Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA admits his lopsided defeat to Oleksandr Usyk ‘hurt’ his pride as he had no excuses to fall back on.The Watford warrior lost the unified heavyweight titles after being turned over by the undefeated Ukrainian in their Tottenham tussle last September.
Anthony Joshua suffered a lopsided points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last SeptemberCredit: MARC ASPLAND
The undefeated Usyk ripped the unified heavyweight titles from AJ’s clutchesCredit: GETTY
And the devastating defeat ‘hurt’ Joshua’s prideCredit: REUTERS
But unlike his spectacular stoppage loss to Andy Ruiz Jr two-and-half years ago, defeat to slick southpaw Usyk has been a hard pill to swallow for AJ.
The 32-year-old told Sky Sports: “I belong on the big stage.
“I belong as a champion, I belong among the names of this current generation. You will see why.
“If I didn’t fight the best, I may not have lost. People have high expectations of me and I have high expectations of myself.
“That is why I feel like when I lost the first time I didn’t make any excuses.
“But I had my reason and I always felt cool because I took my loss because I knew I would get it back so I just brushed that one away.
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“But this one hurt because I was at 100%, no problems, everything was cool and I just lost to the better man on the night.”
Defeat to the former undisputed cruiserweight king has lit a fire under Joshua, who has vowed to rise to the top again after mentally picking himself off the canvas.
He said: “It gave me motivation to pull myself out of that position where mentally it killed me.
“I have fought my way back and I will redeem myself.”
Joshua will have a new-look coaching team in place for his spring rematch with Usyk, although it’s currently unknown if he’s parted ways with long-time trainer Rob McCracken.
During an appearance at Expo 2020 in Dubai, Joshua said: “I’m a loyal character. I believe loyalty’s important.
“I’ve been based in Sheffield and had a good chat with my coach and I wanna try some new things, I wanna try a new environment.
“Maybe I can do a training camp in Dubai, maybe I can do a training camp in Africa, in America – just a new environment to get inspired again and to take the heavyweight division by storm.”
Anthony Joshua has vowed to redeem himself in his rematch with Oleksandr UsykCredit: MARC ASPLAND
“New environment, work with some good coaches and just go to war. It’s a warrior mindset.”
SunSport understands Joshua’s potentially do-or-die rematch with Uysk is currently slated for late March or early April.
An official announcement is expected to be made in the coming weeks.
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TYSON FURY has sent a message of support to a victim of a knife attack.Craig North, from Tilbury, is currently in a critical condition in hospital and Fury sent him well wishes and told him to keep fighting.
Tyson Fury urged Craig North to ‘keep fighting’Credit: Getty
Craig is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed on January 2
As reported by Thurrock Nub News, Fury said: “Craig it’s Tyson Fury here. Keep fighting Craig you’ll get through this. All the best.”
Craig was attacked on Sunday, January 2 and is reportedly fighting for his life – Fury has been one of many to wish him well.
Meanwhile, a 19-year-old from Tilbury has been charged in connection with the attack.
Detective Inspector Julie Gowen told the news-site: “There will continue to be a policing presence in the area in the coming days and I would urge anyone with any information on this incident to come forward and speak to us if you have not already done so.
“You can speak to officers as they patrol, you can report information to us or indeed anonymously to Crimestoppers.
“I understand incidents such as this will naturally concern the community, but we continue to believe there is no wider threat to the public.”
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Fury often sends messages of support to people in need – such as 6-year-old West Ham fan Isla Canton who is fighting cancer.
The Gypsy King even sent nemesis Deontay Wilder a happy birthday message recently.
Fury, 33, said: “This is Tyson Fury, AKA The Gypsy King. This is a very special happy birthday message to my old mate, Deontay ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Wilder.
“Have a fantastic day, Wilder. Thank you for the great fights we’ve had and the trilogy, and you’re a great, great fighter, an awesome fighter.
“I hope you have a fantastic day with you and your family. I hope God blesses you abundantly.
“All the best, lots of love from your old pal, The Gypsy King. All the best, God bless, Wilder.” More

BANTAMWEIGHT boxer Kash Farooq has shocked fans by suddenly retiring from the sport at just 26-years-old. He hangs up his gloves due to ‘unforeseen circumstances,’ after 17 professional bouts, which included 16 wins and time as British bantamweight champion and WBC international champion.
Farooq has been forced to hang up his gloves due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’Credit: Reuters
The Pakistani-born Scottish pro was last in action in August 2021, scoring a points victory over Luis Gerardo Castillo at Matchroom’s ‘Fight Camp’ series.
He was also set to face fellow Scotsman Lee McGregor in an eagerly anticipated rematch at some point this year following their controversial first meeting in 2019.
But a statement released today by home of Scottish boxing St Andrew’s Sporting Club read: “It will come as a shock but due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to announce that Kash Farooq is hanging up his gloves and retiring from professional boxing.”
Farooq had also been part of Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotion company since 2019.
And a spokesperson for the company added: “Our well wishes are with Kash Farooq who has unfortunately had to retire due to unforeseen circumstances.
“No doubt was destined for World honours. A brilliant fighter and top man.”
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Farooq will stay in the sport, but will take up the role of ‘Head of Talent’ for the St Andrew’s Sporting Club.
The club’s statement continued: “Kash Farooq has always been an integral part of the ‘St Andrew’s Sporting Club’ and that will continue, as we are delighted to announce he will be joining our background team as our ‘Head of Talent’.
“He has an invaluable wealth of skill and experience he is ready to pass on to our stable. Although ‘The Untouchable Kash Farooq’ retires from being a boxer, we are excited to begin this new chapter together.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the British Boxing Board of Control and their support on the matter.
“Their procedures offer as a safeguard offering protection and prevention to potential harm, with the health and safety of the boxers being paramount at all times.”
Farooq’s only defeat of his career came at the hands of Scottish rival McGregor.
McGregor and Farooq fought in 2019, and had been gearing up to face each other again this yearCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
And the pair had been gearing up for a hotly anticipated all-Scottish rematch this year.
The thrilling first bout ended in a hotly debated split decision victory for McGregor, and the 25-year-old has also reacted to the news of Farooq’s sudden retirement.
McGregor emotionally wrote on Facebook: “I’m absolutely devastated to hear the news that @kashfarooq1 has had to retire from boxing.
“We both helped each other so much from sparring as amateurs to being involved in one of the best fights Scotland has ever seen between 2 Scottish fighters.
“We were on the verge of changing our life’s forever ahead of what was a hugely anticipated rematch and it’s heart breaking that we won’t get that special night we were all looking forward to.
“My thoughts go out to @kashfarooq1 and his family and if there’s anything I can do to help in future I’ll be there in a heart beat.
“It was an honour to share the ring with you champ I wish you nothing but the best.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA admits Tyson Fury’s taunts may have tricked him into trying to outbox Oleksandr Usyk.Ever since the professional rivalry between Britain’s best two heavyweights turned sour, Fury has loved labelling AJ a “big stiff bodybuilder”.
Joshua admitted that Fury’s mind games tricked him into changing his style against UsykCredit: Youtube – The Overlap
Joshua tried to outbox Usyk but his plan backfired and ended up the Brit losing the title boutCredit: Getty
And the 32-year-old Watford hero has admitted that slur was stuck in his head when he tried to outskill the southpaw genius at Tottenham in September.
The 2012 Olympic golden boy was dominated by the 34-year-old Ukrainian, who triumphed in North London on all three judges’ scorecards despite height, weight and reach disadvantages.
And Joshua has revealed one of Fury’s trademark digs was ringing in his ears when he shockingly tried to play chess with a grandmaster.
From his warm-weather training camp in Dubai, AJ told Sky: “Usyk came up from cruiserweight, he is a great fighter, a 12-round fighter.
“And I wanted to box with him for 12 rounds.
“There was always this stigma that I could not box, that I was this ‘big stiff body-builder’.
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“So I said ‘cool, let me practice my boxing’.
“I tried practising my boxing with Usyk and it didn’t work.”
But Joshua believes he will make the necessary changes to ensure he regains his WBA, IBF and WBO titles when the pair rematch in the Spring.
He said: “He won nine rounds and I won three. But in the next fight I will win four more rounds and I will win.
“I will simplify it just like that.
“Then I will get back on the road to being undisputed champion again.”
Usyk’s victory was the second defeat of Joshua’s glittering pro career and hurt him much more than the shock stoppage loss to flabby Mexican underdog Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019.
Pocket rocket Ruiz Jr was a late replacement for giant drug cheat Jarrell Miller, so AJ had not trained specifically to face a speedy little slugger.
And he arrived in New York with a stye infection around his eye and a swollen face to suggest he was not match fit.
USYK HURT MORE
But for the home show against Usyk, he was in perfect condition and admits he was beaten fair and square, which left him distraught.
“When I lost the first time I never made any excuses,” he said.
“I had my reasons but I took my loss because I knew that I would get it back, so I brushed it under the carpet.
“But this one hurt, because I was 100 per cent.
“I had no problems, everything was cool. I just went in there and lost to the better man on the night.
“It hurt but it gave me the motivation to pull me out of the position where it had mentally killed me.
“I have fought my way back and I will redeem myself.”

Following the defeat – in which he received poor advice from head trainer and Team GB mastermind Rob McCracken, as well as assistant trainers Angel Fernandez and Joby Clayton – AJ went on a tour of America’s best gyms and met a handful of the country’s most respected trainers.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed he will make an announcement on his new training regime in the New Year and AJ is currently training in the Middle East where he spent one session with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
And he has revealed the list of essential health and lifestyle factors he and his new team will be working on when they focus on his attempt at becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion.
He said: “Let’s focus on quality, let’s focus on what’s needed.
“It has to come from the top-down because I am the last piece of the puzzle, I am the last performance.
“We are talking about mindset, gameplan, brain training, sparring, our approach to sparring and what we are getting out of it, dietary needs, sleep, recovery, what I am listening to like motivation speeches.
“Because this is the biggest stage of my career, fighting for the heavyweight championship of the world.” More

TYSON FURY joked that heavyweight veteran Luis Ortiz is a TIME TRAVELLER – after posting a picture from more than 100-years-ago. Ortiz is 42, but there has been a long-running gag within the boxing community about his true age.
Tyson Fury shared this image of what is either a Luis Ortiz lookalike of photoshopped picture of the CubanCredit: Twitter
Current heavyweight contender Luis OrtizCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Even his former opponent Deontay Wilder once questioned how old Ortiz really is.
And now Fury, 33, has jumped on the joke, as he posted an ancient picture of Jack Johnson – the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion.
But next to the legendary fighter is either an Ortiz lookalike – or a photoshopped picture of the Cuban.
The current heavyweight contender twice challenged for the WBC title, losing to Wilder twice in 2018 and then 2019.
And before the rematch, the American ex-champion poked fun at Ortiz’s age.
Wilder, now 36, said: ““He told me he’s 40 but, in his face, he looks about 45. But I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he’s 40.
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“He can be 50 years old. But how many 50-year-old men do you know that are going to step into the ring with me for a second time?”
Whatever Ortiz’s age, he is proving it is just a number, recently knocking out former IBF champ Charles Martin, 35.
And following Fury’s little tease on social media, Ortiz could be hoping for some revenge.
He told EsNEWS: “I want to fight Andy Ruiz, I want to fight Dillian Whyte. Fury doesn’t have an opponent, I’m ready for anybody.”
WBC champion Tyson Fury poked fun at Luis Ortiz’s ageCredit: Rex More

DAVE COLDWELL has revealed he will NOT train Derek Chisora should the British heavyweight face Deontay Wilder next.Promoter Eddie Hearn urged the Bronze Bomber to challenge the British heavyweight after the latter’s defeat to Joseph Parker last month.
Derek Chisora’s trainer Dave Coldwell (far right) has warned his man against fighting Deontay WilderCredit: Reuters
American knockout specialist Wilder has been stopped by Tyson Fury in his last two outingsCredit: PA
Del Boy, 38, has lost his last three fights inside the ring – once against unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and twice against New Zealand banger Parker.
Meanwhile Wilder, who teased retirement in December, is coming off the back of two knockout defeats at the hands of Tyson Fury.
And Hearn believes that Chisora would be the ‘perfect’ next opponent for the Alabama native, as he described him as an ‘easy comeback fight’.
He told the DAZN Boxing Show: “Deontay Wilder, we want to see you back in the ring. I’ve got the perfect guy for you – Derek Chisora.
“Come on, he’s getting on a little bit, he’s coming off three defeats on the spin now. Easy comeback fight for Deontay Wilder. Derek’s ready.”
Chisora’s trainer Coldwell instantly took to social media following his comments where he told the Matchroom promoter to ‘put away the sherry’.
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And Coldwell has since declared that he will refuse to help Chisora battle the former WBC king should he decide to pit his wits against him.
Asked by talkSPORT whether he’d help Chisora train for the potential dust-up, he said: “No, no, no. It’s not something I want to see. I think it’s just too hard a night for him.
“Derek’s Derek and he’ll do what he wants to do. It doesn’t matter what anybody says, it’s the same as how he’s been all the way through his career.
“When it comes down to, ‘Does he fight again or doesn’t he fight again?’ Yes, he will listen to people’s advice when it comes to opponents and things like that, but Derek wants to fight certain people.
“If he wants the fights, then they’ll happen. If I had my way, he wouldn’t be fighting Deontay Wilder, that’s for sure.”
Instead, Coldwell would like to see Wilder get involved in a blockbuster bout against his British star Anthony Joshua.
He remarked: “It doesn’t matter how many losses these two guys have on their records – AJ vs Wilder is always going to be a fight people are always going to want to see.
“We look at the UFC, people don’t really talk about records in the UFC.

“They talk about, ‘Is it going to be a good fight?’ And then when the fight happens, ‘Was it a good fight?’
“It’s not so much about, ‘He’s won this and he’s lost that,’ it’s not so much about that.
“That’s one thing I think boxing falls behind on, where we are too much intent on valuing records so much. When a fighter gets beat that’s him ‘done’ and he’s ‘finished’.
“These are fighters. Fighters are going to want to fight. And when they’ve got something to give, then people are always going to want to see them.
“Deontay Wilder can punch, he’s exciting, and he showed he’s got the toughness about him to be involved in some great fights.” More

HEAVYWEIGHT prospect Frank Sanchez reckons he’d ‘easily’ KO Tyson Fury.The rising star, 29, continued his ascent up the ranks this past weekend with a unanimous decision victory over veteran Christian Hammer.
Frank Sanchez continued his surge up the heavyweight ranks with a unanimous decision win over Christian HammerCredit: Rex
And claimed he woud KO heavyweight king Tyson FuryCredit: Getty
Sanchez also reckons he’d do a number on unified heavyweight champ Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY
And the 20-0 Cuban Flash is confident he’d dethrone WBC king Fury if given the opportunity.
Sanchez said of Fury: “I knock him out easily. He has no boxing skills.”
The Eddy Reynoso-trained Sanchez reckons he’d do an even bigger number of unified heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
He said of a potential showdown with the Ukrainian southpaw: “Even easier.
“Usyk has movement, but he doesn’t have the technique that I do.”
Sanchez’s confidence is shared by his team-mate and pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez, who was ringside for his routine victory over Hammer.
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The four-weight world champion told George Ebro: “He will be world champion.
“He will sweep everyone in the heavyweight division because he is a special talent.”
Sanchez said of the Mexican cheering him on: “I was very motivated by seeing Canelo supporting me at ringside.
“This must be a definitive year for my aspirations to become a world champion.
“This was a tough opponent, but my dominance of the ring and my skills were too much for him and they will be for anyone who stands in my way.”
Sanchez has relished every minute of his training with the undisputed super-middleweight king, saying: “Canelo is an absolute stud.
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Sanchez is a training partner of pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez
“He’s very serious and very respectful both with me and his work ethic.
“The biggest lesson that I learned from him is the fact that it doesn’t matter whether you’re training or you’re inside the ring, that you got to be serious about your craft, that you got to follow it with passion.
“That’s the main thing that I took away from being around Canelo, someone that I appreciate a lot.”

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TYSON FURY has an offer to take his Dillian Whyte fight to Saudi Arabia.The WBC heavyweight king only managed one fight in 2021, the incredible trilogy win over Deontay Wilder, and wants to fight in the Spring before squeezing a few bouts into 2022.
Tyson Fury is champing at the bit to make the second defence of his WBC heavyweight titleCredit: Getty
The WBC have ordered the Fury to face fellow Brit DillIian Whyte in his next outingCredit: GETTY
And The Gypsy King has received a lucrative offer to face Whyte in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFP
And the Mexican sanctioning body has ordered their 6ft 9in ace to fight mandatory challenger Whyte first, while Anthony Joshua handles a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk over the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
Both Brit giants will be eager to earn as much as possible from the all-English showdown but Whyte especially as the WBC have insisted their interim champion is worthy of only 20 per cent of the purse.
And, as we learned from AJ’s mega-money Saudi win over Andy Ruiz Jr, the Saudi site fees stumped up to land big events and help improve the country’s image can boost purses spectacularly.
Fury has already headlined a show in Saudi, wrestling for the WWE in 2019 for a rumoured £12million.
And he teased a return to the oil-rich nation last week with a clip of him posing with a photo of that show, saying: “The Saudi Arabian king is coming back! Get up there my boy!
“Some big news coming, hold tight!’”
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Fury spoke directly to Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in May 2021, when he was deep in negotiations for a doomed showdown with Joshua in the hyper-conservtive region.
And was already well on board with helping to promote the fight, as well as the widely criticised rulers who have been accused of sports washing.
He roared: “I’ve just got off the phone from Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia, he’s told me this fight is 100 per cent on. August 14, 2021 summertime.
“All eyes of the world will be on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“This is going to be the biggest sporting event ever to grace the planet earth. Do not miss it. All eyes on us.”
The bout collapsed when he was forced into the Wilder finale by an arbitration judge.
But it seems the pair have kept on good terms and hosting a Fury defence could strengthen Saudi’s chance of finally holding an undisputed heavyweight battle.
When the Arab state held Joshua’s cautious rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019, it was on the basis that his subsequent shot at the remaining WBC belt against Fury or Wilder would happen there.
Tyson Fury competed in Saudi Arabia in 2019 at WWE Crown JewelCredit: REUTERS
And now the boxing power brokers in the House of Saud have another shot at teeing up the sport’s pinnacle event by holding lead-up bouts.
Whyte boxed on the AJ undercard in Diriyah, so has no problem boxing under the controversial regime.
And Oleksandr Usyk was ringside as a guest to watch all the action on the outskirts of Riyadh, so should have no problem signing up for another Gulf mission.

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