Heavyweight boxing

EDDIE HEARN has revealed that Anthony Joshua may have to vacate the WBO belt in order to fight British compatriot Tyson Fury.
AJ has repeatedly spoken of his desire to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

Anthony Joshua beat Kubrat Pulev on Saturday night after knocking the Bulgarian out in the ninth roundCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

WBC champion Tyson Fury is keen to pit his wits against AJ in 2021Credit: PA:Press Association

The 31-year-old – who ended a year out of the ring by knocking out Kubrat Pulev on Saturday night – holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belt, while Fury is the proud WBC champ.
Both Hearn and the Gypsy King’s US-based promoter Bob Arum confirmed after the bout that talks will take place to pit AJ against Fury in 2021.
But in a huge blow for Joshua, talkSPORT have claimed that the WBO may not sanction the undisputed fight.
They state that the WBO have already given the 2012 Olympic gold medallist two voluntary defences – his rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr and for his KO win over Pulev.

And they adamant that Oleksandr Usyk will be fighting for the strap next following his points victory over Derek Chisora on Halloween.
Joshua is willing to fight Usyk, but it is understood that a bout against Fury is the No1 priority.
In an interview with Behind The Gloves, Hearn has acknowledged that Joshua may have to relinquish his WBO belt.
He said: “I just saw a tweet from (WBO president) Paco Valcarcel saying we know our commitments, and yes our mandatory is Oleksandr Usyk.

Oleksandr Usyk is Anthony Joshua’s WBO mandatory challengerCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

“But if the WBO don’t want to be part of the undisputed fight, the biggest fight in boxing, the biggest fight of all time, there’s nothing we can do about it.
“If they won’t, then we’ll speak to Oleksandr Usyk and try to agree something. If we can’t, we’ll vacate the belt.
“If we have any chance of this sport surviving or growing then the governing bodies have to wake up.
“With all due respect, there’s only one fight people want to see, and that’s AJ vs Fury.
“Do you think any fan out there would not want it if we dropped the belt?
“He wants to be undisputed, but it’s no problem to lose one. We’ll vacate them all if it becomes a problem.”

Anthony Joshua Reacts To Epic KO and says Tyson Fury Is next More

MUHAMMAD ALI was once stood up by Elvis Presley who turned up “drunk or high” at 4am to watch the boxing legend in a sparring session.
George Dillman, who trained with both the People’s Champion and Bruce Lee, revealed the two icons then went antique shopping after the King of Rock and Roll sobered up.

Muhammad Ali: The Life of a Legend features amazing stories about the legendary fighter

Elvis Presley once turned up 12 hours late to watch the heavyweight king sparCredit: Getty – Contributor

Presley and Ali were famously close friends in the final years leading up to the former’s death in 1977.
Elvis memorably gifted the heavyweight king with a custom-designed robe that mistakenly read “People’s Choice” ahead of his win over Joe Bugner.
But Dillman recalled another time the legendary singer made another hilarious gaffe after he turned up needing a little less conversation during plans to watch Ali spar.
Speaking to Fiaz Rafiq for his book, Muhammad Ali: The Life of a Legend, the American revealed Elvis arrived 12 HOURS late to a training session after a particularly wild night.

He said: “Muhammad came over to me, and he said, ‘You can’t tell everybody. Tomorrow be here at 4 o’clock.’

He showed up at 4 a.m. Ali woke up the cook and had the cook make some breakfast and coffee. Elvis, from what they told me, was a little high or drunk.
George Dillman

“He usually boxed at 2 o’clock – this is when he did his sparring. He says to me, ‘Tomorrow I’m going to train at 4 o’clock. Don’t come at 2 o’clock, come at 4 o’clock. You can’t tell your students, you can’t put it in the newspaper.’
“‘Nobody’s to know that Elvis Presley is coming to watch me spar.’ I said, ‘Serious?’ He said, ‘Yes. Elvis Presley is coming here and we’re going to train, you and me. And I want Elvis to see what we do.’
“Four o’clock came and we kept waiting and waiting. No Elvis. I’m going to make a long story short. Muhammad Ali, at about 6 o’clock, said ‘I’ve got to get my boxing in’.

“So they started the boxing and he sparred with the sparring partners. Then after that we had dinner over in the kitchen and we sat around waiting for Elvis.
“I think somebody called to say he was coming late, he’s coming late, he’s coming late! No Elvis, no Elvis, no Elvis! It got late at night, it was 9pm or 10pm at night. I said, ‘I’m heading home. I doubt he’s going to show.’ More

DILLIAN WHYTE has questioned Anthony Joshua’s tactics in his win over Kubrat Pulev.
The British champion defeated the Bulgarian challenger with a knockout in the 9th round.

Dillian Whyte has questioned Anthony Joshua’s tactics in his win against Kubrat Pulev

But Whyte, 32, believes Joshua was stuck between fighting styles.
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.”

In the third round Joshua floored Pulev with a flurry of punches and the fight seemed like it was over.
However, Pulev managed to recover and survived until the 9th. But Whyte questioned why Joshua didn’t finish him off.
Whyte continued: “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?

Joshua knocked Pulev out in the 9th round, but Whyte thinks he could have beaten him quicker

“He never really knock 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.”

Anthony Joshua addresses fans live from the dressing room and says he’s staying true to himself and learning everyday after fight with Pulev More

ANTHONY JOSHUA edged one step closer to an undisputed clash against Tyson Fury with a brutal ninth-round KO of Kubrat Pulev.
It was one-way traffic from the off as Joshua displayed his awesome power against teak-tough Pulev.

Joshua got his man out of there in the ninth roundCredit: AP:Associated Press

The referee delivered the count, but there was no coming back from thisCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

It was a supreme performance for Joshua who edges closer to THAT Fury fightCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Pulev gave his all but was ultimately outclassedCredit: Getty – Pool

Pulev was sent crashing to the canvas for the third time in the ninth round. He couldn’t get to his feet before the count and it was all over at 2mins 58secs.
The Bulgarian was floored twice in that round and once in the third, in which he was also given another standing count too.
Speaking after his KO triumph in front of 1,000 fans, Joshua, 31, said: “Boxing is about less talk and more action, I hope everyone was satisfied tonight.

The third round was a torrid one for Pulev as he was floored twiceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Joshua looked set for an early night as he battered Pulev to the canvasCredit: Getty – Pool

Pulev turned his back on Joshua in the third roundCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
“I stuck to what I know best, boxing, putting my shots together. It’s all about less talk more action.

“I don’t even want to really do an interview.”
Joshua was asked whether he ‘wants the Fury fight’, to which he responded: “Of course I want the challenge.
“I want all the belts, if that happens to be Tyson Fury, then let it be.”

Edde Hearn was delighted at his fighter’s victory saying he was ‘the best heavyweight in the world’Credit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

Joshua was congratulated by Floyd MayweatherCredit: Sky Sports

The Bulgarian veteran was ultimately outclassed in thereCredit: ©Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd

Despite trash-talking throughout the fight, there was mutual respect at the end of the fightCredit: ©Dave Thompson/Route One Ltd

Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “There has been a lot of talk, it is less talk and more action.
“We are going to be friendly, we are going to be nice. We are going to make the Fury fight straight away.
“He wants it, he is the best heavyweight in the world. It’s about legacy, and let’s get it done.”
Fury uploaded a video to Twitter just minutes after Joshua’s arm was raised.
Wearing a Christmas jumper, the 32-year-old Gypsy King said: “There you go everyone, Anthony Joshua just s**t himself on live television.
“He got asked if he wanted the fight, and he went around the bushes and put his arse in the hedge.
“I want the fight, I want the fight next, I will knock him out inside three rounds.
“He’s a big bum dosser, can’t wait to knock him out.”

The Bulgarian appeared to enjoy taking some heavy shotsCredit: Reuters

Anthony Joshua smashed Kubrat Pulev to defend his world titles
Pulev was floored twice in the third round as Joshua unloaded some huge bombs watched on by Floyd Mayweather who had flown in for the fight.
At times the 39-year-old smiled his way through the torture, but it was stomach-churning at times as Joshua landed at will.
The gritty Bulgarian managed to make the bell, just, despite at one point turning his back on AJ as he was pummelled.
Credit to the Bulgarian as he refused to cave and even managed to get his jab going – until his night was done in devastating fashion.
Joshua peppered Pulev with uppercuts in the ninth, a huge right flooring the durable challenger.
With seconds left, Pulev managed to get to his feet to beat the count, but was soon sent crashing back down as AJ threw the kitchen sink at him.
The referee gave Pulev a count, but it was clear it was all over.

Pulev was met with some power punches throughoutCredit: Getty – Pool

AJ, who attended a Black Lives Matter march in June and worked on a SunSport campaign to highlight the BAME and immigrant heroes working in the NHS fighting pandemic, did not take a knee before his fight.
The champ confirmed on Thursday that he had made the tough decision not to take the stance but he is pushing for serious social change with grassroots charities.
Instead, the 31-year-old son of Nigerian parents used his entrance to remind the world of his Hollywood appeal.

Floyd Mayweather flew in to watch his friend Anthony JoshuaCredit: Sky Sports
Head-to-toe in white kit and gloves, The father of one had his initials ablaze just like at the brilliant Wembley Stadium night he beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.
Through a black and white video AJ addressed the 1000 fans asking for prayers but it did not look like he would need them when he stripped off to reveal 17st 2lbs of magnificent muscle.
Pulev, the 39-year-old Bulgarian hard man named after a medieval warrior, came to the ring in a red, green and white robe that honoured his national flag.
And the pair locked eyes for a thrilling instant once both inside the ring, moments before attempting to beat each other senseless they shared a final sense of respect.
That respect was shared at the final bell too as Joshua’s hand was raised.
The two boxers embraced and both shouted a war cry as the beef was settled in emphatic fashion. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA could knock out Tyson Fury, according to the Gypsy King’s uncle and former trainer Peter.
Peter Fury was in attendance on Saturday night as his son Hughie beat Mariusz Wach on the AJ vs Kubrat Pulev undercard.

Peter Fury reckons Anthony Joshua could knock out his nephew Tyson

He then watched on as Joshua emphatically beat Pulev – knocking him out in the ninth with a devastating straight right.
Focus immediately switched to next year’s potential Battle of Britain between Joshua and Tyson.
But Peter warned his nephew about the Londoner’s devastating power.
Asked for his thoughts on the unification bout, Peter 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.”
Joshua and Fury will reportedly bag £100MILLION EACH if the fight is held in the Middle East.

AJ comfortably beat Kubrat Pulev on December 12

But British fans are desperate for it to be staged in the UK with five arenas in the running to host if it is.
Wherever the fight of a lifetime is put on – and there are still four hurdles to be overcome – it is sure to be an epic and Fury offered advice to AJ on how he might improve against his nephew.
Fury added: “I think he’s a little bit hesitant in there. I think when he fires those jabs, he needs to fire them in combinations and let his hands go.
“He didn’t seem to let his hands go much tonight in there, but when he did let them go he was lethal. He waited too long for me. But every fighter has things to work on.
“For me, he’s too upright. There’s no lateral movement, he needs a lot more of that because Tyson has got a lot of that. He’s got that in abundance, actually. He can bend right down there and fire a shot! He’s very awkward.
“Listen, Lennox Lewis is the last undisputed heavyweight champion. The fans want to see this fight so let it happen. I think it would be a great fight.”

Peter Fury says his nephew Tyson is also a big hitter

Tyson Fury reacts to Anthony Joshua win over Kubrat Pulev blasting he s— himself on TV, I’ll KO him in three rounds More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’S epic Battle of Britain fight against Tyson Fury is one step closer after beating Kubrat Pulev last night.
But the Brit champions and their teams have a way to go before boxing fans can see the fight they have longed for for years.

AJ emphatically knocked out Kubrat Pulev to set up a Battle of Britain with Tyson Fury

Joshua, 31, stopped Pulev, 39, with a brutal straight right in the ninth round just moments after the Bulgarian had hauled himself off the canvas after a flurry of right upper cuts.
It was an entertaining and ill-tempered affair but fan focus immediately switched to the Fury clash after the bout.
The three-belt champ and Fury, 32, both verbally agreed a two-fight deal in the summer.
But since then, the Gypsy King decided to walk away from his trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder and saw his proposed UK homecoming axed.

And the potential third rematch with the Bronze Bomber is sticking point No1 which threatens to heed any Battle of Britain plans.
Here SunSport explores the potential issues standing in the way of the mega unification bout.
WILDER TRILOGY
Fury knocked Wilder out in emphatic fashion back in February to win the WBC world heavyweight title.

Tyson Fury may have to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time

But the Gypsy King declared the third fight was off in October.

Wilder insists he is still owed a trilogy fight with Fury.
But after Covid complications this summer, the Brit’s team insist their contract has expired.
There is talk of the Bronze Bomber taking the matter to arbitration which would see a retired judge assigned as mediator before making a legally binding ruling on the matter.
If the pair do have to meet again, the Joshua vs Fury fight will be on the back burner once again.
USYK MANDATORY
WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk has already said he will not stand aside which means Joshua is obliged to fight him early next year.

Oleksandr Usyk is refusing to stand aside as WBO mandatory
Therefore, if AJ wishes to fight Fury, the Londoner could be forced to vacate the WBO belt in order to make it happen.
This would mean the Battle of Britain no longer had ‘undisputed’ status which poses its own problems.
Both parties are hopeful a solution can be reached but it is made difficult in the complex political arena of boxing.
BROADCASTER PROBLEM
Quite simple this one.
Anthony Joshua has a broadcasting deal with Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the USA.
And Fury is contracted to BT Sport this side of the Atlantic and ESPN stateside.
The four broadcaster rivals would have to be heavily involved in any talks and would have to agree the terms beforehand.
DATE AND VENUE
British fight fans are desperate for Joshua vs Fury to take place in the UK.
A packed Wembley stadium is a mouth watering prospect but unfortunately money talks.
It recently emerged the fighters could rake in £100MILLION each if they staged the fight in the Middle East – a far greater sum than they would pocket if the battle took place in Britain.
But with the coronavirus vaccine being rolled out across the UK, hope is not lost.
Five UK venues would likely be considered – all of them huge arenas to cope with the vast demand there would be from spectators.
Wembley Stadium, Tottenham’s new ground, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Old Trafford and the Emirates are the frontrunners.
Joshua has already sold out the 90,000 capacity Wembley Stadium when he beat Wladimir Klitschko in a thriller in 2017 to become unified champ.
But he also loved fighting in Wales and with Fury from the north of England and Joshua the south, this would play the part of a neutral 74,000 capacity venue.

Anthony Joshua loved fighting at the Principality Stadium when he beat Joseph Parker

Anthony Joshua Reacts To Epic KO and says Tyson Fury Is next More

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury’s reps will begin negotiations over a blockbuster heavyweight title unification fight on Monday.
The long-awaited Battle of Britain moved a huge step closer to coming to fruition on Saturday night after unified heavyweight king Joshua decimated Kubrat Pulev.

Eddie Hearn says negotiations over Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury will begin on MondayCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING

‘AJ’ knocked out the durable Bulgarian in the ninth round of their SSE Wembley Arena showdown, with a picture-perfect one-two combination closing the show.
The dust hadn’t even begun to settle on Joshua’s triumphant homecoming when attention turned to a unification bout with Fury, the current owner of the WBC title.
And the Olympian’s promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed he’ll get in contact with Fury’s reps – Frank Warren and Bob Arum – on Monday to begin discussions over the biggest fight in British boxing history.
The Matchroom Boxing chief said: “Starting from tomorrow, we make the Tyson Fury fight straight away.

“It’s the only fight to be made in boxing. It is the biggest fight in British boxing history.
“I know he (Joshua) wants it, He is the best heavyweight in the world.
“I promise you. He’ll break him down, he’ll knock him out.”

Veteran fight promoter Arum, 89, echoed Hearn’s sentiment on Twitter.

He said: “It looks like the stage is set for the biggest Heavyweight championship fight since Ali-Frazier in 1971, when @Tyson_Fury meets @anthonyfjoshua for the undisputed crown.
“We at Top Rank will start on Monday working to put that fight together.”
Much to the surprise of many, Joshua refrained from discussing a mega-money bout with Fury in his post-fight interview.

It looks like the stage is set for the biggest Heavyweight championship fight since Ali-Frazier in 1971, when @Tyson_Fury meets @anthonyfjoshua for the undisputed crown.We at Top Rank will start on Monday working to put that fight together.
— Bob Arum (@BobArum) December 12, 2020

‘The Gypsy King’, however, wasn’t shocked by Joshua’s decision not to mention his name.
He said: “There you go everyone, Anthony Joshua just s*** himself live on television.
“He got asked if he wants the fight and he went around the bushes and put his arse in the hedge.
“I want the fight. I want the fight next. I will knock him out inside three rounds.
“He is a big bum dosser and I cannot wait to knock him spark out.”

Anthony Joshua knocked out Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round of their London showdownCredit: EPA More

THE HEAVYWEIGHT division finally looks set to be unified after Anthony Joshua beat Kubrat Pulev to line up a Battle of Britain clash with Tyson Fury.
The all-British showdown is one fans have longed to see for years.

Joshua, 31, stopped Pulev with a ninth round KO on December 12.
The three-belt champ and Fury, 32, both verbally agreed a two-fight deal in the summer.
But since then, the Gypsy King decided to walk away from his trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder and saw his proposed UK homecoming axed.
The pair each have a massive fan base after their stunning careers – but how do they shape up against one another?

Sun Sport takes a look at the stats of both men below:
AGE
AJ has the narrow advantage when it comes to age.
He is little more than a year younger than the 32-year-old Gypsy King.

Anthony Joshua is ready to put all of his belts on the line against Tyson Fury after beating Kubrat Pulev on December 12

Tyson Fury is hoping to add AJ’s belts to his WBC TitleCredit: PA:Press Association
EXPERIENCE
Despite several years away from the ring due to mental health issues, Fury has the most experience of being in between the ropes.

The WBC champion has fought 31 times, winning 30 and drawing once, compared to Joshua’s 25 battles.
AJ lost his unbeaten record in a huge shock last summer against Andy Ruiz Jr, but bounced back to beat the Mexican in December to reclaim his WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
However, AJ has 22 KOs on his CV to Fury’s 21.
PHYSICAL
Fury is also much bigger than AJ – who will not have faced much larger challenges in his career.
The Gypsy King stands at a huge 6ft 9in, a full three inches taller and Joshua.
And after tipping the scales at 19st 7lb for his victory over Wilder back in February, he weighs 2st 4lbs more than his fellow title holder who weighed in at 17st 3lbs for his Pulev win.

EXPERTS SAY
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren: “Has AJ got a better jab than Fury? No. Is AJ a bigger puncher? I don’t think so.
“Has he got a better chin? I don’t think so. Has he got the hand speed or footwork of Fury? I don’t think so.
“Tyson is so good in every department. When you saw him get off the floor from that punch by [Deontay] Wilder it tells you what he’s all about.”
Amir Khan: “My opinion, and I’ve always said that Tyson Fury is the best heavyweight in the division. With the skill set he has got, he beats anyone with power.
“What he did to Deontay Wilder, no-one would expect that. If that same Fury goes into a fight with Anthony Joshua, it’s always going to be Fury that wins that.
Tony Bellew: “I just think AJ’s style will be all wrong for Fury. I believe that because Wilder has the bigger punch than AJ, but Wilder is not technically good enough to put Fury in a position to nail him and that’s why he couldn’t land on the night.
“Joshua is technically good enough, you’re talking about an Olympic gold medallist, a guy who is technically and fundamentally good.
“He does have speed, he’s a brilliant athlete, he functions the right way.

“I just feel that he would get to Fury. Don’t get me wrong, it would have to be within six rounds because anyone who goes past six rounds with someone like Fury, you’ve lost.
“The guy’s such an immense boxer, he can adapt in fights, he’s versatile and he’s just an amazing fighter.
“It’s a fight we all want to see and we have to see because if boxing’s going to remain one of the premier sports in the world, we need to see the best face the best.”

Tyson Fury shows off slick skills as he reveals combination he plans to KO Deontay Wilder with in trilogy fight More