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      Oleksandr Usyk back as Ring Magazine No1 pound-for-pound best after outclassing Anthony Joshua for a second time

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      OLEKSANDR USYK is back as Ring Magazine’s No1 pound-for-pound best after outclassing Anthony Joshua for a second time.The Ukrainian, 35, defended his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles against Joshua in Saudi Arabia.
      Usyk is Ring Magazine’s No1 after his win over Joshua
      The Ukrainian beat Joshua by split decisionCredit: EPA
      Usyk beat Joshua by split decision, and also picked up the vacant Ring Magazine belt left by the “retired” WBC champ Tyson Fury.
      The victory against Joshua also returns Usyk as Ring Magazine’s No1.
      Usyk had previously been given the title in May following Canelo Alvarez’s loss to Dmitry Bivol.
      He became the first heavyweight to hold the crown since Mike Tyson 30-years-ago.
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      However, after Naoya Inoue’s victory over Nonito Donaire in June, Usyk was knocked off top spot by the Japanese bantamweight.
      Usyk’s win has also opened up a potential pathway for a fight with Tyson Fury.
      Both fighters have been calling each other out over a heavyweight showdown.
      But the Gypsy King has demanded a mega sum of money to come out of retirement.
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      Fury has given his team a short deadline in order to make the crunch bout with Usyk. 
      He said: “To all these suitors out there who want to make the fight, I’m gonna give you all seven days – til September 1 – to come up with the money.
      “If not, thank you very much it’s been a blast!” More

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      Anthony Joshua’s meltdown after Oleksandr Usyk loss was down to acute frustration, he isn’t first or last to do it

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      DESPITE the conspiracy theories, there’s a simple explanation why Anthony Joshua had a meltdown after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for the second time.AJ’s uncharacteristic and embarrassing foul-mouthed ring rant was almost certainly caused by acute frustration.
      Anthony Joshua suffered a decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last weekendCredit: Getty
      Joshua was overcome with rage after his second loss to the UkrainianCredit: Getty
      The fallen Brit went on an extraordinary rant after the fightCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
      Dr Vince Berger, a highly-respected American sports psychiatrist who has been practising for more than 40 years, said: “Frustration is experienced whenever the results you are expecting do not seem to fit the efforts and actions you are applying.
      “A typical response is anger — and an angry person often acts without thinking.”
      There couldn’t be a more perfect analysis of why AJ acted the way he did.
      Joshua deserves compassion, rather than to be condemned for his behaviour.
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      It’s not difficult to understand what he must have been feeling after being on the receiving end of another Usyk masterclass in the intricacies of boxing’s arts and crafts.
      Joshua, with new trainer Robert Garcia, had slogged for three months getting himself in peak condition and had psyched himself into believing he was about to get revenge against the unblemished Ukrainian.
      He fought far better than in London 11 months ago and yet, however hard he had tried, the bitter truth dawned on him that Usyk was still far too good.
      When that realisation hit his brain, Joshua just flipped.
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      If he should meet Usyk a dozen times the result would be the same — even if he had Angelo Dundee and Manny Steward in his corner.
      How American judge Glenn Feldman made Joshua a two-point winner is beyond comprehension. I reckon it wasn’t Feldman sitting ringside but Vladimir Putin in disguise.
      AJ isn’t the first to react badly before, during or after a world heavyweight title clash.
      I shall never forget watching Oliver McCall — in the middle of his WBO title fight with Lennox Lewis 25 years ago — mentally disintegrating in front of my eyes in Las Vegas.
      McCall kept turning his back on Lewis and refusing to fight. In the fifth round, he burst into tears and referee Mills Lane was forced to call it off.
      Floyd Patterson was so ashamed at being KO’d by Sonny Liston in just 126 seconds that he left Chicago’s Comiskey Park wearing a fake beard and dark glasses.
      Larry Holmes failed to match Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record when he controversially lost his title to Michael Spinks.
      A furious Holmes then shocked America when he said: “Rocky Marciano wasn’t fit to carry my jock-strap.”
      Because he has lost three of his last five fights there was a ridiculous suggestion that it’s time for Joshua to retire. He’s only 32 and still one of the world’s top heavyweights.
      After he’d got over the Liston humiliation, Patterson had 22 more fights. Liston had 17 after Muhammad Ali beat him twice and Holmes had 25 contests after Spinks.
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      I’m sure that AJ’s fans would love to see him against Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois, Dillian Whyte or Deontay Wilder.
      And if Tyson Fury beats Usyk to become the unified champion — and I’m pretty sure he will — it’s not fantasy land to suggest Joshua could be his first challenger.
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      Tyson Fury will have to pay Piers Morgan £1MILLION if he ends retirement for Oleksandr Usyk bout after TalkTV bet

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      PIERS MORGAN could be set for a £1MILLION pay-out from Tyson Fury should the WBC heavyweight world champion fight again.The Gypsy King announced his retirement from boxing in April after he knocked out British rival Dillian Whyte at Wembley.
      Tyson Fury could step out of retirement to face Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed match-upCredit: Getty
      Fury has stated he will give Morgan £1million if he steps foot inside the squared circle againCredit: The Mega Agency
      Fury and Morgan made the bet last month when the Gypsy King was interviewed on TalkTV
      But he could be set to step back inside the squared circle to face WBA, WBO and IBF king Oleksandr Usyk following his points victory over Anthony Joshua.
      Speaking after Saturday’s thriller in Saudi Arabia, the unbeaten Ukrainian stated he will fight nobody else if he cannot land a showdown with Fury.
      An undisputed affair between the pair could be worth as much as £500m, with Fury giving Usyk’s team one week to agree a deal to fight him.
      But should he lace up the gloves again, he will have to give Sun columnist Morgan £1m following a bet they made on TalkTV in June.
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      After insisting he will only box again for £500m, Morgan asked Fury: “How about if you do fight again, you give me a million pounds?”
      To which Tyson replied: “If I am getting half a billion for my fight it won’t matter will it. Yep, 100 per cent.”
      And now Fury, 34, has opened up on his bet with Morgan and declared he will honour the wager.
      Speaking to talkSPORT, he remarked: “I’ll owe Piers Morgan one million pounds, in pound coins.”
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      He also said: “Everyone keeps asking about this fight with this Ukrainian guy.
      “Are you going to come back? Are you going to do this? Are you going to do that?
      “I’m retired from boxing and I’m very happy doing that. However, I will come back but it has to be for obscene amounts of money.
      “Let’s face it, it’s not Anthony Joshua – which I would’ve done for free in England.
      “It’s some foreigner who nobody really cares about. To fight this unknown entity and give him an opportunity of legendary status? They have to pay for that.
      “I don’t mind chucking a dog a bone, but I don’t want to chuck him the full f****** dogs’ home.
      “They have a week. It’s August 24. They have a week to submit their offers.
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      “I want it in writing with proof of funds. This fight is purely about money. I’m happily retired. I don’t need money, I’ve got plenty of money.”
      Before adding: “This fight is purely about money… [Floyd] Mayweather got £400m for [Manny]Pacquiao and I want £500m for Usyk.” More

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      ‘I wouldn’t want to be hit by either!’ – Mike Tyson’s power compared to Deontay Wilder’s by manager who worked both

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      BOXING manager Shelly Finkel could not split Mike Tyson and Deontay Wilder’s destructive punch power. Finkel helped guide Tyson’s career after the heavyweight legend was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1997.
      Mike Tyson was managed by Shelly Finkel at the end of his careerCredit: EPA
      Deontay Wilder knocking out Dominic Breazeale in 2019Credit: AP:Associated Press
      But he still manages Wilder today and as a result has had a ringside view of some of boxing’s most brutal knockouts.
      Finkel points towards the difference between Tyson’s 5ft 10in frame and 6ft 7in Wilder when comparing their power.
      He told SunSport: “Deontay to me is a large Tommy Hearns. And he has a certain spring to his punches. 
      “Tyson, it’s from his legs. He has massive thighs and it’s coming from there.

      “And the speed. So, they’re very different. I wouldn’t want to be hit by either!
      “When Tyson beat Spinks, it was devastating. And Spinks after said, ‘The thing I misjudged was how fast he was’.” 
      Wilder, 36, has always been capable of turning a fight on its head in an instance, like he did with Luis Ortiz, 43, in 2019.
      Whereas Tyson, now 56, needed a fast start but did not waste time in breaking his opponents down.
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      Finkel said: “Deontay always has the equaliser. He could be down, but all of a sudden, out of nowhere, boom, it’s over. 
      “Mike was just a destructive machine coming at you. And you can’t keep him off you, it’s all over.” 
      Hall of Famer Finkel watched as Tyson retired in 2005 following two disastrous defeats.
      But a decade later and Wilder emerged as America’s next heavyweight hope.
      He defended his WBC title ten times before losing it to Tyson Fury, 34, in 2020 and most recently losing to the Brit again in October.
      Wilder has not fought since, but returns on October 15 in New York against former sparring Robert Helenius, 38.
      Boxing manager Shelly Finkel and Deontay Wilder pictured in 2018Credit: AFP More

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      Fighters who have called out Jake Paul, from Nate Diaz to female boxing world champ Claressa Shields

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      JAKE PAUL has put the fight world on notice with his brash arrogance and unlimited self-confidence. Paul has now beaten AnEsonGib, Nate Robinson, Ben Askren, and UFC star Tyron Woodley TWICE.
      Jake Paul has won all of his pro fightsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And the thunder he appears to be stealing from boxing and MMA’s top attractions has irked several of them.
      Paul has made it clear his intention is to eventually fight UFC superstar Conor McGregor – with the duo’s teams ‘constantly’ in talks.
      While he was set to take on Tommy Fury before the ex-Love Island contestant dropped out due to visa issues.
      Here’s a look at some of those who claimed to want a piece of the YouTuber.
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      Dillon Danis, Bellator welterweight
      If Paul, 25, can’t get hold of McGregor, the next best thing would be his close friend and training partner Danis, 29.
      The pair have been going back-and-forth and confronted each other on the streets of LA earlier last year.
      After Paul’s win over Robinson, he said: “There’s a long list of opponents that I want – Conor McGregor, Dillon Danis. I’m going to knock them both out.”
      Danis’ Bellator promoter Scott Coker confirmed the fight talks: “Those conversations are ongoing, and have been happening.”
      And Danis made another dig at Paul, tweeting a photo of plenty of available seats for Paul’s second fight against Woodley alongside the message: “damn @jakepaul thought you sold out arena’s 😂”.
      Dillon Danis pictured with Conor McGregor
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      Claressa Shields, 3-weight women’s champion
      Shields, 27, who made her MMA debut kast year in the PFL, told TMZ she would more than welcome a mixed-gender showdown with Paul.
      She said: “I, Claressa Shields, will whoop Jake Paul’s ass.
      “He can come in the ring weighing 180lb and I will come weighing 168 and I will beat the s**t out of him.”
      Paul responded in a tweet: “Don’t get me started about @Claressashields.”

      Amanda Nunes, UFC featherweight champion
      Having grown tired of Paul’s online callouts of McGregor, UFC president White told TMZ Sports: “I’m thinking of letting Amanda Nunes knock his ass out.”
      To which Nunes, 34, responded: “I’m in! @ufc @danawhite.”
      Paul later remarked on Instagram: “You say you don’t want me to fight Conor McGregor because he’s one of the greatest fighters in the world, and I’m just a YouTuber or whatever.
      “But then, in a statement today, you say, ‘Oh, I’m thinking about having Amanda Nunes just knock him out,’ but she’s also one of the greatest fighters?”

      Kamaru Usman, UFC welterweight champion and p4p No1
      UFC pound-for-pound No1 Kamaru Usman offered Jake Paul a chilling warning during a back and forth between the pair.
      He said: “I understand you think this is a game which is probably why you don’t realize that this is how people truly get hurt.
      “I don’t play fighting and I can change your life in the worst way.”
      Iron Mike Tyson is behind the match-up, telling Henry Cejudo on his podcast: “I want to see that s**t.
      “It’s going to be so much f**king money, how can he turn it down?
      “That’s way more money than… it’s twice or three times as much money [than he earns] in the UFC. So, how could he turn it down?”
      P4P No1 Kamaru Usman offered Jake Paul a chilling warningCredit: Getty
      Nate Diaz, UFC welterweight
      The UFC veteran surprisingly leaped to the defence of his former rival McGregor, after Paul called him an ‘Irish c***’ and disrespected his fiancee Dee Devlin.
      Diaz tweeted: “Jake Paul u need your ass beat for free u spoiled f*** u can’t really fight dumbs*** your gonna end up with your ass whooped for real somewhere talking like that.”
      Paul fired back by telling Diaz ‘I really beat your boy up’ in a sparring session relating to the UFC star’s training partner.
      He later tweeted Diaz: ‘You can get the smoke too’.
      The legendary MMA star from Stockton, California is set to have his hands full, however, with a blockbuster bout at 170lbs against Dustin Poirier potentially in the works.

      Henry Cejudo, ex-UFC champion
      Tyson’s pal Cejudo announced a shock UFC retirement in 2020 – but appears open to crossing over to boxing.
      And he was left less than impressed with Paul’s KO over Robinson and claimed he would give his fight purse to charity if the YouTuber beat him.
      Cejudo, 35, tweeted: “Yo @jakepaul since you really think you’re a legit fighter by beating up on retired NBA D lister’s who really deserves an academy award for best fall.
      “How about we fight and if I can’t stop you I’ll give all money to charity of your choice.”
      Yo @jakepaul since you really think your a legit fighter by beating up on retired NBA D lister’s who really deserves a academy award for best fall. How about we fight and if I can’t stop you I’ll give all money to charity of your choice. #dontbescaredhomie 🖊 📄 pic.twitter.com/cLXKxLtNuY— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) December 6, 2020

      Antonio Tarver, retied boxing legend
      Tarver called on Mike Tyson to set up a fight between him and Paul.
      He has not fought since 2015, but would come out of retirement to stop the new age of outsiders venturing into the ring.
      Tarver, 53, wrote on Instagram: “I really want to kick @jakepaul ass for what he did to @naterobinson last night and rid boxing of these clowns once and for all.
      “He fought a complete novice so fighting me shouldn’t be a problem… @miketyson make this fight.” More

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      Deontay Wilder in line for incredible FOURTH fight against Tyson Fury if he beats Robert Helenius in comeback bout

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      DEONTAY WILDER could fight WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury for a FOURTH time if he wins his comeback bout against Robert Helenius.The American knockout artist, 36, will return to the ring to take on the Finnish boxer in Brooklyn on October 15.
      Wilder was stopped by Fury in 2020 before the Brit KO’d him in brutal fashion last yearCredit: AP
      Helenius will be looking to upset Wilder in OctoberCredit: Getty
      It will be his first fight since Fury KO’d him in the 11th round of their trilogy 12 months earlier.
      And WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has now confirmed the clash has been given eliminator status for Fury’s belt.
      This does not mean the winner will be in line for a shot, but it moves them into position for a final eliminator.
      That could well come against the winner of another eliminator in Andy Ruiz Jr vs Luis Ortiz – with that heavyweight bout set for September 3.
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      Sulaiman told Sky Sports News: “We have accepted some elimination bouts that were requested to the WBC.
      “One is Wilder-Helenius, the other is Ruiz-Ortiz.
      “Those are happening as eliminations, but Fury is the champion, he’s got the time and he will decide and we’ll see what happens.”
      Fury fought his most recent mandatory – Dillian Whyte – back in April and knocked him out in the sixth round at Wembley Stadium.
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      After the fight, he then confirmed his retirement from the sport but already appears to be changing his mind.
      He has told Oleksandr Usyk’s team they have until September 1 to negotiate an undisputed clash following the Ukrainian’s victory over Anthony Joshua on Saturday.
      Meanwhile, Wilder is preparing to face schooled heavyweight Helenius – who has a professional record of 31 wins and three losses.
      He has been beaten in the past by Johann Duhaupas, Whyte, and Gerald Washington.
      But back-to-back wins over Adam Kownacki have put him back in contention for a world title.
      Wilder controversially drew with Fury in December 2018 in a clash many felt the Brit won.
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      Fury then dropped Wilder twice in their rematch 14 months later as he captured the WBC title.
      And the Morecambe-based fighter then defended the belt with a thrilling 11th round KO of Wilder last year. More

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      ‘It’s bulls**t’ – Frank Warren blasts rival promoter Eddie Hearn’s claim that Anthony Joshua ‘isn’t interested in belts’

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      FRANK WARREN has slammed rival promoter Eddie Hearn after he claimed Anthony Joshua is not interested in any of the world heavyweight title belts.The 32-year-old Brit failed in his bid to become a three-time champion on Saturday night as Oleksandr Usyk beat him via split decision in Saudi Arabia.
      Joshua failed to reclaim the IBF, WBA and WBO titles against Usyk on Saturday nightCredit: Getty
      Warren has rubbished Hearn’s claims that Joshua no longer cares about beltsCredit: PA
      Joshua reacted angrily to losing as he threw Usyk’s Ring magazine and WBA titles out of the ring after the result was read out.
      Each of Joshua’s last 12 bouts have been for a version of the world heavyweight title – a run which stretches back to April 2016 when he beat Charles Martin to claim the IBF crown.
      Now he is preparing to return in a non-title fight after losing to Usyk on two separate occasions.
      And AJ’s promoter Hearn has claimed the belts were becoming a burden on him, insisting he will be happier now they are gone.
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      He told iFL TV: “He’s held on to those belts for a long time, and those governing bodies have charged him a lot of money and put a lot of mandatories on him.
      “I think he’s lost a lot of faith in the system and I think he started to not be interested in fighting for belts anymore.
      “I think he just wants to fight for enjoyment and to challenge himself.”
      But Warren, who promotes Tyson Fury, has rubbished Hearn’s comments by claiming AJ and his team have always been interested in the belts.
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      He said: “Of course they were interested in the belts, I mean what bulls**t is that? That’s what it is, it’s bulls**t.
      “He was emotional. I think Joshua was maybe a bit embarrassed about what happened in the ring, at the end of the day he’s lost his fight.
      “He fought better and showed more heart in the second fight than he did in the first. You can only do your best, be proud that you did your best.
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      “He was in there with a guy who’s got better skills and is the better fighter.”
      Fury now looks set to return to the ring to face Usyk for the undisputed title at the end of the year.
      Hearn feels it may be a relief for AJ to have lost his world title beltsCredit: PA More

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      Tyson Fury’s Netflix series could scupper December date for Oleksandr Usyk fight as directors want to film retired life

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      TYSON FURY’S Netflix series could scupper plans for an undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk taking place before the end of the year.The streaming platform announced earlier this week that a docu-series following The Gypsy King is in production.
      Tyson Fury retired after knocking out Dillian Whyte at Wembley in AprilCredit: Getty
      The Netflix show is set to centre around Fury’s life post-retirementCredit: Instagram
      Usyk beat Joshua to defend his world heavyweight titles on Saturday nightCredit: Getty
      It will feature “exclusive access to the heavyweight champion of the world as he exits the ring and tries to embrace retirement with his extraordinary family”.
      The working title for the multi-part series is “At Home with the Furys”.
      However, if Fury does choose to come out of retirement to face Usyk, his training camp could clash with Netflix’s filming schedule.
      According to World Boxing News, this is set to leave the British fighter with a decision to make.
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      Either he goes ahead with the Usyk bout in December or postpones it until next year in order to film the Netflix show.
      No serious negotiations have taken place between Fury and Usyk’s teams as of yet.
      The Ukrainian, 35, beat Anthony Joshua for a second time over the weekend to successfully defend his heavyweight belts for the first time.
      He now appears to be on a collision course to face Fury for the undisputed crown.
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      However, the Morecambe-based fighter has set the price for his comeback at £500million.
      And he has also given Usyk’s team just one week to negotiate a deal for the undisputed dust-up.
      Speaking on social media, Fury said: “To all these suitors out there who want to make the fight.
      “I will give you all seven days, until 1 September, to come up with the money.
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      “If not, thanks very much, it’s been a blast, but I’m retired.
      “All offers submitted must be to my lawyer Robert Davis, in writing, with proof of funds. So let the games begin.” More