Heavyweight boxing

TOMMY FURY is out of his showdown with Jake Paul – and The Problem Child may have known about his rival’s withdrawal THREE DAYS ago.TNT has been forced out of his grudge match with the YouTuber-turned-boxer with an injury, with SunSport understanding an official announcement will be made later today.
Jake Paul was due to throw down with Tommy Fury a week on SaturdayCredit: https://www.instagram.com/jakepaul/
Injury has forced Fury out of his clash with The Problem ChildCredit: Getty
Paul appeared to have prior knowledge of Fury’s withdrawal judging from his last tweet
Paul has yet to comment on Fury’s withdrawal, although he did post a tweet a few days ago possibly hinting that he knew about it.
On Friday, Paul tweeted a video of Tyson Fury claiming his younger brother could beat the YouTuber on his ‘worst night ever’.
His accompanying caption read:” I smell cap.”
The term ‘cap’ is American slang for lies or bulls**t.
In the clip, Tyson said: “Tommy can have his worst night ever and still beat Jake Paul.
“He could probably turn up with broken ribs, a broken left hand, two left feet, his close on back to front and with the flu and still beat Jake Paul.
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“That’s how confident I am that he can beat Jake Paul.”
Fury’s withdrawal from the bout will have enraged Paul, who had a sneaking suspicion Fury would pull out of their showdown.
During an expletive-laden press conference last month, a fired-up Paul said: “Make sure you show up. Just make sure you show up.”
Both men were confident of emerging victorious from the battle of social media celebs, with Fury predicting a short night at the office.
He said: “After our last fights on the same card, I rocked up with four people to his after-party.
“I saw him and what did he do? He didn’t [do anything]. He sent a security man over to say: ‘Please leave’.
“When he gets in the ring with me, he will find his level. He’ll be out in the first round.”
Paul, meanwhile, planned to drag his fellow novice into deep waters, saying: “I will TKO him in the later rounds.

“He hasn’t had a fight past four rounds so I think he’ll be gassed.
“I think this will be the first time he’s getting punched in the face by someone who can actually hit and is the same weight as him.
“He’s always fought smaller guys with losing records. So I think he’s going to fade. I know he’s going to fade.”
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TOMMY FURY is rumoured to be out of his blockbuster showdown with Jake Paul.The social media sensations were due to collide in a Tampa tussle a week on Saturday.
Jake Paul and Tommy Fury were due to throw down a week on Sunday.Credit: https://www.instagram.com/jakepaul/
But it’s been suggested Love Islander Fury is set to withdraw from the grudge match.
And it’s been claimed former UFC welterweight champ Tyron Woodley will replace TNT.
Although Fury’s withdrawal from the bout has not been confirmed, SunSport understands his participation in the bout is up in the air.
Fury, 22, has been battling the cold throughout his training camp – which was initially due to take place in America.
Promoter Frank Warren recently revealed: “Tommy had a little bit of a cold but hopefully he is going to be okay.
“We are up in Morecambe [on Wednesday] so hopefully we will know more then, but he is up for it and he wants to fight.
“He can’t wait for the fight and I know certainly from Jake’s perspective he can’t wait for the fight.”

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The youngest Fury brother was supposed to train for his showdown with the YouTuber in America under the tutelage of Sugarhill Steward and brother Tyson.
But the reality TV star has done the bulk of his camp in Morecambe under the guidance of dad John, who stole the show during an x-rated pre-fight press conference late last month.
If Fury has indeed pulled out of the bout, the news will enrage Paul – wh had a feeling the Brit wouldn’t make it to fight night.
During their foul-mouthed presser, The Problem Child roared at Fury and said: “Make sure you show up.
“Just make sure you show up.”
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TYSON FURY could fight Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia in March for the undisputed heavyweight crown, Bob Arum has revealed.A Fury-Usyk showdown for all the belts looked set to be put on ice as Anthony Joshua prepared to rematch the Ukrainian.
Tyson Fury has stated that he hopes to face Oleksandr Usyk nextCredit: Rex
Anthony Joshua and Usyk could still rematch before an undisputed fightCredit: Getty
Cruiserweight king Usyk beat AJ by unanimous decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September to claim the IBF, WBA and WBO straps.
Immediately after the fight both Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn were adamant they wanted to face Usyk again straight away.
But in a shocking turn of events Hearn has now revealed that Joshua may be open to receiving a step-aside fee in order to allow Fury and Usyk to clash for the undisputed championship.
And Fury’s promoter Arum has now told the Rich Eisen Show that Saudi Arabia want to stage Fury against Usyk in March.
Joshua has given the pair hope that they can persuade him to step aside with an interview he did last month.
Debating the idea of a step aside, the two-time heavyweight champion said: “I think people know not to approach me with that rubbish. People know not to approach me with that bull****.

“It may have come to my team but I think they know not to bring to me at the minute.  
“At this stage of my career it’s not about the money, it’s about the respect. You’ve got to look at what I want out of this game – number one is respect, you don’t have to like me but you will respect me.
“The second is to go down as a throwback fighter, someone who was willing to fight the best in their division so that when I walk the streets with my son, my cousin and my nephews, people will know I’m a real fighter.
He went on to confess: “In terms of stepping aside, I don’t know if that goes in line with what a morally stand for… but I want to be known as one of the smartest businessmen as well.
“I want to make the smart decisions and if the money is right we would have to look at it but respect has more value than money.
“Will I take the step-aside money? If its a smart business move… will it affect my reputation and respect?

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“Will I still get to fight the best fighters? Those are the three things I have to consider.”
And Hearn confirmed earlier this week that Fury’s team had reached out to him about a potential deal.
If Joshua does agree a step aside, it is likely he will do so only with a guarantee that he can face the winner. More

TYSON FURY has been named in Ring Magazine’s latest top ten pound-for-pound rankings.But four of the seven judges disagree with the Gypsy King’s inclusion.
Tyson Fury has made it into Ring Magazine’s top 10 pound-for-pound rankings despite resistance from some judges
Fury has taken Teofimo Lopez’s spot after the American’s shock defeat to George Kambosos.
The Gypsy King made light work of Deontay Wilder the last two times the pair have met which has seen him recognised.
But the majority of the judging panel did not agree he should be there – despite him holding the WBC and Ring Magazine heavyweight titles.
Adam Abramowitz suggested Fury be given the No 10 spot.
He said: “The Ring has had heavyweights in its pound-for-pound before and I don’t subscribe to the theory that a heavyweight can’t be in P4P discussions.
But Tom Gray – who does subscribe the ‘no heavyweights’ rule – wanted other names thrown in the hat.

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He said: “One of the Charlos? Fulton? Tank? Shakur? Kambosos? Someone else? Discuss…”
Diego Morilla backed the Gypsy King and said: “I don’t see why Tyson Fury can’t be our No 10 here.
“He’s got ample credentials, and an effective style even if it’s not too aesthetically pleasing to watch.”
But Michael Montero retorted: “I’m not against rating heavyweights pound for pound, but Fury hasn’t done a lot of P4P worthy work in my opinion.
“He destroyed Wilder twice, but Deontay wasn’t exactly elite in terms of skills and Tyson outweighed him by 50 pounds.
“I’m not sure who we bring in at No 10, though, nobody has really separated themselves from the pack.
“Chocolatito maybe? Many feel [Roman] Gonzalez beat [Juan Francisco] Estrada, our current No 8, earlier this year.”
‘I’M AGAINST FURY BEING IN’
Gray retorted: “I’m against Fury being in the pound-for-pound top 10 simply because he just doesn’t need it.
“Hey Tyson. We know you’re the best heavyweight in the world and you’d beat any man alive, but we’ve also got you pound for pound No 10 behind Kazuto Ioka.
“It just doesn’t work for me. Usyk gets a pass because he’s come up from cruiser.
Tyson Fury beat Deontay Wilder in their trilogy fightCredit: Reuters
“Anyway, if the size is putting you off, Michael, then realistically Fury can’t make your P4P top 10.
“He’ll be 30 pounds heavier than Joshua and 50 pounds heavier than Usyk.
“The same argument applies even if he wipes out the best guys in the division.
“I thought Choc beat Estrada, but something doesn’t sit right about him re-entering. Anyone else?”
There was continued debate among the panel but it was eventually agreed Fury would make it in.
Canelo Alvarez remains top with Oleksandr Usyk still second.
Terence Crawford is up to third from fourth – leapfrogging Naoya Inoue.
Brit Josh Taylor and American Errol Spence are non-movers in fifth and sixth.
Lopez vacated seventh spot with Estrada, Vasyl Lomachenko and Ioka moving up a spot each to fill the gap with Fury completing the top 10.
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DECEMBER 11 is a date that historians have got their teeth stuck into.It was on that day in 1936 when a sombre King Edward VIII broadcast to a stunned nation that he was giving up the crown to marry Wallis Simpson.
Muhammad Ali hung up his gloves after his bout with Trevor Berbick in 1981Credit: Disney General Entertainment Con
The heavyweight king abdicated after 21 years in and out of the ringCredit: Getty – Contributor
And a week from Saturday, it will be the 40th anniversary of when boxing’s King announced he was abdicating after 21 magical, momentous, mesmerising and highly controversial years in and out of the ring.
It was December 11, 1981, when the incomparable Muhammad Ali, arguably the greatest world heavyweight champion of them all, unlaced his gloves for the last time.
What a relief it was to those of us who had been a part of Ali’s flying circus and had despairingly seen him declining slowly but surely into mediocrity.
Heartbreakingly, instead of retiring with the farewell fanfares he deserved, the man voted the outstanding sports personality of the 20th century ended his glittering 61-fight career in the Caribbean — and in the most farcical circumstances.
He lost a unanimous ten-round points decision to Trevor Berbick in what was advertised as the Drama in Bahama. More appropriately, the tawdry occasion should have been called Nonsense in Nassau.
It was held at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, which sounds grand — in fact it was a baseball field.

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The fight took place at the tiny Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre in the BahamasCredit: Rex Features
Proceedings were delayed two hours because nobody could find the keys to open the gates to the arena.
It beggars belief but once inside it was discovered there was not even a bell or gloves for the main event, it was beyond parody.
Someone was dispatched to the next field to take a bell from the neck of one of the grazing cows.
And Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee got his secretary in his Miami office to arrange for a new pair of gloves to be flown over.

After his ignominious defeat against Larry Holmes a year earlier, the name Muhammad Ali was no longer saleable.
Three major American TV networks, CBS, ABC and NBC, boycotted his clash with Berbick — and none of the closed-circuit operators were in the slightest bit interested.
American broadcasters boycotted the December 1981 clashCredit: Getty
Ali was 39, facing a man 12 years his juniorCredit: Getty – Contributor
The fact James Cornelius, a Los Angeles car dealer, a convicted felon, arrested nine times for fraud and larceny, who also happened to be under FBI investigation, was the promoter probably had something to do with it.
I really found it deeply depressing as I watched Ali, the hero of the Rumble in the Jungle and the Thrilla in Manila, plus many other breathtaking battles, reduced to insignificance.
His speed and audacious skills had long been eroded — and what was left was a flabby middle-aged man a month short of his 40th birthday.
Gone forever was the supreme athlete that prompted Jim Murray, the Pulitzer prize-winning LA Times sports columnist, to write: “I want to borrow Ali’s body for a day — there are six men I want to beat up and six women I want to make love to.”
Ali was later subdued and philosophical when we all crowded into his dressing room. He simply said: “Father time has caught up with me — I’m finished. I’ve got to face the facts.
“We all grow old and this is the end. I’ve been doing this since I was 12.
Ali should have retired after his third fight with Joe FrazierCredit: Getty
“It’s a joy and relief to know that it’s over.”
He should, of course, have retired immediately after his brutal third fight with Joe Frazier in Manila.
But he carried on for six more years and had ten more fights against the advice of his doctor Ferdie Pacheco.
It is even possible if he had listened to Pacheco, Ali may still be alive today.
Ed Schuyler — one of America’s top boxing writers — spoke for billions when he said as we left Ali to his memories that evening: “Muhammad, thank you. You gave us a hell of a ride.”
And as I flew home from Nassau, with the festive season looming, it dawned on me I had just seen the Ghost of Christmas past.
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua given huge boost as promoter Bob Arum reveals Gypsy King will fight three times in 2022 More

OLEKSANDR USYK’s team are in talks with Anthony Joshua’s reps about stepping away from their rematch.AJ is set to rematch the newly-crowned unified heavyweight champion next year but the undefeated Uysk has set his sights on an undisputed clash with WBC king Tyson Fury.
Anthony Joshua is currently on course to have a rematch with Oleksandr UyskCredit: REUTERS
But Team Usyk want AJ to step aside so they can unify the heavyweight divisionCredit: GETTY
And promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed preliminary step-aside talks are underwayCredit: REUTERS
And promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed the Ukrainian’s management have reached out to try to convince the Watford warrior to allow a mouth-watering showdown to take place.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told Boxing King Media: “We’ve had their team reach out to us.”
Hearn, however, has yet to speak to Joshua about foregoing his rematch with the slick southpaw, who schooled him in their September showdown.
He added: “At the moment, there’s communication between the two teams to say, ‘Is it something that [you’d consider].
“And the answer is; AJ has not been spoken [to] about this yet.
“I’ll deal with it and when I feel there’s an opportunity for Anthony and 258, we’ll sit down with them and present that to them.”

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Despite the opportunity being on the table, Hearn doesn’t want to broach the subject with Joshua until a viable offer has been made.
He continued: “But I don’t want to do that until I feel it’s the right opportunity because he’s not gonna be happy because he just wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
“But if there’s a route, there’s an offer and it makes sense, we’ll see. But right now, just conversations.”
Joshua, 32, suffered a lopsided points defeat to Usyk in their tussle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and has vowed to exact revenge on his fellow Olympian.
But he recently hinted he was open to the possibility of stepping aside – if the ‘money is right’.
He told iFL TV: “I think people know not to approach me with that rubbish. People know not to approach me with that bull****.
“It may have come to my team but I think they know not to bring to me at the minute.
“At this stage of my career it’s not about the money, it’s about the respect. You’ve got to look at what I want out of this game; number one is respect, you don’t have to like me but you will respect me.
“The second is to go down as a throwback fighter, someone who was willing to fight the best in their division so that when I walk the streets with my son, my cousin and my nephews, people will know I’m a real fighter.
“In terms of stepping aside, I don’t know if that goes in line with what a morally stand for… but I want to be known as one of the smartest businessmen as well.
Joshua recently refused to rule out the possibility of allowing Usyk to fight FuryCredit: PA
“I want to make the smart decisions and if the money is right we would have to look at it but respect has more value than money.
“Will I take the step-aside money? If its a smart business move… will it affect my reputation and respect?
“Will I still get to fight the best fighters? Those are the three things I have to consider.”
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