Heavyweight boxing

DILLIAN WHYTE claimed he ‘bashed’ Tyson Fury around in sparring and ‘dropped him on multiple occasions’.
The Brixton ace became the No1 contender for the green and gold version of the heavyweight strap when he beat Robert Helenius on October 28 2017.

Dillian Whyte wants to get his heavy hands on the WBC title after “bashing” Tyson Fury in sparring

But Deontay Wilder was allowed to make a string of underwhelming performances before Fury brilliantly dethroned him in February.
Current WBC king Fury and Whyte even agreed on a clash in May 2019 for the WBC diamond belt but the Gypsy King reneged on that deal and went on to have tune-ups before walloping Wilder.
Whyte suffered a huge blow when he was KOed by Alexander Povetkin in August, and their rematch last month was postponed due to the Russian testing positive for coronavirus with a new date still to be agreed.
However, before that loss, Whyte told The Boxing Show on Sky Sports News Fury needs to face him, saying: “He just needs to stop talking rubbish and let’s have a go. It will be a major fight. Let’s have it out.

“He’s the one that come out and said he beat me up in the gym and stuff like that. I can tell you now, that didn’t happen. I don’t like telling sparring stories, but people in the game know. They know about me.
“Well, me and Tyson Fury sparred and I bashed him about and dropped him on multiple occasions. Simple as that.
“If I was such an easy fight, why is he not in any rush to fight me? He said before beating Wilder, ‘When I beat Wilder, I’m going to give Dillian Whyte his title shot.’ He just talks rubbish.
“This is war, let’s go.”

The Body Snatcher added: “It makes me angry and it frustrates me because Tyson Fury refused to fight me in a mandated fight for the WBC diamond belt.
“And they took my mandatory position away and gave it to Tyson Fury after he fought Otto Wallin who was ranked around 1,000,000 in the world.
“It’s a joke, how can he fight Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin and then be the WBC mandatory contender after I have been beating top-ten guys back-to-back?
“The fans and the boxing world need to put pressure on the WBC and Tyson Fury to fight me next, it’s a joke.
“I have been risking the No1 position since 2017, I have spent hundreds of thousands of pounds in sanctioning fees and won every WBC belt I have been eligible for and beaten two former world champions. It’s my turn.”
Whyte has also called Fury out on social media by demanding: “Lets fight. I’m ready.”
Whyte was on an 11-fight win streak since his thrilling 2015 loss to Anthony Joshua and he claimed the scalps of ex-champs Joseph Parker and Lucas Browne on his record.
But the WBC suspended his mandatory position between July and December last year while he was fighting to clear his name from a doping allegation.
The Mexico-based body reinstated Whyte in December and vowed to get him a shot by February 2021.

I don’t care if Fury and Wilder are tired into another fight contractually, Wilder is injured so they should mandate Fury to fight me, like they did before.
Dillian Whyte

But Fury and Joshua have agreed a two-fight deal and look set to clash in 2021 after AJ’s stunning victory over Kubrat Pulev.
The Ukad case following the win over Oscar Rivas was a tortuous time for Whyte and he ballooned up to a career high of 19st 5lbs by the time he faced Mariusz Wach in Saudi Arabia in December.
The dark period took its toll on Whyte but he kept his agony private and has urged mental health campaigner Fury to do the same in future.
He said: “I have a lot of respect for what Tyson has done but he talks a lot of rubbish.
“He likes to put all his personal stuff out in the public domain, I am not that person.

“I don’t like to look for sympathy and cry about this and that or talk about being depressed.
“I have had mental health problems but you deal with it, you might seek some help, but you deal with it.
“I don’t go around crying about things, we are fighters, we deal with them every day. He needs to stop talking rubbish and let us just have a go, have it out.”

Tyson Fury snatched the WBC crown from Deontay Wilder in brilliant fashionCredit: Reuters

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ANTHONY JOSHUA is set to fight Tyson Fury in May 2021 following positive talks between promoters Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum.
AJ defended his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles with a ninth-round KO against Kubrat Pulev to set up an undisputed bout vs WBC champ Fury.

Anthony Joshua is set to fight Tyson Fury next yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty

AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn revealed he’s been talking to Fury’s US rep Bob ArumCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Joshua’s promoter Hearn is now attempting to finalise a two-fight deal with the Gypsy King’s US rep Arum – with the rematch to take place in late 2021.
He told Sky Sports: “I had a good chat with [Bob Arum] him last night. It’s positive.
“I think we’re all in the same position. We want to move forward with the fight, quickly as well, which is good news for fans.
“Just trying to solve any remaining issues of the fight, of which there aren’t many, to be honest with you, and try and move forward collectively to let the governing bodies know that we plan to stage this fight probably in May, and we would like this to be for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.

“A few small issues to iron out, but I think we can start look at drawing up contracts and try to get this moving.
“Here on both sides, every member of each team wants to do this fight. We all acknowledge this is the biggest fight in boxing, this is the best fight for both guys.
“This is for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Why are you in the sport, if you don’t want this fight?”
Hearn has previously revealed that Joshua may have to vacate the WBO belt in order to fight Fury, with Oleksandr Usyk the mandatory challenger.

A few small issues to iron out, but I think we can start look at drawing up contracts and try to get this moving.
Eddie Hearn

The matchroom promoter confirmed AJ is willing to fight Usyk, but that a bout against his fellow Brit is the No1 priority.
Hearn added: “We will be writing to the WBO to say you have an opportunity to be part of the biggest fight in boxing. One of the biggest fights in boxing history.
“Oleksandr Usyk is the WBO mandatory, we have to respect that, and the rules as well.

“We’ll be speaking to him to make sure he’s happy with a potential resolution.
“But for any reason Tyson Fury can’t contractually fight Anthony Joshua, AJ will fight Oleksandr Usyk next.
“For us, Usyk is a great fighter, it’s a great fight, there is only one name that we’re focusing on and that is Tyson Fury.”

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ANTHONY JOSHUA battered IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev to retain his heavyweight belts and steamroll his way into 2021.
Joshua’s stunning ninth-round KO of the tough Bulgarian paved the way for a huge all-British unification bout with Tyson Fury next year.

Anthony Joshua goes into 2021 off the back of a convincing victoryCredit: ©Mark Robinson/Matchroom

But who else is in the running to take on the Watford-born champ next?
SunSport runs you through all the potential opponents for AJ in the New Year.
TYSON FURY
It is the one that everybody wants to see.
Fury is the WBC champ after dethroning Deontay Wilder in February and a match-up would see ALL the heavyweight belts on the line.

Eddie Hearn announced in June that a deal was in place for two fights next year.
The fighters could make £100million each from a blockbuster showdown.
And the Gypsy King immediately called out AJ after his win over Pulev, saying Joshua ‘s*** himself on live TV’ when asked about the fight and that he would ‘knock him out inside three rounds’.

OLEKSANDR USYK

Oleksandr Usyk is another available route for AJ to takeCredit: Mark Robinson
Oleksandr Usyk is the WBO’s mandatory challenger after cleaning out the cruiserweight division and moving up from 14st 4lbs.

The WBO are insisting dangerous southpaw Usyk is given a shot against AJ after he outpointed Dereck Chisora on Halloween and could refuse to sanction a bout with Fury.
Alternatively, with Fury having not fought in nearly a year, Usyk could face Joshua if the Gypsy King chooses to have a warm-up bout after both a trilogy fight with Wilder and December homecoming bout were scrapped.
Hearn said: “If we get the Fury fight made, we are going to be applying to the WBO to make that undisputed and if they say no we have to go to Usyk and try to make a deal.
“If we can’t make the Fury fight for any reason, then we will fight Usyk 100 per cent. They’re kind of waiting to see what happens.”
DEONTAY WILDER

Deontay Wilder lost to Tyson Fury last time outCredit: Rex Features
Deontay Wilder lost his WBC crown to Tyson Fury in February in the pair’s rematch.
Wilder almost KO’d the Gypsy King in the pair’s first fight which ended in a stunning draw and they were set for a trilogy contest.
But it was called off after the 35-year-old American’s contract clause expired.
Wilder has made claims that his water was SPIKED against Fury, something Eddie Hearn branded ‘ridiculous’.
But if AJ did want another shot at conquering the US he could take on Wilder – who he was linked with before Fury made his match-up with the Bronze Bomber. 
And if Fury vs Wilder meet for a third time and the American wins, it could be an alternative route to being undisputed champ for AJ.
ANDY RUIZ JR

Andy Ruiz Jr could look to make a trilogy fight with Joshua in 2021Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Andy Ruiz Jr shocked the boxing world by stopping AJ in New York in 2019 – stripping the Englishman of his cherished undefeated record.
Joshua got immediate revenge on points in Saudi Arabia 12 months ago with months of partying after his huge upset success causing Ruiz to come into the bout overweight.
But the Mexican-American boxer has undergone an incredible body transformation.
And a trilogy could be on the cards next year after Joshua admitted he would love to knock Ruiz out.  
DILLIAN WHYTE

Dillian Whyte could renew his long-term rivalry with JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Dillian Whyte could finally get his wish and get back in the ring with old foe Joshua in 2021.
Whyte reckoned AJ was ‘stuck between styles’ in a ‘strange performance’ against Pulev.
The 32-year-old famously dished out a beating to Joshua in the amateurs before the world champ got his revenge in the pro ranks in 2015.
The Body Snatcher has always been keen on another shot at beating AJ and could get his chance depending on how things play out in 2021. 

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DILLIAN WHYTE’s rematch with Alexander Povetkin is expected to be delayed again, according to reports.
The pair were due to meet for a second time on January 30 as Whyte bids to win back the WBC interim title which he lost to Povetkin in August.

The pair were due to meet next monthCredit: PA:Press Association

However, according to TalkSPORT, the rematch will be pushed back once again as Povetkin needs more time to prepare as he continues his recovery from coronavirus.
The rematch was originally scheduled to be fought in November but was postponed when Povetkin tested positive for Covid-19.
Povetkin won the first bout between the pair by a fifth-round TKO, despite Whyte downing the Russian twice in the fourth.
A venue is still to be confirmed for the rematch but Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn is only anticipating a ‘small delay’.

Whyte was in attendance last night as Anthony Joshua beat Kubrat Pulev by ninth-round knockout.
But Whyte was critical of his old rival despite Joshua successfully defending his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight belts.
Whyte told iFL TV: “It was a strange performance, it seemed like he was stuck between two or three different styles.
“He’s got three different trainers in his camp. I don’t understand what’s going on there.

“But he got the victory, so you can’t really complain.
“I don’t why he let Pulev back in the fight.
“He should’ve destroyed him. I thought Pulev was gone. Pulev didn’t pose much of a threat really.
“In his prime he wasn’t the greatest of fighters, wasn’t the hardest hitter – what 12 knockouts from 27 fights?
“He never really knocked anyone out devastatingly, he just wore them down. 
“There wasn’t any risk of him knocking Joshua out and he wasn’t going to outbox Joshua for 12 rounds.
“When the KO came, it came good. But I think he could have done it a lot quicker.
“He seemed to be in that negative zone, where ‘I’m fighting, but I’m defending’. I don’t know it was a strange performance.”

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TYSON FURY’s former trainer Ben Davison was full of praise for Anthony Joshua after his win over Kubrat Pulev.
The British heavyweight champ knocked out the Bulgarian pretender in the 9th round at Wembley Arena on Saturday night.

Ben Davison was full of praise for Anthony Joshua after his win against Kubrat PulevCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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And Davison, who worked with the Gypsy King for two years from 2017-2019, said he was impressed by AJ’s versatility during the fight.
However, he doesn’t think that Joshua will have enough in his arsenal to defeat Fury in their blockbuster bout set for 2021.
“I’ve always ranked Joshua that little bit lower than the rest of the competitors because he was a little bit one-dimensional,” Davison told iFL TV.
“Now he’s starting to show versatility. That’s fantastic, and it’s great that he’s working on that. But Tyson’s extremely versatile and comfortable being versatile. 

“He’s comfortably pressing the action and keeping it long. He’s comfortable pressing the action and making it short. He’s comfortable orthodox and southpaw. 
“That’s a really hard thing to overcome because if something’s working for Joshua then Tyson can take that away.
“There will be moments in the fight where adjustments have to be made, and that’s why it’s become more of an intriguing fight now. 
“There are layers to Anthony Joshua now that there weren’t before. I just think Tyson is more versatile and his non-punching activity rate is through the roof. 

“He’s constantly got the opponent having to be aware and being reactive.”

Joshua has added more layers to his fighting style, Davison saysCredit: Reuters

The Gypsy King’s uncle and former trainer Peter Fury has also talked up Joshua ahead of the projected Battle of Britain that could be worth £100million to both fighters.
Speaking ringside after his son Hughie beat Mariusz Wach on the AJ vs Kubrat Pulev undercard, Fury said: “Be a great fight.
“Both up for it, aren’t they. So it’ll be a great fight if it happens. Both have different styles though, Tyson is a totally different style to Pulev.
“It would be a great fight. Those shots [AJ landed tonight] wouldn’t be landing on Tyson so clean. He’s an exceptional talent but if AJ can land, anyone is going down.
“But the same for Tyson – he’s a puncher as well. So it works both ways. It’s a pick’em fight to be honest.”

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