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      Ultimate boxing rich list including star worth $400m thanks to a strip club and Brit paid $76m for one fight alone

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      BOXING pros might take a few knocks in the ring but there’s one area in their life which never takes a blow – their finances. With some commanding a $76million pay packet for just one bout, boxing can be a lucrative profession. 
      Retiree Floyd Mayweather Jr. has made a mint from his Las Vegas strip clubCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Anthony Joshua has become one of the highest paid Brit boxers of all timeCredit: Getty
      And that’s not factoring in the countless sponsorship and endorsement deals each fighter can snag outside the ring. 
      From seven-figure streaming deals to strip clubs and documentaries, we reveal the deals behind top earners’ estimated net worths. 
      Deontay Wilder, $30m
      Deontay Wilder made $20million for defeating Luiz Ortiz in a 2020 rematchCredit: AP:Associated Press
      As one of the top heavyweights in the world, Wilder’s purses are in the millions. 
      He was paid $28million for his Tyson Fury rematch, and $20million for his Luiz Ortiz rematch in 2020.
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      But the boxer is no stranger to an endorsement deal – it is thought he had made $500,000 from brand work.
      He’s put his name to Everlast Boxing, fast food restaurant Raising Cane’s and PureKana CBD. 
      Gennady Golovkin, $35m 
      Gennady Golovkin could be in for earning megabucks after a $100m streaming dealCredit: Getty
      The Kazakh star may not be a big personality but he’s certainly unleashed his earning potential. 
      Last year, Golovkin was thought to pocket $20million from his bout with Mexican fighter Canelo Alvarez. 
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      And he could rival Alvarez’s earning potential too – he signed a three-year six-fight agreement for $100million with streaming site DAZN. 
      He has also had sponsorship deals with Nike, Hublot watches and Tecate beer during his career.

      Amir Khan, $40m 
      Bolton’s Amir Khan isn’t afraid to show off his $40m fortune on reality TVCredit: AFP
      The catchweight was handed a two-year ban for unintentionally doping but is in no danger of going broke. 
      Khan reckons he’s made over $80million over the course of his boxing career. 
      But in his reality show Meet the Khans, his wife Faryal Makhdoom took control of his finances after Khan admitted he had “no idea” where $6.25million of his own cash had gone. 
      He and his wife have been building a luxury wedding venue in his hometown Bolton. 
      Oleksandr Usyk, $56m 
      Ukranian Usyk has made over £1million of his fortune from endorsement dealsCredit: EPA
      Before his two fights with Anthony Joshua in the last two years, the Ukrainian had only received two purses over £1million. 
      Without the two Joshua fights, Usyk’s career earnings would be around an estimated £6million but the profile boost has landed him in good stead.
      The low key fighter’s endorsement deals are thought to be worth around $1.2million with clothing maker Jaxet, BoxRaw and WePlay Esports.
      Wladimir Klitschko, $90m
      Klitschko could bolster his fortune with a promised upcoming bout against Tyson FuryCredit: Rex Features
      For Klitschko’s last two fights he earned a staggering $36million in total, sweetening his defeats against Fury and Joshua. 
      Although he retired in 2017, he earned an estimated pre-tax $200million during the entirety of his boxing career. 
      Hunky Klitschko – who once dated actress Hayden Panettiere – also earned a fair whack from sponsorship deals with Hugo Boss, gym McFit and Mercedes Benz. 
      Last year, he joined the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Brigade in the war against Russia but has been plotting a return to the ring to fight Fury. 
      Canelo Alvarez, $180m  
      Canelo is on a path to become one of the richest sportsmenCredit: Reuters
      The Mexican super middleweight signed a $365million fight contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotion company and DAZN. 
      The deal has set Canelo on a path to become one of the richest sportsmen. 
      Between June 2018 and June 2019, Canelo earned $95million from his fights and deals, according to Marca.
      He’s sponsored by Mexican beer company Tecate, cognac Hennessy and Cleto Reyes boxing gloves. 
      Tyson Fury, $162m 
      Tyson Fury has earned his millions both in and out of the ring with a Netflix series and book dealsCredit: Reuters
      The Gypsy King signed a $99million contract for five fights from ESPN in 2021. 
      Fury picked up $27.5million for his third fight with Deontay Wilder, $31million against Dillian Whyte and $26million in his most recent clash with Derek Chisora. 
      And the Morecambe-based boxer’s cheeky personality leaves him in demand for personal appearances too. 
      He was paid $15million for a single appearance at WWE’s Crown Jewel pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia where he wrestled Braun Strowman. 
      His Netflix 10-part docuseries and his four autobiographies will no doubt have paid a pretty penny too. 
      Anthony Joshua, $211m 
      Anthony Joshua’s endorsement deal with Under Armour has put the sports brand on the mapCredit: @anthonyjoshua
      The Watford-born powerhouse reportedly earned a staggering $76million for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last year.
      Recently he left Sky Sports to sign an exclusive contract with DAZN that will see him rake in another $125million in exchange for two fights every 12 months until he retires.
      But outside the ring Joshua is expected to have raked in at least $122million through coveted sponsorship deals.  
      Sports clothing Under Armour, Hugo Boss, Land Rover and Jaguar are all worth millions to Joshua and saw him earn a total of $11million in 2021.
      Manny Pacquiao, $220m 
      Manny Pacquiao was the second richest athlete in the world in 2015Credit: AFP – Getty
      During his career, Pac-man has earned at least $500million from fights and endorsements including a $35million from a fight against Miguel Cotto.
      In 2015, Forbes named the Filipino the second richest athlete in the world. 
      He retired from his fighting career in 2021 and has since had cameos in mainly Filipino movies.
      He also served as a senator in the Philippine government from 2016 to 2022 and was a presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.
      But he’s put his good fortune to use too – in 2015 he built 1,000 homes for the poor in the Philippines. 
      Floyd Mayweather Jr, $450m 
      Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been plotting a return to the ring against mafia grandson John Gotti IIICredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The exhibition fighter has made his millions through his pay-per-view bouts – with him featuring in four of the most watched fights. 
      He’s also invested in some savvy business ideas in his downtime. 
      He runs his own promotions company who represent 12 boxers and will take a cut from their earnings.
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      Watch company Hublot, Burger King and gambling company Fanduel all reportedly have paid Mayweather to be the face of their brands.
      He also owns Vegas strip club Girl Collection which has takings of up to $250,000 on fight nights.  More

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      Anthony Joshua warned NOT to fight Deontay Wilder next as boxing legend tells him to first fix ‘issue’

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has been urged to swerve Deontay Wilder until he fixes his fear of being caught clean.A long-awaited grudge match between the former unified and WBC heavyweight champions is being lined up for December.
      Anthony Joshua is on course for a long-awaited grudge match with Deontay WilderCredit: REX
      The pair’s eagerly-anticipated showdown is currently in the works for DecemberCredit: GETTY
      Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr reckons AJ shouldn’t take the fight just yetCredit: GETTY
      Boxing fans across the world are salivating at the prospect of the long-time rivals trading blows in a lucrative Saudi showdown, although there are concerns for AJ following his gun-shy display against Jermaine Franklin last month.
      And those concerns are shared by boxing legend Roy Jones Jr, who reckons the Brit needs to get comfortable being in the fire again.
      The former four-weight world champion told iDBoxing: “It’s a very tough fight for him.
      “I love AJ to death and I think he’s a great fighter.
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      “But his issue right now is dealing with punches coming back at him, so you don’t want to fight Wilder.”
      Jones Jr reckons the unorthodox nature of Wilder’s concussive blows makes him one of the worst stylistic match-ups to take at this moment in time.
      He continued: “Those punches that will be coming at you from him are different to anybody else in the division, so he’s got to go get that taken care of before he goes in front of Wilder.”
      Joshua dominated a dogged and determined Franklin in his return to the win column last month but failed to make an impression in his first outing under new head coach Derrick James.
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      And Jones Jr would like the Watford warrior to get a couple more fights with James under his belt before taking on Wilder.
      The 54-year-old said: “Sometimes it takes time for a fighter and trainer to get their whole aspect together.
      “Apparently, that hasn’t happened straight away, but if they stay together, then maybe they’ll finally get some continuity.
      “But they definitely didn’t get any in that first fight.
      “Hopefully they get better as they go, it sometimes takes bit of time for things to kick in for a fighter and they get on the same page.
      Anthony JoshuaCredit: IFL TV
      “So hopefully in the next couple of fights they’ll get better and start to gel.
      “Because in that fight they didn’t gel much at all.”
      Joshua, 33, revealed this past week that his long-awaited showdown with Wilder is seemingly all systems go for December.
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      When asked by a fan if he’s going to beat Wilder, AJ responded: “That’s what’s happening, you know what’s going on.”
      When pressed on the fight taking place in December, he added: “It’s public news we’re getting it down, throwing it down in December.” More

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      I was knocked out by Muhammad Ali but another heavyweight hit me so hard I was seeing six of the same woman

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      GEORGE FOREMAN was knocked out by Muhammad Ali in their legendary Rumble in the Jungle – but The Greatest wasn’t the hardest-hitting heavyweight he’d ever faced.The entire world stood still on October 30, 1974 when Ali challenged the previously undefeated Foreman for the WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles.
      George Foreman locked horns with Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle in 1978Credit: AP
      ‘Big George’ lost the historic fight via eighth-round TKOCredit: AP
      But ‘The Greatest’ wasn’t the hardest hitter Foreman faced in his careerCredit: GETTY
      Ali introduced the globe to his famous rope-a-dope technique on that famous night in the Congo, absorbing Foreman’s bruising body punches before stopping him in the eighth.
      The late Ali undoubtedly packed a punch to put Foreman out for the count, although his power paled in comparison to former amateur opponent of ‘Big George’, Bob Winters.
      The 74-year-old told talkSPORT: “I’ve been punched hard so many times.
      “But, I was in a Golden Gloves match with a guy by the name of Bob Winters.
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      “He hit me so hard and knocked me down, I didn’t know boxers had that to happen to them.
      “I saw about six women with the same coat on and after the referee counted they started disappearing and then I realised it was only one woman.
      “That was being hit hard, I’ll never forget that, not seeing doubles and triples, but more.”
      Boxing legend Foreman knew a thing or two about being a heavy hitter – calling time on his career with a whopping 83 per cent knockout ratio.
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      But he felt “ashamed” by some of his knockouts, telling World Boxing News: “Two things I will never forget about my boxing career: How hard I could hit [not proud of the first part] and how hard they punched me.
      “I heard bells and whistles while bodies collapsed.
      “The first time around [1967 to 1977], I hit so hard. I’d wake up ashamed of what I had done to [those] good people.
      “I felt like they were boxing, and I was slaughtering.
      George Foreman is still to this day one of the hardest hitting fighters in boxing historyCredit: AP
      “My gift was recklessness. I didn’t care if I broke my shoulder, arm, or knuckles or if I flew out of the ring. I had to get a KO or fall down myself.”
      The Texas titan called time on his Hall-of-Fame career in 1997 following a majority decision defeat to Shannon Briggs.
      But just four fights prior to his farewell bout, Foreman made history by becoming the oldest champion in boxing history.
      Foreman shocked the world in 1994 by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer at the ripe old age of 45 to become unified heavyweight champion. More

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      Mike Tyson reveals Jake Paul and Tommy Fury made him miss boxing and ‘being the centre of attention’

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      MIKE TYSON revealed Jake Paul and Tommy Fury made him miss boxing and “being the centre of attention”. The heavyweight legend, who retired in 2005, was a special guest in Saudi Arabia the week Paul and Fury met in a celebrity grudge match.
      Mike Tyson in Saudi Arabia before Jake Paul vs Tommy FuryCredit: AFP
      Jake Paul facing off with Tommy FuryCredit: AP
      And the rivals came to a head in a heated weigh-in a day before the bout, which had Tyson reminiscing about his heyday.
      He said on his podcast: “I just always wanted to be a fighter. That’s all I wanted to do my whole life was be a fighter, nothing else.

      “I miss this stuff, I didn’t think I’d miss it until I was at the weigh-in in Saudi Arabia for [Paul-Fury]. You miss being the centre of attention.”
      Fury, 23, went on to beat Paul, 26, by split-decision in Riyadh.
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      Tyson, 56, was ringside and revealed in an interview with TMZ Sports that he has been approached to fight in Saudi.
      The youngest heavyweight champion of all time – who won the title aged 20 – made a shock comeback in 2020 after 15 years out.
      He faced fellow American icon Roy Jones Jr, 54, in an exhibition bout that ended in a draw.
      Tyson has been linked with a rematch as well as a trilogy bout against old rival Evander Holyfield, 60.
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      Up until now Iron Mike has remained happy in retirement but leaves the door open to another exhibition.
      Tyson said: “I don’t know, I’m just chilling out.
      “I did that, I wanted to do that, I did that. People also in Saudi Arabia want me to do this stuff too. I don’t know, I could be persuaded.”
      Mike Tyson returned in 2020 for an exhibition with Roy Jones JrCredit: EPA More

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      Tyson Fury’s team holds talks with Zhilei Zhang over July return fight despite Andy Ruiz Jr claiming deal is ‘official’

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      ZHILEI ZHANG has claimed his team have held talks over a fight with Tyson Fury. Fury is set to return in July at Wembley Stadium, having seen a title unification with Oleksandr Usyk collapse.
      Zhilei Zhang claimed his team have held talks over a fight with Tyson FuryCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Tyson Fury is set to return in JulyCredit: PA
      Joe Joyce looked in line to challenge the WBC champion in the summer until his shock loss to Zhang.
      And now the 2012 Olympic silver medalist has emerged as a shock alternative to fight Fury.
      Zhang told iFL TV: “I just came back from my vacation, so everything is fresh to me.
      “I believe that my team has made communications with their team on that matter.”
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      He added: “Let’s do it Tyson. If you’re looking at July, I’ll be ready for you in July.”
      But Zhang, 39, could also be drawn into a second fight with Joyce, 37, due to a rematch clause in the Brit’s contract.
      It leaves Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, as a frontrunner to welcome Fury, 34, back to the ring.
      And the Mexican-American added fuel to the fire after re-sharing a mocked up fight poster of the two.
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      It read: “Tyson Fury vs Andy Ruiz Jr is official! July 22nd.”
      And he accompanied it with an emoji of the UK flag.
      But despite Ruiz’s tease, Hall of Fame promoter Warren told Boxing News that no deal is set in stone.
      Andy Ruiz Jr claimed his deal to fight Tyson Fury was ‘official’Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      I was Mike Tyson’s hardest fight despite $150-a-day heroin addiction and gangster life – I was my own toughest opponent

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      PINKLON THOMAS is the heavyweight who became champion while battling heroin addiction and was credited as Mike Tyson’s hardest fight.Thomas won the WBC title in 1984, having had just THREE amateur bouts, and also fought Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe in is career.
      Former heavyweight champion Pinklon ThomasCredit: Getty
      But he admits his hardest opponent was himself, having fought substance abuse during the peak of his career.
      Thomas was born in Pontiac, Michigan and was not raised with his two sisters in poverty.
      Instead, Thomas was drawn to a life of crime on his own and before his teenage years he was using drugs.
      He told The Ring: “I chose to go to the projects, I wasn’t from the projects, I chose the lifestyle. I was an athlete in elementary school.

      “By the time I was in seventh grade I was shooting heroin. I got caught up early.
      “I was hanging out with older guys because I was bigger than guys I went to school with.”
      Thomas first tried heroin when he was 12 years old and by 14 he had a $150-a-day (£125) habit. He was then kicked out of school at 15.
      As a result, he reverted to a life of crime in order to fund his drug addiction.
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      Thomas revealed: “I did a lot of crazy things to get money. I did what I had to do for my habit.
      “I did things against the law – armed robbery, cleared out cash registers, snatched money. I did all kinds of crazy stuff.”

      Thomas was just 17 he got married and soon after his wife joined the army but his own application was declined.
      Although after his wife fell pregnant, she received honourable discharge and the couple settled in Seattle.
      Thomas was later evicted from his home for failing to pay the rent and was forced to live in public housing.
      It was there he began bragging about being professional boxer – despite never trying the sport before.
      He was then invited to the local gym and recalls: “I had just shot some heroin and cocaine speedball.
      I did things against the law: armed robbery, cleared out cash registers, snatched money. I did all kinds of crazy stuff.Pinklon Thomas
      “They had told the trainer, Joe West, the same lie I had told them. He told me he wanted me to hit the bag.
      “I didn’t know if I was right-handed or left-handed, and after three or four minutes I ran out the door and threw up everywhere.”
      Thomas would go on to have just three amateur bouts, winning two, before turning pro in 1978.
      And he later linked up with Muhammad Ali’s former coach Angelo Dundee, meaning he rubbed shoulders with The Greatest.
      Thomas told Pro Boxing Fans: “Because Angelo was affiliated with Ali, and Ali was around a lot I learned a lot from him too.
      “Angelo would always bring me to different functions that was going on with Ali and I would watch what he would do.”
      Thomas, with Dundee in his corner, won the title after beating American Tim Witherspoon.
      Pinklon Thomas beat Tim Witherspoon for the WBC titleCredit: Getty
      He said: “I never dreamed I could reach that level, I never even set a goal. It was the greatest accomplishment of my life at that time.”
      But following just one successful defence, Thomas lost the belt to Trevor Berbick in 1986.
      In the same year, Tyson knocked out Berbick aged 20 to become the youngest heavyweight champ of all time – a record which still stands.
      Thomas had three confidence-building wins before he challenged Tyson, but was beaten in six rounds.
      Amazingly, Tyson “didn’t impress” him as he claimed: “It was just unfortunate that six weeks before the fight I had a shoulder injury.
      “I figured my experience with the left jab [would help me win] ‘cause I didn’t have a right hand ‘cause of the shoulder.
      “I did well for two rounds, then the glove split. It took about nine minutes and 40 seconds to get me another glove which gave him time to rest.”
      Mike Tyson beat Pinklon Thomas in 1987Credit: Getty
      Pinklon Thomas was Mike Tyson’s hardest ever fightCredit: Getty
      Pinklon Thomas was knocked out in round six by Mike TysonCredit: Getty
      On the contrary, Tyson named Thomas as the hardest fight of his career, telling History Bites: “He was my toughest opponent.
      “I never thought him, but two years ago I watched the tape of him, a friend of mine told me to watch it.
      “I hit him with seventeen punches, flat, on the face, he went down but it was seventeen punches.
      “Seventeen punches, flush, all of them were as hard as they could be and the last one he just passed out.
      “I thought ‘God, that is my toughest fight, he took seventeen on the chin!’”
      Thomas went on to face Holyfield the year after, losing in seven rounds in what was his first fight off drugs.
      I thought ‘God, that is my toughest fight, he took seventeen on the chin!’Mike Tyson on Pinklon Thomas
      He said: “My toughest opponent was me, myself, because of the drug addiction and stuff I did.
      “I was still using at the time that I was fighting all of those guys until I fought Evander Holyfield in ’88. Then I went to treatment and I got in recovery by 1989.
      “So, I was my worst enemy, my toughest opponent and that’s just no joke, it’s no lie. I honestly am just saying what I feel.
      “I get asked that question all the time sometimes I would say it was different fighters but to be honest with you, man, I was my own toughest opponent, a dummy and I made some crazy decisions.”
      Thomas faced ex-champions Bowe and Tommy Morrison, losing both, before having 14 more lower-level bouts.
      He won all of them bar one and that defeat in 1993 to Lawrence Carter spelled the end of Thomas’ career.
      In later life, Thomas settled in Florida with his wife and has four children, two with his partner and two from a previous relationship.
      He is also a grandfather to five grandchildren and has been clean from all drugs and alcohol for 30 years.

      Thomas ran a non-profit organisation called Project P.I.N.K. (Pride In Neighborhood Kids) helping educate and mentor youths.
      Evander Holyfield against Pinklon Thomas in 1988Credit: Getty
      Michael Buffer, Pinklon Thomas and Bob Alexander in 2015Credit: Getty More

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      Mike Tyson’s brilliant collection of football shirts revealed including two rivals and Prem club that represents him

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      MIKE TYSON is well known for his love of boxing history and pigeons – but he also has quite the haul of classic footie shirts.Iron Mike’s collection of boxing memorabilia and belts is arguably one of the most valuable in the sport.
      Boxing legend Mike Tyson owns a 2000 England kitCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
      Iron Mike also owns a 1998 Scotland home shirt – from the days before his clash with Lou Savarese in 2000Credit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTD
      WolvesSparring partner ‘Big’ Joe Egan, showed Mike comments made by Wolves manager Dean Saunders comparing the club’s decline in fortunes to that of Tyson’s.”He’s right. I went from the best in the world to a very bad place. When I’m over in England I would like to see them.” pic.twitter.com/DW0YysLfBZ— DaMetalMessiah (@MetalMessiahUK) April 28, 2023

      But his collection of football shirts is also something to behold.
      A Twitter thread of the former undisputed heavyweight champion wearing what are now classic shirts has started doing the rounds.
      The boxing legend’s shirt collection boasts a now 22-year-old Umbro-produced England top – which costs a pretty penny nowadays.
      That England shirt, however, isn’t the oldest owned by Tyson – who also has a 1998-1999 Manchester United home top in his collection.
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      Tyson has also donned a 1998 Scotland home shirt – which he wore before his Hampden Park tussle with Lou Savarese in 2000.
      In 2013, Tyson was surprisingly gifted a Wolves home shirt by his former sparring partner Joe Egan.
      The gift came after Egan showed him comments from then-Wolves boss Dean Saunders likening the club’s decline to his.
      Tyson, according to the Express & Star, said of Saunders’ comments: “He’s right.
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      “I went from the best in the world to a very bad place.
      “I don’t know that much about football but it sounds like Wolverhampton have a manager who can turn the team around.
      “Joe is going to let me know how they get on.
      “When I’m over in England I would like to see them in action.”
      Tyson, over the years, has also been snapped wearing Benfica, Rangers, Brazil and Argentina tops.
      Mike Tyson donned a Rangers top during a 2010 visit to GlasgowCredit: REX
      Iron Mike was also gifted a Peterborough United top in 2010Credit: REUTERS
      But perhaps the most random shirt Tyson has ever been spotted wearing is a Peterborough United top.
      Tyson was in attendance at London Road in July 2010 to take in a pre-season friendly between Posh and West Ham ahead of a fan event.
      But he’d never heard of Posh before he arrived in East Anglia.
      He said: “I’ve never heard of Peterborough before but as soon as I heard it was West Ham I thought, ‘We’ve got to really give it to them.'”

      Tyson may not have known who Peterborough were before turning up in town.
      But the fact he donned one of their tops will likely forever endear him to Posh fans. More

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      Anthony Joshua fans all say the same thing on six-year anniversary of legendary Wladimir Klitschko knockout

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA celebrates his six-year anniversary of knocking out Wladimir Klitschko – leaving fans all saying the same thing. The heavyweight pair put on a fight for the ages on April 29, 2017 in front of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium.
      Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017Credit: Reuters
      And Joshua got up from the deck to beat Klitschko in round 11 after a series of knockdowns throughout the thriller.
      Replays of the final stages of the fight had fans begging to see a return of the AJ that forced Klistchko into retirement.
      One said: “Man this AJ needs to come back.”
      Another commented: “Miss that AJ.”
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      One added: “And then he started to box. Need the old AJ back, he was a wrecking ball.”
      Another agreed: “This AJ version would beat Fury.”
      Joshua, 33, returned at the start of April with a points victory over Jermaine Franklin, 29.
      And he is now in line for a super-fight against Deontay Wilder, 37, in December in Saudi Arabia.
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      Promoter Eddie Hearn jetted out to Riyadh for talks and teased the prospect of the blockbuster in a tweet.
      Hearn posted: “6 years ago today one of the greatest nights in heavyweight boxing history #JoshuaKlitschko – we are working hard to bring you another one very soon!”
      Joshua also all-but confirmed he is due to fight Wilder this year in a video posted on TouTube.
      He said: “That’s what’s happening, you know what’s going on.”
      Asked if the fight was going ahead in December, Joshua replied: “It’s public news we’re getting it down, throwing it down in December.”
      Deontay Wilder is in line to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: GETTY More