Heavyweight boxing

TYSON FURY’s Battle of Britain clash against Anthony Joshua for December 3 is growing closer after a shock WBC rankings change.AJ, 32, accepted terms presented by WBC heavyweight champion Fury’s camp last Friday.
Fury’s proposed terms for a December 3 fight with AJ were acceptedCredit: Getty
Joshua agreed to a 60-40 purse split in Fury’s favourCredit: PA
Fury will take 60 per cent of what is expected to be the biggest purse in the history of British boxing.
The Principality Stadium in Cardiff is the likely venue for the proposed December 3 fight.
And in another major boost towards getting the Battle of Britain clash confirmed, the WBC placed Joshua at No6 in their rankings making him eligible to face his 34-year-old rival.
The Mexican sanctioning body have always blanked AJ as he had never fought for any of their heavyweight titles and was the WBA, IBF and WBO boss twice.
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WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman says Joshua has gone straight into their top ten based on merit.
Joshua also doesn’t have any commitments to other organisations since losing his heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Sulaiman said: “Joshua entered the rankings [on] his merits and since he does not have any commitment for another organisation.”
Sulaiman continued: “He was not ranked before because he was champion of other organisations and then he was signed to fight for other organisations.”
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And when asked if Joshua is in good standing to challenge Fury, Sulaiman responded: “Yes, he is.”
There are also no current mandatory obligations for the WBC title that would stop Fury from meeting Joshua.
Fury’s last fight, against Dillian White in April at Wembley Stadium, was a mandatory defence.
A new mandatory challenger for the WBC belt won’t be determined until November at the earliest at the WBC’s convention in Acapulco.
Fights have been, and will continue to be, taking place ahead of November’s meeting.
Andy Ruiz Jr could find himself in good standing for the eliminators after beating Luis Ortiz.
Former dominant WBC champion Deontay Wilder also has an upcoming fight against Robert Helenius in October.
Wilder, of course, drew once and lost twice to Fury in a thrilling trilogy that ended late last year – with the door open for a FOURTH fight.

When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has been backed to beat Tyson Fury by one of the Gypsy King’s former sparring partners.The British heavyweight duo have finally agreed to fight on December 3, with a 60-40 purse split in Fury’s favour.
Anthony Joshua is set to fight Tyson Fury in DecemberCredit: PA
Fury, 34, will take a 60-40 split of the purseCredit: PA
AJ, 32, is coming off back to back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk – but Christopher Lovejoy is backing him to triumph against WBC champ Fury.
Lovejoy, 38, claimed to have knocked the Gypsy King out of the ring when they sparred a number of years ago – a claim laughed off by the WBC champ.
Taking to Twitter to give his prediction, Lovejoy said: “I’m not even a fan of AJ.
“But I got him beating Fury, let’s not forget Fury got dropped by (Deontay) Wilder. I also knocked Fury out the ring before.”
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Lovejoy boasts a 20-1 professional record – although his defeat was a humbling second round loss at the hands of Mahmoud Charr last year – while his wins have come against fighters with losing records.
Giving his version of what went on with Lovejoy, Fury told iFL TV in 2019: “What happened was, there was this big fella, six-foot-five, 20 stone, 18-0, he was highly rated by the WBA.
“And he was saying all over Las Vegas, all in the heavyweight gyms, ‘I’m going to knock Tyson Fury out. He’s a bum, he’s this, he’s that.’
“So one of the trainers at the gym said, ‘Oh Tyson, there’s this guy who said he’s gonna knock you out.’ I said, ‘Are you going to knock me out, are you?’
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When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
“He said, ‘Yeah, I am.’ I said, ‘Come down and do it then.’ So anyway I wasn’t [sparring] at the gym and he turned up to the gym.
“I said, ‘I’ll tell you what to do, come back tomorrow and I’m gonna knock you out. If I don’t, it don’t count.’
“He sort of flapped it, didn’t know how to take it. But he left and he came back tomorrow. My cousin said, ‘I want you to drop him with a straight left hand in the first round.’
“I said, ‘You got it.’ He comes running at me, I just went slip, boom and down he went. All 20 stone of him on the floor.”

Joshua expects to have a contract to fight Fury in the next couple of days.
Promoter Eddie Hearn held talks with Frank Warren’s son George last week – conceding a take it or leave it 60-40 financial split on AJ’s instruction.
A source close to the Gypsy King told SunSport: “Tyson wants to leave win and win in style.
“He wants to leave no one in doubt who is the better fighter. He wants an early KO to put the whole debate about who is the better fighter to bed once and for all.”
Christopher Lovejoy, right, was defeated by Mahmoud Charr last yearCredit: Getty More

CANELO ALVAREZ once considered QUITTING boxing as he could not afford a car on his £35 fight purses… now he is the sport’s richest star.The Mexican ring legend turned professional aged just 15 but was making tiny paydays at the start of his career.
Canelo Alvarez considered quitting boxing as he could not afford a car
The Mexican was once making just $35 a fight
Canelo Alvarez made his pro debut aged 15
Now almost 20 years on and Canelo is boxing’s prized asset and the biggest box office attraction.
The current undisputed super-middleweight champion’s journey began on the Juanacatlan streets as a nine-year-old.
Canelo would lace up the gloves and challenge all comers, inspired to box by his oldest brother Rigoberto.
In a DAZN documentary, he revealed: “I started boxing because of my oldest brother. I saw his professional debut.
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“Since then, it’s like my eyes turned into gloved-shaped hearts. Since then, I said, ‘I want to be a boxer, I want to be a boxer.’
“Since then, I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Then he moved for two years to Tijuana, I would ask, ‘Please take me with you. I want to be a boxer like you.’
“But my dad wouldn’t let me go.”
Canelo, the youngest of seven brothers with three of them also fighters, was eventually given the green light to chase his boxing dreams at 13.
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And it led him to Chepo Reynoso’s gym, which the trainer co-run with his son Eddy, with the pair coaching Canelo still till this day.
Canelo had 46 amateur bouts, losing just twice and winning national titles while also impressing against seasoned veterans in sparring.
Brother Gonzalo said: “I loved to see him training with world champion “Chatiti” Jauregui and he was just a 15-year-old boy.
“He would stand stand his ground and the world champion couldn’t dominate.”

Canelo turned pro in 2005 after just two years worth of experience and fought for little pay across Mexico.
It proved such hard work that the future fight icon was ready to prematurely hang up his gloves to earn money a normal way.
Gonzalo said: “There was a moment when he was considering quitting boxing, because, I remember, they paid him almost nothing when he started.
Canelo Alvarez was a national amateur champion
Canelo Alvarez started boxing at 13
Eddy Reynoso with Canelo Alvarez
“Sometimes they would pay him $40 and the rest in tickets for him to sell.
“If he’d sell them he would make a bit of money, if not, that was his problem.
“He wanted to buy a car so he’d say, ‘I’m going to look for a job.’ He was losing his patience.
“So, I told him, ‘Brother, you have something that almost nobody has, you’re a Mexican, redhead and very good at what you’re doing. I believe you’ll be world champion and you will make history.'”
Canelo’s life changed at 17 when he became a father, to his eldest daughter Emily.
He said: “There were very complicated moments, when I couldn’t afford milk, diapers, or the bus fare to go to training.
“But one way or another, I would figure it out and push forward.”
Canelo Alvarez turned pro in 2005
Canelo Alvarez with his eldest daughter Emily
Canelo, who now has three daughters and one son, drew inspiration from his father Santos and credits him for his success.
But in the early days of his career, he found motivation from his first daughter.
Canelo said: “At home, I would think, ‘I don’t want this for my daughter, I want something better.’
“So I aimed to give the best to my daughter.”
Canelo made a name for himself in his homeland with 21 wins before making his Stateside debut in 2008.
By 2011, and already 37 fights in, he became world champ for the first time, beating Ricky Hatton’s brother Matthew for the light-middleweight title, aged only 20.
Around 1.4MILLION people watched and a star was born overnight.
Canelo Alvarez with his daughter Maria Fernanda
Canelo Alvarez with his son and daughter
In the decade since, Canelo inherited the pound-for-pound throne vacated by Floyd Mayweather, who beat the Mexican in 2013.
The 32-year-old has won belts up to light-heavyweight and become the highest-paid fighter in the process.
According to Forbes, Canelo made around £74m for his two wins in 2021 over Billy Joe Saunders, 33, and Caleb Plant, 30, alone.
And he makes just under £5m in sponsorships while also previously claiming he earns £1.1m a month due to his investments, mainly in real estate.
And for the man who once could not afford a car to get around, Canelo is now spoilt for choice.
His collection has included a Bugatti Chiron, worth £2.8m, a £1m LaFerrari and a £520,000 Lamborghini Aventador SVJ.
A bulk of Canelo’s wealth come following his two fights with Gennady Golovkin, 40, which both sold over 1m pay-per-views.
He is said to have earned £24 for the 2017 draw and then around £43m for the rematch he won a year later.
The mega-rich boxer has a fleet of supercarsCredit: Instagram @Canelo
Canelo Alvarez with his white FerrariCredit: Instgram canelo
Canelo Alvarez poses by a LamborghiniCredit: Instgram canelo
The pair are finally set to complete their trilogy this weekend in Las Vegas, which promises to further boost Canelo’s net worth.
But the fight means more than any number on a paycheque, with losing simply not an option for Canelo.
He said: “I think we had a really good two fights. People want the three fights.
“For me in my mind, at the end of the second fight, that was the end of the fights with Golovkin. It’s enough.
“But the people want to know who is the best. He always says I’m not a good champion, I’m embarrassing for my country, but when he is in front of me he doesn’t say anything.
“That’s why I’m mad. He’s a good, difficult, strong fighter. One of the greatest of all time. Our styles are perfect for a good fight.
“I think I’m more mature, more strong, have good experience, and I’m in my prime. That is going to be the difference.
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“I think it is going to be a good fight, but my goal is to end the fight before the 12 rounds.
“Nobody likes to lose, but losing is not an option for me.”
Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez drew in 2017Credit: AP:Associated Press
Canelo Alvarez beat Gennady Golovkin in their 2018 rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin ahead of their trilogyCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

DEONTAY WILDER has revealed the only way he will fight Anthony Joshua… is by sharing a joint with him!The Bronze Bomber is making his comeback to the squared circle on October 15 to face Finnish heavyweight Robert Helenius in New York.
Deontay Wilder has joked what it would take for him to face Anthony Joshua inside the ringCredit: Getty
Joshua is set to fight British rival Tyson Fury for the WBC heavyweight title in DecemberCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
it will be the first time the 36-year-old will have stepped back inside the ring since he was knocked out by Tyson Fury last year in their trilogy bout.
Like Wilder, Joshua is also coming off the back of two defeats after coming up short twice against unbeaten Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk.
But the 32-year-old is set for an instant return after accepting Tyson Fury’s 60-40 purse split terms ahead of a potential December 3 showdown.
It will give AJ the chance to claim the famous WBC belt – the only strap he is yet to collect having been a two-time WBA, WBO and IBF champion.
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Olympic gold medallist Joshua expects to a have a contract in place for a domestic dust-up with Fury “in the next couple of days”.
And attention has already turned to who Joshua could fight after whether he returns to the pinnacle of the glamour division, or if he succumbs to a third straight loss.
American KO specialist Wilder has failed to agree terms with Joshua in the past over a fight, but he has now stated the one condition it would need to take to face him.
And that is for the two boxers, as well as their promoters, to enjoy a spliff together.
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Speaking on the Last Stand Podcast, the Alabama native said: “I’m willing and able for everybody.
“I still wanna whoop that a**. I’m not gonna rob the fans of not making that fight happen.
“I definitely want that fight to happen. I just wanna know if they’re for real.”
Asked how the fight gets made, he remarked: “We’re gonna have to go to California and all just light one up and discuss it man.
“That’s a good idea. You can see Shelly Finkel passing it to Eddie Hearn, Joshua passing it to me. That’s so funny.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA expects to have a contract to fight Tyson Fury “in the next couple of days” – paving the way for the Battle of Britain. AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn held talks with Frank Warren’s son George last week, where a “take it or leave it” deal was offered.
Anthony Joshua expects to have a contract to fight Tyson Fury ‘in next couple of days’Credit: Getty
Tyson Fury offered Anthony Joshua a 60/40 dealCredit: Getty
And after orders from Joshua, Hearn confirmed they were willing to accept the terms, which included conceding a financial split of 60/40.
Speaking on his Matchroom Boxing’s channel, he said: “On Friday I met with George Warren and we had an offer for the fight.
“We weren’t happy with all the terms and we tried to negotiate those terms but we were told there was no negotiation, it was take it or leave it and we took it.
“We accepted the offer in writing on Friday.

“I spoke to George Warren again this morning and we expect to receive a contract in the next few days and hopefully we can move forward with the fight.
“There is no reason not to, the key terms are agreed; there is a broadcast situation to sort out which at the moment is extremely positive. At the moment we’re in a good place.”
The fight will come as an unexpected immediate world title shot for Joshua, 32, who is coming off the back of two losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk, 35, was then expected to face Fury, 34, in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout.
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But the Ukrainian has ruled himself out until next year having returned to his war-torn home and family for the first time.
So Fury, coming out of the retirement he announced in April, surprisingly turned to AJ in a bid to fight before the end of the year.
Hearn had wanted to get Joshua back in the ring in December in a confidence-building bout.
But the opportunity to challenge for Fury’s WBC belt all while settling their long-standing feud has proved too good to turn down.
Hearn said: “He felt this was his opportunity to get the fight with Tyson Fury.
“I think Mr Fury has a great deal but this wasn’t about the money for us.
“We weren’t allowed to negotiate; in all deals you negotiate but we were told unequivocally, ‘No movement, take it or leave it’.

When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
“We were treated like the B-side going into the fight and it came down to AJ wanting the fight.
“I always have my doubts about Tyson Fury but everything I hear from George Warren I believe and they are saying all the right things.
“They are saying 100 per cent they want the fight and if they do, they’ll get it.”
The grudge fight is set for December 3 at Cardiff’s 75,000-seat Principality Stadium.
Fury is tied down to an exclusive deal with BT Sports while Joshua’s brand new deal with DAZN starts with his next fight.
But the sports streaming service has recently launched a pay-per-view platform, making a rare duel box office deal possible.
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Hearn said: “Those conversations are already rolling and I don’t see why an amicable solution can’t be found.
“The broadcasters could stop this fight but I don’t think they want to. It’s in everybody’s interest for this fight to happen.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn is leading talks for Anthony Joshua to fight Tyson FuryCredit: PA
Tyson Fury with his promoter Frank WarrenCredit: PA More