Heavyweight boxing

OLEKSANDR USYK passionately spoke out in defence of Anthony Joshua. Usyk handed Joshua consecutive defeats, the second of which forced AJ into a bizarre post-fight rant.
Anthony Joshua twice lost to Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
But the British superstar returned with a victory in April, beating Jermaine Franklin over 12 rounds.
The performance drew criticism with the likes of Carl Froch and Johnny Nelson joining fans in questioning Joshua’s mindset.
But ex-opponent Usyk has leapt to AJ’s defence, telling Boxing King Media: “I think he just needs a little more time to recover.
“He’s a great fighter and a great personality. And who are those people who judge him? Who are the judges?
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“Have they ever entered the ring? Have they ever trained and felt that pain? They have no right to say so.
“If you want to talk about a fighter, you have to at least once in your life get into the ring and have a sparring session.
“At least for one round, for three minutes. Then you will have the right.”
Usyk, 36, is set to face WBA mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, 25, next after his promoters won the purse bids for an August 26 bout.
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Meanwhile Joshua, 33, is in talks to return against Dillian Whyte, 35, on August 12 in a rematch after his 2015 stoppage win.
It comes with AJ also in line for a December blockbuster in the Middle East against Deontay Wilder, 37.
Although Hearn has revealed no offer from backers in the Saudi Arabia has come through, with their current attention on Whyte.
Anthony Joshua is in talks to rematch Dillian WhyteCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING More

TYSON FURY may be forced to defend his heavyweight belt against Anthony Joshua, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has admitted.The Gypsy King has been out of action since defeating Derek Chisora in a Tottenham Hotspur Stadium snoozefest last December.
Tyson Fury is currently without a fightCredit: PA
Anthony Joshua defeated Jermaine Franklin in AprilCredit: Getty
Since talks over an April 29 unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk fell through, Fury has found himself without a fight.
With the 34-year-old still without an opponent, Sulaiman is set to order a mandatory challenger for him.
And depending on what happens with Deontay Wilder’s proposed bout with Andy Ruiz Jr – AJ could be next in line for a shot at Fury.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Sulaiman said: “We have to take some action. There are different options.
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“I’m going to address this with the board of governors, because already we’re entering June and there’s no scenario.
“Tyson Fury will make us proud and show who the WBC champion is.”
Further quizzed if Joshua could be in the frame, Sulaiman admitted: “That’s a possibility. If Wilder and Ruiz are not fighting for the final elimination, Joshua’s right there at No3. That’s possible.
“I don’t want to speculate because that would be irresponsible to try to make something up.
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“We have to go through a process. The WBC board of governors will make that decision.
“At this stage anything is possible.
“There’s too much talent, too many great fights, too many great combinations that could be made for heavyweight and everything is stalled.”
Joshua, 33, is third ranked WBC heavyweight contender – with Wilder No1 and Ruiz Jr No2.
The British former world champion was last in action in April, when he beat Jermaine Franklin via decision at London’s 02 Arena.
Long-time former WBC champ Deontay Wilder is their No1 ranked heavyweight contenderCredit: Getty
Andy Ruiz Jr defeated Joshua in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

DILLIAN WHYTE has officially been offered a rematch with Anthony Joshua, according to Eddie Hearn.The Body Snatcher has been earmarked as the second opponent of Joshua’s career rebuild, which got underway with a blood-soaked win over Jermaine Franklin in April.
A rematch between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte is on the cardsCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS
AJ denied being in talks over a summer showdown with his old rivalCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS
Promoter Eddie Hearn officially tabled an offer to the Whyte last weekendCredit: GETTY
But former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua denied being in talks to rematch his old rival in a summer showdown this past weekend, in which Hearn tabled a lucrative offer to the former WBC title challenger.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told BBC Sport: “The offer was made to Dillian over the weekend.
“We are waiting for his response to that and we’ll talk today.”
Hearn has the O2 Arena provisionally reserved for August 12 for Joshua’s proposed second outing of the year.
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And he hopes that will lead to a December dust-up with former WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder.
He said: “Our plan, which we’ve stressed, is for AJ to box on 12 August and in December again against Deontay.”
Joshua and Whyte, 33 and 35 respectively, first locked horns with one another in the amateurs all the way back in 2009.
Whyte came out of their first meeting victorious, although he was knocked out cold in the professional meeting six years later.
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The Brixton bruiser has been flattened in two of his last four outings, but Hearn insists the fight is still a massive one.
He said: “Dillian has a lot of value in the rematch.
“This is not an opponent for Joshua, but a big fight between two world-class heavyweights and huge British names.
“The negotiations will be difficult but both AJ and Whyte want the fight.”
In a separate interview with iFL TV, Hearn said: “It’s a big fight. Dillian’s a big name in the division.

“I think those guys away from the massive fights.
“If Dillian doesn’t fight AJ, we have to find him another fight and that’s where it starts to become difficult if it’s not Andy Ruiz or Zhang or those kinds of fights.
“I think it’s I think those world-class heavyweights that are just outside of those elite money fights are in a bit of a tough spot.
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“Hopefully, we can deliver a deal for Dillian that he’s pleased with and wants to fight and wants the opportunity.
“But obviously, he’s gonna have his demands as well. More

DILLIAN WHYTE has hit out at Anthony Joshua following his bitter rival’s X-rated denial of a rematch being in the works.Whyte has been earmarked as the second opponent for AJ’s career rebuild, which began in April with a scrappy points win over Jermaine Franklin.
A rematch with Dillian Whyte is on the cards for Anthony JoshuaCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
AJ recently denied being in talks to throw down with the Brixton Body Snatcher againCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
Whyte launched a blustering attack on his old rival after getting wind of his commentsCredit: TWITTER
But Joshua recently denied negotiations being underway in a now-deleted post, writing: “I don’t know about any talks to fight Dillian Whyte.
“Every day. AJ this, AJ that, AJ’s hairline going way back but I’ll still f*** your girl go retweet that.”
It didn’t take long for Whyte to get wind of Joshua’s expletive denial of a rematch being in the pipeline, which he responded to in blistering fashion.
The Brixton Body Snatcher tweeted: “How’s about you stop being a b***h and let’s make the fight you f***ing weird guy.
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“Always talking s**t tweeting stuff then deleting be a man you little b***h @anthonyjoshua.”
The rivalry between Joshua and Whyte, 33 and 35 respectively, dates all the way back to their 2009 amateur clash.
Whyte won the pair’s first showdown but came up short in their professional meeting six years later, suffering a brutal seventh-round TKO loss.
Former two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua plans to return to the ring in August ahead of a mouthwatering Saudi showdown with Deontay Wilder in December.
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When asked if Joshua and Whyte could renew their rivalry in August, promoter Eddie Hearn told The DAZN Boxing Show: “Correct.
“That’s what they want to do, but we’ve been told that our fight precedes whatever happens with Tyson [Fury].
“But we all know AJ against Wilder is a dream heavyweight matchup, one of the biggest in the sport.
“Yeah, we’re up for that fight. We’re committed to those conversations; there have been conversations, and we’ll see.
“As I said, what happens with Saudi this week, but we obviously need a formal contract for that which they’re working on. That is our plan.

“Yeah, we’re up for that fight. We’re committed to those conversations; there have been conversations, and we’ll see, as I said, what happens with Saudi this week.
“But we obviously need a formal contract for that which they’re working on. That is our plan.
“Ideally, Dillian Whyte in August and Deontay Wilder in December.
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“If there is an opportunity to do a Tyson Fury fight, and we have to scrap the other two, I’m sure that’ll be looked at as well.
“But it’s the confidence to move forward. “We don’t want anything to get in the way of AJ’s plans. He’s in Camp now in Texas, training for his August fight.” More

BOXING fans have been left stunned by Andy Ruiz Jr’s body transformation.The 33-year-old has not fought since beating Luis Ortiz in September 2022 where he weighed in at 268.75 lbs.
Andy Ruiz Jr’s weight has been a much-talked about topic over the yearsCredit: Getty
The former world champ now looks to have shed the pounds in his latest photosCredit: Instagram @andy_destroyer13
The Snickers-loving fighter was hailed by his followers for his new slim lookCredit: Instagram @andy_destroyer13
The star ballooned up to 20st for his rematch with Anthony JoshuaCredit: AFP
That was the same weight as when he shocked the world to beat Anthony Joshua in 2019 to become the heavyweight champion.
The Snickers-loving Mexican-American then ballooned up to 20 STONE for his rematch with Joshua in Saudi Arabia, which he lost on points.
But he got back down to 18st 2lb for his comeback fight against Chris Arreola in May 2021, although the win was less than convincing.
Now the star is targeting a blockbuster clash next as he tries to secure bouts with Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder.
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And he looks to be in superb condition as he left fans stunned with how slim he was looking in his latest Instagram post.
Ruiz Jr shared a snap of himself in Miami throwing a fist while in a pink shirt and shorts combo with a tight black t-shirt underneath and a white hat on his head.
That was accompanied with a caption that read: “Drop a comment if you are ready for my return.”
But it was his apparent weight-loss that his 1.8 million followers seemed to be most interested in.
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One fan reacted to the snaps with: “Looking slim amigo. Let’s get it !”
Another wrote: “The champ slimmin down.”
A fellow follower said: “You look ready champ.”
Ruiz Jr, who recently claimed his Twitter account was hacked after a tweet was sent out about taking drugs and paying for prostitutes, warned Fury he is coming for his WBC crown in April.
He even hinted a fight had been agreed by re-sharing a mocked up fight poster of the two.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren was forced to deny a fight was official, while Ruiz is also eyeing a clash with Wilder.
The 33-year-old is trying to climb back to the top of the heavyweight divisionCredit: Instagram @andy_destroyer13 More