Heavyweight boxing

TYSON FURY and Anthony Joshua have been warned Saudi Arabia will not be negotiated with over any sensational £325million December showdowns.AJ promoter Eddie Hearn reckons he is visiting the Kingdom next week to discuss a stunning $400m card that involves Morecambe’s 34-year-old WBC champ against WBA, IBF and WBO king Oleksandr Usyk, 36, in an overdue undisputed decider.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk could potentially take part in a heavyweight tournamentCredit: REUTERS
Anthony Joshua is also being lined up for the December bonanzaCredit: GETTY
As is former WBC heavyweight champ Deontay WilderCredit: EPA
And the chief support is supposed to be 33-year-old Joshua’s overdue battle with American knockout sensation Deontay Wilder, 37.
But Fury has already broken his recent social media silence to label the speculation as “total BS”.
Fury walked away from talks to hold the Usyk fight in Riyadh at the start of Spring after the Ukraine icon signed his half of a mega-money deal.
And AJ failed to secure undisputed bouts with Wilder and Fury – during their WBC reigns – over the five years he held the other three major belts, before Usyk dethroned him over two bouts.
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So fans should not get too excited about the four of the most famous and highly paid men all agreeing to share the limelight and prize pot.
And Amer Abdallah – head of boxing for Skills Challenge who runs the country’s boxing – says these divas will not be able to haggle.
He told SunSport: “Could Usyk vs Fury, Fury vs AJ, Wilder vs AJ all happen? Of course, they could.
“But a lot of people think they will go to Saudi and just grab this free money but everything is very calculated in how it is done.
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“There are a lot of factors that people don’t know about at the back end.
“Even when the purses look very high, we look at the numbers and make sure that everything has a return, not just from a financial perspective but along a broad spectrum of returns from each fight.
“It’s not free money that is being handed out, it is very calculated in how purses are offered.
“All of the options are open but when an offer is made, that is the offer, you take it or leave it.
“There are plenty of great fights out there and everybody is lined up to fight in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia because there is a premium price and we are able and happy to pay it.
“But we want the fights that we want and that is how it is going to end up being. When an offer is made, that is the offer.”
Fury was already in talks with Team Usyk about the first-ever four-belt heavyweight clash, even before he outpointed Joshua for a second time in Saudi in August.
Tyson Fury’s undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk fell through last monthCredit: GETTY
Anthony Joshua returned to winning ways against Jermaine Franklin this monthCredit: GETTY
Deontay Wilder brutally knocked out Robert Helenius in his last outingCredit: GETTY
The date and 50-50 purse split were all agreed before the Brit walked away from the deal and then blew the April 29 Wembley version with more financial wrangling.
It has left British boxing fans fuming and doesn’t seem to have impressed the powerful Sheikhs either.
Abdallah said: “I believe the money offered was very generous and fair.
“I can even go as far to say it was a premium price for that fight.
“When Saudi Arabia makes an offer, we make an offer, that’s the number and it is take-it-or-leave-it. 
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“I thought it was a very generous number, there was a lot of back-and-forth and it didn’t work out.
“Usyk and his team are very easy to deal with and they want to fight, they agreed to a lot of Fury’s terms, they bent over to make it happen.” More

TYSON FURY has been warned against using Andy Ruiz Jr as a filler opponent – having been reminded of Anthony Joshua’s shock loss. Fury is searching for an opponent to face in the summer after talks to unify the division with Oleksandr Usyk collapsed.
Andy Ruiz Jr beat Anthony Joshua in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Tyson Fury could fight Andy Ruiz Jr in the UK in the summerCredit: Getty
US promoter Bob Arum named ex-champion Ruiz as an alternative while his team in the UK teased July 22 at Wembley as a fight date.
But trainer Manny Robles – who led the Mexican-American to his upset victory over AJ in 2019 – insisted Fury would be making an error.
Robles told iFL TV: “It sounds like they’re getting way ahead of themselves and they’re looking at Andy as a prep fight.
“Andy is not a prep fight. You see what happened to Joshua. They thought it was a prep fight and he ended up getting knocked out.”
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Ruiz famously filled in for Jarrell Miller after the American’s drug bust before fighting Joshua.
And AJ went on to lose by seventh-round knockout in one of boxing’s biggest upsets.
Joshua, 33, would win the rematch six months later, leaving Ruiz, 33, hungry to win back the belts ever since.
And he could get his shot in the summer with Fury in need of a credible name to face.
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Arum told Cornerman Boxing on Fury’s plans: “He’s been in Italy on vacation with his family.
“He’s back in England, and we’re talking to him, and we’re looking for the best available guy for him to fight this summer in the UK.
“Maybe it’ll be Andy Ruiz or somebody like that.”
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WORLD champion Josh Taylor claimed Anthony Joshua looked “scared of getting hit” during his fight with Jermaine Franklin.AJ returned at the start of April with a conservative points victory over Franklin, his first win since December 2020.
Jermaine Franklin was beaten on points by Anthony JoshuaCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
It came off the back of two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, which left Joshua fighting to revive his career.
And ex-undisputed light-welterweight champ Taylor reckons Joshua boxed like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
He told ID Boxing: “I felt bad for him, with the pressure and expectation.
“Having said that, I don’t think he looked that great. In terms of the “old” Joshua, that just wasn’t there.
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“I thought he looked a little bit stiff and rigid, and a bit scared of getting hit and staying in the firing line to exchange punches.
“It might be the fact he’s getting used to his new surroundings and new coaches in America, that can take a little bit of time.”
Scotland’s Taylor, 32, returns in a WBO title defence against American Teofimo Lopez, 25, in New York on June 10.
Meanwhile Joshua, 33, is in talks for a super-fight in December in Saudi Arabia following victory over Franklin, 29.
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And promoter Eddie Hearn hopes it will be against either Deontay Wilder, 37, or Tyson Fury, 34.
Hearn said to iFL TV: “For AJ, one thing’s for sure his big fight – and it will come in the Middle East – will be in December.
“And that will be Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder. That’s what we’re planning.
“I will be going out next week to meet people to discuss AJ’s fight in December.”
Anthony Joshua with promoter Eddie HearnCredit: Rex More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is in line for a super-fight in Saudi Arabia in December against either Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder. Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed he is set to fly out to the Middle East NEXT WEEK to discuss plans to prise AJ over to the desert again.
Anthony Joshua is in line for a super-fight in Saudi Arabia in DecembeCredit: Getty
Tyson Fury could fight Anthony Joshua in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
Deontay Wilder wants to fight Anthony Joshua nextCredit: Getty
And he hopes it will promise a showdown with Fury or Wilder.
Hearn told iFL TV: “For AJ, one thing’s for sure his big fight – and it will come in the Middle East – will be in December.
“And that will be Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder. That’s what we’re planning.
“I will be going out next week to meet people to discuss AJ’s fight in December.”
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Joshua, 33, returned at the start of April with a points win over Jermaine Franklin, 29, his first victory since December 2020.
And Hearn hoped it would be the first of a hat-trick of 2023 fights for AJ, to keep him busy.
But just days later, Joshua announced his next bout was not scheduled until December.
Rumours of a stunning four-man heavyweight tournament in Arabia then circulated involving the division’s top stars.
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Wilder would face Joshua, with Fury fighting Oleksandr Usyk and the winners then meeting in a finale.
Hearn has CONFIRMED those plans ARE being explored but no official talks have emerged.
It leaves AJ still in with the possibility of returning in another fight around July time, but it is dependant on how talks in Saudi go.
He said: “Our focus is to get that mega fight in December over the line. There is no official decision in terms of whether AJ would fight in July.
“Some of that might come around the deal or the decision or the completion of that fight in December.
“I would quite like to see him fight, I think he would like to fight in July, but right now he’s not in camp for a July fight.
“We’re focusing on getting the December fight over the line, which is a fight of huge proportion.
“And then we’ll make a decision on the July fight in the coming weeks.”
Hearn predicts the remarkable four-way tournament could cost over $400MILLION (£325m) and would take place on the same night.
He said: “There is definitely been conversations that have taken place, just of plans, where people would like to host Fury against Usyk and AJ against Wilder on the same night.
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“It will cost a lot of money, but it would be epic, and we will have those conversations.”
Anthony Joshua with promoter Eddie HearnCredit: Rex More

DEONTAY WILDER wants to fight Anthony Joshua next and has the backing of his trainer and manager. Wilder’s coach Malik Scott responded to rumours of a stunning four-man heavyweight tournament in December in Saudi Arabia.
Deontay Wilder wants to fight Anthony Joshua nextCredit: Getty
Anthony Joshua is in line for a super-fight in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
It would see the American face Joshua, with Tyson Fury fighting Oleksandr Usyk and the winners then meeting in a finale.
Scott confirmed Wilder is targeting a blockbuster showdown with AJ and has the green light from himself and manager Shelly Finkel.
He told iFL TV: “If you ask me, that’s the only fight I want for Deontay.
“If we could get Usyk, of course, because he’s got the belts. I’m fully with that. But I’m very, very big on Deontay fighting Anthony Joshua.
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“I think it’s good not just for boxing, I think it’s good for so many reasons…
“Every time someone comes to me and says, ‘What’s next for Deontay?’ I always say, ‘I’m hoping for Joshua.’
“Deontay wants the fight, I want the fight, Shelly Finkel wants the fight. This whole side over here wants the fight.
“We’re gonna see what AJ does now, the ball is kind of in his court, so we’re gonna see how he’s gonna take advantage of it. We’re ready.”
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Wilder, 37, has not returned since knocking out Robert Helenius, 38, in round one of his October 2022 comeback bout.
Meanwhile Joshua, 33, beat Jermaine Franklin, 29, on points in his return at the start of April.
Promoter Eddie Hearn hoped it would be the first of a hat-trick of 2023 fights for AJ, to keep him busy.
But just days later, Joshua announced his next bout was not scheduled until December.
Hearn has since confirmed he is set for talks in Saudi over a super-fight for AJ at the end of the year against Wilder or Fury, 34.
And the promoter admitted money men in the Middle East do indeed want to pit the division’s big four against each other.

Scott – who was knocked out by Wilder in 2014 – also spoke out to claim the stunning idea is being explored.
He said: “I’m on the inside of the meetings, Deontay has me sitting right to him when we’re doing these meetings.
“What I can say is the things people are hearing are not fibs.
“The negotiations have begun, not with certain fighters or certain things, but the negotiations are definitely in tact…
“Everything is getting together, we’re gonna see what fighters really wanna fight at that level.
“The ones that do, Deontay is gonna knock out and he’s gonna become two-time heavyweight champion of the world.
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“I can say that those rumours are true, negotiations are going on and big fights are gonna be happening.
“Not just with us, with a lot of top fighters out there in the heavyweight division in Saudi Arabia.”
Deontay Wilder with trainer Malik ScottCredit: Henry DeLeon/TGB Promotions More

TYSON FURY received an X-rated reaction from Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter after denying talks relating to a stunning boxing tournament. Promoter Eddie Hearn and the trainer of Deontay Wilder revealed talks were underway for a sensational four-man heavyweight boxing tournament set to be held in Saudi Arabia in December.
Tyson Fury has denied claims of a boxing tournament in Saudi Arabia in DecemberCredit: Reuters
Leading to an X-rated reaction from Oleksandr Usyk’s promoter Alex KrassyukCredit: Getty
The tournament is set to involve a number of the heavyweight division’s biggest names, including Fury, Usyk, Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
However, the Gypsy King took to his Instagram earlier today to deny the claims.
He wrote on his story: “I can confirm that these rumours are absolute BS!”
But Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk seemed to be far from impressed by the response, launching an X-rated dig towards Fury.
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Krassyuk said: “He’s s***ing his pants again.”
Fury had been tipped to finally face off against Usyk in the tournament after negotiations fell through for an undisputed title fight between the pair last month.
Krassyuk had a very particular choice of words following Fury’s denial
The winner of this will then fight the winner of Wilder vs Joshua – which is set to happen on the same night – in a grandstand finale.
Hearn has suggested the total purse for the competition could be a staggering £325million.
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On the rumours, Hearn told IFLTV: “There have definitely been conversations that have taken place where people would like to host Fury against Usyk and AJ against Wilder on the same night.
“It will cost a lot of money, but it would be our pick, and we will have those conversations. Our focus is to get that big mega-fight in December over the line.
“There is no official decision in terms of whether AJ will fight in July. Some of that may come around the deal or the decision or the completion of that fight in December.
“I would quite like to see him fight. I think he would like to fight in July, but right now, he’s not in camp for a July fight.”
Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott added to IFLTV: “I can say that those rumours are true, negotiations are going on and big fights are gonna be happening.
“Not just with us, with a lot of top heavyweights.”
Following his win over Jermaine Franklin, Joshua had revealed his next fight would not be until December, with talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan suggesting the tournament in the Middle East was the reason behind this decision.
He said: “There’s a lingering observation and, I suppose rumour, that’s seeded I think in some substance – that there is a series of fights being arranged in the Middle East that involve Fury, Usyk, Joshua and Wilder.
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“Three fights being made which is Fury vs Usyk, Wilder vs Joshua and the two winners of those fights meeting again in the Middle East for the ultimate showdown.
“That would align with the dynamic of the reasons why Anthony Joshua isn’t fighting until December.”
Anthony Joshua has said his next fight will be in DecemberCredit: Getty
While Deontay Wilder’s trainer confirmed talks were underwayCredit: EPA More

EDDIE HEARN has CONFIRMED sensational talks for a four-man heavyweight boxing tournament in the Middle East are in progress. Earlier this month reports suggested discussions had been held over the possibility of Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder fighting on the same night in Saudi Arabia.
Deontay Wilder’s trainer has also confirmed talks over a four-man heavyweight boxing contestCredit: EPA
This could see the likes of Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury fighting it outCredit: Getty
But now Hearn has confirmed these talks are true with the possibility that the fights could happen on the SAME night.
Hearn told IFLTV: “There have definitely been conversations that have taken place where people would like to host [Tyson] Fury against [Oleksansdr] Usyk and AJ against [Deontay] Wilder on the same night.
“It will cost a lot of money, but it would be our pick, and we will have those conversations. Our focus is to get that big mega-fight in December over the line.
“There is no official decision in terms of whether AJ will fight in July. Some of that may come around the deal or the decision or the completion of that fight in December.
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“I would quite like to see him fight. I think he would like to fight in July, but right now, he’s not in camp for a July fight.”
The tournament could have a huge purse of £325million.
Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott also confirmed the news, telling IFLTV: “I can say that those rumours are true, negotiations are going on and big fights are gonna be happening.
“Not just with us, with a lot of top heavyweights.”
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Wilder, 37, has not been in action since October when he knocked out Robert Helenius in round one of his comeback bout.
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AJ beat Jermaine Franklin at the start of April, whereas both Usyk and Fury saw negotiations over an undisputed heavyweight title fight collapse.
However, Fury has denied such claims, saying on his Instagram story: “I can confirm that these rumours are absolute BS!”
The Gypsy King’s denial led to an X-rated reaction from Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk, who declared: “He’s s***ing his pants again.”
TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan stated Joshua’s next fight being in December could be an indication of the four-man contest.
He said: “There’s a lingering observation and, I suppose rumour, that’s seeded I think in some substance – that there is a series of fights being arranged in the Middle East that involve Fury, Usyk, Joshua and Wilder.
“Three fights being made which is Fury vs Usyk, Wilder vs Joshua and the two winners of those fights meeting again in the Middle East for the ultimate showdown.
“That would align with the dynamic of the reasons why Anthony Joshua isn’t fighting until December.” More