things stand, Hearn 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.
“So I actually think that we’ll be okay. I think it’s just with Fury you just never know.
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“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.”
Hearn added that Fury’s unpredictable nature means anything is possible.
He said: “I don’t know whether this guy is for real because you just never do.
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“But AJ said ‘well, one I want the fight and two if he’s not for real then let’s find out.’ 
“So I think from Anthony’s point of view, he’s played it great. 
“If the contract is what they said it will be, we’re fighting. 
“And if Fury chooses not to fight, AJ looks like he’s accepted the fight but it didn’t come off.
“He does want the fight and he just felt that he doesn’t think he will get the fight again if he doesn’t accept it now.” More

TYSON FURY destroyed the punch machine challenge – sending a clear message to Anthony Joshua. The WBC champion was filmed leathering the target with his weaker left arm but still scored a record of 993.
Tyson Fury destroyed the punch machine challengeCredit: INSTAGRAM
The WBC champion sent a clear message to Anthony JoshuaCredit: INSTAGRAM
In comparison, when AJ went on the Graham Norton show in 2017 he racked up a score of 848.
Although it has to be said, each machine is different making any comparisons hard to gauge.
Whatever the pair scored on the punch machine will count for little if they end up sharing the ring this year.
Fury, 34, surprisingly turned his attention to AJ after Oleksandr Usyk, 35, ruled himself out of an undisputed bout to nurse an injury. 
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And Joshua, 32, has since conceded to a 60/40 split for a shot at the title on December 3 in Cardiff, with official paperwork to be sent his way.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said on talkSPORT: “The contracts are on their way. 
“But I’m not going into great detail about this because we saw what happened last time round with people making statements and so forth and it all fell apart.
“This fight won’t be on until it’s signed, but everybody wants it to happen. 
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“There aren’t any obstacles in the way, so hopefully very quickly we can get it over the line, but until it’s signed, it’s not on.
“When you’re a promoter, you’re an optimist. That’s what you do. You’re in the business of trying to make events happen, so we’re all excited about it.
“I’m excited about it as a fight because I always felt that Tyson has the beating of AJ and now we’re gonna find out if we get this over the line.” 
Anthony Joshua doing the punch machine challenge on Graham Norton’s show More

JOE JOYCE has made a U-turn in his Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight prediction. The pair of British heavyweight rivals are closing in on a deal for December 3 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Joe Joyce backs Tyson Fury to beat Anthony Joshua
Joyce has an inside track, having sparred the pair in the past and at one point favoured former Team GB training partner Joshua, 32.
But following a public fallout with AJ, which coincided with two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 35, his prediction has changed. 
Joyce, 36, told talkSPORT:  “I originally thought AJ would do the business but I’m definitely favouring Fury.
“Just because of his boxing ability. But I still think it’s a great fight and Joshua has a puncher’s chance, as always.
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“He has very damaging punching power and if he goes on the offensive, it will be a very exciting fight.
“But it’s down to Fury. He can box on the back foot, he can switch. If he goes at him, he can stop Joshua.”
Fury, 34, surprisingly turned his attention to Joshua after Usyk ruled himself out of an undisputed bout to nurse an injury. 
And AJ has since conceded to a 60/40 split for a shot at the WBC title with official paperwork to be sent his way.
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Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said: “The contracts are on their way. 
“But I’m not going into great detail about this because we saw what happened last time round with people making statements and so forth and it all fell apart.
“This fight won’t be on until it’s signed, but everybody wants it to happen. 
“There aren’t any obstacles in the way, so hopefully very quickly we can get it over the line, but until it’s signed, it’s not on.
“When you’re a promoter, you’re an optimist. That’s what you do. You’re in the business of trying to make events happen, so we’re all excited about it.
“I’m excited about it as a fight because I always felt that Tyson has the beating of AJ and now we’re gonna find out if we get this over the line.” 
Anthony Joshua next to ex-sparring partner Joe Joyce More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is ALREADY in training to fight Tyson Fury – after promoter Frank Warren revealed a deal is 90 per cent done. AJ has agreed to concede to a 60/40 financial split after being offered a WBC title shot on December 3 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. 
Anthony Joshua sparring with Richard Riakporhe
And it seems he is wasting no time in getting to work as he was pictured in a conditioned sparring session with Richard Riakporhe, 32.
His promoter Eddie Hearn met with Frank Warren’s son George and the pair have since been thrashing out a deal. 
And Warren is now in a position to send off official paperwork but warned the fight is not guaranteed until both sign on the dotted line. 
He said on talkSPORT: “The contracts are on their way. 
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“But I’m not going into great detail about this because we saw what happened last time round with people making statements and so forth and it all fell apart.
“This fight won’t be on until it’s signed, but everybody wants it to happen. 
“There aren’t any obstacles in the way, so hopefully very quickly we can get it over the line, but until it’s signed, it’s not on.
“When you’re a promoter, you’re an optimist. That’s what you do. You’re in the business of trying to make events happen, so we’re all excited about it.
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“I’m excited about it as a fight because I always felt that Tyson has the beating of AJ and now we’re gonna find out if we get this over the line.” 
Fury, 34, announced his retirement from boxing in April after knocking out Dillian Whyte, also 34, at Wembley. 
But five months later Oleksandr Usyk, 35, beat Joshua, 32, on points for the second time in the space of 11 months. 
It then set up the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout, although Usyk ruled himself out until next year. 

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That caused Fury to unexpectedly turn his attention to Joshua, seemingly ending his latest retirement claim. 
Warren said: “I knew he would fight because Tyson is a fighting man and he’s in the gym all the time.
“He keeps himself really well and he doesn’t get out of condition.
“I believe his mentality is that when he’s in the gym he needs something to aim for and what does he aim for if he’s a world champion boxer, it’s to fight and that’s what it was.
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“He made it very clear to me a couple of weeks ago that he wants to fight and we were talking about a couple of opponents.
“We were getting quite close to announcing something and then we had this conversation and he just said, ‘make that happen’.”
Tyson Fury with his promoter Frank WarrenCredit: PA More

OLEKSANDR USYK is still prepared to help Anthony Joshua in training for his next fight. Usyk beat AJ twice on points in the space of 11 months but is now ready to teach his old rival some new tricks.
Anthony Joshua has been offered coaching by Oleksandr UsykCredit: AP
His promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports: “He said if needed he might come and give him a couple of [pieces of] advice.”
Joshua, 32, was involved in a bizarre post-fight rant after his recent rematch loss to Usyk, 35, in Saudi Arabia last month.
The unbeaten Ukrainian failed in his approach to calm AJ down – but remains open to sharing the ring again in sparring.
Usyk said: “I wanted to talk to him, I said, ‘Ease up, man, let’s just calm down. When I have time I could come to see you in the UK, come to your gym and we could spar together and stuff.'”
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The pound-for-pound star has now returned to his war-torn home and was welcomed by friends and family.
And having spent months away from them in training, Usyk has ruled himself out of fighting until next year.
That shelved hopes of the heavyweight divison’s first four-belt unification bout, with WBC champion Tyson Fury, 34.
So the unpredictable Fury turned his attention to Joshua and offered him a 60/40 purse split to fight on December 3 in Cardiff.
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And AJ’s management company recently claimed they have accepted the terms, with official paperwork due to be sent.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren told talkSPORT: “The contracts are on their way. This fight isn’t on until it’s signed.
“I am not going to go into great detail as the last time around people made statements and it all fell apart.
“Everybody wants it to happen, there are not any obstacles in the way, so hopefully, very quickly we can get it over the line, but until it is signed it is not on.
“There are a lot of facets to making it over the line, lawyers and broadcasters are involved.
“There has been an offer that could be refused but they have accepted a great offer.
“The basis of the deal, 90 per cent of what counts in the deal it is OK, and the other 10 per cent we have to sort out.”
Tyson Fury is in talks to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Rex More