Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA’s blockbuster undisputed heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury has been made possible by Deontay Wilder ‘getting paid to step aside’, it’s been claimed.The biggest fight in the history of British boxing is close to being announced, although a venue and date still need to be finalised.
Deontay Wilder sought legal action late last year to try and land a trilogy fight with Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
But WBC king Fury is closing in on a blockbuster showdown with Anthony JoshuaCredit: PA
And ESPN’s Max Kellerman has claimed the fight has been made possible by former WBC king Wilder receiving a huge payoff.
He said: “Don’t look too much in the contracts because Deontay Wilder has got to be getting paid to step aside.
“When you get step aside money when you’re next with a contract, it ain’t a hundred grand.
“It’s five to ten million dollars. So, Deontay is getting money just for waiting.”
Wilder, 35, took legal action late last year in a bid to land a third fight with Fury, which he believes he’s contractually obliged to.
Team Fury, however, insist the American’s rematch clause expired last October.
In January, Wilder’s co-manager – Shelly Finkel – claimed they were still pursuing a third fight with The Gypsy King.
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He told World Boxing News: “The mediation between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury has not yet ended.”
But the imminent announcement of Joshua vs Fury suggests they’ve ended their pursuit of a third fight for the time being.
The previously-undefeated Wilder hasn’t fought since his emphatic dethroning at the hands of Fury last February.
A showdown with former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr has been mooted for the Olympic bronze medallist, who recently vowed to regain his title and clean out the entire division.
Deontay Wilder hasn’t fought since being dethroned by Tyson FuryCredit: PA
Deontay Wilder has vowed to clean out the heavyweight divisionCredit: AP
In an interview with Marcus Watson, he said: “I’d love to fight guys I haven’t fought, you know, the ones at the top who I haven’t fought.
“That’s what I want and I know that’s kinda lame a little bit, to not name a name.
“But anyone I haven’t faced at the top, that’s you.”

When asked about Joshua or Ruiz, Wilder responded: “Yeah. Any fighter that’s at the top that people haven’t seen me fight and people strongly want to see me fight, that’s who I want to fight.
“I can sit here and name names all day, that’s the easy part.
“I’m just going to go to the top and once you go to the top and it’s someone I ain’t fought, that’s who I want to fight.
“I want to clean the division out, period.”
Eddie Hearn says he had a bizarre approach for fight venue for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury More

DILLIAN WHYTE and Alexander Povetkin will spend the build-up to their upcoming fight on the world’s first deluxe £143MILLION super-yacht hotel.The two heavyweights are set to clash again on March 27 in Gibraltar as the Brit goes in search of revenge against the 41-year-old Russian.
Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin will spend their upcoming fight week in luxuryCredit: PA
The pair will build up to their clash on the world’s first deluxe £143m super-yacht hotelCredit: Alamy
Whyte was on the verge of securing a title shot as he took on the veteran last August with many expecting him to easily add routine victory to his record.
But the Body Snatcher was stunned when he was knocked out by a stunning Povetkin uppercut in Eddie Hearn’s back garden.
The rematch will be in more exotic surroundings as they head to Gibraltar for the clash dubbed ‘Rumble on the Rock’.
It will take place in the Europa Sports Complex, a multi-purpose stadium, but they will spend fight week in luxury, according to the Daily Mail.
The report states the pair and their camps will be living in the Sunborn Hotel – a giant ship that sits in the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar.
It stretches a massive 465 feet and is seven stories high, making it one of the biggest yachts on the planet.
The Sunborn Hotel has 189 rooms that can cost up to £2,000 a night.
And once guests cross an enclosed glass bridge that leads guests onto the ship, they can entertain themselves in the numerous restaurants, spa or casino on-board.
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The huge Sunborn Hotel has 189 rooms that can cost up to £2,000 a nightCredit: Alamy
It also has six hydraulic arms, which weigh eight tonnes apiece, holding the massive boat in place on the territory’s Ocean Village Marina.
The report states it will ‘host to the pre-fight bubble for the heavyweight rematch’.
That means all the fighters and their teams will be in close proximity ahead of the big night to ensure the event remains Covid-secure.
Gibraltar’s government has already decided to mark the occasion by commissioning a special £2 coin.

Dillian Whyte says he’s going for the knockout and isn’t considering a loss against Alexander Povetkin More

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury’s mega undisputed world heavyweight title fight could finally have a venue – after a ‘bizarre approach’ from a country in the Far East.It emerged earlier this week that Joshua and Fury had signed a two-fight deal, with the first of those bouts to take place in June or July.
Anthony Joshua could face Tyson Fury in the Far East after a ‘bizarre’ late approach, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealedCredit: PA
Fury and Joshua will fight for all four belts in June or July this yearCredit: PA
But a couple of key details missing from the fine print were where and when the huge clash would take place.
Saudi Arabia appears to be a front-runner, while Eddie Hearn has previously said the US, Dubai, Qatar and Singapore are also options.
However, the Matchroom mogul has now revealed he’s been taken back by an 11th-hour offer from a country in the Far East.
He said: “I had an approach yesterday, not from the Middle East, but it was the most bizarre approach.
“It was from a very wealthy individual and he wants to do something very special. We’ve had 20 approaches for this fight but you know which ones are serious.
“But this one was just well out there. And it’s a realistic option, money is not an issue with this guy.
“Commercially it’s a bit strange, but it’s not about that. It’s a trophy asset which says this is the biggest event in the world.
“And that’s the mindset of an individual who wants to bring it to his own country. It’s not about selling tickets, it’s not about government investment… It’d be him saying, ‘I’d be paying for it.’

“There’s a number for the fight, you hit the number, you get the fight and the number was not an issue for this individual.”
Ideally, all parties involved with Joshua vs Fury are keen for fans to attend what’s been deemed the biggest fight in British boxing history.
There are still Covid restrictions in place in the Middle East, however, springing the possibility that the fight could be delayed until November time.
Hearn says the individual from said mystery country, will want fans in attendance too, even if it were just 1,000 spectators.
Eddie Hearn says Joshua vs Fury MUST happen this summerCredit: PA

“They would want fans, but it wouldn’t matter if it was just 1,000 people,” Hearn added.
“I told AJ about it last night and he’s just like ‘I’ll leave it with you mate’. This is an event that you can showcase to the world.
“It’s in Asia… not Macau.”
Hearn is also adamant that the first of Joshua and Fury’s two fights won’t be delayed until the winter, like some reports have suggested.
The 41-year-old explained: “We’ve had five offers already, if the offer in November or December was four times higher… would the fighters look at that? Yeah probably.
“But we don’t want to get in that situation with interim fights, waiting too long, losing a belt.
“One of the attractions, particularly to Saudi, is undisputed. That’s probably one of the biggest things and we might say to them, October or November we can’t guarantee it will be undisputed.
“If the question comes back ‘Can we do it later in the year?’. The answer is no. That’s the date.”
Frank Warren says Tyson Fury at disadvantage the ‘longer it takes’ to finalise Anthony Joshua fight More

MIKE TYSON’S comeback trail is showing no signs of ending after he announced his next fight on May 29. The heavyweight legend sensationally returned to the ring, 15 years after retiring, in November.
Canelo Alvarez pictured with Mike TysonCredit: https://www.instagram.com/miketyson/?hl=en
He drew with fellow legend Roy Jones Jr and right away revealed he was counting down the days until he could do it all again.
Tyson recently said on his podcast with guest Canelo Alvarez that his second exhibition would be in Miami on May 29.
Here SunSport gives the lowdown on five potential opponents for Iron Mike.
Evander Holyfield
Holyfield, 58, was inspired be Tyson, 54, to make a return of his own and the pair are now in talks for a trilogy bout 24 years in the making.
Tyson was twice beaten by his iconic rival, firstly in 1996 and then infamously a year later when he bite Holyfield’s ear.
With a combined age of 112, the former champions look set to face off once again with a lucrative payday in the Middle East awaiting them.
Mike Tyson bite Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1996Credit: AFP
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Oliver McCall
McCall’s history with Tyson dates back to 1887 when they spent a year as sparring partners.
They never got to do it for real in the pros but their heated sessions in the gym have since become on YouTube.
After Tyson announced plans to fight again, McCall, 55, was one of the first to call him out.
Oliver McCall called out Mike Tyson last yearCredit: Getty
Roy Jones Jr
After the pound-for-pound great and Tyson could not be separated, the pair both called for a rematch.
Jones, 51, said: “I’m cool with a draw, just might have to do it again.” and Tyson responded: “We’ve got to do that again.”
But since then, with Iron Mike now in negotiations with Holyfield, RJJ has instead put his focus on facing ex-UFC champion Anderson Silva, 45.
Roy Jones Jr pictured with Mike TysonCredit: AP
Shannon Briggs
The king of ‘Let’s Go Champ’ and Tyson are good friends, but it has not stopped Briggs, 49, from campaigning to fight Iron Mike.
He last year announced plans to return both as a pro boxer and in bare-knuckle.
But having fought as recently as 2016, Tyson would be well advised to pick a more evenly matched veteran.
Mike Tyson is a good friend of heavyweight Shannon Briggs
Lennox Lewis
Lewis emphatically knocked Tyson out in round eight when they finally fought in 2002.
And that should be the end of it – but after watching his former foe attempt to roll back the clock, the Brit hero is contemplating giving it a go.
Lewis, 55, told BT Sport: “If it is right, I may come back. There’s been talk of Riddick Bowe wants to fight me still so there is still some unfinished business there.”
Lennox Lewis emphatically knocked Mike Tyson out in 2002Credit: Getty
Riddick Bowe
Heavyweight legend Bowe never got to fight Tyson during their careers but he told SunSport last year he was training to fight again.
He said: “If the fans want to see me fight again, I’m fighting. I want to make fans happy.
“Equally, I want to be remembered as one who did everything to truly make boxing great.”
Riddick Bowe said he would be open to fighting againCredit: AP:Associated Press
Tyson Fury
Amazingly, WBC king Fury revealed he was approached for a pay-per-view spectacle with his namesake, but it was Tyson who priced himself out.
The Gypsy King has remained open to the fantasy fight and said he was so frustrated with drawn out talks to face Anthony Joshua he would consider boxing Iron Mike.
Fury, 32, told iFL TV: “I don’t care. I don’t care if it’s Joe Bloggs, Fred Flintstone, Mike Tyson, anybody. I just want to fight this year.”
Mike Tyson pictured with namesake Tyson FuryCredit: Instagram More

TYSON FURY will be at a disadvantage against Anthony Joshua the ‘longer it takes’ for their blockbuster showdown to be finalised.The WBC heavyweight king put pen to paper on a two-fight deal worth a whopping £500million earlier this week, although the venue and date for his long-awaited showdown with AJ have yet to be finalised.
Tyson Fury hasn’t fought since beating Deontay Wilder last FebruaryCredit: Getty
And Frank Warren (R) reckons ring rust could affect The Gypsy King in his clash with AJCredit: AFP
Fury, 32, hasn’t set foot inside the ring since he emphatically dethroned Deontay Wilder last February.
And The Gypsy King’s co-promoter Frank Warren reckons any further delays to the fight will have a detrimental effect on his chances of winning the Battle of Britain.
He told BT Sport: “Everybody is working to get it away in June or July, that’s what we’re working towards. That’s what we want to do.
“The longer it takes to happen, it’s not gonna be good for Tyson. You’ve been out the ring now 13 months, coming up to 14 months.
“So he’ll want to be fighting. And we want to get it on ASAP.”
The undefeated Fury recently admitted ring rust could end up being a factor in the biggest fight in the history of British boxing.
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He told ESPN: “I should have boxed, because I’ve been so inactive.
“By the time I fight again, looking at maybe June if this Joshua fight happens, that will be a year and six months out of the ring, which is not ideal preparation for any super-fight.”
But his head coach, SugarHill Steward, has a plan in place to get him in prime condition to bosh Josh.
He said: “Remember the movie Diggstown with Louis Gossett Jr, he had to fight ten guys within days or something?
“Let’s get Tyson to do that. Let’s put him in there for a fight a month.
“If he’s ready let’s give him a fight a month against the top ten guys and take on each contender.
“Old school boxing like Ray Robinson, they fought, then they fought three weeks later.
“Why not fight if you stay ready? What a challenge and what statement that would be.
“A lot of fighters want to fight once or twice a year, but if you’re ready why not fight?

Tyson Fury recently lamented his inactivityCredit: Reuters
Anthony Joshua, meanwhile, was last in action last DecemberCredit: Reuters

“I told Tyson that and he just smiled. I don’t think he’d mind it.
“He just smiled and laughed, one of those Tyson Fury laughs. Tyson’s a throwback fighter, he likes all that old school stuff.”
Unified heavyweight king Joshua was last in action against Kubrat Pulev last December.
The Olympian retained his titles with a ninth-round knockout to tee up his long-awaited showdown with Fury.
Eddie Hearn insists he did have Tyson Fury’s blessing to announce Anthony Joshua fight More

MIKE TYSON announced his will return to the ring on May 29 in Miami for his second comeback fight. The heavyweight legend last year made the stunning announcement that he would come out of retirement after 15 years out.
Mike Tyson announced his will return to the ring on May 29 in MiamiCredit: Instagram
Canelo Alvarez pictured with Mike TysonCredit: @miketyson
He later returned to face fellow icon Roy Jones Jr, 52, and the pair boxed to a draw over eight exhibition rounds.
Tyson, 54, said right after he will fight again, and he revealed on his podcast with Canelo Alvarez the date of his next bout.
He said: “End of May, where you (Canelo) fought (Miami) same ring you fought in. 
“May 29th, May 31, something like that, right where you fought, same ring.” 
Canelo’s last win, a third round stoppage against Avni Yildirim, was at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
And the last Saturday falling in May is the 29th, likely the date of Tyson’s next fight.
The celebrated puncher did not name a potential opponent when asked about his return to the ring by Canelo’s trainer Eddy Reynoso.
But talks between old rival Evander Holyfield, 58, have been on going for an astonishing trilogy 24 years in the making.

Holyfield first beat Tyson in 1996 in 11 rounds, but their rematch a year later will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Known as the ‘Bite Fight’ Iron Mike sunk his teeth into the American ex-champion in round three and was subsequently disqualified.
They have since formed a friendship in the years passing, but they will put that aside for a lucrative third fight.
And Holyfield – who last boxed in 2011 but officially retired in 2014 – called out Tyson in a recent Instagram post.
He wrote: “Getting back in my rhythm just waiting on my dance partner now @miketyson to show up. Where you at?”

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