Heavyweight boxing

FRANK WARREN has been forced to deny Andy Ruiz Jr’s claim that a fight with Tyson Fury is “official.” Fury is set to return in the summer after talks for a historic title unification with Oleksandr Usyk on April 29 collapsed.
Tyson Fury with his promoter Frank WarrenCredit: PA
Andy Ruiz Jr is in line to fight Tyson Fury nextCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And after Joe Joyce was beaten by Zhilei Zhang in a shock upset, Ruiz emerged as the frontrunner to face the WBC champion.
And the Mexican-American, 33, added fuel to the fire after re-sharing a mocked up fight poster of the two.
It read: “Tyson Fury vs Andy Ruiz Jr is official! July 22nd.”
And he accompanied it with an emoji of the UK flag.
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But despite Ruiz’s tease, Hall of Fame promoter Warren told Boxing News that no deal is set in stone.
The famed British matchmaker saw talks for the first ever four-belt undisputed decider break down amid a row over the split for a rematch.
Now Usyk, 36, has been ordered into a WBA mandatory title defence against Daniel Dubois, 25, with talks ongoing.
Joyce, 37, looked in line to fight Fury in a summer stadium bout until his shock loss to Zhang, 39, with a rematch expected to follow.
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So it leaves Ruiz as a clear favourite to welcome the Gypsy King back with July 22 at Wembley Stadium the rumoured return date.
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Fury, 34, himself announced that news was impending and talked up his “monstrous” next fight.
He said: “Got some massive, massive news coming.
“An imminent fight date, an absolutely monstrous fight. Keep tuned because the WBC world heavyweight king is back in action, coming very, very soon.”
Tyson Fury teased ‘imminent’ fight newsCredit: instagram: @tysonfury More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has revealed he and Deontay Wilder are “throwing it down in December”.The 33-year-old returned to winning ways with a points victory over Jermaine Franklin at the start of the month.
Anthony Joshua seemingly confirmed he is set to take on Deontay Wilder in DecemberCredit: Getty
The Bronze Bomber has not fought since beating Robert Helenius in October last yearCredit: Getty
Joshua is now seemingly targeting a December showdown against Wilder, 37.
His promoter Eddie Hearn flew to Saudi Arabia this week to hold talks over a potential super-fight for AJ.
And Joshua appeared to confirm that a blockbuster meeting with the Bronze Bomber is on the cards for later this year.
In a video reposted to YouTube by iFL TV from Instagram, Joshua was asked if he’s going to beat Wilder.
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AJ responded: “That’s what’s happening, you know what’s going on.”
When 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.”
Meanwhile, the Bronze Bomber’s team have already given their green light for the fight.
Wilder himself also said a meeting with AJ would be a “dream fight” for boxing fans.
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He told iFL TV: “We got a lot of different options right now at this moment in time. Joshua, everybody.
“I think a lot of people is going to get that dream fight everyone wants to see.”
Matchroom chief Hearn recently rubbished suggestions that Wilder is the favourite to win the fight.
Wilder has not boxed since knocking out Robert Helenius in the opening round of his October comeback bout last year. More

TYSON FURY has been warned his legacy will be tarnished if he doesn’t share the ring with Oleksandr Usyk.The pair were on course to throw down for all the heavyweight marbles this spring before negotiations went south and Team Usyk pulled the plug on the historic bout after Fury’s constant demands.
Tyson Fury’s historic clash with Oleksandr Usyk fell through last monthCredit: REUTERS
Team Usyk pulled the plug on the bout after Fury’s constant chopping and changingCredit: GETTY
Promoter Alexander Krassyuk has warned Fury his legacy will be tarnished if he doesn’t fight UsykCredit: INSTAGRAM@ALEX.KRASSYUK
Fans, fighters and pundits alike lamented the collapse of the first undisputed heavyweight fight in nearly 25 years – which Usyk promoter Alexander Krassyuk insists is imperative for Fury’s legacy in the sport.
The Ukrainian told BT Sport: “I would love to see it as a boxing fan.
“As Usyk’s promoter, I would love to make it happen.
“As just a normal Ukrainian I would love my compatriot to become the undisputed champion in the second weight division.
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“From our side, it’s only plus, plus, plus.”
Fury’s constant moving of the goalposts during the ill-fated negotiations didn’t come as a surprise to Team Usyk.
Krassyuk said: “We know that Tyson Fury is a complex personality and it’s probably not a surprise for anyone.
“And we can see it on his behaviour within the last probably seven or ten years.
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“Yes, he is the champion. Yes, he has the right to do things that he wants to do.
“But at the end of the day, he is a professional boxer, and his main assignment is to perform for the boxing fans.”
Fury, 34, hasn’t entertained the prospect of fighting Usyk since their fight fell through.
And Krassyuk reckons history won’t be kind to The Gyspy King if the fight doesn’t materialise.
He said: “I think if this fight does not take place, that would be one of the biggest mistakes that Tyson Fury could ever make in [a] professional boxing career.”
WBC heavyweight king Fury is currently eying a July return to the ring having reserved Wembley Stadium for two separate dates.
Andy Ruiz Jr is in the running to face Tyson Fury in JulyCredit: EPA
Former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr is understood to be in the running to face Fury in the July joust.
And The Destroyer seemingly hinted the bout is a done deal by sharing a recent Instagram post which claimed the fight is “official” to his story.
That came a few days after the 33-year-old sent a warning to Fury and the rest of the heavyweight division.
He said: “We all risk our lives in there to f***ing feed our loved ones.
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“Hell of a fight. Can’t wait, man, till I fight f***ing Wilder, Fury, everybody.
“All the people at the top. I’m coming.” More

ANTHONY JOSHUA admits he no longer wades into the fire as he’s not the “bruiser” he once was.Before being dropped in his 2017 classic with Wladimir Klitschko, the former two-time heavyweight champion was a bloodhound of a finisher.
Anthony Joshua returned to the win column earlier this month against Jermaine FranklinCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
AJ has adopted a more cautious approach or his last three fightsCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
Joshua admits he’s no longer the ‘bruiser’ he once wasCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
But he’s adopted a more conservative approach as of late, opting to box on the outside and stay out of the kitchen for too long.
And that change of tact – which was on show in his return to the win column against Jermaine Franklin -has come from the Watford warrior making the conscious decision to use brain over brawn.
He told SkySports: “When you look at someone’s make-up, you have to look at what their attributes are.
“I’m quite tall, I’ve got a long range but I’m not going to be a bruiser.
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“If you look at my character, I’m not the most aggressive, outwardly type of person.
“I’m not a fighter – I’m more of a boxer, there’s a thought process, there’s a method behind the madness.
“I’ve always tried to develop my boxing IQ but over 12 rounds there are times where you have to fight and I want to become a box fighter.
“It’s why that fight with Jermaine Franklin – I realised I was in with someone who’s a counter-puncher.
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“You throw two, they try to hit you with three – so I changed my game plan, I stuck behind my jab, used my attributes and got the win.”
Joshua, 33, insists his change in approach will benefit him in the long run and when the going gets tough.
He continued: “I can build on that because there will be a day where just being a fighter may not work against a certain opponent.
“The man who has a plan A, B and C in his locker because he can use his jab, he can move around, he knows how to defend.
“I think he’ll have more of a chance to be victorious on a tough night.
A showdown with Deontay Wider is in the works for AJCredit: GETTY
“I’m glad I got those rounds in the bank and I can move forward on my quest to become a full and well-rounded fighter.”
AJ was set to return to action in July but has since teased a December dust-up.
And a long-overdue grudge match with former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is in the works for AJ.
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He recently told a fan: “That’s what’s happening [the Wilder Fight].
“It’s public news, we’re getting it down, we’re throwing it down in December.” More

MIKE TYSON broke down in tears the day after seeing his hero Muhammad Ali take a pasting from Larry Holmes.The former undisputed heavyweight champion returned from a two-year layoff in 1980 at the age of 38 to challenge Holmes for the WBC and Ring Magazine titles.
Larry Holmes put a beating on Muhammad Ali in The Greatest’s penultimate fightCredit: AP
A young Mike Tyson was in attendance to see his hero get pummeled by HolmesCredit: Getty
Iron Mike cried on the phone to Ali the following dayCredit: GETTY
Father Time had well and truly caught up to The Greatest – who had been struggling with vocal stutters and hand tremours – who was beaten from pillar to post until trainer Angelo Dundee halted the fight in the tenth.
A 14-year-old Tyson watched on in horror with trainer Cus D’Amato as Holmes battered his hero and was stunned into the silence
Iron Mike told Boxing Arabia: “We went to see Muhammad Ali fight Larry Holmes on closed circuit. [Holmes] beat the s**t out of Ali.
“We all went back home, 30 miles south, nobody said a word in the car for 30 miles.
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“We got in the house, went to our beds, all went to sleep, nobody said nothing.
“The next morning [Tyson’s trainer Cus D’Amato] is on the phone with Ali.
“I’m hearing him say, ‘He’s a bum, Ali, why you let that bum beat on you?’”
D’Amato eventually passed the phone on to Tyson – who vowed to avenge his fallen hero.
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He said: “I was on the phone, I said [to Ali], ‘When I get big I’m gonna avenge you.
“‘I’m gonna knock him out for you.’
“Ali said, ‘Yeah I’m the greatest fighter ever and I took medicine.
“And I got sick and I’m gonna come back and knock out Holmes.’
Ali’s words, however, didn’t have the desired comforting effect on a teenage Tyson.
Mike Tyson avenged Ali with a fourth-round KO of Larry HolmesCredit: GETTY
He said: “I’m on the phone crying.
“He thought he was making me happy but he was making me sad cause he ignored the fact of me saying I’m gonna avenge you.”
Tyson got his opportunity to avenge Ali eight years later when he fought Holmes in Trump Plaza, Atlantic City in January 1988.
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Ali was in attendance for the fight, and told Tyson seconds before the tussle: “Get him for me.”
“Get him” Tyson did as he overwhelmed Holmes and stopped him in the fourth round to retain the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles. More