Heavyweight boxing

DILLIAN WHYTE has launched a blistering attack on former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, branding him ‘crazy’ and ‘weird’.
Olympic bronze medallist Wilder began pedalling a number of conspiracy theories after his seventh-round TKO loss to Tyson Fury last February.

Deontay Wilder’s actions on social media have baffled Dillian WhyteCredit: Instagram / @bronzebomber

Dillian Whyte has branded Deontay Wilder ‘crazy’ and ‘weird’Credit: PA

Whyte, like many others, has been left baffled by Wilder’s actions over the last year, as well as his recent activity on social media.
He told iFL TV: “People lose and they do crazy stuff.
“Why’s the guy posting a picture, wine, glass, candles, and a random gun on the table?
“With his shirt off, looking like he’s stoned out of his mind.

“I was thinking, ‘Oof, hopefully he doesn’t blown his own brains out, man.’
“The guy clearly is drunk or he’s high or whatever he’s doing there. It’s mad.
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“I know he’s allowed to have guns and he shoots a lot of guns, but it’s weird.”

“Maybe he’s just showing people, ‘Don’t worry about me, I’m living life.’”
Brixton Bodysnatcher Whyte is so concerned by Wilder’s actions over the last year that he has serious doubts about him ever getting back into the heavyweight mix.
He said: “People go so long undefeated, knocking everyone out, when they lose sometimes they just can’t recover, man. They can’t come back.
“They just can’t find a way back because they’ve been in the bubble their whole career and protected their whole career.

Deontay Wilder’s reign as WBC heavyweight champion was ended by Tyson FuryCredit: Getty
“The first time they fight someone decent and lose, they can’t do it.
“I know he should’ve come back and fought since then, shouldn’t he? He should have fought again.”
Wilder, 35, is reportedly in negotiations to box former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr, who has dropped an incredible amount of weight ahead of his own comeback.
But at this moment in time, Whyte can only see the fight going one way.

He said: “I think Ruiz would beat Wilder, to be honest.
“Wilder can’t really box, and Wilder’s lost his mind, man.
“The guy’s lost his mind, man! I don’t think he’ll ever box again. His mind is completely gone.
“Gone, gone, gone, gone. If you follow his stories and the pictures he posts and the things he’s been doing and saying, the guy’s lost his mind.”

Deontay Wilder vows to ‘clean out’ heavyweight division by facing Joshua and Ruiz Jr More

TYSON FURY was spotted at a local petrol station in Chesire wearing his own Gypsy King cap.
He was pictured as talks with heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua progress, as promoters assure an announcement is imminent.

Tyson Fury was spotted at a local petrol station in Chesire wearing his own Gypsy King capCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke

Tyson Fury was pictured as talks with heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua progressCredit: Eamonn and James Clarke

But Fury, who has a habit of conning reporters, poured cold water on his potential undisputed heavyweight decider with Joshua.
He claimed to be necking up to 12 pints A DAY and not eating with the proposed AJ double header well off schedule.
Fury, 32, told iFL TV: “I have stopped training at the moment, I am on holiday.
“I am drinking anything between eight, ten, 12 pints of lager a day, at the minute.

“But I am not eating so I am getting my calories through alcohol.
“I have trained and trained and trained with no progress so I am now a man of leisure.”
AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn, and Fury’s US and UK backers Frank Warren and Bob Arum have all insisted negotiations are in the final stages.
Reacting to Fury’s worrying concerns – which could also be mind games -Warren revealed the WBC champ is frustrated but talks are ‘moving in the right direction’.

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He told talkSPORT: “We’ve all agreed to announce any news simultaneously, so I can’t break a confidence I’ve agreed to.
“But what I can say is that everything is agreed, it’s an imminent announcement and we’ve got to work on a site, and that’s it.
“It’s absolutely moving in the right direction and everybody is on the same page.
“Nobody is more frustrated than the fighters and us, we’ve worked like you cannot believe to get this over the line.
“I think Tyson is a bit peed off about it because it’s dragging on and on and on.
“Hopefully everybody will be getting the good news soon, they’ll be happy and everyone can more onto the next stage of this, which is to get this site sorted out.
“We hope it doesn’t happen later, we’re working hard to get it done sooner rather than later.
“The contracts are agreed and they will be signed, 100 per cent, I’m confident of that.”

Tyson Fury pours water on Anthony Joshua fight as he says he’s drinking 12 pints of lager a day More

TYSON FURY has given a worrying interview pouring cold water on his potential undisputed heavyweight decider with Anthony Joshua.
The Gypsy King has kept quiet while his own promoter Bob Arum, AJ’s matchmaker Eddie Hearn and Joshua himself have hinted at a huge announcement this month for a June clash in Saudi Arabia.

Tyson Fury has claimed he’s drinking 12 pints a day and not training in frustration over the drawn-out Anthony Joshua fight negotiations

Fury is set to face Anthony Joshua in their all-British heavyweight unification fight this summer

Hearn has even sold Brit fans the dream of the second-leg of the two-fight rivalry happening at a packed Wembley stadium, after the lockdowns have lifted.
But Fury, who claims he is necking up to 12 pints A DAY and not eating, says he will NEVER fight in the UK again and the AJ fight is well off schedule.
Fury, who has a habit of conning reporters, told IFL: “Whatever they say is very unimportant to me because, until I have a fight date and a hell-of-a-lot of money in my pocket, there is no fight.
“Will I be fighting Joshua in the next ten minutes? No. Do I think the fight will eventually happen? Yes, it has to happen. Do I think it is next or imminent? No.

“I am not going to hold my breath for it, that’s for sure. 
“I am not going to put all my eggs in one basket because I have been guilty of doing that before and, when the fight doesn’t happen, that is when I end up in a massive depression and feel like killing myself.
“I am not going to say ‘it is definitely happening in June or July’”.
Fury has not boxed since his brilliant February 2020 rematch win over Deontay Wilder that earned him the WBC title that is the one missing from Joshua’s collection.

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The WBA, IBF and WBO title-holder has teased fans with a big announcement coming soon – but Fury claims he has swapped triple training sessions for beer marathons.
With a straight face, he said: “I have stopped training at the moment, I am on holiday.
“I am drinking anything between eight, ten, 12 pints of lager a day, at the minute.
“But I am not eating so I am getting my calories through alcohol.
“I have trained and trained and trained with no progress so I am now a man of leisure.”
Fury was supposed to fight in London on December 5 in a celebrated homecoming bout.
But he clashed with his promoters and broadcasters about his pay and level of opponent so embarrassingly the bout was binned.
The 6ft 9in undefeated ace, who has now gone over a year without a fight, is demanding two in the next nine months but has ruled out ever returning to the UK.
After Wilder accused him of cheating in his magnificent Las Vegas coronation, Fury ruled out a trilogy clash but, in a total 180, that is now back on the table.

He said: “I have two fights this year and I don’t give a f*** if they are with, Joe Bloggs, Fred Flintstone, Mike Tyson, anybody. I just want to fight this year.
“Don’t write Wilder out of the equation next, I could be having the trilogy fight with him yet.
“There is a lot going on behind the scenes and Wilder could be next.
“I will never box here again. No. Finished.
“The superstar of world boxing will not box in small halls anymore. My new home is in Las Vegas.
“I intend to stay there and end my career over there.”
Earlier on Thursday, Fury’s promoter – Frank Warren – had revealed the Gypsy King was getting ‘peed off’ with the drawn out AJ negotiations.

Fury said he’s given up training for now while he waits for negotiations to finishCredit: Twitter / @Tyson_Fury
Warren claimed: “Nobody is more frustrated than the fighters and us, we’ve worked like you cannot believe to get this over the line.
“I think Tyson is a bit peed off about it because it’s dragging on and on and on.”
Warren continued: “What I can say is that everything is agreed, it’s an imminent announcement and we’ve got to work on a site, and that’s it.
“It’s absolutely moving in the right direction and everybody is on the same page.
“Hopefully everybody will be getting the good news soon.
“The contracts are agreed and they will be signed, 100 per cent, I’m confident of that.”

Bob Arum says that Tyson Fury fight with Anthony Joshua is on with agreements all settled and announcement in coming days More

TYSON FURY is not holding out on fighting Anthony Joshua in case it doesn’t happen and leaves him devastated.
The leading heavyweight stars are still in talks for an historic undisputed title fight, with promoters adamant an announcement is imminent.

Tyson Fury is not holding out on fighting Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua is still in talks to fight Tyson FuryCredit: Youtube

But Fury – who has been open about his brave battle with depression – is refusing to get his hopes up in case the mega-fight falls through.
He told iFL TV: “Whatever they say is very unimportant to me because, until I have a fight date and a hell of a lot of money in my pocket, there is no fight.
“Will I be fighting Joshua in the next ten minutes? No. Do I think the fight will eventually happen? Yes, it has to happen.
“Do I think it is next or imminent? No. I am not going to hold my breath for it, that’s for sure. 

“I am not going to put all my eggs in one basket because I have been guilty of doing that before and, when the fight doesn’t happen, that is when I end up in a massive depression and feel like killing myself.
“I am not going to say ‘it is definitely happening in June or July’.”
Fury, 31, first climbed to the boxing summit in 2015, dethroning long-standing heavyweight ruler Wladimir Klitschko, now 44.
And afterwards a fight with substance abuse and depression caused the Brit to lose it all, vacating his belts and retiring.

But after finding his fighting passion again Fury returned in 2018 and just two years later he was world champion again, capping off a remarkable comeback story.
His seventh-round demolition job against Deontay Wilder, 35, last February has set him up to face Joshua, 31, this summer.
Fans have been led to believe the biggest bout in British history is upon us, but Fury is not so hopeful, instead just desperate to return to his safe haven, the boxing ring.
He explained: “I have two fights this year and I don’t give a f*** if they are with, Joe Bloggs, Fred Flintstone, Mike Tyson, anybody.
“I just want to fight this year. Don’t write Wilder out of the equation next, I could be having the trilogy fight with him yet.

Tyson Fury dethroned Deontay Wilder of the WBC belt in 2020Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Anthony Joshua is the unified championCredit: PA:Press Association
“There is a lot going on behind the scenes and Wilder could be next.”
Fury’s UK promoter – Frank Warren – had revealed the Gypsy King was getting ‘peed off’ with the drawn out AJ negotiations.
But he assured the fight with rival Joshua is set to go ahead with signing contracts the only thing left to do.
Warren told talkSPORT: “What I can say is that everything is agreed, it’s an imminent announcement and we’ve got to work on a site, and that’s it.
“It’s absolutely moving in the right direction and everybody is on the same page.
“Hopefully everybody will be getting the good news soon.
“The contracts are agreed and they will be signed, 100 per cent, I’m confident of that.”

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DILLIAN WHYTE named Lennox Lewis as Britain’s greatest ever heavyweight, ahead of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Fury and Joshua are expected to fight this year, and possibly for all four belts making heavyweight history.

Dillian Whyte named Lennox Lewis as Britain’s greatest ever heavyweightCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Lennox Lewis with his heavyweight belts in 1999Credit: AP:Associated Press

Lewis, now 55, was the nation’s last undisputed champion, but never held the WBO title, not widely recognised at the time.
But Whyte, 32, pointed to the names beaten on the 1988 Olympic gold medallist’s record as why he is Britain’s best heavyweight of all time.
He told Sky Sports: “Lennox Lewis. Just the people he fought, the people he beat, and the fashion he beat them.
“He came back from his two defeats and won both the rematches, and how long he reigned. There was a period in time when no one could touch him.

“He was destroying dangerous guys. Destroying them in seconds.
“Just the way he fought, his fighting style and his aggression.
“He destroyed Andrew Golota, Michael Grant and Razor Ruddock; came from behind to beat Frank Bruno and Vitali Klitschko; beating Gary Mason, Oliver McCall, David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Shannon Briggs, Tommy Morrison and Zeljko Mavrovic. The list goes on and on.
“Look at the guys that he was beating.”

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Joshua, 31, has traded words with Lewis online in the past, causing a rift between the pair.
Promoter Eddie Hearn claimed it was due to jealousy, following AJ’s quicker rise to superstardom.
But Whyte, also promoted by Hearn, hit back: “Of course Eddie is going to say that.
“He’s definitely going to say that AJ is, because he wasn’t involved in Lennox Lewis, he was involved in AJ.
“Obviously, he’s trying to make history with AJ, so you understand that and rightly so.
“That’s what you should be doing as a promoter.”

Anthony Joshua pictured with promoter Eddie HearnCredit: REUTERS

Tyson Fury is the WBC and Ring Magazine championCredit: Reuters
Whyte – beaten by Joshua as a novice pro in 2015 – is taking inspiration from Lewis ahead of his must-win rematch against Alexander Povetkin, 41.
He has even linked up with the ex-champion’s old trainer Harold ‘The Shadow’ Knight.
Lewis was famously upset and knocked out against Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall, but he avenged defeat against both.
Whyte, who lost his WBC mandatory status in November following a shock KO to Povetkin, is hellbent on doing the same on March 27 in Gibraltar.
He said: “I’m p***ed off with myself.
“I shouldn’t have lost last time and I did, and now it’s more to prove to myself than anyone else that it was just a blip and I know what I’m capable of doing.
“Listen, I tried to fight Povetkin years ago. Years and years ago I tried to fight him.
“I believe I could have beat him then, and I believe I can beat him now.”

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

TYSON FURY has sensationally claimed the Deontay Wilder trilogy could be back ON.
The Gypsy King handed the American his first ever defeat with a stunning seventh-round stoppage win in February last year.

Tyson Fury is seemingly ready to give Deontay Wilder a chance at redemptionCredit: Reuters

Wilder came up with a whole host of excuses as to why he lost his WBC belt, including his ringwalk suit being ‘too heavy’ and trainer Mark Breland ‘spiking his water’ – strenuously denied by the coach.
Team Fury then claimed Wilder had missed the deadline to agree to fight No3 – which the Bronze Bomber disputes.
Talks then began to thrash out an undisputed heavyweight world title clash against fellow Brit and WBA, WBO and IBF champ Anthony Joshua.
But in a revealing interview with iFL TV, Fury appeared frustrated that it hasn’t been announced yet – and opened the door to Wilder getting a shot at redemption.

And worryingly the 32-year-old claimed he is drinking up to 12 pints of lager A DAY and not eating.
And he added that he will NEVER fight in the UK again and the AJ fight is well off schedule.
He told iFL: “I have two fights this year and I don’t give a f*** if they are with, Joe Bloggs, Fred Flintstone, Mike Tyson, anybody. I just want to fight this year.
“Don’t write Wilder out of the equation next, I could be having the trilogy fight with him yet.

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Anthony Joshua says he wants to fight Tyson Fury – but negotiations are slow in sorting itCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“There is a lot going on behind the scenes and Wilder could be next.
“I will never box here again. No. Finished.
“The superstar of world boxing will not box in small halls anymore. My new home is in Las Vegas.
“I intend to stay there and end my career over there.”
The Gypsy King has kept quiet while his own promoter Bob Arum, AJ’s matchmaker Eddie Hearn and Joshua himself have hinted at a huge announcement this month for a June clash in Saudi Arabia against Joshua.
Hearn has even sold Brit fans the dream of the second-leg of the two-fight rivalry happening at a packed Wembley stadium, after the lockdowns have lifted.
But Fury has now said he ‘won’t hold his breath’ for the AJ scrap – and his desire ‘to just fight’ could open an unlikely door for Wilder.

Tyson Fury pours water on Anthony Joshua fight as he says he’s drinking 12 pints of lager a day More

MIKE TYSON says he wants to ‘go all out’ in his next fight after making his boxing comeback against Roy Jones Jr.
The two legends fought to a draw in an exhibition in December that was far from pleasing on the eye.

Mike Tyson wants to turn up the heat the next time he boxesCredit: Instagram @miketyson

But Tyson insisted it was always his plan to ‘go the distance’ with Jones Jr – and that next time won’t be the same.
Speaking with Dana White and ex-boxer Zab Judah on his Hotboxin’ podcast, Iron Mike said: “I felt better than I anticipated, I thought I would be a little more nervous than I was, but I was relaxed.
“I felt like ‘wow’ – I could do some more, I could punch more combinations, I could do this and do that.
“I said ‘wow, this is interesting’ and I want to do it again and I want to do it against someone I could go all out on.

“It made me interested in wanting to do it again
“I wanted to go the distance, I didn’t want to knock anybody out, that’s what people expected, but I wanted to go the distance.”
Tyson spoke immediately after the fight saying that he intends to carry on in exhibitions, even offering Jones Jr a rematch.
But his Florida opponent that night didn’t seem too keen.

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Tyson drew with Roy Jones Jr as he made his grand return to the sportCredit: AP:Associated Press

Evander Holyfield is in incredible shape as he chases a trilogy against TysonCredit: Instagram

In the podcast Tyson also revealed he was running six miles a day to prepare for his big boxing comeback.
And the 54-year-old is continuing with his vigorous training routine – with fight fans praying he gets the Evander Holyfield trilogy fight.
Holyfield has two pro victories against Tyson – including the ear-biting disqualification that shocked the sport in 1997.
The Real Deal has also been sharing his own training videos and has called for a deal to be thrashed out for the fight.

Mike Tyson says he’s ‘so lonely’ in California without his kids and pals More

MONDAY was the 50th anniversary of the first Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier fight – and it reignited arguments over whether the giants of the past were better than today’s champions.
Would the Ali and Frazier who fought it out at New York’s Madison Square Garden have been too good for Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua?

Muhammad Ali’s first fight with Joe Frazier was 50 years ago – but how would the heavyweight champions of today fare against the former giantsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Colin Hart reckons Anthony Joshua would lose to both Ali and Frazier

Or would our modern heavyweights be too big, strong and athletic?
Of course it can never be resolved. Yet the debate keeps fans squabbling.
The thought of that fab four facing off does wonders for the imagination.
Just conjure up a picture of an Ali v Fury clash. It would be an over-the-top extravagance that would have he world salivating in anticipation.

The build-up banter between the two biggest motor-mouths ever would have provided more laughter than a comedians’ convention.
Ali, who could get under the skin of a snake, loved to play mind games with opponents.
He used to give them nicknames to belittle them. Sonny Liston was ‘The Ugly Bear’ and Floyd Patterson ‘The Rabbit’.
Earnie Terrell was ‘The Octopus’, he dubbed George Foreman ‘The Mummy’ and Earnie Shavers ‘The Acorn’.

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Colin Hart believes Tyson Fury would give Ali and Frazier a run for their moneyCredit: Reuters

You wonder what he might have had in store for Fury. ‘The Tongue’?
When it comes to deciding who wins, the merits and weaknesses of the fighters’ size must be taken into account.
Ali was 6ft 3in and weighed 15st 5lb while Frazier, barely 6ft, was just 14st 9lb before their Fight of the Century.
Fury – a towering 6ft 9in – was a massive 19st 7lb and 6ft 6in Joshua was a solid 16st 9lb before their last fights.
With a noticeable physical disadvantage, Ali would have been aware the Gypsy King’s skills were similar to his own. Though Ali had lost his pre-exile blistering speed, he was still much faster than Fury.
I firmly believe he would have won the tactical battle of the left jabs to secure a unanimous points decision.
Putting Frazier in with Fury would have been like getting a fishing trawler to ram a battleship.
Being 9in shorter, 5st lighter and with a 10in reach disparity he would not have got near Tyson, who would toy with him and run out an overwhelming points winner.
Frazier would have found Joshua more to his liking – Smokin’ Joe was a heavily muscled aggressive menace who never stopped ploughing forward throwing punches.
He had knockout power in both hands but his left hook was key.

Ali found to his cost Frazier was relentless – and that he could take three punches to land one.
Frazier beat Ali in New York thanks to a unanimous points decision after 15 rounds.
If Ali could not nullify him, Joshua wouldn’t have been able to.
He wouldn’t have coped with his fast bobbing and weaving style.
Although much smaller, I believe Frazier would have got inside AJ’s jab and hammered him to the body, forcing his hands down.
Once that happened in the middle rounds, Frazier would have used his dynamite left hook to knock him out.
Joshua would have struggled with Ali, too. A knockout would not be an option if Frazier couldn’t do it.
And there was no way Joshua would have outboxed him.
I feel the number of accurate punches Ali would have landed would have seen Joshua rescued by the ref late on.
So my controversial opinion is that, if my fantasy had been real, the score would be 3-1 to the old-timers over the present generation.
Just don’t tell Fury or Joshua.

Tyson Fury pours water on Anthony Joshua fight as he says he’s drinking 12 pints of lager a day More