Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s long-awaited showdown with fellow Brit Tyson Fury could now take place in ‘late January or February’.The pair were due to face off in a blockbuster showdown in Saudi Arabia next month before Fury was ordered to have a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.
Anthony Joshua was due to face Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia next monthCredit: Reuters
But an American judge ordered The Gypsy King to have a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder, which has been delayedCredit: AFP
Eddie Hearn expects Joshua vs Fury to take place in ‘late January or February’ at the earliestCredit: Getty
The hope was to stage the Battle of Britain in the winter after The Gypsy King’s trilogy fight with Wilder on July 24, which has been delayed following an outbreak of Covid-19 in the WBC champ’s camp.
Fury vs Wilder III is now expected to take place in October, a delay that has ended promoter Eddie Hearn’s hopes of an end-of-year unification bout.
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.”
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A new date for Fury vs Wilder III has yet to be finalised, and Hearn has serious doubts about the pair’s third encounter going ahead.
He added: “I don’t even know if it’ll happen in October, to be honest with you. Who knows?
“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.
Tyson Fury was one of his ten team members to test positive for CovidCredit: AFP

“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.”
At this moment in time, Hearn and Joshua are both focused on September’s showdown with former undisputed cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
Hearn said: “All the focus is on now is the next fight for Anthony Joshua, being successful in that fight and moving forward with his career.”
Joshua, 31, will defend his unified heavyweight titles against Ukraine’s Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25.
AJ is currently training for his clash with his fellow Olympian in Marbella, but SunSport understands he’ll soon return to the UK to complete his camp at the Olympic training facility in Sheffield.
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DILLIAN WHYTE wants to jump in to replace Tyson Fury and fight Deontay Wilder.Heavyweight boxing has been left in tatters after Fury and a number of his team tested positive for coronavirus.

That has put paid to his trilogy fight against Wilder happening on July 24.
But Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has revealed Whyte, who has been chasing a fight against Wilder for years, is ready to step in.
Whether Wilder, who has discounted Whyte for years, decides to take on the Brit remains at best a long shot.
Wilder is two years older than Whyte at 35, and has had 44 fights compared to Whyte’s 30.
Both heavyweights are very much ‘bangers’ – Wilder has 41 KOS to his name with Whyte on 19.
And the pair have suffered defeats in the squared circle.
Wilder’s sole one was of course to Tyson Fury in February 2020, while Wilder has two losses – to Anthony Joshua and to Alexander Povetkin, both by KO.
The American is the taller of the two at 6ft 7in to Whyte’s 6ft 4in. So it’s not surprising Wilder has a bigger reach of 83in to 78in.

Tyson Fury has had to pull out of his trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder after contracting coronavirus
Dillian Whyte is said to be ready to face Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas on July 24

Both boxers are orthodox – nothing like the skills Fury can bring to the ring as he switches styles at will.
Fury’s bout against Wilder is now likely to be pushed back until October, which will ultimately delay a possible undisputed dust-up against rival Anthony Joshua.
Taking to Twitter, Hearn said: “Spoke to Dillian Whyte – he is due to fight end of August but ready to jump in July 24 v Wilder.”
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MATCHROOM promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Dillian Whyte is ready to step in and face Deontay Wilder after Tyson Fury pulled out of their trilogy fight.The Gypsy King was gearing up to defend his WBC belt against the Bronze Bomber on July 24 only to test positive for coronavirus.
Dillian Whyte is said to be ready to face Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas on July 24Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Wilder’s trilogy bout against Tyson Fury is off after the Gypsy King tested positive for coronavirusCredit: Reuters
An outbreak in the unbeaten Mancunian’s training camp emerged on Thursday night, with Joseph Parker, Isaac Lowe and Andy Lee all contracting Covid-19.
Fury’s bout against Wilder is now likely to be pushed back until October, which will ultimately delay a possible undisputed dust-up against rival Anthony Joshua.
Reacting to the news, Hearn has declared that Whyte would be willing to save the Las Vegas card later this month to battle the 2008 Olympic bronze medallist.
The Body Snatcher has been chasing a bout to face Wilder for years, though his attempts to compete against the Alabama native proved unsuccessful.
Taking to Twitter, Hearn said: “Spoke to Dillian Whyte – he is due to fight end of August but ready to jump in July 24 v Wilder.”
Wilder hasn’t fought since suffering the first defeat of his professional career at the hands of Fury in February 2020 where he was stopped in the seventh round.
Meanwhile Whyte was last out in March where he exacted revenge on Alexander Povetkin by knocking him out in the fourth round.
The former British heavyweight champion was recently described as ‘nothing but s*** to my toilet paper’ by Wilder last month.
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To which Whyte reacted by branding the former world champ as a fraud, as he said: “Deontay Wilder is confused. He’s a very confused, deluded boy.
“He will never fight me, he’s a coward. He’ll make excuses. ‘Oh, keep fighting, this, that and whatever.’
“He should say, ‘I’ll knock out Dillian Whyte,’ that’s what he should be saying. I wouldn’t be saying, ‘Oh keep fighting mate.’ He’s just a first-class w******.””
Before adding: “He’s a confused person. He should just accept reality – he’s a pathetic, fragile, fraud clown.
“He ran and hid from me for over three years and has no right to mention my name.
“It’s a shame to see the last American heavyweight champion behaving in this fashion, it’s disgraceful.”

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TYSON FURY has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus meaning his trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder is OFF.There were reports last night of a Covid-19 outbreak in the Gypsy King’s camp.
Tyson Fury’s fight with Deontay Wilder is off after he tested positive for coronavirusCredit: Alamy
The pair were due to go head to head on July 24 in Las VegasCredit: AFP
But now the WBC heavyweight king has contracted the virus.
Journalist Dan Rafael stated Fury, who is already in the United States, is displaying symptoms and feeling ill.
The reporter added assistant trainer Andy Lee, featherweight Isaac Lowe and former WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker also returned positive test results from the camp.
And that guarantees the fight cannot go ahead on July 24 as planned.
A new date is being targeted later in the year with October 9 the likely option because there are major events in both August and September already in the calendar including Errol Spence Jr vs Manny Pacquiao, American Labor Day and UFC.
Fury and Wilder drew their first instalment before the British star crushed his American rival in their rematch in 2020 with a seventh-round knockout.
He was due to step into the ring in Las Vegas for fight No3 in a fortnight’s time but will now need to self-isolate.
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed Dillian Whyte is prepared to step in as a late replacement and fight Wilder instead.
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BREAKING: Per source, Tyson Fury was one of the people in his camp who tested positive for Covid-19 and the fight with Wilder is postponed. New date TBA. I’ve been told Fury got one vaccine dose but never got the 2nd. At least 3 others in camp also positive. #boxing #FuryWilder3— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) July 8, 2021

Spoke to @DillianWhyte – he is due to fight end of August but ready to jump in July 24 v Wilder 😎— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) July 8, 2021

It is understood Fury has had his first coronavirus vaccination but not his second jab.
Boxing insider Teddy Atlas said: “It looks like Fury actually has Covid.
“He had one shot. He didn’t get both shots, both vaccines. And, it looks like he has the Covid.”
Wilder and his team do not believe Fury really has Covid and think he is lying.
The former WBC king is still training as if the fight is set to go ahead and said on Thursday: “I don’t care what the media’s reporting… If this is supposed to be a distraction, we’re not distracted at all.”
A Top Rank statement last night said: “We continue to monitor the health status of Tyson and his team and the status of the event has not changed to date.”
However, SunSport has contacted Fury’s team for comment amid the latest developments.
Fury won their rematch in February 2020 with a seventh-round knockoutCredit: Getty
He claimed the WBC heavyweight belt but has not stepped into the ring sinceCredit: Getty
How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fightCredit: SUNSPORT
Tyson Fury trains in Deontay Wilder’s old WBC belt as he taunts rival ahead of world title clash More

DEONTAY WILDER ‘looks exactly the same’ in training videos as he did before his defeat to Tyson Fury, according to Eddie Hearn.And the Matchroom chief reckons the American is already ‘mentally defeated’ ahead of the trilogy fight.
Deontay Wilder is training hard to win back his world title against Tyson FuryCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
Eddie Hearn is not impressed by what he sees from the videos in the campCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
The Bronze Bomber, 35, is making his preparations to take on the Gypsy King on July 24.
But Hearn – whose own plans for Anthony Joshua to take on Fury were scuppered by the rematch – fears the worst for Wilder.
He told the DAZN Boxing Show: “A guy doesn’t just grow ability overnight, that’s the difference. [He looks] exactly the same.
“You’ve seen clips on Instagram of him hitting pads with Malik Scott.
“The movement? Exactly the same. The footwork? Exactly the same. You’re not gonna teach him new tricks.
“Yes, he will always be dangerous, he will always have the ability to take any heavyweight out with one punch.
“Therefore you cannot rule him out in this fight and I’m not saying he doesn’t have a chance. He’s exactly the same fighter.
“He’s also, mentally, completely and utterly defeated.
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How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fightCredit: SUNSPORT

“You only have to look at the, almost like the psychoanalysis of what’s unfolded in the last three or four months. His comments and everything.
“He’s not just gonna learn things with Malik Scott to beat Tyson Fury.”
Wilder – who lost his unbeaten record and WBC heavyweight belt with his 2020 defeat – has been putting in the hard yards in the gym over recent months.
He took to Instagram this week to show off his blood-spattered boots after 16 rounds of sparring.
Various other clips from inside the training camp have been put out on social media – including a 310lbs bench press and looking shredded during some skipping.
The Bronze Bomber is confident he can deliver the goods next time aroundCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
The American is ‘mentally, completely and utterly defeated’ according to HearnCredit: Ryan Hafey/ Premier Boxing Champions
But there were fears on Thursday evening the mega-fight could be postponed following a Covid-19 outbreak in Fury’s team.
It is unclear how many people have tested positive but there is a chance the dust-up will be pushed back until September.
A Top Rank statement read: “We continue to monitor the health status of Tyson and his team and the status of the event has not changed to date.”
Former WBC king Wilder is still training as if the fight is set to go ahead, saying: “I don’t care what the media’s reporting… If this is supposed to be a distraction, we’re not distracted at all.”
Wilder lost his first pro fight when Fury stunned him last February and with it went his WBC heavyweight world titleCredit: PA
Hearn’s man Anthony Joshua was denied a Battle of Britain with Fury this summerCredit: Reuters
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TYSON FURY’s trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder is in danger of being POSTPONED following an outbreak of Covid-19 in his training camp.The WBC king is set to defend his title against The Bronze Bomber a fortnight on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are set to renew their rivalry in Las Vegas later this monthCredit: Alamy
But an outbreak of Covid-19 in Fury’s camp has threatened to delay the fightCredit: Instagram / @ahmedelbali
But a string of positive tests for Team Fury members have threatened to delay the pair’s Sin City showdown.
The third instalment of Wilder vs Fury could end up being delayed until September.
It’s currently unknown how many Team Fury members have tested positive for Covid.
The outbreak, however, is serious enough to force the potential postponement of the Vegas dust-up.
A decision on the rescheduling of the fight has yet to be made.
But if the outbreak is a serious one, the delaying of the contest is an inevitability.
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How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of their trilogy fight
A Top Rank statement read: “We continue to monitor the health status of Tyson and his team and the status of the event has not changed to date.”
Former WBC king Wilder is still training as if the fight is set to go ahead, saying: “I don’t care what the media’s reporting… If this is supposed to be a distraction, we’re not distracted at all.”
Fury, 32, has been training for his third showdown with Wilder in America under the watchful eye of coach Sugarhill Steward.
The Gypsy King linked up with Steward ahead of his rematch with Olympian last February, which he won via seventh-round KO.
Fan favourite Fury is brimming with confidence ahead of his third encounter with the American, who he plans to bulldoze in double-quick time.
During last month’s pre-fight press conference, he said: “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.
“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].
“Because before, I only had five or six weeks practicing what I’m going to do to him. This time, I’ve had 18 months of practicing what I’m going to do to him.
“So I anticipate it’s going to be like an 18-wheeler running over somebody, and that’s what you’re gonna see.
“I’m building my weight up, trying to get up to 300lbs for this fight.

“Because I’m looking for a big knockout straight away.”
Wilder made one solitary statement during the presser, a silence that has Fury concerned for his opponent’s mental well-being.
He said: “I don’t believe he’s mentally, physically or emotionally involved in this fight, and I think he’s doing it for the wrong reasons.
“And when people do things for the wrong reasons, they always wind up getting hurt.
“We’ll see on fight night if I’m a man of my word and if I can run him over quicker than round seven. And I think I do.”
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