Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA stunned boxing by ACCEPTING Tyson Fury’s offer of a Battle of Britain fight in December.Joshua, 32, suffered a third professional defeat of his career against Oleksandr Usyk last month – his second loss in a row to the Ukrainian.
Anthony Joshua has accepted Tyson Fury’s offer for an all-British dust-upCredit: Getty
Fury called out Joshua on Monday after he claimed talks with Usyk had stalledCredit: PA
Fury called for a £500MILLION undisputed showdown with the Ukrainian in the aftermath.
But with that looking unlikely this year, he instead turned his attention to long-time rival AJ.
The mischievous Gypsy King teased AJ by posting on social media: “I’d like to give you an opportunity to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.”  
And the Watford hero tweeted in reply:  “Yeah calm. I don’t do the online discussions just for clout, so if you’re really about it, shout.  I’ll be ready in December.”
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Many thought Fury’s offer was little more than the opportunity to have a dig at his long-time rival.
The Morecambe giant knows he is unlikely to secure an undisputed decider with WBA, IBF and WBO champ Oleksandr Usyk until early 2023.
Ukrainian genius Usyk wants to rest with his family after beating AJ for the second time last month.
So Fury, 34, fancies a UK show in December to keep the cash rolling in.
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Fury can cherry pick any of the WBC’s top 15 contenders. And he told Joshua: “You’re coming off a 12-round fight, so you’re match-fit.
“I’m giving you a few months’ notice. So, if you’re interested, I’ll send you the date over and we can rumble.
“A Battle of Britain for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.
“Let me know if you’re interested. If not, I will select another opponent.”
There are still a number of hurdles to a fight that has been the best part of five years in the making.
Former champ Joshua, 32, is now tied into a long-term exclusive broadcast deal with streaming app DAZN, while Fury is on rivals BT Sport.
And AJ’s two consecutive losses to Usyk mean that his stock has never been lower.
That would leave a gloating Fury as the No 1 attraction — and taking home the lion’s share of any purse.
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Promoter Eddie Hearn has already confirmed his star attraction Joshua will enjoy a couple of rebuilding fights, before he takes on another  dangerous opponent.
And anyone training for a  shot at Fury needs a couple of months  sparring with someone close to his 6ft 9in, 19st frame and switch-hitting style. More

TYSON FURY has sensationally called out Anthony Joshua for a December dust-up.The Gypsy King was on course to face Oleksandr Usyk in a blockbuster undisputed heavyweight fight on December 17.

Anthony Joshua renewed his rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk last monthCredit: Getty
But the Brit came up short against the slick southpaw for a second timeCredit: Getty
But Tyson Fury has offered his long-time rival a crack at his WBC heavyweight titleCredit: GETTY
Fury called out Joshua on Instagram on MondayCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
But Ukranian Usyk doesn’t plan on fighting again this year after finally returning to his wartorn homeland.
Fury, however, is hellbent on returning to the ring this year, so much so he’s called out long-time rival AJ for a winter Battle of Britain.
He said: “Tyson Fury here. Aka the Gypsy King, the WBC heavyweight champion of the world – as you can tell.
“I think you’ve all heard that I’m going to be fighting soon – within the next few months.
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“And I think that before I announce an opponent, that I need to do this just in case.
“Anthony Joshua, I know you just lost a fight to Usyk and you’re beltless at the moment.
“But I’d like to give you an opportunity to fight for the WBC heavy championship of the world and the lineal championship in the next few months.
“You’re coming off a 12-round fight, so you’re match-fit, you’re ready.
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“I’m giving you a few months’ notice. So if you’re interested, I’ll send you the date over and we can rumble.
“A Battle of Britain for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.”
Fury, 34, is happy to move on to a less attractive match-up should Joshua decide not to fight him.
He added: “Let me know if you’re interested. If not, I will select another opponent.”
Fury later tweeted: “Trying my best to make fights happen. I just want to fight.
Fury and Joshua were set to do battle last year after agreeing a blockbuster two-fight deal in March 2020.
But former WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder scuppered the undisputed bout when he won his arbitration for a trilogy fight with Fury.
Tyson Fury is hellbent on fighting in DecemberCredit: GETTY
AJ is also planning to return to the ring in DecemberCredit: Getty
Joshua, 32, would go on to face and lose to then WBO mandatory challenger Usyk.
Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua suffered a second successive points defeat to the slick southpaw in Saudi Arabia last month.
But promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed the Watford warrior will be back in action in December.
He told The Daily Mail: “We’re all gunning for a December return.
“It’s not confirmed, but that’s where everyone’s minds are at.
“We’re not booking a venue, but the conversations – as recently as yesterday – was December for his return. I don’t want to start mentioning names, but it’s a top 15 fight.
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“It will be someone credible, who AJ can come back, express himself against and build on what he’s learning in camp.
“He can then build himself back up to fighting for a heavyweight title again.”
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TYSON FURY vacated the Ring Magazine heavyweight title in a bid to emulate the late Muhammad Ali.The Gypsy King gave up the prestigious belt – which Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua recently vied for – last month as he was toying with sticking to his retirement.
Tyson Fury vacated the prestigious Ring Magazine heavyweight title last monthCredit: REUTERS
Fur relinquished the belt despite knowing he was going to fight againCredit: GETTY
The Gyspy King vacated the belt in a bid to become a three-time Ring champ like the late Muhammad AliCredit: Getty
But the Brit’s relinquishing of the strap was a premeditated bid to become follow in the footsteps of Ali and become a three-time holder of the title.
During a recent interview with SecondsOut, he said: “I gave that belt up, so that they could fight for it.
“Do you know why? Because I’m gonna become a three-time heavyweight Ring Magazine champion of the world.
“That’s how confident I am of battering Oleksandr Usyk.”
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Fury, 34, first won the Ring heavyweight title in his upset victory over Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, in which he also claimed the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO belts.
He reclaimed the belt in February 2020 with a stunning seventh-round TKO victory over Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas.
Fury defended the belt twice, against Wilder and fellow Brit Dillian Whyte, before vacating it last month.
The Wythenshawe warrior will bid to reclaim the title from Usyk in their blockbuster undisputed showdown.
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December 17 was the working date for the Saudi showdown, although the fight looks set to take place early next year.
Fury, however, plans on fighting again later this year, telling BT Sport: “I will be fighting very soon. I don’t know who against, we are still looking for an opponent.
“I will fight in the next few months here in the UK. Usyk will not be ready, he does not want to fight. I will fight whoever is available.
“Whoever Frank Warren gets for me, that is who I will be defending my WBC belt against.”
Usyk wants to spend time with his loved ones in wartorn Ukraine and heal from his injuries before fighting Fury.
Tyson Fury plans to fight again this year – with or without Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
Fury said: “I saw a video from the middleweight who just beat the bodybuilder, saying he wants to fight me and he called me out after the fight.
“I replied straight away and did another one recently to say, ‘let’s fight’ but he doesn’t want to fight.
“He let his mouth go but now he’s running scared like the little b**** that he is, he says he wants to fight next year, he has some injuries from that sparring contest he had, so there is not a lot I can do about it.
“I would take the middleweight because it is the easiest fight out there for me.
“I am not greatly interested in being undisputed, never have been, never will be.
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“However if you have a pumped-up middleweight who people think is some great boxer – even though I don’t really rate him myself – then that is the money fight and the fight people want to see right now.
“I don’t want to say anything to him apart from ‘find your balls and come and see me, you s***house.’”
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DEONTAY WILDER is ready to fight Oleksandr Usyk if Tyson Fury prices himself out of a unification bout. Fury maintained he would end his retirement if he was paid a record-breaking £500MILLION purse to return.
Deontay Wilder after Andy Ruiz Jr beat Luis OrtizCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Oleksandr Usyk has ruled himself out of fighting Tyson Fury this yearCredit: PA
So it is no wonder talks to face Usyk in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed decider have stalled.
But Wilder, who returns on October 15 against Robert Helenius, has offered himself up as an alternative for the Ukrainian champion.
He said: “If he overprices himself, they know where to find me. £500million is definitely pricing himself out.
“I’m here, Deontay Wilder’s back. I’m here to make the division back strong and exciting again.

“I’m here for all the smoke. But we’ll see what happens. Boxing is a business. It’s strictly a business and you’ve gotta treat it accordingly.
“We’ll see how the business has to be handled for that fight to happen.”
Wilder, 36, faces Helenius, 38, in what will be first bout since losing to Fury in their epic trilogy bout classic last October.
The unbeaten British legend, 34, then knocked out Dillian Whyte, also 34, in what he claimed would be his final fight.
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Although plans changed when Usyk, 35, beat Anthony Joshua, 32, for the second time in 11 months and called Fury out afterwards.
But the pound-for-pound star has ruled out any unification until next year after returning to his war-torn home for the first time.
Usyk plans to rest and recover with the loved ones he left for training camp amid Russia’s invasion.
But the unpredictable Fury is not willing to wait around and claimed he is set to announce his next fight after making a brief WWE cameo.
He said after WWE’s Clash of The Castle last week: “Usyk was calling me out after his last fight with Joshua.
“I’ve replied and said let’s do the fight this year, wherever they want to do it.
“I’ve been waiting for offers from countries to come forward, and all of a sudden Usyk has stated he doesn’t want to fight any more, he wants to fight next year, not this year.
“So, I’m not going to wait around for anybody, I’m announcing a fight next week.”
Tyson Fury beat Deontay Wilder in their October 2021 trilogy fightCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

ANDY RUIZ JR has set himself up for a massive fight against Deontay Wilder or a trilogy with Anthony Joshua after returning with a win. The Mexican-American dropped Luis Ortiz THREE times on the way to a unanimous points win in Los Angeles.
Andy Ruiz Jr after beating Luis OrtizCredit: taylor tomlinson
And Ruiz is ready to build on the win by aiming to stay active against the heavyweight division’s best.
So here, SunSport takes a look at five fights on the cards for Ruiz, 32, following victory over Ortiz, 43.
Deontay Wilder
The former WBC champion was ringside to watch Ruiz beat the man he twice brutally knocked out.
It was a WBC title eliminator, something Wilder, 36, will also compete in when he returns against Robert Helenius, 38, on October 15.
Meaning if Wilder wins, he is in line to fight Ruiz in what would be an expected final eliminator for the belt held by Tyson Fury, 34.
And with the pair both under the PBC banner, it makes the mega-fight even more of a reality.
Deontay Wilder was ringside to watch Andy Ruiz Jr’s win over Luis OrtizCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Anthony Joshua
Ruiz first held gold when he shocked Joshua, 32, in June 2019 with an upset stoppage win.
But he lost both the belts and the rematch six months later in their Saudi Arabia sequel.
Ruiz has held out for a trilogy fight ever since but AJ went on to twice lose to Oleksandr Usyk, 35.
And while Joshua is faced with a rebuilding job, the time could be now for the old rivals to renew their series for a trilogy decider.
Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr have failed to fight in a trilogyCredit: AFP or licensors
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Luis Ortiz rematch
Despite the knockdowns, Ortiz pushed Ruiz all the way and would have even won on the cards had be not been floored.
He refused to retire afterwards and called for a second fight.
If Ruiz is all out of options, due to the Cuban also being under PBC, it makes a rerun easy to negotiate.
Ortiz said: “I want a rematch. I was keeping my hands up but the eye wasn’t a problem.”
Andy Ruiz Jr beats Luis Ortiz on pointsCredit: Premier Boxing Champions
Dillian Whyte
These two have a history and were in line to fight in 2020 before talks broke down.
Whyte, 34, was knocked out by Tyson Fury, also 34, in April and now finds himself on comeback trail again.
The British contender has never wanted anything less than the best on offer, so the Ruiz fight is sure to appeal to him.
And Whyte is technically a promotional and TV network free agent, meaning he is able to cross over to enemy lines.
Dillian Whyte is on the comeback trail after losing to Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
Derek Chisora
Chisora, 38, returned to winning ways in July beating Kubrat Pulev, 41, in their July barnburner.
And the veteran is not interested in even acknowledging retirement as he looks for another big night and payday.
Ruiz was among the names promoter Eddie Hearn wanted to match Chisora up with.
But his alliance to Hearn could make negotiating any fight with any PBC star hard work.
Derek Chisora beat Kubrat Pulev in his last fightCredit: REUTERS More

ANDY RUIZ JR secured victory over Luis Ortiz thanks to his three knockdowns – as the close scorecards are revealed. Ortiz was dropped twice in round two and then again in the seventh but boxed on to hear the final bell.
The scorecards for Andy Ruiz Jr’s win over Luis Ortiz
Ruiz actually took his foot off the gas in the rounds after flooring the Cuban veteran in Los Angeles.
Following the 12 completed rounds, Zachary Young and Eddie Hernandez Sr’s scorecards read 111-114 twice in favour of Ruiz.
And Fernando Villarreal had it 112-113 to the Mexican-American, 32, meaning the verdict was unanimous.
But in actual fact, had Ortiz, 43, not had three points docked for being dropped, he would have won on Villarreal’s card.
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The official had Ortiz winning seven of the 12 rounds, while Young and Hernandez had it even a six apiece.
But the three additional points scored by Ruiz for his knockdowns meant he ran out a winner.
Ortiz ended the fight with a closed eye following a brutal right hand, but now wants a second fight after refusing to retire.
He said: “I want a rematch. I was keeping my hands up but the eyes wasn’t a problem.
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“After this do you think I’m done? What do the people want?”
Ruiz has not got back to world title contention since beating Anthony Joshua, 32, in June 2019 but losing the rematch six months later.
Now, he wants to get back to being a busy boxer again and vowed to reign once more.
Ruiz roared: “I do not want to be waiting so long, I want to fight at least three or four times a year.
“I’m ready, I’m hungry man. I want to be champion again, I want to bring that belt back to Mexico.”
Luis Ortiz was floored three times by Andy Ruiz JrCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

LUIS ORTIZ was left with a gruesomely swollen left eye following an explosive right hand from Andy Ruiz Jr. The Cuban veteran was floored THREE times in defeat on points to Ruiz in Los Angeles.
Andy Ruiz Jr beat Luis Ortiz on pointsCredit: Getty

But perhaps the most damage was done with a single right hand in round 11.
Replays revealed the shot bounce off Ortiz’s face and almost instantly give him with a closed eye.
The former world title challenger bravely boxed to the finish and called for a second fight with Ruiz, 32, as he refused to retire.
Ortiz, 43, said: “I want a rematch. I was keeping my hands up but the eyes wasn’t a problem.
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“After this do you think I’m done? What do the people want?”
Ruiz dropped Ortiz twice in round two and then once more in the seventh on the way to a unanimous points win.
He said: “It was difficult, man.
“But the ability that I have, me counter punching and waiting for him to load up and connecting and dropping him.
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“It was a blessing, man and I just want to thank God so much.”
Ruiz’s win came in a WBC title eliminator with Deontay Wilder, 36, fighting in a similar bout against Robert Helenius, 38, on October 15.
It means if Wilder wins, he is in line to fight the Mexican-American for the right to challenge for the belt held by Tyson Fury, 34.
Ruiz said: “God willing he wins against Robert in October.
“Me and him are in the same organisation, I want to thank Al Haymon, he can make this fight happen and let’s do it, let’s get it on.”
Deontay Wilder was ringside to watch Andy Ruiz Jr beat Luis OrtizCredit: Getty Images – Getty More