Heavyweight boxing

DEONTAY WILDER’S ‘legs are weak’ and he ‘isn’t firm on his feet’, according to the Russian boxer who KO’d him 13 years ago.Evgeny Romanov was famously the last person to knock out the Bronze Bomber prior to his stoppage defeat to Tyson Fury last year.
Evgeny Romanov has claimed that Deontay Wilder has weak legsCredit: Getty – Contributor
The Russian knocked out Deontay Wilder when the pair were amateurs back in 2008
Wilder was stopped for the first time in the professional ranks by Tyson Fury last yearCredit: Getty
The pair locked horns in the amateur ranks back in 2008, when Wilder was walloped pillar to post on the way to his first-ever KO loss.
Romanov, having trailed the first round 4-2, found an answer for everything in the second and soon began to dominate.
A strong right had Wilder reeling and he was forced to take a standing count while the 36-year-old went 10-7 up on points.
Another huge right in the third and final round sent the American to the canvas and the ref ended the bout with just under a minute remaining.
Romanov has now reflected on the clash 13 years later and he admitted Wilder has since risen to the top and is a very different fighter.
Yet the Russian claimed the deposed WBC champion still has weak spots that Fury could target again in the third meeting between the pair.
Romanov told RT: “It was a long time ago. I honestly don’t think much of it. Wilder was different then than he is now. I was different too.
I know that Wilder isn’t firm on his feet, you can see that when you watch him on TVEvgeny Romanov
“Today’s a different time, Wilder’s at the top and I’m on my way there.
“Back then it was maybe the other way round, so I don’t want to remember or think of it.”
Regarding Wilder’s ‘weak spots’, Romanov added: “I’m not sure about weak spots but I know his legs are weak.
“As far as where to hit, I don’t know. You have to watch for that when you walk in the ring with him.
“I know that Wilder isn’t firm on his feet, you can see that when you watch him on TV.”
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When asked if he was annoyed that Fury had taken his record as the last man to stop Wilder, he said: “Honestly, I’m never envious.
“Anything can happen, anyone can fall, so I never envy anyone.
“I’m a boxer myself and know exactly what it is.”
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BOB ARUM admits he’ll be ‘rooting’ for Oleksandr Usyk to win his upcoming showdown with Anthony Joshua, despite an undisputed title fight with Tyson Fury still being in the offing.Former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk will challenge Joshua for the unified heavyweight titles next month at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Oleksandr Usyk will lock horns with Anthony Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
And veteran promoter Bob Arum admits he’ll be rooting for Usyk to upset AJCredit: AP
AJ will move a step closer to a long-awaited Battle of Britain with rival Fury should he see off the undefeated Ukrainian.
But Arum, Fury’s co-promoter, is hoping for a huge upset, telling Sky Sports: ‘Usyk is a friend of mine because he is Vasiliy Lomachenko’s friend.
“He is a terrific guy, funny, articulate and smart. It is against my economic interest, but I will be rooting for him in the fight! I just can’t help myself.”
Despite wanting to see Usyk become a two-division champion, Arum reckons The Cat faces an uphill task to dethrone Joshua.
The 89-year-old said: “This is a new era.
“We have never seen heavyweights of the size that we see now.
“We’ve never seen a guy of 6’9” like Tyson fight the way he does. Or Joshua. They are all huge.
I will be rooting for him in the fight!Bob Arum on Oleksandr Usyk’s clash with Anthony Joshua
“Evander Holyfield was a light-heavyweight, then a cruiserweight, then a great heavyweight.
“Other than Riddick Bowe there weren’t many big guys that he fought.
“Mike Tyson was relatively little.
“In ordinary times a guy like Usyk, against a 6’2” heavyweight, has a really good shot.
“But against a massive guy like Joshua? It may be a bridge too far.”
Usyk’s stopping power at heavyweight has been questioned following his wins over Chazz Witherspoon and Dereck Chisora.
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But former foe Tony Bellew insists the Olympic gold medallist possesses enough power to trouble Joshua.
During an appearance on The DAZN Boxing Show, The Bomber, who was knocked by Usyk in October 2019, said: “Believe you me mate, he hits hard enough to send me down.
“He’s exceptional. He’s the best I ever faced. He is so technically perfect. His footwork is on another level.”
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MICHAEL HUNTER claimed Tyson Fury ‘wasn’t doing too well’ while training for Deontay Wilder and his positive coronavirus test was ‘fishy’.Fury was due to face Wilder in a trilogy bout in Las Vegas on July 24 and had set up his camp Stateside.
Tyson Fury pictured with Michael HunterCredit: Twitter @MichaelHunterII
Deontay Wilder’s trilogy with Tyson Fury has been moved to October 9Credit: Reuters
Heavyweight contender Hunter was among the names to have trained with the WBC champion in Vegas, before he and his team caught Covid-19.
But the American cast doubt over Fury’s withdrawal and even said the training camp was not going to plan.
Hunter, 33, told FightHype: “We do know that he wasn’t doing too well in the gym, but not enough to call the fight off.
“To me, it was kind of funny because, on the first day, they said, ‘Somebody on this team got Covid’.
“And them the next thing we heard was Tyson got Covid. So I thought that was a little fishy.”
Wilder’s partner Telli Swift recently hit out at Fury for pulling out of the fight and blasted that the Brit was ‘buying time’.
TRILOGY POSTPONMENT
And rival promoter Eddie Hearn also questioned the cancellation and hinted at a lack of ticket sales.
But that theory was debunked by Fury’s UK promoter Frank Warren who revealed £14million worth of seats had been sold.
Fury also protested his innocence and said sparring partners coming in and out of his camp would be to blame for catching the virus.
With the trilogy bout now set for October 9, the Gypsy King is set to re-start his preparations back home in Britain.
But he will reduce his team to just four team members this time around in order to take extra precaution.
Fury told the Daily Mail last month: “There were only ten of us on the team this time.
‘INCREASE TESTING’
“But when we go back into camp for a month in England and another month here I will cut us to just four full time.
“Me, my head trainer SugarHill Steward, his assistant Andy Lee and my old pal Tim who organises my life.
“We will strictly control the access for sparring partners and increase testing. No masseur. No fitness coach. No dietician.
“Even my two brothers will have to wait to join me until fight week here in Vegas. I’ve suffered enough frustration on this roller-coaster.
“I don’t need more, any more than I would have risked anyone else’s health by coming early out of quarantine.”
Fury, 32, in 2018 drew with Wilder, 35, but won the rematch two years later, which included a contracted trilogy.
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How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fightCredit: SUNSPORT

And Hunter – who lost to the Gypsy King in the amateur ranks – has backed his former opponent to come up trumps again.
He said: “I’m leaning more towards Fury. 
“He got a draw in the first fight, which he just got off the couch in his first fight back. Then he won the second fight.”
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TYSON FURY claims he got a surprise phone call for former US president – and fan – Donald Trump. Trump is a fighting nut and invited Fury to the White House after his dramatic rematch win over Deontay Wilder last year.
Tyson Fury says he spoke to Donald Trump on the phoneCredit: Getty
The former US president is a big fight fan and previously invited Fury to the White HouseCredit: AP
The start of the Covid-19 pandemic halted any plans for an official visit by the unbeaten star.
But, according to the Gypsy King, the pair have made up for lost time with a chat over the blower.
Fury posted an Instagram Story which said: “Just got off the phone with Donald Trump.
“What a nice surprise from my pal Hughie Vuitton. Thanks boys enjoy your lunch guys.”
It is not the first time Trump has crossed over into the world of sport with the avid golfer playing a practice round with Rory McIlroy during his presidency.
And the 75-year-old may even be in attendance when Fury takes on Wilder once again in their delayed trilogy bout in October.
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The bout was initially set for July 24 but was postponed after a Covid outbreak in the champ Fury’s camp.
Fury, 32, has not been in action since his stunning stoppage win over Wilder in Las Vegas last year.
And hopes of a huge unification fight with Anthony Joshua were scuppered after Wilder was ruled to have the right to a trilogy fight with Fury by an arbitration judge.
How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fightCredit: SUNSPORT
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Tyson Fury latest big name to be added to upcoming boxing game ESBC joining likes of Muhammad Ali and Amir Khan More

DEONTAY WILDER’s coach Malik Scott has branded Tyson Fury ‘irresponsible’ for not getting his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccination.The third instalment of Fury vs Wilder was due to take place in Las Vegas last month but was delayed when The Gypsy King caught Covid.
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder were due to fight again last month but their trilogy bout was delayed after the Gypsy King tested positive for CovidCredit: AFP
And Wilder’s coach Malik Scott has slammed Fury for not getting his second Covid jabCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
It later transpired that Fury, 32, had only had one dose of the vaccine as he was concerned about the effects of taking the second so close to the fight.
Scott was seething when he heard the news, saying during an appearance on The PBC Podcast: “So I heard he took one vaccine shot and he didn’t take another one.
“That’s the most [irresponsible] thing to me for him to do because you’re fighting Deontay Wilder.”
According to Scott, Wilder was sceptical about taking the vaccine but changed his stance to ensure the fight went ahead.
He added: “Deontay was someone who was totally against the vaccine but for the love of the sport and for the love of the fans and for the love of him trying to get payback and the title back and to redeem himself.
“Not only did he take it, but he made sure we all [got vaccinated]…We all had to do what he had to do for this.”
Promoter Bob Arum recently revealed Fury is happy to be fully vaccinated before his third clash with The Bronze Bomber, which has been rescheduled for October.
But Scott believes the WBC champion has already let a number of people down with his actions.
That’s the most [irresponsible] thing to me for him to do because you’re fighting Deontay Wilder.Malik Scott on Tyson Fury only having one Covid Vaccination
“Even though him and Deontay have these issue and can’t wait to hurt each other and Deontay wanting to decapitate him and all kind of stuff, there still should be a mutual respect and responsibility of each fighter to do your part in making it to the ring on the night of the fight.
“Now you have to be unselfish. Because now you have fans [making sacrifices] in terms of coming to support and their finances. What about the guys on the undercard?
“What about their fans who paid for tickets and flights and everything? What about the consumers that bought the pay-per-view?
“What about the promoters? The managers? Just everything.”
Fury and Wilder will renew their rivalry on October 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Fan favourite Fury got the better of the American in their Sin City rematch last February, knocking him out in the seventh round to claim the WBC crown.
And he’s vowed to turn in an even better performance third time around, saying: “I gave my game plan away the first time because he wasn’t good enough to do anything about it.
“And I’ll do the same thing this time because he’s not good enough to do anything about it.
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“Deontay Wilder is a one-trick pony. He’s got one-punch power, we all know that – great.
“But what I’m going to do to Deontay Wilder this time is I’m going to run him over as if I’m an 18-wheeler and he’s a human being.
“I guarantee he does not go past where he did before [the seventh round].”
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Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder trilogy fight confirmed for October after coronavirus KOd original date More

TYSON FURY is the latest boxing star to be added to the video game Esports Boxing Club.The Gypsy King, 32, was revealed to be a playable character on the forthcoming PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X title in a video on social media by the vice president of global acquisitions for ESBC, Todd Grisham.
NINTCHDBPICT000659510813-2Credit: Rex
Muhammad Ali is also a playable character in ESBCCredit: Rex Features
The announcement from Grisham featured a fully rendered look at Fury’s in-game character model.
With Fury on board, ESBC now boasts one of the biggest rosters of boxers in a video game ever.
Joining the WBC champion as characters in game include Muhammad Ali, Canelo Alvarez, Amir Khan, Joe Louis, and Oleksandr Usyk.
Alongside the best fighters the world has ever seen, gamers will be able to stage their fights at some of the most iconic venues, play a career mode and have plenty of customisation options.
It was originally believed that Fury’s deal with EA Sports to appear in their UFC 4 title was an exclusive deal, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
In the real world, Fury will be next seen in action against Deontay Wilder in their trilogy fight on October 9.
The Wythenshawe warrior was supposed to fight the American on July 24, however the fight was postponed after Fury tested positive for the coronavirus.
Fury’s diagnosis was called a ‘lie’ by Wilder, amid a growing war of words between the boxers.
But Tyson fired back on Friday evening with a fresh tirade against the American.
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Fury tweeted a picture of Wilder with the phrase: “This man is a real piece of work.
“A real bully excuse maker. Not a warrior or a man at all. Beat the mug 2 times.
“I’ve battered him and his trainer. But still talking s***. Real p******.”
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