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      Iron-chinned Joe Joyce is his own worst enemy and should RETIRE before he suffers a life-changing injury

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      JOE JOYCE’S nearest and dearest should be eternally grateful the gruesome swelling beneath his eye meant his fight with Zhilei Zhang was halted before the halfway mark.For more than five rounds, Joyce’s head was unmercifully pounded with sickening force by his near-20-stone Chinese rival.
      Joe Joyce took a pasting in his Copper Box clash with Zhilei Zhang lastweekCredit: PA
      The Putney pounder was left with a horrific-looking eye injury after the fightCredit: PA
      Joyce should think long and hard about his career and the damage he may takeCredit: REUTERS
      Because of his courage, if Joe’s right eye had not been shut tight he would have continued to take a non-stop barrage of dangerous blows until the end of the 12th and final round.
      In Joyce’s 16-fight career, his teak-tough chin has been a source of wonderment – but it has probably been his own worst enemy.
      Fight folk have been in awe at the way Joe manages to soak up heavy punches like blotting paper absorbs ink — he has always seemed impervious to pain.
      He doesn’t help himself the way he walks forward in a straight line without seeming to think it is necessary to move his head.
      Zhang, like so many before him, found it impossible to miss, constantly catching him with his best shot — a heavy-handed southpaw left.
      I felt uneasy watching Joyce take such a battering and found myself wondering if, at 37, it would be wise to continue his ring career.
      There’s no doubt the punters love him because he gives them full value for their money — he never takes a backward step and always comes to fight.
      At his time of life, there’s not much chance of him changing his style.
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      Which can only mean plenty more punishment lies ahead.
      On last Saturday night’s evidence, it’s highly unlikely Joe will ever become world heavyweight champ.
      It may sound harsh but because he is so easy to hit, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury would simply use him for target practice.
      Yet despite my fears for his health, Joe has already committed himself to invoke the return fight clause in his contract and have another go at Zhang.
      The Juggernaut may have been severely damaged in a head-on crash but the repair job is already underway.
      Joe defiantly said: “Before you write me off I’m OK.
      “I’ve just got a bruised eye. I think I’m OK — as fights go I’m in good health.”
      Forget BS, be DAZzled
      Saudi Arabia are reportedly plotting a heavyweight tournament involving Tyson Fury and Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
      It has been suggested Saudi Arabia is willing to spend £325million to stage a mammoth December double-header — Usyk against Fury and Deontay Wilder against Anthony Joshua.
      Where have we heard that before? We are led to believe negotiations will begin next week.
      But it didn’t take long for Fury to describe the grandiose plan as “absolute BS”.
      I will only believe it if contracts are signed.
      Forget the big boys. If fans want a mouth-watering treat they should tune in to DAZN in the early hours of Sunday to see the long-awaited clash between three-time world champ Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas.
      Both American lightweights are unbeaten.

      Davis has won 26 of his 28 fights by KO and Garcia has blasted out 19 of his 23 opponents.
      This could be 2023’s Fight of the Year. More

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      I fought Floyd Mayweather and Amir Khan but my toughest bout was with a boxing legend who could KO a donkey

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      BOXING legend Zab Judah named famed body puncher Micky Ward as his toughest ever opponent. Judah held titles in two weights during his career and faced the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Amir Khan and Miguel Cotto.
      Former world boxing champion Zab JudahCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Micky Ward was a famed body puncherCredit: Getty
      But it was Ward – who inspired the Oscar-winning film The Fighter – who Judah rated as the most gruelling.
      And the American’s trademark body shots still live long in the memory for Judah, who won the fight on points.
      He told OLBG: “Micky Ward was my toughest opponent because I was 15-0, fighting a legend, and he had a body punch that would stop a donkey.
      “He was no joke. I never had to use my mind capacity the way I had to use it in the Ward fight. 
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      “That was hard. I’ve been fighting my whole life, there’s nothing physically hard for me.
      “But I never had to use my brain and mind capacity as I did in the Micky Ward fight.”
      Judah, now retired, was beaten by boxing icon Mayweather in their 2006 IBF title fight.
      The bout will forever be remembered for the all-out brawl during round ten following a low-blow from Judah.
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      Mayweather’s uncle and coach Roger – who sadly died in 2020 – stormed into the ring sparking the mass melee.
      Judah went on to lose on the cards but what is not as well remembered is the phantom knockdown he scored in fight.
      As Mayweather leaped in with a lead right hand, he was met with a check hook and his glove touched the canvas.
      It should have been ruled a knockdown but instead the referee deemed it a slip.
      Judah, 45, later patched things up with Mayweather, 46, and they became training partners and friends, as he let the knockdown go.
      He said: “It was a knockdown, but it doesn’t bother me because people know what they saw.
      “I don’t care what the scoreboard or stats say, you cannot fool people’s eyes.
      Floyd Mayweather after defeating Zab Judah in 2006Credit: AP
      “The world knew what they saw. Floyd was tremendous and is in a great situation in life right now.
      “He can take that perfect Mayweather unbeaten record and run it up with celebrity fights. He’s doing a brilliant job with it. 
      “Floyd is one of the top guys I’ve had the opportunity of sharing the ring with; fast, great defence, ring smart and it was a great night, but we showed up that night. Team Judah.”
      It was a body shot from Khan that crippled Judah in 2011, but the New Yorker still protests that it was low.
      And despite losing all four of the rounds on the official scorecards before the KO, Judah believes he was in control.
      He said: “I feel like the fight was a cheat, I got hit in the balls and I went down. I was winning the fight. I think I was cheated out of that fight.
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      “Amir Khan acted like a swell gentleman after the fight, he did nothing wrong and performed and behaved as he should. He won the fight and moved on.
      “To this day me and Khan are friends and when we see each other there’s good energy, from time to time we shout each other out on a call on WhatsApp, there’s nobody I fought who I have a problem with.”
      Amir Khan beat Zab Judah in 2011Credit: Reuters More

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      Deontay Wilder punches so hard trainer Malik Scott has to take PAINKILLERS and faces shoulder surgery

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      DEONTAY WILDER punches so hard trainer Malik Scott has to take PAINKILLERS and now faces shoulder surgery.Wilder is one of the hardest hitters in boxing history, with 42 knockouts in his 43 wins from 46 fights.
      Deontay Wilder with trainer Malik ScottCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
      But it is not just his opponents who feel the force of the Bronze Bomber’s power.
      Asked by EsNEWS how he deals with it, Scott said: “Ibuprofen, cortisone.”
      The ex-heavyweight boxer was knocked out by Wilder in 2014 and the pair formed a friendship after.
      He became a sparring partner and then member of Wilder’s coaching team in the years following.
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      But before the ex-WBC champion’s 2021 trilogy bout with Tyson Fury, Scott replaced Jay Deas as head trainer.
      And as a result, he ended up picking up the same injuries as Deas.
      Scott said: “Doctor put me on an X-ray screen in the Fury camp and told me I’ve got about another year and a half and then I’ve got and I need reconstructive surgery.
      “And Jay Deas had the exact same issue.”
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      Wilder, 37, was knocked out by Fury, 34, in round 11 of the trilogy classic, adding to his stoppage win a year prior.
      The American returned last October for his second fight under Scott and beat Robert Helenius, 39, in the opening round.
      Wilder is now in line for a super-fight against Anthony Joshua, 33, in December in Saudi Arabia with talks ongoing.
      Deontay Wilder could fight Anthony Joshua in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty More

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      Deontay Wilder makes chilling threat to Anthony Joshua and predicts how fight would go down as he confirms Saudi talks

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      DEONTAY WILDER has sent Anthony Joshua a chilling warning following talks for a super-fight in Saudi Arabia. Joshua and Wilder are in line for a blockbuster bout in December, with the Saudis also looking to host Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk.
      Anthony Joshua is in line to fight Deontay WilderCredit: Getty
      Deontay Wilder could face Anthony Joshua in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      AJ beat Andy Ruiz Jr on points in the desert in their 2019 rematch but returned last August in a decision loss to Usyk.
      So if Wilder, 37, gets the chance to settle the score with Joshua, 33, in the Middle East, he plans to steal the show without needing the judges.
      He told EsNews: “I’mma just put it like this, I’ll just keep it sweet, I’mma give Saudi their first knockout victim.
      “I can deliver that for you, they haven’t had that much excitement as far as knockouts. I’mma bless them real good.  
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      “Any Deontay Wilder fight you can expect that, but this one’s going to be real special.
      “I’ve got something special that I’m gonna put on the punch with this one.”
      Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed he is set for talks in Saudi next week and Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel confirmed interest in fighting Joshua.
      And the bout could come on the SAME NIGHT Fury, 34, fights Usyk, 36, where all four WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles would be on the line.
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      Reacting to the four-way proposal, Wilder said: “Let’s make it happen, if that’s what’s going on. Let’s make it happen.”
      Fury was in line to unify all four belts – the first time in heavyweight history – against Usyk at the start of the year.
      But talks broke down amid a row over the split for a potential rematch.
      Now, boxing bosses in Saudi want to revive hope of the historic undisputed decider, in a fight too close to call for even Wilder.
      He said: “It’s boxing, things can go a lot of different ways.
      “That’s the great thing with this business of boxing, you just never know how things may go.
      “But then a lot of factors can take place in time too. I don’t know man, it’s hard for me to answer a lot of things.”
      Tyson Fury facing off with Oleksandr UsykCredit: REUTERS More

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      Tyson Fury announces ‘massive, monstrous fight’ with confirmation ‘imminent’ amid talk of blockbuster Saudi Arabia bouts

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      TYSON FURY announced a “massive” and “monstrous” fight is to be imminently announced amid talk of blockbuster bouts in Saudi Arabia. Fury has been searching for an opponent for his return fight after plans to unify the division against Oleksandr Usyk broke down.
      Tyson Fury announced fight news is imminentCredit: instagram: @tysonfury
      Negotiations for the first four-belt heavyweight undisputed decider collapsed amid a row over the split for a potential rematch.
      But hope was revived following the news that Saudi boxing bosses want to pit Fury, 34, and Usyk, 36, against each other.
      And sensationally, they plot to have Anthony Joshua, 33, fight Deontay Wilder, 37, on the SAME NIGHT.
      Fury initially slammed the rumours as false but has since spoken out to tease that fight news is incoming.
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      Working out in the gym, 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.”
      Fury was in line for a summer stadium showdown with Joe Joyce, 37, until his British rival was beaten by Zhilei Zhang, 39.
      So it has left Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, as the frontrunner to challenge for the title with a July 22 date at Wembley already pencilled in.
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      But it would come at the risk of Fury fighting before proposed plans for the division’s elite to meet in December in the Middle East.
      Eddie Hearn has revealed he is set for talks in Saudi next week while Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel confirmed interest in facing Joshua.
      And Amer Abdallah – the Head of Boxing for Skill Challenge Entertainment in Saudi – admitted discussions are actively ongoing.
      He told Boxing King Media: “Are we talking with Eddie Hearn and AJ? Of course we are.
      “Are we talking with Deontay? Of course we are. Tyson, Usyk, we have relationships with every one of those guys.
      “I will say there isn’t a tournament in place. Are those fights in play? Of course they’re in play.”
      Tyson Fury facing off with Oleksandr UsykCredit: REUTERS More

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      Deontay Wilder will KO Anthony Joshua in ‘THREE ROUNDS’ if December Saudi showdown comes to fruition, says coach

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      DEONTAY WILDER’s coach reckons Anthony Joshua will be destroyed in ‘THREE ROUNDS’ if the pair’s long-awaited grudge match comes to fruition this year.A multi-million-pound dust-up between the pair is seemingly in the works for December – with the mega-rich Saudis interested in staging a mini heavyweight tournament including Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
      Deontay Wilder is being lined up for a December dust-up with Anthony JoshuaCredit: GETTY
      The pair were on course to face one another when they held all the heavyweight beltsCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
      Wilder’s head coach reckons the American will make light work of AJCredit: INSTAGRAM@MALIKKINGSCOTT
      Boxing fans have long debated the outcome of a gunfight between the pair – who were once on course for a blockbuster undisputed title fight when they held all the heavyweight hardware.
      That debate has raged even further following Joshua’s recent win over Jermaine Franklin, although Wilder’s head coach reckons it wouldn’t take long for the American to detonate his deadly right hand on AJ’s chin.
      Malik Scott Franklin told iFL TV: “Anthony Joshua is not as defensive-minded as Oleksandr Usyk, he doesn’t have the same feet, nor the same reflexes.
      “He’s not as tricky, or as small or light. Usyk can last longer, that’s why I gave him under six rounds.”
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      “I just see three rounds with ‘AJ’ and Deontay.
      “I don’t even see ‘AJ’ having good moments with Deontay, I see Usyk having good moments, because he’s tricky.”
      Joshua, 33, returned to the win column earlier this month with a scrappy points victory over Franklin.
      A second outing in July was touted for the former two-time unified heavyweight champion.
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      But AJ stunned fans by recently revealing he won’t be back in action until December at the earliest.
      He posted on Instagram: “My next fight is scheduled for December.
      “Not ideal but everything is part of a bigger picture.”
      Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder hasn’t set foot inside the ring since his one-punch knockout of Robert Helenius last October.
      His brutal knockout of the Nordic Nightmare saw him bounce back from consecutive knockout losses to Fury. More

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      ‘Anthony Joshua would ping him absolutely everywhere’ – Eddie Hearn rants big-name star not elite heavyweight level

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA would “ping Joe Joyce absolutely everywhere” if the two British heavyweights came to blows, promoter Eddie Hearn has claimed.Joyce, 37, suffered his first professional defeat on Saturday night as a sixth-round doctor’s stoppage saw him beaten by China’s Zhilei Zhang.
      Eddie Hearn, centre, has claimed Anthony Joshua, left, would deal with Joe JoyceCredit: PA
      Joyce, left, was stopped by Zhilei Zhang on Saturday nightCredit: PA
      The loss leaves the Olympic silver medallist’s world title ambitions in tatters as he has now relinquished his WBO interim crown.
      Meanwhile, Olympic champion Joshua returned from back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk with a points win over Jermaine Franklin earlier this month.
      And AJ’s promoter Hearn believes a clash with Joyce would be a one-sided beatdown.
      Speaking to iFL TV, he said: “If you can’t beat Zhilei Zhang, you have absolutely no chance of winning a world heavyweight title, no chance.
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      “If Oleksandr Usyk had boxed Joyce on Saturday night it would’ve been one of the greatest mismatches of all time.
      “If Zhilei Zhang is doing that to him, Usyk would have absolutely peppered him.
      “The reality is Joe Joyce is not an elite heavyweight. And you can talk about ‘Oh he’d steamroll Anthony Joshua’, do you know the speed of AJ compare to Zhang? AJ would ping him absolutely everywhere.”
      Joshua and Joyce sparred hundreds of rounds together as amateurs in GB’s Olympic set-up.
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      And a clash between the two would still drum up huge interest despite Joyce’s recent defeat.
      However, Hearn went on to speculate that Joyce could decide to hang up the gloves following the Zhang setback.
      He added: “He gets hit by absolutely everything, Joe Joyce. I would understand if he retired from boxing.
      “He’s taken unbelievable punishment in sparring, in amateur tournaments and even in the professional code and it was really uncomfortable watching that on Saturday.”
      Joyce has a rematch clause to face Zhang for a second time if he decides to take the fight.
      Speaking on social media after his loss, he said: “Before you all write me off I’m OK just got a bruised eye. I think I’ll be OK, as fights go I’m in good health.
      “Not a great performance however, but I’ll go back to the drawing board and have to improve.
      “Zhang was the better fighter on the night, but I still think I can beat him, even though he’s a strong contender.” More

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      Anthony Joshua in shock talks to face ex-UFC champion as he targets stunning cross-combat fight

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      EDDIE HEARN met for talks over lunch with ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannouu – paving the way for a fight with Anthony Joshua. Ngannou is a free agent having walked out on the UFC without losing his belt following a breakdown in negotiations to extend his contact.
      Anthony Joshua with promoter Eddie HearnCredit: Rex
      And the Cameroonian has set his sights on a lucrative switch to boxing, having been linked with the sport’s top stars.
      Joshua – who beat Jermaine Franklin on points in his return fight under new trainer Derrick James – is among those,
      Hearn said The MMA Hour: “People would give fighters a much better chance against AJ having watched that performance. In your world, that translates to Francis Ngannou. And why not?
      “I don’t feel like it’s a fight that’s going to continue the development of Anthony Joshua under his new trainer, but I’d done lunch with Francis Ngannou. You know his story.
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      “I was completely gobsmacked by the story of this man. We sat for two hours, and I was just listening to just the most remarkable — I mean, how this isn’t a film, I have no idea.
      “Unbelievable. I’m thinking, ‘Please let me go to Hollywood now with you and sell this film.’
      “People need to be educated about what that man has been through, and his story to get to where he’s got to.
      “I found him fascinating. Lovely guy, lovely guy, and I’d love to do something.”
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      Ngannou, 36, overcame poverty in his homeland before emigrating to France in pursuit of a fighting career.
      And having found it easier to find bouts in MMA opposed to boxing, the heavyweight transitioned sports and was later signed by the UFC.
      Ngannou went on to win the UFC title in 2021, making one defence before vacating after walking out on the promotion.
      Tyson Fury, 34, and Deontay Wilder, 37, are among the other alternatives for the African star in boxing.
      And Hearn admitted Ngannou carries a puncher’s chance when he does swap the cage for the ring.
      He said: “You cannot in a million years, with Francis Ngannou’s ability in boxing and pedigree in boxing, go in and compete technically, skill-wise.
      “Not just with AJ but with any top-20 heavyweight in the world. But in that division the difference is what you can do is you could knock someone out.
      “So it doesn’t matter whether Francis fights Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury — I agree with you, horrible fight for Francis Ngannou because he’d he just poke him around — Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Derek Chisora, Jermaine Franklin.
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      “He has no chance against those guys, other than to be aggressive, trade up, and catch someone clean and take him out.”
      Francis Ngannou formerly held the UFC titleCredit: Getty More