Heavyweight boxing

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

JOE JOYCE reckons he is so well versed in boxing politics he could do a job as MP for Putney.The 37-year-old West London heavyweight was robbed of a 2016 Olympic gold by dubious judging.
Joe Joyce is set to lock horns with Zhilei Zhang in his next boxing matchCredit: Reuters
And now he has to wait in line while Daniel Dubois, who he beat in 2020, gets a crack at Oleksandr Usyk’s WBA, IBF and WBO belts ahead of him.
Thankfully, while Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder drop in the popularity polls over their ducking or delays, the unbeaten Juggernaut is taking huge fights.
But the bachelor of fine arts could have had a degree in boxing’s dark arts by now and manages a smile when asked how he copes with the frustrating hurt business.
Ahead of his Copper Box showdown with 6ft, 6in Chinese southpaw Zhilei Zhang, Joyce told SunSport: “Again with the boxing politics, it seems to be the bane of my f*****g career.
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“I have never had it easy, going back to those Olympic finals.
“And now I have to meander through the pro game, walking through opponents and jumping over hurdles just to fight the top guys.
“I reckon I could do a job as an MP after all this, I have ended up having to be quite the diplomat.
“I’ve talked about going back to university after the boxing career to do an art Masters but maybe I’ll retrain and take my politics experience into a ­second job.”
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Joyce did not even start boxing until he was 21 and spent a decade as an amateur before turning pro, so he has always been playing catch-up.
Early doubters deemed his unique style slow and clumsy.
 But now Joyce’s granite chin, relentless engine and thunderous power have made him a venerated veteran with a perfect 15-0 record, 14 of his victims being KO’d.
And the former rugby, diving and athletics ace and star student can look back on his old video nasties with pride, because it seems he has the rest of the division running scared.
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Joe Joyce has hinted at a career change in politics after finishing with boxingCredit: Getty
He said: “I like to critique myself after a fight.
“I like to look back and review my performance because, in the moment and with the adrenaline pumping, you don’t really know how you’re doing.
“When the punches are flying and the crowd is cheering it can fly by, so I like to get backstage or to the hotel and watch it all back.
“Watching some of my older fights, especially early ones in the amateurs, cringes me out a little bit but I can see how much my technique has really moved along.”
Joyce’s 2022 win over ex-world champ Joseph Parker was a fight-of-the-year contender, a bloody battle ended with a stunning left hook and the Kiwi’s first stoppage loss.
Joyce wants to win a world title before ending his boxing careerCredit: Reuters
And Joyce’s eyes light up when we tell him Parker and expert trainer Andy Lee said the KO artist boxed exactly how they anticipated but they had utterly no way of stopping him.
He beamed: “I am buzzing with that! That will do for me.
“I want to be considered a daunting task, I take that as a compliment.
“Some boxers are unpredictable but I guess everyone knows my style and it’s good for me that they can’t work it out or stop it.
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“It feels nice to start getting some of this credit because I was flying under the radar. Now I am climbing above the surface and hopefully beyond.
“It’s nice to be getting the support and the recognition — and the money ain’t bad either.” More

MIKE TYSON named a little-known opponent who he made PASS OUT as the toughest fight in his career. Tyson still reigns as the youngest heavyweight champion in history, following his 1986 knockout over Trevor Berbick aged just 20.
Mike Tyson poses for a portrait in 1987Credit: Getty
The American legend went on to face some of the biggest names in boxing history.
That includes Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis – but none stand out to Tyson as much as Pinklon Thomas.
Iron Mike knocked out Thomas in round six of their 1987 bout, but one onslaught of combination punching sticks in the memory.
Asked by History Bites on what his hardest fight was, Tyson revealed: “I thought it was Pinklon Thomas, he was my toughest opponent.
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“I never thought him, but two years ago I watched the tape of him, a friend of mine told me to watch it.
“I hit him with seventeen punches, flat, on the face, he went down but it was seventeen punches!
“Seventeen punches, flush, all of them were as hard as they could be and the last one he just passed out.
“I thought ‘God, that is my toughest fight, he took seventeen on the chin!’”
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Thomas, now 65, had a respectable career, winning the WBC title against Tim Witherspoon in 1984.
He went on to retire following defeat to Lawrence Carter in 1993, after bouts against Berbick, Holyfield and Riddick Bowe.
Tyson, 56, meanwhile hung up his gloves in 2005 in the aftermath of dismal defeats to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.
But he made a shock comeback in 2020 for an exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr.
And despite speculation over a similar spectacle bout against YouTube star Jake Paul, 26, Tyson confirmed he is staying retired.
He said on his podcast: “No way. I’m not fighting nobody, I’m just chilling.”
Mike Tyson is staying retired from boxingCredit: Getty More

JOE JOYCE has revealed his three-fight hitlist – and it does NOT include Oleksandr Usyk. The 2016 Olympic silver medallist returns on Saturday against China’s Zhilei Zhang at the Copper Box.
Joe Joyce ahead of his fight with Zhilei ZhangCredit: Getty
Joyce is the WBO interim champion and mandatory for Usyk’s belt – meaning he is guaranteed a title shot.
The Ukrainian and Tyson Fury were set to unify all four world titles for the first time in heavyweight history.
But talks for the historic undisputed decider broke down amid a row over financials for a potential rematch.
It leaves Joyce ready to step in and face Fury himself, or Deontay Wilder, 37, and Anthony Joshua, 33.
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He told BBC Sport: “Fury said he wants to fight me, so I can fight him after the Usyk fight. Then for bants I can fight Joshua or Wilder.”
Joyce, 37, knocked out Joseph Parker, 31, in September to regain his position in pole for the WBO belt.
But with Fury, 34, and Usyk, 36, still expected to meet in a title unification this year, the contender must keep busy.
And he will do so against fellow Olympian Zhang, 39, who was beaten in a disputed decision by Filip Hrgovic, 30, in August.
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Joyce said: “I don’t want to go 12 rounds with Zhang.
“He narrowly missed out on the victory against Hrgovic. It could have gone either way, he really pushed hard to the end there.
“He landed good shots and had him in trouble so I thought why not give him a chance?
“Considering he’s a southpaw as well, at a good level, it leads me nicely on to fighting a Usyk or a Fury.”
Joe Joyce and Zhilei ZhangCredit: @Queensberry More

ANTHONY JOSHUA could make a U-turn on his planned boxing return having revealed he will sit out until December. AJ returned with a victory at the start of April over 12 rounds against Jermaine Franklin, following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua claimed he will not fight again till DecemberCredit: Getty
Promoter Eddie Hearn hoped it would be the first in a hat-trick of 2023 bouts to keep the two-time heavyweight champion busy.
But days later, Joshua posted on Instagram: “My next fight is scheduled for December.
“Not ideal but everything is part of a bigger picture.”
Despite the shock revelation, Hearn’s Hall of Fame father Barry warned not to rule out a change of plan.
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He told Joe: “Firstly, I think there were a few misquotes about he’s not boxing until December. He’s thinking about not boxing until December.
“I love Anthony but he’s on holiday at the moment, He’s having a good time. He spends his life in training camps.
“When you’re having a good time, you like to carry on having a good time, but I know Anthony a bit better than that.
“I won’t be a 100 per cent surprised to see a U-turn on that.”
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Joshua, 33, is currently enjoying time off in Dubai, before planning a trip back to Texas for more training under new coach Derrick James.
It comes amid rumours of a fight against Deontay Wilder, 37, in December in Saudi Arabia.
And Tyson Fury, 34, would also face Usyk, 36, with the winners of the two bouts meeting in a proposed tournament.
It would tie into Joshua’s plan to wait till the end of the year to fight following his comeback victory against American Franklin, 29.
Anthony Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin on pointsCredit: RICHARD PELHAM More

TYSON FURY’S team have opened the door to a sensational four-man tournament involving the heavyweight division’s biggest stars. TalkSPORT’s outspoken sports pundit Simon Jordan claimed Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Oleksandr Usyk and Fury would be involved in a series of fights.
Tyson Fury during his trilogy win over Deontay WilderCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Anthony Joshua twice lost to Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
It would see AJ face Wilder with Fury against Usyk, both in December in Saudi Arabia, allowing the winners to meet in a final.
George Warren, the son of Fury’s UK promoter Frank, has not ruled out the stunning idea but admitted no talks have yet materialised.
He told iFL TV: “It would be amazing, wouldn’t it? But it’s speculation at the moment.
“As far as I’m concerned, we’ve not had any formal offer or communication that is something that is there to be done.
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“What we always say, we get a lot of attention and interest for Tyson, not just from UK opportunities but from around the world.
“When people get in touch, the usual way we deal with it is just to say, ‘Great, put an offer down, put it in writing. Send us some date options, tell us what the plan is and what you’re looking at doing, the finances involved and we can go through there and address it as a team.’
“Tyson is the decision-maker, but certainly, if there’s an opportunity, we’re happy to look at it.
Warren added: “At this moment in time, we’ve not had an offer for anything.
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“But if one was to come in, it will remain private, it would be discussed, and we’ll go from there.”
Joshua, 33, beat Jermaine Franklin, 29, on points over 12 rounds in his return fight at the start of April.
Wilder, 37, meanwhile has been out since October when he knocked out Robert Helenius, 39, in round one of his comeback bout.
Fury, 34, is now without an opponent after his deal to unify all four belts with Usyk, 36, collapsed.
Terms were scrapped amid a row over financials for a potential rematch, leaving both in the lurch.
Tyson is the decision-maker, but certainly, if there’s an opportunity, we’re happy to look at it. George Warren on proposed tournament in Saudi Arabia
Usyk has since been ordered into a mandatory WBA title defence against Daniel Dubois, 25, with talks ongoing.
And Fury is left to seal a return fight in the summer, which promoter Bob Arum revealed could be against Andy Ruiz Jr, 33.
And Warren added: “Andy Ruiz stopped Anthony Joshua, is a former world champion.
“I don’t think the performance in the rematch when he fought out in Saudi Arabia was Andy Ruiz’s best performance, but he’s had solid wins since then.
“I’m not focusing on who the opponent is at the moment for Tyson. The first step is to speak with Tyson, which we’ll do next week.
“We’ll find out what he wants to do. Does he want to be active? Does he want to fight? Does he want to do a UK stadium fight?
“If he does, then again, we’ll assess who is available and look at all the different opponents and anyone that wants to fight Tyson.
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“Once he’s made that decision, get in touch, and then we’ll look at the opportunities and the options and go through them.”
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ZHILEI ZHANG returns to fight in London for the first time since being put down by Anthony Joshua. The 6ft 6in 277-pounder faces Joe Joyce at the Copper Box on Saturday night for the WBO interim title.
Anthony Joshua beat Zhilei Zhang in the 2012 OlympicsCredit: AP:Associated Press
It comes 11 years after he boxed Joshua in the 2012 Olympic quarter-finals, losing in the super-heavyweight bout on points.
Zhang was floored with a right hand but claimed AJ coasted to safety when he got back to his feet.
He told talkSPORT: “From what I remember back then the venue was very full.
“I got dropped in the second round, I got up real quick, and then he started to run away for the whole of round three.
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“And then the fight was over, just like that. I lost by decision.”
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, starting on the weekend.
Joyce, 37, is the mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s title and will defend that position against Zhang, who predicts an all-out war.
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He said: “I think it’s gonna be an exciting fight too.
“We’re both strong, big punchers, it’s gonna be fireworks.”
Joyce recently knocked out Joseph Parker, 31, in September while Zhang lost a disputed decision to Filip Hrgovic, 30, a month earlier.
Zhilei Zhang faces Joe Joyce at the Copper BoxCredit: PA More