Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA could take a risky rematch with Dillian Whyte to help set him up for a super-fight against Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder. Promoter Eddie Hearn had planned for AJ to rematch Whyte – who he stopped in 2015 – in a stadium this summer.
Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua could rematch in JulyCredit: AFP
But that was before he revealed representatives in Saudi Arabia want Joshua to face either Wilder or Fury in the desert in December.
Hearn is set for talks in the Middle East this week and hopes to lock down a date and opponent for AJ’s proposed end of year blockbuster.
He told iFL TV: “AJ-Whyte is still for me, it’s a risky fight, but it’s a great fight.
“That’s up to AJ [if he wants to pass on fighting in the summer]…
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“When someone says, ‘You’re not allowed to have a fight,’ it doesn’t mean you accept that. So we have to see how those discussions look. 
“The key for us is to lock in the mega-fight for Anthony Joshua, so everything will step off that.
“I’m not ruling out a July fight at all, but we’ll see how those discussions go.” 
Boxing bosses in Saudi have confirmed they want to pit the heavyweight division’s elite against each other in 2023.
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It could see Tyson Fury, 34, unify all four belts for the first time in heavyweight history against Oleksandr Usyk, 36, following failed talks.
And it would leave Joshua, 33, to face Wilder, 37, in a fight years in the making.
AJ himself recently admitted talks to finally meet his American rival are closer than ever.
He told The Metro: “In terms of it getting delivered [from my side], I honestly believe it is 95 per cent there.”
And Wilder watched Gervonta Davis, 28, beat Ryan Garcia, 24, in Las Vegas where also talked up the potential of fighting Joshua.
He said: “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.”
Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury could fight Anthony Joshua in the summerCredit: Getty More

WEMBLEY STADIUM is reportedly on hold for two dates in July as Tyson Fury plans his next title defence.The WBC heavyweight champion defeated Derek Chisora last time out in December via a tenth round TKO at Tottenham Stadium.
Tyson Fury has Wembley on hold for two dates in JulyCredit: Reuters
Zhilei Zhang is one of the potential opponents in the frame to beat himCredit: PA
That was on the back of him knocking out Dillian Whyte at Wembley last April in the sixth.
Now ESPN says that sources have told them he is plotting a return to the national stadium this summer.
They claim that Wembley has been put on hold for July 15 and July 22.
Former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr, who famously beat Anthony Joshua for the belts in 2019 before losing the rematch, is “in the mix” to be his opponent.
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And China’s 39-year-old Zhilei Zhang, who is coming off last week’s major upset victory over Joe Joyce, is the other man in the running.
One potential obstacle to that fight could be that Joyce holds a contractual right to an immediate rematch.
Fury, Zhang and Joyce are all part of Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, which means “it’s conceivable the rematch clause issue could be sorted if there’s a desire from all sides to match Fury with Zhang”.
Terry Lane, who co-manages Zhang with his brother Tommy Lane, told ESPN: “Zhang has already expressed he wants to fight Fury in China.
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“We would love to make that happen one day. But the heavyweight division is very much all up in the air right now.”
Fury and fellow heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk were in talks for a bumper unification fight at Wembley on April 29 before talks collapsed.
Negotiations are still taking place for them to meet in Saudi Arabia in November or December in what could be part of a two-fight super night that includes Anthony Joshua versus Deontay Wilder.
Meanwhile, Usyk is also involved in talks for a summer UK bout against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.
And that would leave Ruiz “as the most viable available challenger” for Fury.
The 33-year-old Mexican floored Luis Ortiz twice last time out in September on his way to a unanimous decision victory.
Andy Ruiz Jr is the other potential opponent being lined-up by the Gypsy KingCredit: Getty More

EDDIE HEARN appears to have leaked Tyson Fury’s next opponent ahead of the summer.Fury hasn’t competed since December when he beat Derek Chisora and extended his stunning undefeated streak to a whopping 34 fights.
Tyson Fury will be in action on July 22, predicts Eddie HearnCredit: Getty
Hearn hinted that Fury and Anthony Joshua could face off in the summerCredit: YouTube @BoxingKingMedia
Hearn expects Fury to face Andy Ruiz Jr in the summerCredit: EPA
The Gypsy King was strongly linked with a heavyweight showdown against Oleksandr Usyk and fellow Brit Anthony Joshua but talks fell through on both occasions.
Hearn, who represents Joshua, is adamant the 34-year-old will be back in action this summer.
And the heavyweight superstar’s opponent will be none other than Andy Ruiz Jr, whom he expects to face on July 22.
When asked about Fury’s next opponent, Hearn told Boxing King Media: “Andy Ruiz, July 22.”
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But the British promoter is also confident the undefeated superstar will finally collide with his fighter Joshua in December to cap off a mouthwatering boxing year.
The 43-year-old is adamant AJ wants to fight in the summer, and believes he will then go on to face either Fury or Deontay Wilder come the holiday season.
Hearn added: “AJ wants to fight in the summer, we want him to fight.
“But at the same time he’s being spoken to about potential fights with Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury in December where maybe the people involved with those fights don’t want him to have another fight. And contractually he might not be able to.
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“There have been no negotiations at all about this fight but I’m flying out there next week because there have been some discussions.
“I’ll tell you now, subject to the deal which will not be a problem with these people because we’ve done various fights with them, AJ will fight Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in December – no problem at all.
“July, I can’t tell you about. I want him to fight. Derrick James wants him to fight.
“I believe all those other fighters involved will fight in the interim. So I think it would be good if AJ did too.” More

GERVONTA DAVIS staked his claim to be the world’s hardest hitter as he demolished Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder’s records on a punch machine.Davis has been dominating the lightweight division, winning all of his 28 fights with a staggering knockout ratio of 93 per cent.
Gervonta Davies destroyed a punching machine back in 2019 with a new record
Davis beat Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua’s punching records
Davis is in action on Saturday against Ryan Garcia in Las VegasCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But the American boxer hinted he could also stand out at heavier divisions when he proved he can punch harder than BOTH Wilder and Joshua back in 2019.
The then 24-year-old appeared on the Inside PBC Boxing show where he tested his mettle on the punch machine.
Wilder had already stepped to the plate to register a record 927 with his weaker left hand.
But Davis delivered a thunderous left of his own to surpass the Bronze Bomber and register a staggering 939.
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The southpaw also beat Joshua, although technically the British superstar tried his luck on a different machine.
AJ appeared on the BBC’s Graham Norton Show in 2017 alongside actor Martin Freeman, academy award winner Rachel Weisz and comedian Greg Davies.
All four of them tried their luck on the punching bag, with the actors going up first.
Weisz, Freeman and Davies recorded 182, 594 and 632 respectively in front of an impressed Norton.
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Davis remains undefeated ahead of his fight with Davis in Las Vegas
But Joshua blew them all out of the water with a whopping 848 in front of a stunned crowd.
Davis will be in action this Saturday against Ryan Garcia at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA says a deal to face Deontay Wilder is “95 per cent” done – and he teased a mega two-fight super-night involving Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.AJ returned to the ring with a unanimous decision victory over Jermaine Franklin at the O2 this month following his successive title losses to Usyk.
Anthony Joshua has teased the two-fight mega-night of boxing in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
AJ also confirmed that talks have started for a fight with Deontay WilderCredit: Getty
Rumours have been rife since that he is in line to face former WBC champ Wilder, who beat Robert Helenius in his comeback fight in October.
The American’s manager, Shelly Finkel, recently confirmed the Bronze Bomber was “willing to fight” AJ – and the Brit has revealed discussions have already begun.
Speaking to The Metro about Wilder, who demolished Robert Helenius inside one round last October, he said: “He is good, I respect him, I don’t undermine him. That will make me raise my game.
“I respect what he has done and what he has done in this division. It is hard to become a champion and he did it so I have to respect that.
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“It’s going to be a tough fight but I am confident in myself. I’m a better, more well-rounded athlete, a better, more well-rounded fighter.
“In terms of it getting delivered [from my side], I honestly believe it is 95 per cent there.”
Joshua had earlier told an audience at the Under Armour store located inside Battersea Power Station: “In December potentially there is a big fight that should be cracking with me and Wilder. It has been a long time coming.
“There are a lot of moving shapes at the minute, so one step at a time. But it has been a long time coming, for sure.”
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However, reports have also been mounting that a potential Christmas cracker would be part of a blockbuster Middle East evening that would be headlined by the long-awaited heavyweight unification bout between Fury and Usyk.
AJ told Sky Sports News: “Have you ever heard of anything like that before? Two heavyweight clashes on the same night.
“The rumours that are circulating, there might be some truth behind it.”
Despite eyeing up that potential showdown at the end of 2023, Joshua is also planning for another bout before that this summer.
He added: “I’m preparing for that big fight, when it comes. I’m just taking it one fight at a time and building, so that by the time I get to that finish line, I’ve got something in the tank. That’s how I’m getting on with this year.
“I’ve had my first fight; I’ve spoken to my coach, hopefully I can fight in July or August – keep that momentum – and then by December, there’s rumours going around that I’m going to be in a big showdown – and I can’t wait.”
Discussing the prospect of that potential blockbuster evening in Saudi, his Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn said: “From our side Anthony Joshua is ready to sign to fight Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury, subject to contract, which has never been a problem for us in Saudi because we’ve always found a deal.
“It looks like – and I can’t tell you until I go – they want to do this huge night of Usyk against Fury and Joshua against Wilder.
“It sounds bizarre, it sounds mad, but it’s the kind of place where that could happen. We’re all in and we’ll go next week, look them in the eye and we’ll see where we get to.
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“We’re up for it. I’m going out to Saudi next week to have those conversations, to start the process to see if it’s real or not. I know it’s real because I’ve dealt with those guys before.
“There’s four fighters they are going to have to sign, but we’re happy to fight Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in December.” More

TYSON FURY’S next opponent appears to have been announced with a bizarre fight lined up on KSI’s Misfits Boxing card.Fans have been left very sceptical by the reveal which would see Fury take on a man few would have guessed.
Tyson Fury has been on the look out for a new opponentCredit: Getty
KSI has given his reaction to the ‘announcement’Credit: Rex
The heavyweight champion has been close to securing big fights against the likes of Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua in recent months.
But with those potential bouts falling by the wayside, the Gypsy King was on the prowl for another big clash.
Misfits Boxing, KSI’s crossover fighting brand, has tweeted that Fury will take on American Football player Chase DeMoor in a May 13 clash at Wembley Arena.
Their ‘announcement’ comes as Fury teased fans yesterday with news of a “massive, monstrous fight”.
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Fury, 34, has been expected to fight again in July and December this year but with the negotiations for clashes against AJ and Usyk halted, it was unclear who he would take on next.
The Morecambe fighter has no mandatory challenger for his WBC belt so is free to handpick his next opponent.
Fans have been left divided over the claim he is to fight DeMoor with many insisting it is a joke but others unsure.
One said: “No way this is real. Right… right!?”
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While another fight fan said: “This is a joke right?”
Meanwhile, a cheeky tweeter said: “Such a mismatch… how are you gonna put one of the best heavyweights of our generation against Tyson Fury.”
Another fan joked: “Fury won’t take that fight, too much of a risk.”
Even KSI got in on the reaction as he tweeted: “I hope this is fake. Putting Fury’s health at serious risk making this fight, smh.”
Despite their social media post, Misfits have still yet to release an official statement confirming the fight.
If it was proven to be real, it would one of the most high-profile showdowns that crossover boxing has seen.
And incredibly Fury could theoretically go through with it even though Misfits boxing is not sanctioned by the British Boxing Board of Control.
As Fury holds a Nevada licence he could not be punished by the BBBofC for taking part.
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DeMoor, who has appeared in Netflix dating series Too Hot To Handle, has got limited experience in crossover boxing.
He lost to Youtuber Josh Brueckner by technical knockout last year in his debut fight. More