Heavyweight boxing

DILLIAN WHYTE’s next fight has been ‘finalised’ and could take place on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez’s super-middleweight title unification bout with Caleb Planet.Whyte has been on the sidelines since winning his do-or-die rematch with the recently-retired Alexander Povetkin in March.
Dillian Whyte hasn’t fought since knocking out Alexander Povetkin in MarchCredit: Matchroom Boxing
But his next fight could end up being on Canelo Alvarez’s September 18 cardCredit: Matchroom Boxing
The Brixton Body Snatcher has been champing at the bit to get back in the ring, so much so he offered to replace Tyson Fury and fight Deontay Wilder this weekend.
But promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed the 33-year-old is on course to fight in September and could land a spot on the eagerly-anticipated Canelo vs Plant card.
When asked if he plans on doing shows on the 11th and 18th of September, Hearn told iFL TV: “Obviously, if Canelo fights on September 18th, it’ll be in Las Vegas. Yes, quite possibly.
“Dillian was always supposed to fight on August 28th. It was a little early.
We’ve finalized his opponent nowEddie Hearn on Dillian Whyte’s next fight
“He preferred to fight in September.
“But as I said, I would like for him to fight on the Canelo Alvarez card. That would be a tremendous place for him to box.
“The middle of September is really his preferred date.
“We’ve finalized his opponent now [for Whyte], which in due course, we’ll make a formal announcement.
“So we just want to nail down which of those two Saturdays [September 11th or September 18th] he fights on.”
Chris Arreola and Charles Martin have been touted as potential opponents for Whyte, although SunSport understands American Jermaine Franklin is the frontrunner to face the former world title challenger.
But Hearn admits the pair could end up facing Whyte at a later date.
He said: “We’re also talking to [manager] Luis DeCubas about a possible Arreola fight, a Charles Martin fight for Dillian Whyte, which could come after his August/September fight.
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“Dillian Whyte will fight on August 28th or, more likely, now in September. If we do the Canelo fight, we’ve been discussing with Saul and Eddy Reynoso offers from PBC for the Plant fight, our offers, and our potential people.
“If we do the show, then it’s very likely Dillian Whyte will fight on Canelo Alvarez’s undercard.
“If we don’t do the show and we accept the PBC offer for the Plant fight, that one fight, we may go on that card, or we may do an additional show in September with Dillian Whyte.”
Dillian Whyte taunts ‘p***y’ Deontay Wilder over dramatic bench press video by casually lifting same ‘little’ weight More

EDDIE HEARN is hoping and praying Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will one day fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship.AJ and Fury were on course to fight for all the heavyweight marbles in Saudi Arabia last month before The Gypsy King was ordered to have a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
Eddie Hearn hopes Anthony Joshua will one day fight Tyson FuryCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
But The Gypsy King was ordered to have a trilogy fight with Deontay WilderCredit: AFP
Joshua will now face former cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk on September 25, but Hearn is hopeful the long-awaited Battle of Britain will come to fruition sooner rather than later.
During an appearance on talkSPORT, he said: “I’d love to say yes. I hope and pray.
“I don’t really believe a lot that comes from that side. I hope their fight [Fury vs Wilder] happens in October and I hope Fury wins.”
Joshua is relishing his showdown with Usyk, although Hearn insists the Olympian is still fixated on becoming the sole ruler of the heavyweight division.
He added: “Right now, the way everything’s gone, let’s just beat Usyk on September 25 – that’s going to be a tough fight.
“But that is the dream. The dream has always been for AJ to be undisputed world champion and we won’t stop until that happens.”
Should Joshua and Fury get through their respective fights, Hearn believes the pair could finally share the ring early next year.
I hope and pray.Eddie Hearn on Anthony Joshua facing Tyson Fury
The Matchroom Boxing chief told iFL TV: “I think that was pretty much the case anyway.
“But fighting September 25, it’s very difficult to do a fight in December.
” And a lot of our conversations now about the undisputed fight are end of Jan, February.
“So it probably helps. Fury might’ve wanted to do another fight in November or December.
“And then the whole thing is, like, never-ending.
“I don’t even know if it’ll happen in October, to be honest with you. Who knows?

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“But at least if this fight does happen and AJ beats [Oleksandr] Usyk successfully, then we’ve bought fought around the same time and then we can try and make the undisputed fight.
“But as I’ve said to you, I don’t trust anything that’s said.
“So even the undisputed fight right now, yeah, we can stress how much we’ve always wanted to do it and we’re ready to make the deal at any time.”
Anthony Joshua fight with Oleksandr Usyk CONFIRMED for September 25 in front of packed out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium More

DEONTAY WILDER doesn’t ‘deserve’ a trilogy fight with Tyson Fury, according to The Gypsy King’s dad John.The former WBC champ will renew his rivalry with the Wythenshawe warrior on October 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Tyson Fury will renew his rivalry with Deontay Wilder on October 9Credit: AFP
But The Gypsy King’s dad John reckons the fight shouldn’t be happeningCredit: PA
Wilder, 35, was battered from pillar to post in his rematch with Fury last February but has refused to accept the seventh-round TKO defeat.
And Fury’s old man is adamant he shouldn’t be sharing the ring with the Bronze Bomber again.
He told Boxing Social: “He doesn’t even deserve a third fight, does he?
“He’s a horrible person that got battered to death. What can he do? He’s not improved, has he?
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“With his Mickey Mouse coach there. I’ve seen what’s going on with them. Tyson will annihilate him this time.”
Wilder and Fury were due to trade heavy leather this weekend before the Brit tested positive for Covid.
But John insists the postponement of the bout has only delayed the inevitable.
He said: “He’s had a reprieve because Tyson’s got Covid-19. But when Tyson gets him, it’ll be the end of Deontay Wilder.
Tyson will annihilate him this timeJohn Fury on son Tyson’s trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder
“He’s only in it for a few quid anyway. Where’s he gonna get another payday if he doesn’t fight Tyson?
“Nowhere. He’d be working on the buses in wherever he’s from.”
John is adamant Team Wilder have once again underestimated his son, saying: “Like Tyson got cherry-picked with Deontay Wilder twice.
“Because if they never saw Tyson’s eye hanging off against Otto Wallin, a terrible performance, they wouldn’t have wanted the second fight.
“But they saw the Otto Wallin fight and thought, ‘Yup, Wilder can’t lose. Wilder will chin him.’
“They cherry-picked him the first time thinking, ‘He’s been out of the ring for years, he’s been abusing himself. We can’t lose.’
“But every time Tyson, when he’s in that ring, he changes his full job.
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“He can look terrible in a training camp, but when he gets in that ring, he’s a different man, different animal. And they got it wrong twice.
“And they’ll get it wrong the third time. But the third time will cost him his career and his life, probably.
“If he’s not dead, he’ll be an invalid, which is a silly man. But if they want to sell their soul and put their life on the line for money, which I’m sure they will, get on with it.”
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Deontay Wilder branded a ‘horrible person’ by Tyson Fury’s dad John who says he would’ve SUED American over accusations More

ANTHONY JOSHUA will return to the ring this September for a showdown with former cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk.AJ will throw down with his fellow Olympic gold medallist on September 25 in front of a capacity crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Anthony Joshua will face Oleksander Usyk on September 25Credit: MATCHROOM BOXING
Joshua vs Usyk will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur StadiumCredit: Dan Charity – The Sun
Joshua’s first and likely only outing of the year is expected to take place in front of 60,000 boxing fans.
And with that huge crowd in mind, SunSport thought it’d only be right to relive some of the biggest stadium fights in the sport’s long and colourful history.
Muhammad Ali vs Henry Cooper II – May 21, 1966
A whopping 41,000 fans crammed into Highbury – the former home of Premier League big boys Arsenal – to watch Ali and Cooper renew their rivalry.
The late Ali got the better of Cooper in their first bout at Wembley Stadium three years earlier, winning the contest via fifth-round TKO.
Cooper, who passed away in 2011, lasted a round longer in their second encounter, suffering a sixth-round TKO defeat.
Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman – October 30, 1974
Arguably the most iconic stadium fight in boxing history, ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ – which took place in Kinshasa, Zaire – is still one of the most talked-about events in the sport.
Sixty-thousand fans crammed into the 20th of May Stadium, which is now known as the Stade Tata Raphae, to see if Ali could reclaim the heavyweight throne from the undefeated and ferocious Foreman.
And they saw Ali utilise the famous rope-a-dope to tire out Foreman before stopping him in the eighth round.
Muhammad Ali locked horns with Henry Cooper at Wembley Stadium in 1966Credit: Alpha Photo Press Agency
Ali faced George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire in front of 60,000 fansCredit: Getty
Lennox Lewis vs Frank Bruno – October 1, 1993
A heavyweight Battle of Britain between Lewis and Bruno drew an attendance of 25,784 fans at the Cardiff Park Arms Stadium in Wales.
And they saw Bruno – who was challenging for a world title for a third time – suffer a seventh-round TKO defeat to the former undisputed champ.
Oliver McCall vs Frank Bruno – September 2, 1995
Fourth time proved to be the charm for the beloved Bruno as he defeated McCall via unanimous decision to claim the WBC heavyweight title.
Just over 23,000 fans packed Wembley to see Bruno finally fulfil his dream of becoming a world champion.

Mike Tyson vs Lou Savarese – June 24, 2000
On a cold and rainy night in Glasgow, 20,000 fight fans braved the elements at Hampden Park to watch Tyson’s third fight following his release from prison.
The contest, however, didn’t last long as Tyson blew away Savarese in a mere 38 seconds.
Moments later, a fired-up Tyson made an iconic call-out of Brit Lennox Lewis.
Just over 23,000 fans watched Frank Bruno beat Oliver McCall at WembleyCredit: Getty
Mike Tyson obliterated Lou Savarese in 38 seconds in front of 20,000 fans at Hampden ParkCredit: AFP
Ricky Hatton vs Juan Lazcano – May 24, 2008
The long-awaited homecoming of the Hitman drew a record crowd at the City of Manchester Stadium, which is now known as the Etihad.
Close to 57,000 fans packed the arena to cheer on their local hero, who was fighting for the first time since his 10th-round TKO defeat to Floyd Mayweather.
Hatton put on a virtuoso performance against the Mexican but was unable to get the stoppage he so desperately craved, winning the fight via unanimous decision.
Wladimir Klitschko vs Ruslan Chagaev – June 20, 2009
A whopping 61,000 fans packed the Vetlins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany to see Dr Steelhammer defend his unified heavyweight titles against Uzbekistan’s Chagaev.
They witnessed a one-sided beating that eventually culminated with Chagaev’s corner throwing in the towel in the ninth round.
Wladimir Klitschko vs David Haye – July 2, 2011
Two years later, Klitschko would pack out the Imtech Arena in Hamburg for a grudge match with then WBA heavyweight champ David Haye.
Fourty-five thousand fans braved the torrential rain to see Klitschko retain his titles with a unanimous decision victory.
David Haye came up short in front of 45,000 fans at the Imtech ArenaCredit: AFP
Carl Froch knocked out George Groves in front of 80.000 fans at WembleyCredit: Action Images
Carl Froch vs Georges Groves II – May 31, 2014
A staggering 80,000 fans packed Wembley to see bitter super-middleweight enemies Carl Froch and Georges Groves renew their rivalry.
The fight shattered the previous boxing attendance record in the UK, which was set by Hatton’s clash with Lazcano.
The punters weren’t left disappointed second time around as Froch closed the book on the rivalry with an emphatic eighth-round knockout.
Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klistchko – April 29, 2017
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Joshua’s bid to become unified heavyweight champion of the world set a new record attendance for a boxing event in Britain.
Ninety-thousand fans filled Wembley Stadium to see if the Olympian could add the WBA and IBO heavyweight titles to his collection.
And they were treated to an absolute treat of a barnburner, which ended with AJ stopping the durable Klitschko in the eleventh round.
Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko went to war in the Wembley showdownCredit: AFP
A whopping 90,000 fans saw Joshua become unified heavyweight champCredit: Rex Features
Anthony Joshua will ‘walk straight through’ Oleksandr Usyk as he’s ‘too good’ for Ukrainian, says Tyson Fury’s dad John More

JOE JOYCE has turned his Putney pad into a house of pain-t to celebrate his iconic win over Daniel Dubois.Despite his 2016 Olympic silver — that should have been a gold — the Juggernaut was the underdog going into the November battle against one of boxing’s hottest prospects.
Joe Joyce has used his talent for art to remember his most famous moment yet as a proCredit: Queensberry Boxing
Joe Joyce has skills out of the ring as well as in itCredit: Queensberry Boxing
Daniel Dubois took a knee against Joyce in their November 2020 fight – and it was all overCredit: Getty
But the 12-0 heavyweight ace dissected the young banger with a piston-like jab before Dubois had to surrender with a fractured cheekbone in round ten.
And, ahead of Saturday’s clash with Frenchman Carlos Takam at the SSE Arena, Wembley, the 35-year-old fine art graduate from Middlesex University said: “Someone suggested I paint something to do with boxing.
“I picked the Dubois fight as it feels like a pivotal point in my career.
“I wanted to get that win captured on canvas and I’ve gotten this far in a couple of sittings.
“I am not sure if it is finished yet but I think I’ve got the feeling and emotion captured in it.
“The moment I chose is when Daniel took a knee and I realised I’d won and walked away, job done.
“I felt I was already winning the fight from around the ninth round and then one final crisp jab ended it all.”
Around the image of Dubois, 23, kneeling at Westminster’s Church House are the words “gold” and “won”.
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Joyce confirms the British title win helped ease the pain of a woeful Rio Games decision which robbed him of a gold that may have brought the fame Anthony Joshua enjoyed four years earlier.
He said: “I never did get that medal — but hopefully this is my golden moment.
“It would have made me an overnight star and probably made the start of my career a lot easier and more lucrative.
“Hopefully that Dubois win can be the launch pad instead.”
Joyce is quick to point out the painting is not about reminding Dubois of that humbling night.
He added: “An instant or quick rematch usually follows a draw or a controversial decision, which is not what happened.”
JOYCE vs TAKAM — Saturday July 24, tickets available at AXS.com
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Joe Joyce shows what he is made of in the training ring More

JOE JOYCE has challenged the winner of the Anthony Joshua versus Oleksandr Usyk fight to a scrap at the home of his beloved Arsenal.The Gunners fan must first get past wily veteran Carlos Takam on July 24 – but is already eyeing a potential Battle of Britain.
Joe Joyce fights Carlos Takam on July 24 – then wants his big world title shotCredit: https://www.instagram.com/frank_warren_official/
And it is a fight that SHOULD happen – Joyce has been named as the WBO’s mandatory challenger for the belt currently held by Joshua.
His promoter Frank Warren uploaded a shot of Joyce in his Arsenal shirt outside The Emirates.
It was captioned: “When they’re done with Spurs, The Juggernaut would like to invite Anthony Joshua or Alexander Usyk to his patch.”
Joshua’s title defence against former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk was finally confirmed for September 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With boxing still reeling from AJ vs Tyson Fury collapsing, the WBA, IBF and WBO king has managed to lift the spirits with a mandatory defence against the Ukraine icon.
Watford-born Josh, who took a recent training camp to Marbella but will finish up his preparations back at the English Institute for Sport in Sheffield, said: “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. 
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“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.”
Joyce, meanwhile, moved into the No2 spot in the WBO rankings after he battered Daniel Dubois into submission in November.
It meant Dubois suffered his first ever defeat, while Joyce continued his all-wins record.

Joshua’s title defence against former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk was finally confirmed for September 25Credit: Matchroom
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Joe Joyce shows what he is made of in the training ring More