Heavyweight boxing

OLEKSANDR USYK will find Anthony Joshua too big a ‘leap’ to overcome when they throw down next month.The former undisputed cruiserweight champion will challenge AJ for the unified heavyweight titles on September 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Oleksandr Usyk will face Anthony Joshua on September 25Credit: MATCHROOM BOXING
The former cruiserweight king has beefed up ahead of his clash with AJCredit: Instagram / @usyk17.promotions
Slick southpaw Usyk has been tipped by many to give Joshua one of the toughest tests of his career, but up-and-coming heavyweight Fabio Wardley reckons the Watford warrior will be too much to overcome.
He told Betfred TV’s boxing show: “[Oleksandr Usyk] has not pulled off the best performances since he’s been in the heavyweight division.
“So to then jump in with someone like Joshua, it’s quite a big leap.
“Not to say that Usyk doesn’t have the experience to deal with that but just going off what we have seen, that is where I’d edge it.
“I think he’s found that adjusting period into the heavyweight slightly more difficult than he initially anticipated.”
Usyk, 34, has put on a considerable amount of mass in a bid to dethrone Joshua and scupper the Brit’s eagerly-anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury.

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But promoter Eddie Hearn reckons the undefeated Ukrainian is still an undersized heavyweight.
He told talkSPORT: “I think that Usyk will never be a fully-fledged heavyweight – a real heavyweight in terms of size.”
The Matchroom Boxing chief, however, reckons Olympic gold medallist Usyk makes up for his lack of size with his array of skills.
He continued: “What he will always have is a huge amount of skill.
“It takes time for people to bed into heavyweight, so put it this way, it would’ve been a lot easier fight for AJ a year-and-a-half ago.
“Now Usyk has fought a real heavyweight contender in Chisora, that will actually help him to start to understand what needs to be done.
“But AJ’s a different kind of beast. A good big guy will always beat a good small guy, so we’ll see.”
Joshua, 31, is relishing his Tottenham tussle with his fellow Olympian, saying: “The date is set and we are fully locked in.
“September 25, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, I put it all on the line again and it’s time to defend my crown.
“We are two Olympic gold medallists who have fought our way to the top and never avoided challenges.
“The stadium is exceptional, the atmosphere will be electric, I’m honoured to be the first person to fight in such an awe-inspiring venue.

“The stage is set and I am ready to handle business.”
AJ hasn’t set foot in the ring since his ninth-round knockout of Bulgarian bruiser Kubrat Pulev last December.
Usyk, meanwhile, was last in action against Dereck Chisora last November.

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Anthony Joshua shows off immense power as Brit star DESTROYS medicine ball while training for Oleksandr Usyk fight More

HEAVYWEIGHT Tyson Fury is back in training after the birth of his baby daughter Athena, who is currently in intensive care. The WBC champ admitted working out ‘calms him down’ as he deals with the mental strain of his youngest child’s tough situation.
Tyson Fury is back in training following the birth of his baby daughterCredit: Getty
The Gypsy King posted a video of him running and admits it ‘calms him down’
Athena is currently in intensive care
Fury, 33, gave an update on Instagram on Saturday morning, letting his 4.4 million followers know Athena is ‘doing great’ in intensive care.
The Gypsy King then posted a video of himself training, telling fans: “After a very stressful week, I’m back on the road doing a bit.
“I find that it calms me down, relaxes my mental health, anxiety. Always welcome on the road.
“I think without this bit of training, I’d be cuckoo right now.
“Anyone out there suffering with any dark times, any mental health problems, any problems in their life, I say that a little bit training goes a very, very long way.
“It really helps me so I’m very, very thankful that I’m able to get out on the road and do a little bit.”

Fury has struggled with his mental health through his illustrious career and tries to raise awareness of the subject on social media.
Athena has been in intensive care since the boxer and his wife Paris welcomed their sixth child into the world on August 8.
Fury’s dad John has admitted the little one was ‘dead for three minutes’ and was saved by ‘miracle’ hospital workers.
John told BT Sport: “It’s been a bit of a white knuckle ride. We’ve had a lot to deal with.
“But we’ve come out on the other side due to professionalism of Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool.
Thanks to everyone who said a prayer for her, she is doing great.Tyson Fury
“They’re the best children’s hospital in the country if not the world.
“They’ve been really magnificent. They’ve really saved her life because she was dead for three minutes and they brought her back.
“It’s onwards and upwards from today.”
The Fury family have set up a GoFundMe page for the Alder Hey Family House Trust, raising £36,375 towards a £50k target to date.
The Gypsy King’s trilogy fight with American Deontay Wilder is scheduled for October 9, with the heavyweights set to meet in Las Vegas.
Tyson and Paris Fury’s baby daughter sleeps peacefully with doting mum by her side after intensive care battle More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’S coach Rob McCracken hopes his fighter can put on a ‘great performance’ against Oleksandr Usyk.The pair are back together following McCracken’s role with Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics.
Rob McCracken hopes Anthony Joshua can put in a top showing against Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty Images – GettyDREAM TEAM 2021/22 – IT’S NOT TOO LATE!PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON

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And all thoughts have now turned to AJ’s upcoming bout against Usyk on September 25.
Joshua will defend his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight belts against the mandatory challenger at Tottenham’s stunning stadium.
And Joshua will go on to face rival Tyson Fury in an all-British unifier should he get past Usyk.
However, the Ukrainian hitter will be a hard nut to crack after winning all 18 of his professional fights.
Usyk has already overcome fellow Brits Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora.
And 13 of his wins have come by knockout.

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But McCracken is confident AJ can put in an impressive showing next month and fire a warning to Fury, who is preparing for his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
McCracken told Sky Sports: “[AJ] is doing fine, he’s where he needs to be.
“I’ll get back and there will still be seven weeks [before his fight], which is a long time in a 36-minute fight.
“He’s in the position he needs to be in. We’ll get back, me and the team who work with AJ, so we can put the work together, get the sparring and prep right.
“[That’s] so he can put on a great performance in his next heavyweight title fight.”
One man who is confident Joshua will overcome Usyk is Germany-based Shokran Parwani.
He has been training with AJ in order to mimic Usyk’s southpaw stance.
And Parwani reckons Joshua will be too powerful for his ’slick’ opponent.

Parwani added: “I have a little bit of the same style. I work more with my feet, I’m a slick guy with a lot of movement.
“Usyk is also a slick guy, he isn’t a puncher. He doesn’t have power.
“In rounds nine, 10 or 11? He won’t have the power to fight, and AJ will break him down.”

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John Fury disagrees with Tyson over Anthony Joshua and brands Brit second-best heavyweight ahead of Deontay Wilder More

JOHN FURY disagrees with his son Tyson’s assessment of the heavyweight division, insisting Anthony Joshua is the ‘second-best’ fighter in the weight class.Despite having made light work of Deontay Wilder in their rematch last February, WBC heavyweight champion Fury still ranks the American above his unified counterpart.
Tyson Fury reckons Deontay Wilder is the second-best heavyweight in the sworldCredit: AFP
But his old man John is adamant Anthony Joshua is No.2 in the worldCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
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But his old man has a different view, insisting Joshua – who is gearing up for a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk – is the No.2 in the world by virtue of his unified champion status.
John Fury told BT Sport: “What we do is get him bumped off, and we’re on the AJ trail again.
“The Anthony Joshua trail, and we’re not going to come off until we got him. But he’s got a sticky wicket to do [with Oleksandr Usyk].
“That’s not a foregone conclusion. You know, I tip AJ, he’s big, he’s strong, and he’s got a good boxing array.
“Besides Tyson, he’s the second-best heavyweight in the world, I think.
“It would be a toss-up between him [Joshua] and Wilder because if Wilder landed on him, it would be good night for him.

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“He wouldn’t recover. But he’s [Joshua] the one with the best, so you got to say, he’s second-best.
“That’s the fight I’m looking at. We just got to get rid of this American problem [for Fury], and he’s a problem because he’s out there, he’s not under the watchful eye, and he’s around all these yes-men.”
Fury, 33, returned to the UK from his American training camp last month ahead of the birth of his daughter, Athena.
But dad John wasn’t impressed by what he saw of The Gypsy King’s training in Las Vegas.
The 57-year-old said: “He’s out there and he’s not under the watchful eye, he’s around all these yes men when he gets out.
“Because when he gets off the plane in Las Vegas, you’ve got 200 yes men waiting for him looking to get that from him.
“Because he’s the Pied Piper, ain’t he? That’s what he does. People follow him around just to get what they can.
Besides Tyson, he’s the second-best heavyweight in the worldJohn Fury on Anthony Joshua
“‘Yes, Tyson. You’re this, you’re that, you’re the best in the world. We love you.’
“This kid’s heard it all before in my life.
“They don’t love ya, they don’t care ya, they just want your money and your profile to make their status bigger for being around ya.”
John says he would’ve gutted his son’s team if he were able to travel Stateside, saying: “I don’t want all them fake plastic pretenders around me.
“Because you know that size 12, it goes right up their backside. That’s what happens when you’re around me.Get down that road.
“‘What are you bringing to my son’s table?’ If it’s not relevant, you’re gone. But Tyson’s not like that, he just hasn’t got that character. But I have.
“And you need people like me. Somebody’s got to point the finger at the bad guy.
FURIOUS
“Tony Montana said that in the film Scarface. Point it at me.
“But I am the bad guy because I’m getting that boot up the backside and down the road, gone.
“Because they’re not relevant to his job. Or he’ll get beat. He needs to work, like we’re working in here.
“One-to-one, a select few people around him who he can trust and work and work again.
“And get it all right and shed blood, snot and tears in the gym. And I don’t see him doing that today.”
John reckons Tyson’s unorthodox skill set has suffered as a result of his poor training, saying: “I watch him in America doing a minute on the pads and being talked to afterwards.
“You know what they’ll do: they’ll do a minute’s work and talk for two minutes.

“And I’ve witnessed it firsthand and I’ve thought to myself, ‘You know what? This ain’t making sense to me.’
“And he’s sort of lost his bit of movement that he had, for my money.
“He used to be elusive, he used to be awkward, coming at you from all different styles. He’s gone a bit one dimensional.”

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John Fury slams Tyson’s ‘200 yes men’ for turning son into ‘one-dimensional’ boxer ahead of Deontay Wilder trilogy More

JOHN FURY has accused his son Tyson of having ‘200 yes men’ around him when he trains in America.The Gypsy King had been training for his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas before he returned home for the birth of his sixth child, Athena.
Tyson Fury had been training for his trilogy fight with Deontaay Wilder in Las Vegas
And The Gypsy King’s dad, John, has accused his son of having ‘200 yes men’ around himCredit: BT Sport
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Fury, however, was also enjoying the many delights Sin City has to offer during his time Stateside.
And John can’t help but think his son is being led astray by people only interested in furthering their own careers.
He told BT Sport: “He’s out there and he’s not under the watchful eye, he’s around all these yes men when he gets out.
“Because when he gets off the plane in Las Vegas, you’ve got 200 yes men waiting for him looking to get that from him.
“Because he’s the Pied Piper, ain’t he? That’s what he does. People follow him around just to get what they can.
“‘Yes, Tyson. You’re this, you’re that, you’re the best in the world. We love you.’
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“This kid’s heard it all before in my life. They don’t love ya, they don’t care ya, they just want your money and your profile to make their status bigger for being around ya.”
John would’ve had a mass clearout of his son’s team if he were able to be part of his training camps in America.
He continued: “I don’t want all them fake plastic pretenders around me.
“Because you know that size 12, it goes right up their backside.
“That’s what happens when you’re around me.Get down that road.
“‘What are you bringing to my son’s table?’ If it’s not relevant, you’re gone. But Tyson’s not like that, he just hasn’t got that character. But I have.
When he gets off the plane in Las Vegas, you’ve got 200 yes men waiting for himJohn Fury on Tyson Fury training in America
“And you need people like me. Somebody’s got to point the finger at the bad guy.
“Tony Montana said that in the film Scarface. Point it at me.
“But I am the bad guy because I’m getting that boot up the backside and down the road, gone.
“Because they’re not relevant to his job. Or he’ll get beat.
“He needs to work, like we’re working in here.
“One-to-one, a select few people around him who he can trust and work and work again.
“And get it all right and shed blood, snot and tears in the gym. And I don’t see him doing that today.”
REGRESSED
Prior to the birth of baby Athena, Fury had resumed preparations for his third clash with Wilder under the watchful eye of his no-nonsense dad.
And the WBC champ’s old man believes his skill set has regressed somewhat.
He said: “I watch him in America doing a minute on the pads and being talked to afterwards.
“You know what they’ll do: they’ll do a minute’s work and talk for two minutes.

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“And I’ve witnessed it firsthand and I’ve thought to myself, ‘You know what? This ain’t making sense to me.’
“And he’s sort of lost his bit of movement that he had, for my money.
“He used to be elusive, he used to be awkward, coming at you from all different styles. He’s gone a bit one dimensional. ”
Tyson Fury asks for donations to the hospital that is looking after his new born daughter Athena More

IT’S a birthday Tyson Fury will remember more for the gift of life than “the game of skill” his wife Paris jokingly bought him.But the couple deserved a little light relief as new baby daughter Athena began her “miracle” recovery after she was “dead for three minutes”.
Wife Paris amused Tyson Fury with his 33rd birthday present
Paris and heavyweight king Tyson have been at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital as daughter Athena comes off ventilators
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Paris bought the Gypsy King a travel chess set, posting it on Instagram with the words: “Don’t get over-excited for a present this year. Love you.”
World heavyweight champ Fury shared other 33rd birthday greetings, including from half-brother Tommy, the Love Island star who is also unbeaten as a boxer.
But there were no overblown celebrations as the focus remains on Athena, who was put on ventilators after she was born on Sunday.
Tyson and Paris’s sixth child is now off the breathing machines at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
And Tyson’s dad John attributes her improving condition to hero medics.
He told BT Sport: “It’s been a bit of a white knuckle ride. We’ve had a lot to deal with.

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“But we’ve come out on the other side due to professionalism of Alder Hey Hospital.
“They’re the best children’s hospital in the country if not the world.
“They’ve been really magnificent. They’ve really saved her life because she was dead for three minutes and they brought her back.
“It’s onwards and upwards from today.”
Tyson’s trilogy fight with American Deontay Wilder, rearranged for October, is surely barely registering in the Brit’s mind right now.
Tyson Fury and wife Paris focused during his birthday on baby daughter Athena’s improving condition
And the Gypsy King himself has kept fans informed of Athena’s situation.
He posted: “Update for everyone. Baby Athena is well and has had a stable day off [the] ventilator.
“Thanks to everyone for the prayers, still in the ICU for now.
“Thanks to all the Drs and nurses. God bless you all.”
Fury set up a GoFundMe page for the Alder Hey Family House Trust, which at the time of writing had raised £34,937 of its £50k target.
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Tyson Fury’s dad John says baby Athena ‘died for 3 minutes’ before ‘miracle’ hospital workers saved her More