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      Tyson Fury fight with Anthony Joshua contracts sealed with final details agreed as Hearn hints at Saudi Arabia showdown

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      EDDIE HEARN has hinted that the undisputed title fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will be held in Saudi Arabia after Bob Arum spilled the beans.It is understood that the first of their two bouts could take place in the Middle East in early August with an official announcement expected soon.
      Eddie Hearn has hinted Anthony Joshua’s fight against Tyson Fury could take place in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Reuters
      Fury will be making the first defence of his WBC heavyweight title in the undisputed match-upCredit: Instagram @gypsyking101
      Both boxers agreed on a venue last week, with Fury’s US-based promoter Arum declaring that the event will take place in the Gulf nation.
      Speaking to Boxing Scene, the 89-year-old stated: “We have [site deal] contracts now that we are marking up and so forth.
      “It’s a big step. We’re just doing the paperwork now with the Saudis.”
      And Hearn has remained coy on the potential location in an interview with talkSPORT as he revealed a summer fight will happen.
      He said: “Yeah that was a comment made by Bob Arum. You can’t really tell Bob what to say and what not to say. I’m keeping quiet on the matter.
      “They’ve signed the contract. We presented them both with an offer from a site, which they both approved and accepted.
      “We are dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s and you will get an announcement soon, but that fight is going to be happening this summer.
      “It is one of the biggest of all time, probably the sporting event of 2021, so fingers crossed – we are nearly there.
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      “I keep saying we are nearly there but, as I said, site approved, deal approved, everything done now.
      “We are just papering it and there will be an official announcement soon.”
      Fury has vowed to knock out his British rival in the contest, as he promised to show ‘what a real man does to a fake one’.
      Joshua may be without his long-time trainer Rob McCracken for the bout as his coach is scheduled to lead Team GB at the delayed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
      Tyson Fury heads to the pool and rocks out in his hotel room in Las Vegas More

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      Watch former world champ Lucas Browne suffer shock first-round KO vs former rugby player as fans insist fight is a ‘fix’

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      LUCAS BROWNE was beaten in the first round by former rugby player Paul Gallen in Australia. Browne, who once held the WBA’s secondary ‘Regular’ world title, was counted out in the corner following a barrage of shots. 
      Lucas Browne was beaten in the first round by former rugby player Paul GallenCredit: Getty
      Lucas Browne was counted out in the corner following a barrage of shotsCredit: EPA
      But controversy ensued as suspicious fans speculated the result was a ‘fix’ as the ex-champion failed to get to his feet. 
      It came as ringside footage appeared to show one of Browne’s cornermen gesturing for the heavyweight to ‘stay down’. 
      But reporter Brendan Bradford, who recorded the clip, responded: “People RTing this saying it’s a fix…stop pls. He got punched in the head repeatedly by an absolute savage”
      Gallen, 39, has had 11 wins and one draw in his professional boxing career, which started in 2014. 
      He formerly played rugby league from 2006-2012 and captained  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks to the Premiership title in 2016. 

      Having a good glance at the corner “have I sold it yet? We getting paid? How much more?”Browne had more puff pastry on his chin than Gallen landed shots. 7/10 for the dive. #GallenBrowne pic.twitter.com/SZOXBGiVeH— Rory Flanagan (@Rory_Flanagan) April 21, 2021

      Is this a fix? Looking at corner! Bit suss— Frankie (@FrankieFranks09) April 21, 2021

      Australian boxing is a joke. That was a fix. Lucas Browne goes 6 rounds with top 5 in the world Dillian Whyte yet can’t last 30 seconds against a retired NRL player #GallenBrowne— Nik Potter (@NikPotter20) April 21, 2021

      Gallen warned he is preparing to stick around in the ring as he eyes further paydays and even belts. 
      He said: “I had confidence in my chin against a guy like this.
      “The more I train and the more I spar in the sport of boxing the better I get.
      “I’m a prize fighter, I’m not here for titles. I’m about taking fights that people want to see. I’ll be having as many fights as I can so I can cash in.”
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      Browne, 42, is 29-3 with two of those defeats coming to Brit pair Dillian Whyte and Dave Allen. 
      The loss to Gallen was his first fight in two years with his career now left up in the air. 
      In late 2020, Browne volunteered to face unbeaten Tyson Fury, 32, before the WBC king’s UK homecoming fight was cancelled.
      Andy Ruiz Jr shows off slim new body after gym workout following two-stone weight loss as he trains for comeback fight More

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      Upcoming boxing fights 2021: Fixture schedule including Canelo vs Saunders, Joshua vs Fury date and Chisora vs Parker

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      BOXING is off to a scintillating start in 2021 as some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Canelo Alvarez, have already been in action, with plenty more fighters to feature over the coming weeks. Check out SunSport’s extensive boxing schedule for 2021 below…
      Full boxing schedule 2021
      📺 BT Sport (UK) – ESPN (US) 📺
      🗓 April 24 – 🇬🇧 London, England

      Denzel Bentley vs Felix Cash (12 rounds – middleweight)
      Callum Johnson vs Emil Markic (10 rounds – light heavyweight)
      Anthony Yarde v. Emin Atra (10 rounds – light heavyweight)
      David Adeleye vs TBA (6 rounds – heavyweight)

      📺 BT Sport (UK) – ESPN (US) 📺
      🗓 April 30 – 🇬🇧 London, England

      Moruti Mthalane vs Sunny Edwards (12 rounds – flyweight, IBF title)
      Michael Conlan vs Ionut Baluta (12 rounds – super-bantamweight)
      Troy Williamson vs Kieran Smith (10 rounds – super-welterweight)

      📺 FOX PPV (US) 📺
      🗓 May 1 – 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California

      Andy Ruiz Jr vs Chris Arreola (12 rounds – heavyweight)
      Omar Figueroa Jr. vs Abel Ramos (12 rounds – welterweight)
      Sebastian Fundora vs Jorge Cota (12 rounds – super-welterweight)
      Jesus Ramos vs. Javier Molina (10 rounds welterweight)

      How Andy Ruiz Jr and Chris Arreola stack up ahead of their fight
      🥊 RUIZ JR VS ARREOLA: TV, live stream and start time info ahead of the big fight
      📺 Sky Sports Box Office (UK) – DAZN (US) 📺
      🗓 May 1 – 🇬🇧 London, England

      Derek Chisora vs Joseph Parker (12 rounds – heavyweight)
      Katie Taylor vs Tasha Jonas (10 rounds – lightweight, undisputed world titles)
      Dimitry Bivol vs Craig Richards (12 rounds – light heavyweight, WBA title)
      Chris Eubank Jr vs Marcus Morrison (10 rounds – middleweight)
      James Tennyson vs Jovanni Straffon (12 rounds lightweight)

      🥊 CHISORA VS PARKER: TV, live stream and start time info ahead of the big fight
      📺 DAZN (UK & US) 📺
      🗓 May 8 – 🇺🇸 Arlington, Texas

      Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders (12 rounds – super-middleweight, WBA, WBC, WBO, The Ring titles)
      Elwin Soto vs Katsunari Takayama (12 rounds – light-flyweight, WBO title)
      Kieron Conway vs Souleymane Cissokho (10 rounds – super-welterweight)
      Frank Sanchez vs Nagy Aguilera (10 rounds -heavyweight)
      Marc Castro vs TBA (6 rounds – super-featherweight)
      Keyshawn Davis vs Jose Antonio Meza (6 rounds – lightweight)
      Kelvin Davis vs Jan Marsalek (6 rounds – super-lightweight)

      How Canelo and Saunders compare ahead of their bout
      🥊 CANELO VS SAUNDERS: TV, live stream and start time info ahead of the big fight
      📺 BT Sport (UK) – ESPN (US) 📺
      🗓 May 22 – 🇺🇸 Las Vegas, Nevada

      Josh Taylor vs Jose Ramirez (12 rounds – super-lightweight, WBC, WBO, WBA, IBF, The Ring titles)
      Jose Zepeda vs TBA (10 rounds – super-lightweight)
      Elvis Rodriguez vs Kenneth Sims Jr (8 rounds, – super-lightweight)

      📺 DAZN (UK & US) 📺
      🗓 May 29 – 🇺🇸 Las Vegas, Nevada

      Devin Haney vs Jorge Linares (12 rounds – lightweight, WBC title)
      Reshat Mati vs TBA (8 rounds – welterweight)
      Khalil Coe vs TBA (4 rounds – light-heavyweight)

      📺 Showtime (US) 📺
      🗓 May 29 – 🇺🇸 Carson, California

      Nordine Oubaali vs Nonito Donaire (12 rounds – bantamweight, WBC title)

      📺 BT Sport (UK) – ESPN (US) 📺
      🗓 June 5 – 🇬🇧 London, England

      Daniel Dubois vs Bogdan Dinu (12 rounds – heavyweights)

      📺 Triller PPV (US) – Fite TV PPV (UK) 📺
      🗓 June 5 – Venue: TBC

      Teofimo Lopez vs George Kambosos Jr (12 rounds – lightweight, WBC Franchise, WBA, WBO, IBF, Ring Magazine titles)
      Evander Holyfield vs Kevin McBride (6 rounds – heavyweight)

      📺 Fite TV (UK) – ESPN (US) 📺
      🗓 June 12 – 🇺🇸 New York City, NY

      Shakur Stevenson vs Jeremiah Nakathila (12 rounds – super-featherweight)
      Edgar Berlanga vs TBC (10 rounds – super-middleweight)

      📺 Showtime (US) 📺
      🗓 June 19 – 🇺🇸 Houston, Texas
      Jermall Charlo vs Juan Macias Montiel (12 rounds – middleweight, WBC title)
      📺 ESPN (US) 📺
      🗓 June 19 – 🇺🇸 Las Vegas, Nevada

      Naoya Inoue vs Michael Dasmarinas (12 rounds – bantamweight, IBF & WBA titles)

      📺 Showtime PPV (US) 📺
      🗓 June 26, Venue: TBC

      Gervonta Davis vs Mario Barrios (12 rounds – super-lightweight)
      Erickson Lubin vs Jeison Rosario (12 rounds – super-welterweight)

      📺 Showtime (US) 📺
      🗓 July 3, Venue: TBC

      Chris Colbert vs Yuriorkis Gamboa (12 rounds – super-featherweight)

      📺 DAZN (UK & US ) 📺
      🗓 July 9, Venue: TBC

      Ryan Garcia vs Javier Fortuna (12 rounds – lightweight)

      📺 Showtime (US) 📺
      July 17, Venue: TBC

      Jermell Charlo vs Brian Castano (12 rounds, super-welterweight, WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, Ring Magazine titles)

      📺 Broadcaster TBC 📺
      🗓 July – Venue: TBC

      Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury (12 rounds – heavyweight, WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, The Ring & Lineal titles)

      📺 Showtime (US) 📺
      🗓 August 14, Venue: TBC

      John Riel Casimero vs Guillermo Rigondeaux (12 rounds – bantamweight, WBO title)

      📺 Showtime (US) 📺
      🗓 August 28, Venue: TBC

      David Benavidez vs Jose Uzcategui (12 rounds – super-middleweight)

      📺 Showtime (US) 📺
      🗓 September 11, Venue: TBC

      Stephen Fulton Jr. vs TBA (12 rounds – super-bantamweight, WBO title)

      Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury is slated to take place this summer
      Results
      🗓 April 17 – 🇺🇸 Miami, Florida

      Demetrius Andrade def. Liam Williams (12 rounds – middleweight, WBO title) UD12
      Carlos Gongora def. Christopher Pearson (12 rounds – super-middleweight, IBO title) TKO8

      🗓 April 17 – 🇺🇸 Atlanta, Georgia

      Jake Paul def. Ben Askren KO1 (8 rounds – cruiserweight)
      Regis Prograis def. Ivan Redkach TD6 (10 rounds – super-lightweight)
      Joe Fournier def. Reykon RTD2 (6 rounds – light heavyweight)
      Steve Cunningham def. Frank Mir UD6 (6 rounds – heavyweight)

      🗓 April 10 – 🇺🇸 Uncasville, Connecticut

      Jaron Ennis def. Sergey Lipinets KO6 (12 rounds – welterweight)
      Eimantas Stanionis def. Thomas Dulorme UD12 (12 rounds – welterweight)

      🗓 April 10 – 🇺🇸 Tulsa, Oklahoma

      Joe Smith Jr def. Maxim Vlasov MD12 (12 rounds – light-heavyweight, WBO title)

      🗓 April 10 – 🇬🇧 London, England

      Conor Benn def. Samuel Vargas TKO1 (10 rounds – welterweights)
      Shannon Courtenay def. Ebanie Bridges UD10 (10 rounds – bantamweight, WBA title)
      Savannah Marshall def. Maria Lindberg KO3 (10 rounds – super-middleweight, WBO title)
      Kash Farooq def. Alexander Espinoza UD10 (10 rounds – bantamweight)
      John Hedges def. Milan Dvorak UD4 (4 rounds – super-middleweight)
      Nick Campbell def. Peter Frohlich TKO2 (4 rounds – heavyweight)

      🗓 April 3, 🇦🇪 Dubai, UAE

      Jamel Herring def. Carl Frampton TKO6 (12 rounds – super-featherweight, WBO title)

      Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      🗓 March 27 – 🇬🇮 Gibraltar

      Dillian Whyte def. Alexander Povetkin TKO4 (12 rounds – heavyweight)
      Ted Cheeseman def. James Metcalf KO11 (12 rounds – super-welterweight)
      Fabio Wardley def. Eric Molina KO6 (10 rounds – heavyweight)
      Campbell Hatton def. Jesus Ruiz UD4 (4 rounds – super-featherweight)
      Youssef Khoumari def. Kane Baker TKO5 (8 rounds – super-featherweight)
      Michael McKinson def. Chris Kongo UD10 (10 rounds – welterweight)
      Nick Webb def. Eric Pfeifer (6 rounds – heavyweight)

      🗓 March 27 – 🇬🇧 London, England

      Lennox Clarke def. Willy Hutchinson TKO5 (12 rounds – super-middleweight)
      Nathan Gorman def. Pavel Sour TKO2 (10 rounds – heavyweight)

      🗓 March 26 – 🇬🇧 London, England

      Zach Parker def. Vaughn Alexander TKO2 (12 rounds – super-lightweight)

      🗓 March 20 – 🇺🇸 Fort Worth, Texas

      Vergil Ortiz Jr def. Maurice Hooker TKO7 (12 rounds – welterweight)

      🗓 March 20 – 🇷🇺 Moscow, Russia

      Artur Beterbiev def. Adam Deines TKO10 (12 rounds – light-heavyweight, WBC & IBF titles)

      🗓 March 20 – 🇬🇧 London, England

      Lawrence Okolie def. Krzysztof Glowacki TKO6 (12 rounds – cruiserweight, WBO title)
      Anthony Fowler def. Jorge Fortea TKO3 (10 rounds – super-welterweight)
      Chris Billam-Smith def. Deion Jumah UD10 (12 rounds – cruiserweight)
      Joe Cordina def. Faroukh Kourbanov MD10 (10 rounds – super-featherweight)
      Ramla Ali def. Bec Connolly UD6 (6 rounds – featherweight)
      Ellie Scotney def. Mailys Gangloff UD6 (6 rounds – featherweight)

      🗓 March 13 – 🇺🇸 Dallas, Texas

      Juan Francisco Estrada def. Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez SD12 (12 rounds – super-flyweight – WBA, WBC world titles)
      Jessica McCaskill def. Cecilia Braekhus UD10 (10 rounds – welterweight, WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO titles)
      Hiroto Kyoguchi def. Axel Vega TKO5 (12 rounds – junior flyweight, WBA title)
      Austin Williams def. Denis Douglin UD8 (8 rounds – middleweight)
      Raymond Ford DREW w/ Aaron Perez (8 rounds – featherweight) More

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      Dillian Whyte BLASTS Andy Ruiz Jr’s comeback against Chris Arreola as ‘joke fight from fake Mexican’

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      DILLIAN WHYTE believes Andy Ruiz Jr has taken a ‘garbage fight’ in his comeback against Chris Arreola as he blasted the former heavyweight world champion.The Mexican-American faces the Nightmare on May 1 in what will be his first outing since losing his rematch against Anthony Joshua in December 2019.
      Dillian Whyte has been linked with a fight to face Andy Ruiz Jr at the end of the yearCredit: The Sun
      Ruiz Jr will be making his comeback to the ring on May 1 to battle Chris ArreolaCredit: Marc Aspland – The Times
      And Ruiz Jr is looking in great shape for the dust-up after shedding two stone since linking up with new trainer Eddy Reynoso.
      Should he emerge victorious, he could face Whyte at the end of the year, with Eddie Hearn revealing to SunSport that a fight could materialise.
      The Body Snatcher is confident Ruiz Jr will secure a knockout win as he criticised the level of boxer he is competing against.
      Speaking to Sky Sports, Whyte said: “A strategic comeback fight. It’s a fight that’s going to make him look good.
      “Make him look like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s this and he’s that,’ but on paper it’s not.
      “If you run it on paper, it’s not, because Chris Arreola is shot. Chris Arreola has been shot for a few years.
      “If he was fighting Chris Arreola a few years ago, people would be like, ‘No, that’s a garbage fight.’ Now it’s the same, if not worse.
      “He was a decent fighter in his heyday but he’s been retired for two years since losing to Adam Kownacki.

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      “It’s a good strategic move from his team, him coming back and he’ll bash Arreola. ‘Andy Ruiz, yeah he’s back, and he’s motivated, and he looked so good.’
      “Let’s be honest, it’s Chris Arreola he’s fighting. Typical joke fight from the fake Mexican.”
      Whyte forced himself back into world title contention in March when he knocked out Alexander Povetkin in his must-win rematch.
      Commenting on what the future holds for Whyte, Matchroom promoter Hearn claimed that the 33-year-old could fight in American next.
      He told SunSport: “I feel like he needs to go and enjoy himself and by doing that, go to the US and raise his profile in a good fight in New York in the summer or something like that, that’s what we’re looking at. 
      “I think realistically the bigger fight with Dillian is going to come at the end of the year. Whether that is Ruiz or Wilder.”
      Dillian Whyte admits he would love to smash Deontay Wilder’s face in More

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      Tyson Fury ‘living the dream’ as Brit heavyweight chills in sunglasses and gold robe in Vegas training for Joshua fight

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      TYSON FURY is ‘living the dream’ in Las Vegas as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.The Gypsy King is currently training in Sin City with Jorge Capetillo for his long-awaited undisputed heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua.
      Tyson Fury is currently in Las Vegas preparing for his showdown with Anthony Joshua
      Tyson Fury dons a dapper Versace robe in his plush Vegas digsCredit: Twitter @Tyson_Fury
      Tyson Fury is certainly making the most of his time in Sin CityCredit: Instagram / @gypsyking101
      And the change of scenery has clearly left the WBC heavyweight titleholder in a good mood.
      On Tuesday, Fury tweeted a picture of himself looking dapper in a gold Versace dressing gown in his Vegas digs.
      The photo’s accompanying caption read: “Living the dream.”
      Fury’s long-awaited showdown with Joshua moved a huge step closer to coming to fruition last week when the pair agreed on a venue for their blockbuster showdown.
      Saudi Arabia has landed the first of the duo’s two multi-million-pound fights.
      July 24, July 31 and August 7 are the three dates currently on the table.

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      An official announcement is expected within the next two weeks.
      Fury’s co-promoter, Bob Arum, told Boxing Scene: “It’s going to have to be within the next 10 days, maybe two weeks.
      “It’s a massive economic deal.”
      Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, insists the biggest fight in the history of British boxing is close to being finalised.
      He told The Telegraph: “We all know now that both sides have signed the contract, they have both accepted one specific proposal and we are finalising that with contracts going backwards and forwards and tiny, tiny points getting ironed out.
      Bob Arum has revealed Saudi Arabia have landed the first instalment of Joshua vs FuryCredit: Getty
      “We haven’t finalised an exact date, July 24 is the rough date but it may leak into early August but no later than that.
      “The Olympics will be a different timezone so it’s not really in the mindset.”
      He later added: “There is no hold-up.
      “You get a written offer come in, from there you accept the offer, which we have done, and then it is on to long form contracts for the site agreement.

      “That’s where we are now. It’s a huge deal, so it is not something that requires just one draft.
      “There have been drafts going backwards and forwards between our lawyers and Top Rank’s lawyers.
      “I have missed a couple of deadlines so I don’t want to keep coming up with new ones.
      “It’s close. There is zero hold-up.”
      Eddie Hearn confirms Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have agreed on venue More

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      Andy Ruiz Jr shows off his epic body transformation ahead of return after shedding two stone since Anthony Joshua defeat

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      ANDY RUIZ JR is looking in tip-top shape for his fresh assault on the heavyweight crown.The former world champion shocked fans when downing Anthony Joshua in 2019 despite his portly frame.
      Andy Ruiz Jr claims to be at 257lbs ahead of his return to the ringCredit: Marc Aspland – The Times
      Andy Ruiz Jr has told reporters he’s currently weighing 257lbs, two weeks out from his return against Chris Arreola.He weighed 268lbs for the first Anthony Joshua fight and 283lbs for the rematch.PBC/FOX showed this image comparison during their broadcast last night. pic.twitter.com/tj30JD9CMG— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) April 18, 2021

      And he piled on even more pounds, after enjoying the lifestyle that comes with being world heavyweight king, for his rematch defeat to the Brit in December 2019.
      It defeat remains his last appearance in the ring, but that changes on May 1 when the 31-year-old meets Chris Arreola in California.
      Ahead of the fight, Ruiz Jr has switched up his training regime and shed two stone in comparison to his AJ loss.
      The Mexican-American weighed in at 268lbs when defeating Joshua and 283lbs in their December 2019 rematch.
      But, after a fresh image of the fighter was released by PBC/Fox, via Michael Benson, Ruiz Jr is down at 257lbs as the fight draws into view.
      Should he get back into winning form, a potential showdown with Dillian Whyte is on the cards – as revealed by SunSport earlier this month.
      Ruiz Jr will face veteran championship contender Arreola in confident mood having revamped his training routine.
      He told Fight Hub TV: “I’ve always been overweight and now I’ve been dropping weight normally and in the right way; by eating right, not just wearing the sauna suit, starving yourself…
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      “Because that’s what I used to do back in the day. But now that we’re eating the right things, we’re working on the right things, I feel amazing.
      “I can do better stuff that I couldn’t do before because of my big gut, I had chi-chis, I had t**s that wouldn’t let me throw the right punches and all that.
      “But now I’m more motivated, I’m more dedicated in this sport and sky’s the limit.”

      Tyson Fury meets up with Anthony Joshua’s conqueror Andy Ruiz Jr for first time at Las Vegas charity event More

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      Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury ‘will be first PPV available on both Sky Sports AND BT Sport with rivals sharing spoils’

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’S heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury will be available on pay-per-view with Sky Sports AND BT Sport, according to Bob Arum.It would be the first time a PPV boxing fight can be watched on either channel in the UK.
      Fans will be able to watch Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury on Sky Sports or BT Sport in the UK this summerCredit: Mark Robinson
      Joshua has his own deal with Sky whereas WBC king Fury’s contract is with rivals BTCredit: PA:Press Association
      Fury’s American co-promoter Arum revealed the news – and added ESPN will get the rights in America, not DAZN who have aired Joshua’s last four fights.
      The Top Rank chief told Boxing Scene: “You will be able to buy it on BT or buy it on Sky, it can’t be exclusive to either.
      “Obviously, the big market is the UK, where everyone is talking it will do three million homes.”
      However, SunSport understands Arum’s comments regarding BT Sport’s guaranteed involvement are premature.
      No concrete decisions will be made on broadcast deals until the date and venue are confirmed.
      It is unclear how much fans will have to pay to get access for the fight with details yet to be finalised.
      Joshua has his own deal with Sky whereas WBC king Fury’s contract is with rivals BT.
      This broadcasting deadlock threatened to scupper the unification heavyweight bout.
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      But Arum’s comments suggest British boxing fans will now get their choice of presenters and pundits for the mammoth Battle of Britain.
      Eddie Hearn, promoter for the WBA, WBO and IBF champ AJ, revealed how the negotiations developed for both broadcasters to show the fight.
      He said: “It is quite easy because the worst case scenario is everyone shares it and everyone will do that anyway. But we need to maximise the revenue for the fighters. 
      “In the UK, AJ has an exclusive deal with Sky, Fury has matching price deal with BT, in America Fury has an exclusive deal with ESPN and AJ has a matching deal with DAZN. 
      “I can’t talk on behalf of Sky but Sky will feel probably quite comfortable that they will get the majority of buys in that instance. 
      “If it means them getting the fight, I can’t see any obstacles. There is no one saying no, everyone is saying we need to get this done.”
      Asked about his client’s contract ending with Sky Sports, Hearn added: “There are extensions on that, ongoing discussions as well, and there will be some interesting news on that soon about a new partnership with us but that has got a little bit longer. 
      “Obviously with the force majeure and the delay in fights it puts it back but he has one fight left with Sky. 

      “Hopefully his two fights with Fury which are due to take place this year, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t be on Sky regardless of what we are doing anyway.”
      The first part of AJ and Fury’s two-fight deal is expected to take place indoors in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 24.
      A rematch is then expected to be staged in the UK later in 2021.
      Joshua’s Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn said: “We all know now that both sides have signed the contract, they have both accepted one specific proposal and we are finalising that with contracts going backwards and forwards and tiny, tiny points getting ironed out.
      “We haven’t finalised an exact date, July 24 is the rough date but it may leak into early August but no later than that. The Olympics will be a different timezone so it’s not really in the mindset.
      “It will be peak time UK, middle of the night in Tokyo, there will not be a TV clash.
      “There is going to be a crowd, indoors obviously, so up to 20,000.”
      Joshua will put his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles on the line in the Battle of BritainCredit: PA
      Bob Arum, right, made the comments surrounding the broadcast deals in an interview with Boxing SceneCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Tyson Fury promises to show what a real man does to a fake one when he fights Anthony Joshua in unification clash More

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      Barry Hearn steps down as Matchroom Sport boss after almost 40 years with son Eddie replacing legendary promoter

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      BARRY HEARN, Britain’s leading sports promoter, has retired with immediate effect and is stepping down as chairman of Matchroom Sport.The 72-year-old has been at the forefront of top-level sport in the UK for the past four decades, transforming Steve Davis, Phil Taylor, Chris Eubank and Anthony Joshua into prime-time sporting royalty.
      Barry Hearn will be replaced by his son Eddie, who has promoted Anthony Joshua for the past decadeCredit: PA
      Hearn has seen the popularity of PDC darts grow significantly this centuryCredit: PA:Press Association
      The announcement he will move away from day-to-day operational duties comes more than a year after he suffered a “mild heart attack” and underwent emergency surgery to insert two stents. It is also just six months since he was struck down with Covid.
      Hearn, a chartered accountant, established Matchroom Sport in April 1982 and the organisation globally promotes darts, snooker, boxing, fishing, pool, tenpin bowling and golf.
      Son Eddie, 41, will take over the running of the company as its new chairman – which includes responsibility for PDC darts and PGA EuroPro golf – but he will retain his influential and powerful role as the head of boxing.
      Hearn’s daughter Katie will remain in charge of the recently-launched Matchroom Media.
      Steve Dawson, CEO of World Snooker Limited, will take over running of snooker after the conclusion of the 2021 Betfred World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
      Hearn will now become group president in an advisory role and he said: “It has been a huge honour to have worked with some of the greatest sports people on the planet across the last 40 years.
      “I’ve enjoyed so many wonderful experiences across our spectrum of events in that time, from snooker’s glory days of the 1980s to record-breaking boxing shows and the incredible growth of professional darts. We have created opportunities for thousands of sportsmen and women during that time.
      “I’d been determined to stay in charge until this Covid disaster passed. Now there is light at the end of the tunnel, I believe it’s the right time to pass control of Matchroom to my son Eddie and the brilliant teams we’ve assembled across all our activities.

      Hearn, right, managed Steve Davis in the 1980s as he won six world snooker crownsCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “Now is the time to give all Matchroom employees the opportunity to take this great British company to the next level and beyond”.”
      Barry Maurice William Hearn, the son of a bus driver and a cleaner, was born in June 1948 and grew up in a post-war working-class council house in Dagenham, Essex.
      According to the 2020 edition of the Sunday Times, his family wealth is estimated to be £158million.
      It was in the smoky snooker and billiards halls of Romford in the 1970s where he spotted the talents of a fresh-faced, shy Steve Davis.
      A friendship and relationship developed there that would define both their lives and spark the halcyon days of the sport.
      On Easter Monday 1981, a sporting empire began when the 23-year-old Davis beat Doug Mountjoy 18-12 in the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible theatre in Sheffield. It was the first of six world titles and he dominated the baize throughout the 1990s.
      I’ve enjoyed so many wonderful experiences across our spectrum of events in that time, from snooker’s glory days of the 1980s to record-breaking boxing shows and the incredible growth of professional darts. Barry Hearn, sports promoter
      From there, the irrepressible entrepreneur moved into the world of boxing, locking horns with Don King and Frank Warren and promoting fights involving Eubank, Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno and Joe Bugner.
      However it is the riches surrounding the emergence of Joshua as a heavyweight world champion this past decade which have swelled the coffers of a company that avoided bankruptcy during the recession of the early 1990s.
      Hearn supported Leyton Orient since the age of 11 and owned the club for 19 years, overseeing their promotion as chairman to League One in 2006.
      Yet he was often criticised by fans during his tenure for not overspending to improve the team and he later regretted selling the club in 2014 to businessman Francesco Becchetti.
      Awarded the OBE in the 2021 New Year Honours List for services to sport, opinionated and controversial Hearn retained the salesman chatter throughout his career, happily dishing out one-liners for the media and snappy soundbites to boost ticket sales.
      Though he won’t completely disappear from public life – officially he will advise on “group strategy and global expansion” – Hearn plans to spend more time with his four grandchildren.
      Other hobbies include playing golf, fishing at the lake at the bottom of his home and padding up this summer for East Hanningfield over-70s cricket XI in Essex.
      Hearn is working on an autobiography which will be out later this year and according to those involved, it tells the definitive and astonishing account of his life.
      Eddie said: “Anyone that knows me is well aware of what Matchroom means to me and our family.
      “It has a legacy that spans 40 years from a small office under a snooker hall in Romford to a global powerhouse of sports entertainment.
      “My father has dedicated his life to the company and since I joined in 2004 I have done the same.
      “Now a greater responsibility falls on my shoulders and I am very proud to continue his great work and lead the business and the incredible team that we have built at Matchroom.”
      Boxing legend Barry Hearn suffers heart attack and has operation as son Eddie reveals he is ‘in good spirits’ More