Heavyweight boxing

FRANK WARREN reckons Tyson Fury’s undisputed heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua is in danger of being delayed until SEPTEMBER.The biggest fight in the history of British boxing is close to being finalised, with both fighters and their respective teams going over the lucrative site offers they’ve recently received.
Frank Warren reckons Tyson Fury’s clash with Anthony Joshua could be delayed until SeptemberCredit: AFP
Warren reckons Rob McCracken’s involvement at the summer Olympics could delay the fightCredit: Getty
July 24 has been earmarked as the date for the long-awaited Battle of Britain, although Warren reckons AJ’s coach’s involvement at the Olympics could scupper those plans.
Fury’s co-promoter told talkSPORT: “I’m seeing all these various stories, ‘It’s gonna be Wembley on July 24,’ and so forth.
“But I don’t see how any of that can happen in July or even early August from my perspective.
“Robert McCracken is AJ’s trainer, he’s also our Olympic team’s head coach, so he’s gonna be in Japan – I think the Olympics start on July 23, and I don’t know what the quarantine period is.
“He can’t be in two places at once. That’s if Robert McCracken’s still training AJ, maybe he’s not training the Olympic squad, I’m not sure. That’s one issue.
“I don’t believe this fight will go on until – if it’s late August we’ll be very lucky, maybe September.”

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Saudi Arabia, Qatar, China, and Singapore have all expressed an interest in hosting Joshua vs Fury.
But talks over staging the multi-million-pound bout at Wembley have also been had.
Warren added: “We’ve been having discussions at government level with a view to try and get this fight on in the UK if nothing else comes in from elsewhere.
“I’m hoping something will come in from elsewhere.
“We’ve had really good responses from them [the government], they’ve been very helpful and our discussions continue.”
Frank Warren is hopeful an agreement can be finalised in the coming daysCredit: Getty
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is confident the fight will be finalised in the near future, saying last weekend: “We are very close.
“Tomorrow [Sunday] both guys will be presented with the options for a fight in the summer.
“Joshua doesn’t talk much about fights – but he talks when it’s close. You can feel the excitement building.
“We are in a great place with several offers on the table. I’m quietly confident. It was nice to see Fury post with enthusiasm because he feels that we are close.
“The teams will get together. I will try to see Bob Arum on Tuesday. We’re nearly there. We have worked really hard and we don’t want to give in.

“It [Wembley] will be presented. Financially, it’s not at the races.
“The question is: can we get 100,000 fans on July 24, the potential date in London? The answer is ‘we hope so’. It is difficult to make a decision on that basis.
“This is why it’s taking longer than expected. It’s the logistics, testing policies, crowds.
“But now is the time to make this fight. Now. The summer. We may not get this opportunity again.
“Both guys accept that and are ready for the challenge.”
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TYSON FURY has proven time and again he is a man who will just not stay down. The Gypsy King is unbeaten in 31 fights, with just one blemish on his record, a 2018 draw against Deontay Wilder.
Steve Cunningham floored Tyson Fury in 2013Credit: Action Images – Reuters
Tyson Fury got up from the floor and beat Steve CunninghamCredit: Action Images – Reuters
That night Fury – who was only two fights in during his sensational comeback – was twice floored by Wilder.
But each time he got back up to fight on, and in the eyes of many was unfortunate not to win the WBC title on points.
In the final round, a three-punch combination looked to have laid out Fury, until he miraculously rose to beat the count.
It left those watching on stunned – but it is not the first time he has hit the deck, brushed himself down, and boxed on.
Fury made his US debut in 2013, when he travelled to New York to face former cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham.
In round two, disaster struck as the visiting Brit moved off with his hands down and was nailed with a looping hook over the top.
Clearly not as ferocious as Wilder’s right hand in Los Angeles, but still Fury was on his backside.
Amazingly, as he did with the Bronze Bomber, the 6ft 9in switch-hitter retaliated with pure aggression and ended the round on top.

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Fury eventually closed the show in the Big Apple against Cunningham, battering him on the ropes before a right hand finished the job.
And despite his 12th round heroics against Wilder, 35, he would have to wait until the Las Vegas rematch to enact revenge.
But he did so in fine fashion, dropping the American twice before beating him into submission in round seven in February 2020.
It has set him up with an undisputed title decider against long-time rival Anthony Joshua.
Fury, 32, and Joshua, 31, are both being presented with site deals to host their lucrative unification.
Tyson Fury picked himself up off the deck in round 12 against Deontay Wilder in 2018Credit: AP:Associated Press
Deontay Wilder was twice dropped by Tyson Fury in their 2020 rematchCredit: Getty More

TYSON FURY showed off his lean body by a hotel pool as he begins training to fight Anthony Joshua. Fury is currently out in Las Vegas starting preparations for an undisputed title decider with AJ.
Las Vegas trainer Jorge Capetillo with Tyson FuryCredit: Instagram / @gypsyking101
Tyson Fury enjoying the sun poolsideCredit: Instagram / @gypsyking101
He linked up with local coach Jorge Capetillo, who once worked as a cut man for the Gypsy King, and worked out in Top Rank’s Sin City gym.
Fury was captured hitting the heavy bag and pads with US amateur standout Emiliano Vargas, son to ex-world champion Fernando.
And he hailed his sponsor Wow Hydrate for setting up his sunny trip to Sin City.
Fury said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Wow Hydrate for looking after us and bringing the Gypsy King to Vegas.
“Living like an absolute rockstar, so big shoutout to Wow Hydrate, the best sponsor in the game, the best drink in the game, pushing to be the best.”
Fury, 32, and Joshua, 31, signed a two-fight deal in March, and promoters gave themselves a 28-day period to have a venue and date set in stone.
That deadline expired last weekend, but various site deals have been presented to both camps.
Official offers have been made for a proposed July unification, with the heavyweight pair left to decide what deal they prefer most.

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It is understood Saudi Arabia – who paid mega-money for AJ’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 – are leading the race.
But David Haye fears Deontay Wilder will not go quietly having launched a legal case to revive his chance of a trilogy with Fury.
Wilder, 35, was beaten in February but invoked his right to an immediate rematch.
But amid the coronavirus pandemic, the third fight between the two stalled, with Fury’s side believing the stipulation expired in October.
As a result, they moved on with talks to face Joshua, but Haye, 40, warned Wilder will not surrender without a fight.
He told SunSport: “I have never heard of a long-running world champion – like Deontay Wilder was – not having a rematch clause in place in case he loses.
“Deontay himself has been very quiet, the team around him have not given much away but I would be very surprised if does not have some sort of impact in the making of this fight or gets something out of it not being him Fury is facing next.”
Tyson Fury hitting the pads with US amateur standout Emiliano VargasCredit: Instagram / @emilianofvargas
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TYSON FURY has written off Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight chances and tipped Joe Joyce to ‘nail him’. Usyk was the undisputed cruiserweight king before he moved up to heavyweight, where he has won twice.
Joe Joyce pictured with Tyson FuryCredit: Refer to Caption
Oleksandr Usyk’s heavyweight chances have been written off by Tyson FuryCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
He is currently Anthony Joshua’s mandatory challenger, but with Fury in line for an undisputed title decider, the Ukrainian will fight for the interim belt.
And the man lined up for Usyk is unbeaten Joyce, who was beaten by the masterful southpaw in the amateurs.
But the Gypsy King backs his fellow Brit to gain revenge in the pros and run through the London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist.
Fury, 32, told Behind The Gloves: “Easy, Joyce stopping him. I don’t think Usyk is the big threat everyone once thought he was a few years ago.
“When he was a cruiserweight, he was good. He’s had two fights at heavyweight and struggled in both of them, really.
“He didn’t look great against Chazz Weatherspoon, Weatherspoon was out the ring years and years and years.
“And he didn’t look good against Chisora. I thought Chisora nicked a draw to be honest. So yeah, he didn’t look great.
“And I think big Joe will walk through him, be like a middleweight versus a super-heavyweight and I fancy big Joe to nail him.”

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Usyk, 34, became Joshua’s mandatory challenger as soon as he moved up to heavyweight, per a ruling by the WBO.
But he will have to settle for the interim strap for now, which promises him a title shot or the chance to inherit it if the belt becomes vacant.
Talks with Joyce, 35, have stalled as of late, as Usyk pushed to get the next shot at Joshua, 31, ahead of Fury, 32.
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TYSON FURY congratulated Dillian Whyte for avenging his loss to Alexander Povetkin – but thought the Russian ‘looked 110 years old’. Whyte was knocked out and lost his status as Fury’s WBC mandatory in August after a stunning left uppercut.
Tyson Fury congratulated Dillian Whyte for avenging his loss to Alexander PovetkinCredit: Instagram / @gypsykingofficialmerchandise
Alexander Povetkin was KOd by Dillian Whyte in their rematchCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
But the Brit boxed with his career on the line in the rematch at the end of March, and returned the favour with an equally devastating left hook finish.
Fury, who has had a long-running feud with former training partner Whyte, praised his rival, but questioned 41-year-old Povetkin, who did have a serious bout of coronavirus earlier in the year.
He told Behind The Gloves: “I watched it. I thought he did well and avenged his loss, fair play to him.
“He can only beat who’s in front of him, but to be honest with you though, Povektin looked 110 years old, he looked finished.
“He had no legs underneath him. But still, they all take knocking out, so fair play. I’m not here to slate anybody’s performances.
“I didn’t slate him when he got chinned and I’m not going to slate him now he has won. So fair play to the guy.”
Fury, 32, is in America to support his close friend Billy Joe Saunders, 31, who fights Canelo Alvarez, 30, on May 8.
The WBC champion, who beat Deontay Wilder, 35, in February 2020, is also setting up his training camp to face Anthony Joshua, 31.

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The heavyweight superstars are being presented with dates and venues for their undisputed title decider, planned to be fought over two legs.
It leaves Whyte, 32, and the rest of the contenders facing a wait on the sidelines.
But Fury, who first drew to Wilder in 2018 before winning their rematch, warned that his old rival has the beating of everyone else, including AJ and Whyte.
He said: “I don’t think he can beat Deontay Wilder.
“I have no love for Wilder, I think he is a piece of s*** dosser but I am the only man who can beat him.
“I am not a betting man but I would put a lot of money on Wilder beating all the others.”

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