Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA revealed his dream date in an interview with Laura Woods. Speaking on iFL TV after his unanimous points victory over Jermaine Franklin, Joshua conducted an interview with talkSPORT presenter Woods.
Anthony Joshua revealed his dream date during a playful interview with Laura WoodsCredit: YOU TUBE
Though Joshua joked ‘Loftus-Cheek beat me to it’Credit: Getty
It came after the Chelsea star revealed Woods was his celebrity crushCredit: Rex
And when asked about his dream date by Woods, AJ produced a playful answer.
He said: “You,” which queued laughter from AJ, people behind the camera and a cheer from Woods.
Woods then said with a smile: “This is perfect.”
AJ then quipped: “I know [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek’s beat me to it.”
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To which Woods replied: “Sorry. No it’s fine, there’s no competition.”
Chelsea star Loftus-Cheek appeared on talkSPORT last week and revealed his celebrity crush was Woods.
She joked afterwards that she would get his number later.
However, Joshua then asked whether Woods was in a relationship.
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And in response, Woods said: “I’m not in a relationship. Are you?”
“No I’m not,” AJ replied.
Woods explained she was too focused on work, with AJ revealing a similar mentality where he wanted to ensure he was not distracted in training and fighting.
The 33-year-old’s next fight is set to be in the summer, with Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder among those lined up for a summer showdown. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA’S 2023 fight plans have been revealed by his promoter Eddie Hearn.And it should see the Watford mauler finally nail down two huge grudge matches that will make or break his career.
Eddie Hearn wants Anthony Joshua to have one rematch before fighting the BIG oneCredit: Getty
AJ outpointed Jermaine Franklin on his London homecomingCredit: Getty
AJ finally got back to winning ways on Saturday night when he easily outpointed American slugger Jermaine Franklin at London’s O2 Arena.
Thought it might only have gone some way to erasing painful memories of back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk and forfeiting all his world titles.
Speaking to Boxing Social, Hearn wants his man to have one rematch before heading into THE big one.
The 43-year-old Essex businessman said: ‘Some fights are there to be made and you get one chance to do it.
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“I think that is potentially the case with Tyson Fury. At the same time, I would still like him to have another fight with [new trainer] Derrick James to improve on what he has been working on.
“Dillian Whyte is a great fight. He needs to get back in the ring in July [or] August at the latest if he is to get three fights in this year.”
Joshua battered Whyte when they fought for the first time professionally in December 2015, brutally KO’ing his old amateur foe in the seventh round.
Since then, and despite the convincing way it ended, Whyte has chased the rematch, and was left fuming that despite BEATING Franklin himself, he was overlooked.
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Meanwhile, Fury versus Joshua has been the one the world has called for, for years.
But every time talks have collapsed, the latest being in June 2021 with both sides blaming each other.
The Gypsy King is now the one holding the marbles – namely the WBC heavyweight title.
Talks for an undisputed clash between Fury and Usyk ALSO collapsed, leaving the boxing public fuming.
But speaking in the ring after beating Franklin, AJ called on his fellow Brit to finally get it done.
AJ asked the 19,000 fans in the Docklands arena who they wanted to see him fight next.
In one loud voice, the crowd chanted “Fury”.
The 33-year-old former champ said: “You know me, I like to provide for the fans. I know who the fans want. Who do the fans want?
“They said Fury? The ball is in his court, I will 100 per cent be honoured to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.
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“I stand here and say that proudly, it would be an honour, so wherever you are if you’re listening. You know my management, you know my promoter.
“We’ve had dialect before, so let’s continue this and hopefully we can get this on sooner rather than later. We ain’t getting any younger.”
Tyson Fury is the fight all British boxing fans want to see Joshua takeCredit: AFP More

ANTHONY JOSHUA was straight onto rest and recovery after celebrating his win over Jermaine Franklin. AJ was taken the distance in victory at the O2, his first win since December 2020.
Anthony Joshua enjoys a recovery sauna session after beating Jermaine FranklinCredit: Instagram @anthonyjoshua
And Joshua ticked off 12 rounds of action, before recovering the next day in the sauna.
Interestingly, AJ appeared to announce that he will “go again” in just 12 weeks time as his promoter Eddie Hearn wants three fights in 2023.
Hearn said: “I would like to see him have a little rest then get straight back to Texas with Derrick and try and have an end-of-summer fight, and then try and fight in December.
Joshua, 33, bounced back from consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk with a much-needed victory over American Franklin in London on Saturday.
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Already a WBC world title challenge against Tyson Fury has been touted for AJ, who is up for the super-fight.
He said: “You know me, I try and provide for the fans so whatever the fans want, who the fans want, they said Fury?
“Well the ball’s in his court. I 100 per cent would be honoured to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.
“I stand here and say that proudly, that would be an honour.
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“So wherever you are if you’re listening you know my management, you know my promoter, we’ve had dialogue before so let’s hopefully get this on sooner than later.
“We’re not getting any younger. I can’t wait to get back to Texas, develop and push on because there’s a bigger fight.
“I can’t wait to get the next big fight.”
Anthony Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin in his return fightCredit: RICHARD PELHAM More

DILLIAN WHYTE wants revenge on Anthony Joshua having grown tired of watching highlights of his knockout loss. The heavyweight rivalry dates back to 2009 when Whyte won their amateur thriller in London.
Dillian Whyte wants revenge on Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty
Anthony Joshua after beating Jermaine Franklin in an underwhelming points winCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
But six years later, Joshua levelled it up with a brutal seventh-round stoppage, with a trilogy decider still being discussed.
Whyte was ringside to watch AJ’s comeback fight against Jermaine Franklin – who he beat in November – and called out his old rival.
He told DAZN: “I hope he wins tonight because I want to fight him next.
“Me against the Franklin, the winner should have been fighting AJ, it was supposed to be the winner fights AJ next and he is fighting the loser.
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“So I hopes he wins tonight. I want the chance to redeem myself because he keeps playing this video of him knocking me out years and years ago and I want revenge.”
Joshua, 33, went on to beat Franklin, 29, over 12 rounds to bounce back from consecutive defeats.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has teased a rematch with Whyte, 34, next while Tyson Fury also remains in the mix.
But one thing is for certain, Whyte was left far from impressed by AJ’s performance at the O2.
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He said: “I don’t think he looked particularly good tonight.
“He seems a bit apprehensive, the right hand is still there and the boxing skills are still there, but the aggression is not there.
“The difference is in the last two rounds I went after Franklin, he didn’t. I’ll always have a go, win, lose or draw, I’ll have a go.”
Anthony Joshua beat Dillian Whyte in 2015Credit: Reuters More

DAVID HAYE has urged Anthony Joshua to drop plans of fighting Tyson Fury next and pick up his rivalry with Dillian Whyte. Former cruiserweight and heavyweight champion Haye watched from ringside as AJ beat Jermaine Franklin over 12 rounds.
Anthony Joshua after beating Jermaine FranklinCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Tyson Fury was called out by Anthony JoshuaCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
And Joshua opened the door to a British blockbuster for Fury’s WBC title next.
But Haye reckons a return against Whyte – who also outpointed Franklin – is the more sensible option.
He told iFL TV: “I’d like to see him in there with Dillian next, that would be nice, that makes perfect sense.
“They both went points with him, that’s a nice all British clash, London derby. I like that.”
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Joshua, 33, brutally knocked out Whyte, 34, in 2015 only six years after losing their amateur bout.
And promoter Eddie Hearn previously teased a summer stadium bout for the pair to settle their score.
But the allure of a super-fight with Fury, 34, remains, especially after his talks to unify the division against Oleksandr Usyk, 36, collapsed.
Although after AJ was taken the distance by Franklin, 29, Haye warned Joshua against those plans for now.
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He said: “I want to see him in with Dillian next. That’s not the performance to go in there with Tyson Fury.
“If he went out there and blitzed him in a couple of rounds, OK but he needs a better performance than that to jump in with Tyson, in my opinion.
“I’d like to see him in there with Dillian, where you know what it’s going to be like, it’s going to be fireworks.
“That’s a high-profile fight, lot’s of pressure someone that’s coming in that can punch. That will get everyone’s juices flowing.
“And then the winner of that can look at Fury. But Fury’s looking at fighting Usyk anyway, or is he?”
David Haye wants Anthony Joshua to fight Dillian Whyte nextCredit: PA
Dillian Whyte wants to fight Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty More

ANTHONY JOSHUA got back to winning ways on Saturday night with a laboured victory over Jermaine Franklin.The former two-time unified heavyweight champion stopped the rot with a points victory over the dogged and determined American.
Anthony Joshua returned to action against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday nightCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
AJ registered a laboured points victory over the American at the O2 ArenaCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
Victory over Franklin was Joshua’s first in nearly three yearsCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
Joshua’s first win in nearly three years – which was far from pleasing on the eye – has put him back on course for a third world title run.
SunSport was in attendance at the packed O2 Arena and got sight of several things the DAZN cameras didn’t broadcast.
Here are five things the cameras didn’t show you.
Tony Bellew’s bust-up
Former WBC cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew was involved a post-fight altercation with a member of Jermaine Franklin’s team moments after the final bell.
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Bellew nearly came to blows with trainer Lorenzo Reynolds but was held back by security and fellow boxing pundit Steve Bunce.
Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and no post-fight punches were thrown.
The Bomber has since revealed he nearly traded blows with Reynolds after the coach aggressively approached Joshua following the Brit’s post-bout altercation with Franklin.
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The Bomber nearly found himself embroiled in a scuffle with a member of Team FranklinCredit: CHISANGA MALATA / THE SUN
The former WBC cruiserweight champ cut a frustrated figure after the incidentCredit: CHISANGA MALATA / THE SUN
Louis Theroux
For the best part of the last decade, every Joshua fight has been an event of national interest – with the nation’s media following the big man wherever he competes.
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The BBC are no different, although they had arguably their most recognisable interviewer on the scene for the return of AJ.
British television icon Louis Theroux was in attendance to see the eagerly-anticipated return of AJ – and he had a camera crew in tow.
No doubt there’s an incoming documentary of Theroux behind the scenes with the former two-time unified heavyweight champion.
The BBC’s Louis Theroux was present at The O2 along with his camera crewCredit: SUN SPORT
Love Island stars
The likes of AJ and Tyson Fury have well and truly helped repopularise the sport of boxing in the UK.
As such, celebs – both A and Z list, are always pining for a seat at the biggest ticket in town.
SunSport spotted two Love Islanders in attendance – one of whom was reality TV star turned boxer AJ Bunker.
The other, was Michael Griffiths, who was sat behind press row taking in the fight in an expensive-looking outfit.
Love Island star AJ Bunker was one of several celebs in attendance at The O2Credit: INSTAGRAM@ANDREAJANEBUNKER
Empty seats
Joshua’s long-awaited return to The O2 was billed as a sell-out affair by the arena and Matchroom Boxing..
But before the co-main event between Fabio Wardley and Michael Coffie got underway, there were several empty seats.
And there were even a few empty spaces as AJ made his walk to the ring.
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Axed Channel 4 star
TV hardman Ant Middleton is no stranger to attending boxing and UFC fights.
And the former SAS: Who Dares Wins was front and centre for Joshua’s comeback bout, sitting ringside for the return of the golden boy of British boxing.
Ant Middleton was also in attendance at the O2Credit: Getty More