Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA stepped into the ring for an intense face-off with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia ahead of their rematch this summer.The 32-year-old Brit will seek to regain his IBF, WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles in Jeddah on August 20 after losing to the Ukrainian at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year.
Joshua and Usyk came face-to-face in the ring on WednesdayCredit: Freddie Cunningham Instagram
Joshua posed for a shoot inside the King Abdullah Stadium in JeddahCredit: Freddie Cunningham Instagram
He then produced some shadowboxing for the camerasCredit: Freddie Cunningham Instagram
The Brit also shadowboxed in the ring before locking eyes with UsykCredit: Freddie Cunningham Instagram
Joshua and Usyk went face-to-face at a press conference on Tuesday as they remained staring at one another for a long time in front of the cameras.
Then, at a press event on Wednesday, Joshua showcased some of his skills with a bit of shadowboxing inside the King Abdullah Stadium in Al Balad – which was filmed by his manager Freddie Cunningham.
And, after some more shadowboxing later on that evening, he then squared up to Usyk once more as they faced off in a boxing ring for the first time since their fight nine months ago.
After a lengthy staredown, there were calls for the pair to “separate” from each other.
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But yet again they refused to look away as the mind games continued two months out from their blockbuster heavyweight clash.
Joshua, whose only defeats have come to Andy Ruiz Jr and Usyk, has changed trainers in the lead-up to this crucial rematch – leaving long-time coach Rob McCracken for the accomplished Robert Garcia.
Speaking about the fight earlier this week, AJ said: “With Andy Ruiz, I think a lot of people can see before the fight things weren’t 100 per cent. 
“But you’ve got to be strong and thick skinned, we take our loss like a man, because when I win I keep it moving, I think everybody, and if I lose you’ve got to stay humble as well in defeat.
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“So I kept it moving and I knew I could come back again and do what I have to do.
“The fight with Usyk, he bust my ass for some rounds and I have to take that defeat like a man as well.
“But I hold myself accountable, I’m someone who can admit when I’m wrong and hold my head high when I’m right. 
“In the fight in September I was wrong and he was right, and simply I have to reverse that role August 20.”

Meanwhile, Usyk, who has returned from fighting the war in Ukraine in order to defend his belts, insists he will let his boxing do the talking.
He said: “As we all know, we are not in the best conditions at the moment back at home, but we are doing what we have to do, we doing my job together with my team and we are working hard on our goals.
“I never made some very loud and bright speeches, all I did was just work hard in my training camp and in my gym – that’s what I’m gonna do until the date of the fight.
“And then I will enter the ring and make you happy with my boxing.” More

TYSON FURY ending his retirement to make a boxing comeback appears a case of when not if. Fury announced he was walking away in April after knocking out Dillian Whyte in front of 94,000 at Wembley.
Tyson Fury retired after beating Dillian WhyteCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
But a return to fight the winner between Anthony Joshua, 32, and Oleksandr Usyk, 35, who rematch in August, looks likely.
And who could blame Fury? With the undisputed heavyweight title and career-high payday awaiting him.
He would certainly not be the first – or last – to swiftly end boxing retirement, as SunSport takes a look at seven repeat cases.
Floyd Mayweather
It is hard to know the exact number of times the American has claimed he would fight no more.
The first was in 2007, when he beat Oscar De La Hoya, but he returned that year to KO Ricky Hatton, only to retire again.
Mayweather then came back in 2009 and six years later at 49-0 announced he would leave the sport. Spoiler: He didn’t.
A return to fight UFC superstar Conor McGregor in 2017 followed and again Mayweather tried to convince fans it was the last you would see of him.
Technically, he has not fought professionally since and at 45 probably won’t to protect his 50-0 record. But Mayweather continues to box in exhibitions.
Floyd Mayweather retired professionally after beating Conor McGregorCredit: Getty
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George Foreman
Perhaps the most famous comeback of them all. Foreman initially retired in 1977 at 28 but returned ten years later.
The heavyweight gradually made a tilt towards the title but lost in two attempts.
It was at the third time of asking, he knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champ of all time, aged 45.
Foreman would have four more fights before again retiring in 1997 at 48.
George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to win the title at 45Credit: AFP
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Sugar Ray Leonard
Leonard, one of boxing’s most beloved talents, retired in 1984.
But he made the shock decision to return three years later and move up in weight to challenge the feared Marvin Hagler.
Leonard won a famous but disputed split-decision to defy the odds and win the title after such a layoff.
He would fight five more times before hanging up his gloves in 1997.
Sugar Ray Leonard famosuly beat Marvin Hagler in 1987Credit: Getty
Ricky Hatton
Closer to home, Hatton was in 2007 beaten for the first time, by the great Mayweather.
But after two wins on the spin, The Hitman challenged Manny Pacquiao in 2009 but was brutally knocked out.
Hatton retired until three years later returning, only to lose to Vyacheslav Senchenko and walk away again.
His story is still not over though, with the British boxing icon, 43, to return in November for an exhibition with Marco Antonio Barrera.
Ricky Hatton lost his comeback fight against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012Credit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
David Haye
Similarly to Hatton, heavyweight Haye announced a brief retirement in 2011 after defeat to Wladimir Klitschko.
But a year later and following a press conference brawl with Derek Chisora, Haye came back and won their grudge match.
Another retirement would follow only for Haye to return in 2016 and have four more fights, losing his last two to Tony Bellew, before calling it quits.
He did box his friend Joe Fournier in a bizarre exhibition last September, challenging Fury afterwards, but nothing has come of it.
David Haye knocked out Derek Chisora in 2012Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Mike Tyson
Talking of exhibitions, Tyson sent the boxing world into frenzy in 2020 after announcing he would fight again aged 53.
Iron Mike had initially retired in 2005 but returned in an eight-round exhibition with Roy Jones Jr, now 53, which ended a draw.
Tyson even now at 55 continues to be linked with another fight, mainly against YouTuber-turned boxer Jake Paul, 25.
The pair have sensationally agreed to fight THIS YEAR.
Mike Tyson returned to face Roy Jones JrCredit: Reuters
Evander Holyfield
Tyson’s comeback bout with Jones ended with smiles and any real harm was avoided – the same can’t be said for Holyfield.
The boxing legend had not fought since 2011 when he was 48 and went on to announce his retirement three years after that.
But sadly, Holyfield was tempted back into the ring last September at the age of 58 and was shamefully smashed by Vitor Belfort, who was 44.
Thankfully, Holyfield has not boxed since and proved that not all “exhibitions” are a good idea.
Evander Holyfield in his loss to Vitor BelfortCredit: AFP More

OLEKSANDR USYK has denied Ukraine’s heartbreaking invasion can be used as positive motivation against Anthony Joshua.The 35-year-old barely got to celebrate his September win over the Brit icon, at Tottenham’s stadium for the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles, before his home was invaded by Russia.
Oleksandr Usyk won’t use Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as motivation for his fight against Anthony JoshuaCredit: AFP
Oleksandr Usyk took up arms to defend his homeland earlier this year and has now revealed he has seen friends die in the warCredit: Instagram @andrii_nebytov
The devout husband and father cut short a February trip to England – where he visited Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea – to race back to Kyiv and take up arms.
The London 2012 Olympic gold medal winner and former undisputed cruiserweight king was pictured with a machine gun over his shoulder as he held the line against Vladimir Putin’s invaders.
And – as recently as March – Usyk and his team were still unsure if they could take part in the August 20 Saudi Arabia rematch, with the country still in such turmoil.
The defending champ received special dispensation and encouragement to escape the war and represent his proud nation on the grandest stage and help shine a light on their continued plight.
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Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}J£DDAH .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Joshua and Usyk to earn £65m BEFORE PPV money in whopping Saudi Arabia site deal
But – after Tuesday’s Jeddah press conference, where Usyk stared Joshua down in their tense face-off – he refused to use the humanitarian crisis to his advantage.
Usyk said: “My friends, people close to me, have died in the war.
“When so many people are suffering I don’t have any idea how it can influence anything positively.
“I was there for one month, I saw with my own eyes what happened there, rockets flying and fighter jets flying. It’s horrible.”
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Usyk was much more guarded on the stage where he and Joshua bumped fists for the first time in almost a year.
Hiding his ice-cold glare from everyone bar AJ under his bucket hat, the southpaw sensation did almost nothing to help sell the fight and everything to frighten his old foe.
He said: “I never make loud or bright speeches, I just work hard in my gym and training camp.
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“That’s what I am going to do until the fight.
“And then I will enter the ring and make you happy with my boxing.”

🥊 AJ vs Usyk 2 date, live stream and TV channel for blockbuster rematch More