Heavyweight boxing

BOXING hero Mike Tyson is open to a sensational return to the ring with two legendary opponents in the frame. The 56-year-old refused to rule out the possibility of coming back if the price was right.
Mike Tyson has refused to rule out fighting two boxing greatsCredit: Getty
Tyson spoke to TMZ and was asked if he would be interested in fighting Roy Jones Jr.
The former heavyweight champion replied: “I could be persuaded.”
He also did not shut down the possibility of fighting Evander Holyfield again.
Tyson said: “I don’t know. When I see the money people for the end of the product, my mind works clearer.
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“I can’t express myself right now financially.”
Iron Mike also revealed that he has been approached by people in Saudi Arabia about a comeback bout.
Tyson last featured in an exhibition event against Jones Jr in 2020.
He reportedly pocketed £7.4million from the fight,that ended in a draw, and he alleged that he was still owed money 12 months after.
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Tyson and Jones Jr never met during their professional careers.
However, Iron Mike did fight Holyfield twice, first losing to him in 1996 to give up his WBA heavyweight title.
The pair then had an infamous rematch a year later when Tyson was disqualified for biting his opponent’s ear.
A third clash between the rivals was discussed in 2021 but failed to materialise.
Jones Jr last stepped in the ring for a comeback fight against Anthony Pettis earlier this month, which he lost.
Meanwhile, Holyfield has fought once since hanging up his gloves, losing to ex-UFC star Vitor Belfort in 2021.
Evander Holyfield beat Mike Tyson twice in his careerCredit: AFP
Roy Jones Jr has already fought Mike Tyson once in an exhibition boutCredit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has “lied” by claiming he will not fight until December, says heavyweight rival Dillian Whyte.AJ, 33, returned to the ring earlier this month with a points victory over Jermaine Franklin.
Anthony Joshua has claimed he will not return to the ring until DecemberCredit: Getty
Dillian Whyte does not believe Joshua will wait until the end of the yearCredit: Getty
After his comeback win, the plan for Joshua was to fight in the summer and at the end of the year as his team eyed an active 2023.
But then last week the Olympic gold medallist revealed on social media he does not plan to step back into the ring until December.
However, Whyte, 35, who has been linked with a fight against Joshua, is unconvinced AJ will wait until the end of the year.
When discussing Joshua’s plan to return in December, he told iFL TV: “That’s a lie. Joshua ain’t gonna wait until December to fight. If he’s not injured, why would he wait until December to fight?
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“Joshua just thinks he’s some sort of mystery man nowadays. He thinks he’s f*****g Martin Luther King or something, you know.
“No-one believes it. Anyone that believes that is an idiot. Why would he not fight until December when he can potentially get three fights this year?”
Asked why Joshua would claim he was not fighting until December, Whyte added: “He’s just trying to create some sort of mystery.
“He’s a strange guy. He’s just doing some strange stuff, man.
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“He’s definitely going to fight before December, 100 per cent.”
Whyte went on to insist he is open to a third fight with Joshua – with the pair having met previously in the amateur and professional ranks.
Whyte beat AJ when the pair battled it out in the amateurs.
Then in 2015, Joshua got his revenge by stopping his British rival in the seventh round of their grudge match at the O2.
Since then, Joshua has gone on to become a two-time world heavyweight champion, before suffering back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
Whyte has also secured some impressive victories against the likes of Derek Chisora, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin.
But he was outclassed and knocked out by Tyson Fury in April last year.
He returned to the ring in November, clinching a majority decision win over Franklin. More

BOXING fans reckon Joe Joyce jinxed himself with his Terminator-themed entrance for his clash with Zhilei Zhang.The former interim WBO heavyweight champion had a montage of himself as the Terminator play ahead of his Copper Box clash with Zhang on Saturday night.
Joe Joyce made a Terminator-themed entrance to the ring ahead of his clash with Zhilei ZangCredit: BT SPORT
Joyce ended up with a completely closed and red eye after the fightCredit: GETTY
Boxing fans reckon Joyce’s entrance foreshadowed his eye injuryCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
The iconic theme tune for the legendary Hollywood film bellowed throughout the arena as images of Joyce battering his previous opponents with the red eye of a T-800 played on the big screen.
Joyce’s red eye in the video proved to be the same one Zhang closed shut with his piston left hand.
And it didn’t go unnoticed by fight fans, with one tweeting: “Some mad foreshadowing in that ring walk.”
Another said: “I thought the Terminator part of the intro was really cringy and in hindsight is looking to be a bit of a jinx.”
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And another said: “Really cool to see Joe Joyce walking out to the Terminator theme.
“At the end of the fight, he probably needed to cut his own eye out too.”
One remarked: “Joe Joyce ring walk was the terminator. But he left with his eye terminated.”
Another chimed in: “Joe Joyce came out to the Terminator.
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“Zhang came out as John Connor and made the Terminator malfunction.”
After the fight, a dejected Joyce – who broke Daniel Dubois’ orbital socket in their 2020 showdown said: “It’s an eye for an eye again now, I got my eye done.
“It’s like what I did, I got a bit of payback from Dubois I guess. Maybe it’s karma.
“He just kept on getting my eye.
“I’m fine, I’m completely fine, but now it’s closed up and I can’t see out of it now.
“I haven’t fought a southpaw for a long time, so I need to look over the tape.
“I thought I could have carried on, I was taking his shots fine, but it’s just unfortunate that the eye closed up. But I’ll be back.” More

TYSON FURY is in line for a July 22 return fight at Wembley Stadium – with Andy Ruiz Jr a potential opponent. Fury’s team have been forced to go back to the drawing board after talks for a title unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk broke down.
Tyson Fury could make his return on June 22Credit: Getty

Talks are scheduled for next week and George Warren, son of promoter Frank, was probed on a July 22 date at Wembley.
Speaking to International Boxing News, Warren said: “It could be. It could be.”
Fury saw his four-belt undisputed decider – the first in heavyweight history – collapse at the 11th hour of talks.
The deal was KO’d amid a row over financials for a potential rematch, with Usyk, 36, set to face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, 25.
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So it leaves Fury, 34, without an opponent and US promoter Bob Arum named ex-champion Ruiz, 33, as a likely alternative.
But Joe Joyce, 37, was another leading name in the running before his return against China’s Zhilei Zhang, 39.
And Joyce went on to suffer a shock defeat over six rounds, being pulled out due to severe swelling suffered to his eye.
He does have a rematch clause in his contract but Zhang has now upset his way into a potential WBC title fight with Fury.
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Warren said: “Joe’s got that rematch clause, if he takes it, it’s obviously going to be a complication with anything to discuss alternative fights for him right now.
“And at the end of the day, Tyson’s the boss when it comes down to what he wants to do.
“If he wants to fight this summer, he’ll let us know, we’ll try to make it happen. We need to know pretty quickly to invoke something in the during the summer.
“Especially if we’re going to try and do something in a stadium in the UK, which is where he would need to fight to try and make it work here.
“But yeah, opponents, choices, that will all come down to a conversation with Tyson.”
Andy Ruiz Jr is a name linked with fighting Tyson FuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Joe Joyce lost to Zhilei Zhang in six roundsCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

EDDIE HEARN seemingly took aim at Joe Joyce moments after the Brit’s first professional loss.The Putney pounder suffered a sixth-round TKO defeat to China’s Zhilei Zhang at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday night, a loss which came courtesy of a referee stoppage due to a completely closed right eye.
Joe Joyce suffered a sixth-round TKO defeat to Zhilei Zhang on Saturday nightCredit: PA
Joyce spent the fight week taking a number of shots after former training partner Anthony JoshuaCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
AJ promoter Eddie Hearn seemingly took aim at Joyce on Instagram shortly after his loss
Olympic silver medallist Joyce repeatedly hyped up a potential Battle of Britain with Anthony Joshua ahead of his ill-fated clash with Zhang.
And The Juggernaut’s defeat to the Chinese clubber seemingly prompted Hearn to take a thinly-veiled swipe – which was in the form of a post praising AJ.
Along with a picture of a muscular Joshua during training, Hearn wrote on his Instagram story: “Been there, done it. Seen it all.”
Boxing fans were quick to comment, with one saying: “Queensberry as a whole spent the full week having digs & jibes at Joshua, laughing away thinking Joyce would walk through Zhang.
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“Eddie Hearn throws a wee bomb out there & they lose[s] their s**t.”
Another said: “Let’s hope Joyce isn’t written off as much as AJ has been after a bad loss- should get behind both.”
Along with a picture of Joshua dropping Zhang during their London 2012 Olympic clash, another said: “Levels.”
One remarked: “Should’ve been him to starch Joyce tonight, opportunity missed.”
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Another chimed in: “Eddie lost has chance to cash in on Joyce fight.”
Joyce, 37, struggled to deal with slick southpaw Zhang’s piston-like straight left from the get-go and was rocked on several occasions.
His eye was nearly completely shut after the fifth, which prompted the ringside doctor to take another look at it.
And he seemingly informed referee Howard Foster that Joyce could no longer see out of the eye, which prompted the official to call a halt to proceedings.
A dejected Joyce – who broke Daniel Dubois’ orbital socket in their 2020 domestic dust-up said: “It’s an eye for an eye again now, I got my eye done.
Joe Joyce’s left eye was completely swollen shut after his clash with Zhilei ZhangCredit: GETTY
“It’s like what I did, I got a bit of payback from Dubois I guess. Maybe it’s karma.
“He just kept on getting my eye.
“I’m fine, I’m completely fine, but now it’s closed up and I can’t see out of it now.
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“I haven’t fought a southpaw for a long time, so I need to look over the tape.
“I thought I could have carried on, I was taking his shots fine, but it’s just unfortunate that the eye closed up. But I’ll be back.” More