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      Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua takes another twist as promoter claims there’s been no contact despite Eddie Hearn’s claim

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      TYSON FURY’s team have yet to hold talks over a summer showdown with Anthony Joshua – despite Eddie Hearn’s recent claim.Hearn insisted earlier this month that Fury co-promoter Bob Arum reached out to him in the wake of AJ’s return to the win column against Jermaine Franklin to discuss the fight.
      Anthony Joshua made a beeline for Tyson Fury after beating Jermaine FranklinCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
      Eddie Hearn recently claimed he’d spoken to Fury co-promoter Bob Arum about the boutCredit: REUTERS
      George Warren has claimed AJ’s reps have yet to speak to them about the Fury fightCredit: QUEENSBERRY PROMOTIONS
      But Queensbury promotions’ George Warren – the son of Frank – insists there has been no contact over the long-awaited Battle of Britain.
      He told Sky Sports: “I don’t know the answer to that.
      “The other side spoke a lot about wanting to reach out and contact us after the fight with Franklin.
      “We’ve not heard anything, not had any contact, so there’s been nothing to discuss with Tyson.
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      “They made it quite clear pre-Franklin fight that they wanted to maybe look at that fight for the summer.
      “They thought maybe there was an opportunity.
      “I haven’t heard from them. I haven’t had a phone call, I haven’t spoken to anyone about it. You’d have to ask them.”
      Joshua, 33, opened the door for a domestic dust-up with Fury after his scrappy points win over Franklin at the O2 a fortnight ago.
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      The former two-time unified heavyweight champion said in his post-fight interview: “You know me, I like to provide for the fans.
      “I know who the fans want. Who do the fans want? They said Fury?
      “The ball is in his court, I will 100 per cent be honoured to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.
      “I stand here and say that proudly, it would be an honour, so wherever you are if you’re listening.
      “You know my management, you know my promoter.
      Anthony Joshua made a beeline for Tyson Fury after beating FranklinCredit: GETTY
      “We’ve had dialect before, so let’s continue this and hopefully we can get this on sooner rather than later. We ain’t getting any younger.”
      Fury, 34, is currently without an opponent following the collapse of his undisputed heavyweight title fight with pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.
      And Arum has revealed talks over The Gypsy King’s next move will begin next week.
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      He said: “Joyce would be a possibility, assuming he gets by the Chinese fighter [Zhilei Zhang, on Saturday night], because Tyson wants to fight this summer.
      “And Andy Ruiz would be a possibility. We’re gonna be talking to Tyson next week.” More

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      Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz is no shock after Tommy Fury kicked his ass, he’s almost 40 and a non-boxer, says Michael Bisping

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      MICHAEL BISPING taunted Jake Paul for choosing to fight Nate Diaz in his boxing return. The YouTuber-turned boxer is set to face ex-UFC star Diaz on August 5 in Texas over eight rounds at a catchweight of 185lb.
      Tommy Fury beat Jake Paul on pointsCredit: AFP
      Nate Diaz is set to fight Jake Paul nextCredit: Getty
      It will be his fourth opponent with an MMA background, following wins over Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 40, and Anderson Silva, 48.
      But when Paul, 26, fought the first recognised boxer in his career in Tommy Fury, 23, he was beaten by split-decision.
      So UFC legend Bisping was left unsurprised when the American chose to snub a rematch with Fury to instead focus on Diaz.
      He said on his YouTube channel: “Nate Diaz, this will be a fun fight.
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      “Nate Diaz is no walk in the park – very, very tough, extremely hard to finish. Granted, he’s not a boxer. He’s almost 40 years old.
      “He’s got a great submission game – you can’t use that. But the hands of Nate Diaz are good. You cannot deny that.
      “I’m not hating on Jake Paul, but this is the pattern, this is the flow. It’s an almost 40 non-boxer.
      “It’s a guy that’s a submission specialist with decent hands, and he’s much smaller.
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      “Diaz is very tall – he’s not a small man by any stretch of the imagination.
      “But he did fight the majority of his career as a lightweight, OK? So it is going to be very interesting to see how this goes down.”
      Paul looked set to invoke his rematch clause with Fury, after the success of their Saudi Arabia grudge match which drew 800,000 pay-per-view buys.
      But Bisping, 44, believes the social media sensation has played it safe by choosing to fight Diaz in his return.
      He said: “You do learn more from your losses than what you do in your victories, but he’s not talking about that.
      “He’s saying, ‘Listen, everyone just thinks I’m vulnerable.’
      “Well, you were clearly showing that when you first went up against a professional boxer – not a basketballer, not a wrestler, not a past-his-prime MMA guy. (Fury) was a boxer.
      “He was young, he was a novice boxer, and you got beat fair and square. So you are more vulnerable, but it’s not the best thing that’s happened to your career.
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      “He stepped up against Tommy and he got his ass kicked. Let’s be honest. Maybe not kicked. He got beat fair and bloody square, though.”
      British UFC legend Michael BispingCredit: Getty More

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      Tyson Fury’s team say Joe Joyce is in line for world title fight with stadiums being booked for Gypsy King’s return

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      JOE JOYCE could fight his way into a stadium world title fight against Tyson Fury in the summer. Joyce returns tonight against Zhilei Zhang, 39, defending the WBO interim title he won against Joseph Parker, 31, in September.
      Joe Joyce could fight his way into a world title shotCredit: Getty
      And another statement victory could pave the way for the 2016 Olympic silver medallist, 37, to earn his shot at the big time.
      Promoter George Warren told Sky Sports: “Joe is looking to put on a good performance, a devastating performance, like he did against Parker and keep building on that momentum.
      “If Joyce comes through a tough fight with a big performance, he puts himself in that conversation.”
      Joyce has been made to wait for his world title challenge after Fury, 34, and Usyk, 36, negotiated a unification bout.
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      But the four-belt undisputed decider – the first in heavyweight history – collapsed amid a row over the split for a potential rematch.
      As a result, Usyk has been ordered into a WBA mandatory defence against Daniel Dubois, 25, with talks ongoing.
      It leaves Fury in need of a new opponent for the summer with the likes of Joyce and ex-champion Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, linked.
      Warren, son of Hall of Famer Frank, revealed they are set for talks with the Gypsy King having reserved stadium venues for his return.
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      He said to iFL TV: “The first question that Tyson has got to answer, and he’ll do that with us when we sit down address it. First, does he want to be active, does he want to fight?
      “We’ve got some dates held; we’ve got stadiums held for the summer for him. If we’re going to be doing something for him, we’re going to need to hear that decision fairly soon.
      “Then we can build up a short list of available opponents and ones that are actually available and want to do it and are serious about trying to make the fight with Tyson.
      “We’ll assess that and try and make the best decision as to what’s available and can we make it work.”
      Tyson Fury is in line for a summer return fightCredit: Getty More

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      Anthony Joshua urged to avoid heavyweight rival by Roy Jones Jr who reveals the ‘issue’ Brit is dealing with

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      ROY JONES JR has voiced the issue he believes is holding back Anthony Joshua – leaving him vulnerable to his heavyweight rivals. AJ returned at the start of April with victory on points over Jermaine Franklin, following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
      Boxing legend and trainer Roy Jones JrCredit: Getty
      Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Jermaine FranklinCredit: Getty
      And despite largely controlling the contest, Joshua failed to produce the fireworks which would have announced him back on the scene.
      Joshua’s win – his first since 2020 – keeps talk of super-fights against Tyson Fury, 34, and Deontay Wilder, 37, alive.
      But boxing legend-turned coach Jones has urged AJ to swerve fearsome puncher Wilder as he gets to grips on his comeback trail.
      He told ID Boxing: “It’s a very tough fight for him. I love AJ to death and I think he’s a great fighter.
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      “But his issue right now is dealing with punches coming back at him, so you don’t want to fight Wilder.
      “Those punches that will be coming at you from him are different to anybody else in the division, so he’s got to go get that taken care of before he goes in front of Wilder.”
      Following Joshua’s initial September 2021 loss to Usyk, 36, he parted ways with long-time cornerman Rob McCracken.
      But his American replacement Robert Garcia was also axed after defeat in the rematch last August.
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      Joshua has since linked up with Texan Derrick James and the two got off to winning ways against Franklin, 29.
      But Jones – who previously offered his services to AJ – believes the best is yet to come from the partnership.
      He said: “Sometimes it takes time for a fighter and trainer to get their whole aspect together.
      “Apparently, that hasn’t happened straight away, but if they stay together, then maybe they’ll finally get some continuity, but they definitely did get any in that first fight.
      “Hopefully they get better as they go, it sometimes takes bit of time for things to kick in for a fighter and they get on the same page.
      “So hopefully in the next couple of fights they’ll get better and start to gel, because in that fight they didn’t get much at all.”
      Anthony Joshua with trainer Derrick JamesCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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      Mike Tyson, 56, speaks out amid rumours of Jake Paul fight after watching Tommy Fury loss from ringside

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      MIKE TYSON has spoken out amid rumours of fighting Jake Paul. The boxing legend made a shock comeback in 2020 after 15 years out for an exhibition bout with fellow great Roy Jones Jr.
      Mike Tyson has spoken out amid rumours of fighting Jake PaulCredit: Getty
      Jake Paul poses with guests at the Boxing Bullies event in FloridaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      And both Tyson and Paul – who formed a friendship over the years – opened the door to a bout against each other.
      Iron Mike was even in Saudi Arabia in February to watch the YouTuber-turned prizefighter’s loss to Tommy Fury.
      But boxing’s youngest heavyweight champion has insisted he has no plans to fight Paul, or anyone else for that matter.
      Tyson, 56, said on his podcast: “I was just at the fight when he was fighting in Saudi Arabia. I’m not fighting nobody. I’m just chilling.”
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      The American icon – who first won the title aged 20 – watched from ringside as Paul fell to defeat via split-decision to Fury.
      And the pair looked set for a rematch following the success of their grudge match, which sold over 800,000 pay-per-views.
      But Paul instead cut a deal to fight ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 37, on August 5 in Texas over eight rounds at a 185lb catchweight.
      He has teased forming a new team in his Puerto Rico training base and warned Fury, 23, that their rivalry is not yet over.
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      Paul said in a YouTube video: “I have been in the gym since the day I got back from Saudi. I literally got off the flight, came home, and went on a four-mile jog.
      “I’ve been working out every single day, six days a week, filled with vengeance to come back and take what’s mine because I know I can beat Tommy.
      “That was the worst version of me possible. It just wasn’t my night, he was the better man, he had an amazing performance, and congrats to Tommy for that.
      “But I wanna come back and take what’s mine from that kid. I hope he enjoys it. Tommy, I hope you’re enjoying this victory.
      “You know, you earned it. Respect. Enjoy it for as long as possible because you’re not going to have the taste of victory on your tongue for a while.”
      Jake Paul was beaten by Tommy Fury on pointsCredit: Getty More

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      Tyson Fury set for fight talks NEXT WEEK with two opponents in the running… but NOT Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk

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      TYSON FURY is set for fight talks NEXT WEEK with two opponents in the running… but they are NOT Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk. Fury saw talks for a four-belt unification – the first in heavyweight history – against Usyk collapse at the 11th hour.
      Tyson Fury saw talks to fight Oleksandr Usyk collapseCredit: AFP
      Anthony Joshua called to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty
      It leaves the Gypsy King without an opponent but following Joshua’s return victory he called out his British rival.
      But neither Usyk or AJ are on Fury’s radar, after his US promoter Bob Arum named Joe Joyce and Andy Ruiz Jr as frontrunners.
      Arum told BoxingScene: “Joyce would be a possibility, assuming he gets by the Chinese fighter, because Tyson wants to fight this summer.
      “And Andy Ruiz would be a possibility. We’re gonna be talking to Tyson next week.”
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      Joyce, 37, returns tonight against Zhang Zhilei, 39, and with his eyes on Fury or Usyk’s title.
      Meanwhile Ruiz, 33, is yet to fight since beating Cuban Luis Ortiz, 44, in September and still remains advised by boxing mogul Al Haymon.
      Haymon’s stable regularly box on Showtime or Fox, but Arum does not see the TV allegiances as an issue for ESPN star Fury.
      He said: “If that was the fight we were gonna make, I don’t think Al would stand in the way because we would be offering [Ruiz] a big opportunity, for a nice payday.”
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      Joshua, 33, beat Jermaine Franklin, 29, in his comeback bout at the start of April and opened the door to facing Fury after.
      It comes after Usyk, 36, was ordered into a WBA mandatory defence against Daniel Dubois, 25, with negotiations ongoing.

      So it leaves Fury, 34, without an opponent for his summer return although a win for Joyce over Zhang sets up the Battle of Britain.
      Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang facing offCredit: Reuters More

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      Tyson Fury slammed by Joe Joyce after Oleksandr Usyk fight collapse as rival rages ‘what’s he been doing?’

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      JOE JOYCE has slammed Tyson Fury over broken promises and the collapse of his fight with Oleksandr Usyk. Joyce is currently the WBO interim champion and mandatory challenger for the belt held by Usyk.
      Joe Joyce weighing in to fight Zhilei ZhangCredit: Reuters
      Tyson Fury saw talks to fight Oleksandr Usyk collapseCredit: Getty
      But he has been made to wait for his shot, as the Ukrainian looked set to unify the division with Fury.
      Although talks for their four-belt undisputed decider – the first in heavyweight history – broke down amid a row over financials.
      And Fury failed to follow up on his vow to fight Joyce if the Usyk bout was scrapped, leaving the 2016 Olympic silver medallist fuming.
      Joyce told Pro Boxing Fans: “What about the Usyk fight then? He should’ve had that. What’s he been doing?

      “He said he wanted to fight me; he was going to fight me. He talks a lot, but he needs to back it up.”
      Talks for Fury’s historic title unification with Usyk fell apart at the 11th hour due to a disagreement over the purse split for a potential rematch.
      So the Gypsy King is now left without an opponent but is set for talks next week to determine his return fight in the summer.
      Meanwhile Usyk, 36, has been ordered into a WBA mandatory defence against Daniel Dubois, 25, with negotiations ongoing.
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      Joyce, 37, returns tonight against Zhilei Zhang, 39, and a statement performance could pave the way for his anticipated title shot.
      Promoter George Warren said to Sky Sports:  “Joe is looking to put on a good performance, a devastating performance, like he did against Parker and keep building on that momentum.
      “If Joyce comes through a tough fight with a big performance, he puts himself in that conversation.”
      Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang facing offCredit: Reuters More

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      Anthony Joshua ‘turned down rematch with Zhang’ with Joe Joyce’s upcoming opponent desperate for revenge after Olympics

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      ZHILEI ZHANG has accused Anthony Joshua of turning down the chance to face him again following their bout in the Olympics.The 6ft 6in 278-pounder fights Joe Joyce at the Copper Box tonight for the WBO interim title.
      Zhilei Zhang lost to Anthony Joshua in the 2012 OlympicsCredit: Getty
      Anthony Joshua has been called out to a rematch by Zhilei ZhangCredit: Rex
      It comes 11 years after he boxed Joshua in the 2012 Olympic quarter-finals, losing the super-heavyweight bout on points.
      But over a decade later and Zhang is still out for revenge and claimed he attempted a rematch this year following his own loss to Filip Hrgovic, 30.
      Although AJ later went on to face Jermaine Franklin, 29, in his comeback bout, winning on points at the start of April.
      Zhang told the Metro, via Freebets: “So, after the Hrgovic fight, my team reached out to Joshua’s team and tried to make the fight happen, but we had no confirmation from them, nothing solid.
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      “My team did reach out, there were a few conversations and then there was silence, with no outcome. Do I look at it as a no from him? Maybe.”
      Joshua, 33, went on to win gold at the London Games, setting up a two-time world title winning career in the professional ranks.
      Zhang, 39, captured silver and has championship aspirations of his own, including a rematch with AJ.
      He added: “I wish I could fight him again after our encounter in the Olympics, it would be a great fight in the professional division.”
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      Joyce, 37, is the mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s title and will defend that position against Zhang, who is eyeing a crack at the belt.
      He said: “If I win this fight, I want Usyk next. This fight is a WBO interim heavyweight title and also gives me a mandatory position.
      “So, Usyk would be next for me following a win against Joe Joyce.”
      Joe Joyce and Zhilei Zhang ahead of their fightCredit: Reuters More