Heavyweight boxing

EVANDER HOLYFIELD will reportedly make a sensational boxing comeback to fight Glenn McCrory in April.
The Real Deal has been teasing a return to the sport that made him a world champion for months.

Bare Knuckle Boxing will promote the event – but the two fighters will be wearing gloves

Holyfield has shared photos and videos on his social media accounts showing gruelling training routines and his impressive physique at 58 years old.
It was strongly rumoured that he would be the opponent for Mike Tyson in his ring return at 54.
This would have completed the trilogy with Holyfield 2-0 up against Iron Mike.
But Roy Jones Jr was the man picked for that – the pair drew at the Staples Center in Los Angeles at the weekend.

Now, as reported by talkSPORT, Holyfield WILL lace up the gloves – and fight British former cruiserweight world champ McCrory.
The 56-year-old said: “I spoke to Holyfield on the phone the other night and he said he’ll fight me.
“He’s been scared of me for 30 years, but now he’s finally going to fight me. He’s getting brave.
“We’re looking at April, I’m talking to Joe Brown and Jim Freeman from the BKB company and they want to put it on at the O2 in April.

Holyfield is nearing a decade out of the ringCredit: Getty – Contributor

Glenn McCrory has not boxed for 27 yearsCredit: Splash News

“I was champion after Evander moved up to heavyweight, I took his vacant crown and I said to him the other night, ‘Why did you move up? Were you scared of me?’
“It’s 30 years in the making. I was the heir to his cruiserweight throne and he was the fight I always wanted, he was the best and he moved away.
“I’ve always been in good shape, I climbed the eighth-highest mountain in the world last year, so if I can do that with no training, I can certainly fight Holyfield – it’s what I do!”
McCrory last fought in 1993 when he was outpointed by Alfred Cole. He won 30 of his 39 fights, losing 8 and drawing one.
Holyfield retired a winner in 2011 after KO’ing Brian Nielsen. He finished his career with 44 wins, ten losses and two draws.

Holyfield looks in sensational shape at the age of 58

Evander Holyfield goes through gruelling workout ahead of boxing return More

MIKE TYSON has been backed to win a world title at the age of 54 by fellow boxing legend George Foreman.
Iron Mike drew in his big comeback fight with Roy Jones Jr at the weekend – although many people felt he deserved to win.

Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr drew in their big comeback fightCredit: EPA

George Foreman, left, pictured with boxing promoter Bob Arum, thinks Tyson can win a world titleCredit: Getty Images

While it was a scrappy fight with endless holding, Tyson looked in supreme shape after a stunning two-year body transformation.
Now, speaking to USA Today, Foreman, who became the oldest heavyweight world champion at the age of 45 in 1994, is predicting big things for Tyson.
He said: “If he gets in shape like he’s in now, and then gets his timing back, and all the other things fall into place, he can have an opportunity to fight for the title.
“If he can be managed right, a champion, the right champion, will come to him. And if the right one comes, he can knock him out.”

Tyson revealed that he smoked weed before his fight at the weekend, and admitted he ‘can’t stop’ puffing.
Both Tyson and Jones Jr – who had a combined age of 105 – were drug tested by Voluntary Anti-Doping Association beforehand.
But cannabis was not included and 54-year-old Tyson took full advantage with a pre-fight blaze.
He said: “Listen, I can’t stop smoking.

“I smoked during fights. I just have to smoke. I’m sorry. I’m a smoker.
“I smoke every day. I never stopped smoking.”
He also revealed that the psychedelic ‘Toad Venom’ drug helped inspire him to make a boxing comeback at 54.
He said: “I took the medicine and the medicine told me to get into shape.
“It really blew my mind. It told me to come back and start getting in shape.”

Mike Tyson made his big boxing comeback at the weekend when he drew with Roy Jones JrCredit: EPA
According to AddictionCenter.com, toad venom is a psychedelic drug made ‘from a rare species of toad native to the Sonoran Desert’.
It is said to cause ‘hallucinogenic effects [to] take hold in about five minutes after ingestion, causing a powerful religious-like trip that lasts about an hour’.
Tyson told in 2019 of how toad venom ‘killed the monster inside him’ and buried the human wrecking ball that helped build his fame and fortune.
The reformed Baddest Man on The Planet is now building a cannabis empire alongside his business partner Alki David.

Mike Tyson says he’s happy he’s not knocked out and Roy Jones says everything hurt as it made contact with Tyson after their fight More

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury could come face to face when AJ fights Kubrat Pulev, according to Eddie Hearn.
Joshua’s promoter Hearn says the British heavyweight icons could meet with the Gypsy King set to be ringside for AJ’s December 12 clash with the Bulgarian.

Tyson Fury could come face to face with Anthony Joshua in DecemberCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The Gypsy King is set to be ringside for AJ’s fight with Kubrat PulevCredit: Reuters

Joshua, 31, is fighting IBF challenger Pulev at London’s O2 Arena next month.
And Fury, 32, could be sat just yards away watching the action, according to TalkSPORT.
Joshua has already verbally agreed to a double header against the WBC champ, and domestic rival, Fury next year.
But the London 2012 gold medallist is first putting his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles on the line against Pulev.

The pair are not believed to have seen in each other in the flesh since a chance meeting in Marbella in July.
Although Fury has admitted he regularly calls Joshua on FaceTime demanding a fight.
The photo showed Fury parked up in his car with Joshua stood by the roadside chatting to him.
And Fury revealed afterwards he urged the Londoner not to lose to Pulev.

The pair last came face to face in Marbella in July

Yesterday, Lennox Lewis also issued a word of caution to AJ.
Lewis shared his belief that Fury will emerge victorious over his fellow Brit when they finally meet in the ring in 2021.
As quoted by the Daily Mail, he said: “The Fury and Joshua fight, you have got two big guys and they can punch and they can box.
“You’ve got Fury, he is a switch hitter and he is going into the fight with a lot more dangerous things to watch out for – the fact that he can punch with left hand, with his right.
“He is a slugger as well, the way he went after Deontay [Wilder], nobody expected that.
“He said what he is going to do and he did it. I like guys who box with confidence like that.”

Mike Tyson says he’s happy he’s not knocked out and Roy Jones says everything hurt as it made contact with Tyson after their fight More

LENNOX LEWIS admitted he could stage a sensational boxing comeback as he has ‘unfinished business’ with his old heavyweight rival Riddick Bowe.
After Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr – with a combined age of 105 – drew in an eight-round exhibition on Saturday night, former world champ Lewis hinted he could be next to return to the ring.

Lennox Lewis could follow Mike Tyson back into the ringCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Lewis said there was ‘unfinished business’ with Olympic foe Riddick BoweCredit: AP:Associated Press

The British-born star, 55, told BT Sport: “Sure! I mean, it seems like a lot of fun.
“You have to look at Mike Tyson; Mike has been doing a lot of different things like wrestling, he’s been doing acting and he even had his own one-man band show.
“So he knows how to entertain people, he knows what to do in these situations.”
Lewis KO’d Iron Mike in Memphis in 2002 and retired soon after his TKO win over Ukrainian Vitali Klitschko the following year.

The Lion battered American Bowe, 53, in the 1988 Olympic final and won gold for Canada – where he moved aged 12 – in Seoul.
But the duo never got it on in the professional arena despite Lewis becoming the WBC’s mandatory challenger while Bowe was undisputed heavyweight champ in 1992.
Bowe famously dumped the belt into the bin at press conference as he refused to be intimidated by the governing body to fight Lewis and the match-up was one that got away in the 90s.

Lewis added: “When I was commentating for HBO, they had me put in there right in the action.

“It was maybe to make me feel like I could come back for HBO whatever. But I just never caught it, it never happened.
“I looked at the history of why boxers come back and most boxers come back because they have nothing else to do.
“People keep coming up to them and saying to them, ‘Hey, when is your next fight? Who are you going to fight?’
“But it doesn’t do better for them, it makes them look bad. So I always elected to stay away from that.
“But, 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 reveals Mike Tyson texted him to warn him Piers Morgan was ‘so BORING’ after appearing drowsy on GMB More

DANIEL DUBOIS faces the painful job of rebuilding both his eye socket and reputation after a host of British boxing stars accused him of quitting against Joe Joyce.
The hottest prospect in the game was out-jabbed over ten rounds by the 35-year-old 2016 Olympic silver medal winner, until his left orbital bone broke and he suffered nerve damage to the wound.

Daniel Dubois is considering eye surgery after his defeat by Joe Joyce on Saturday nightCredit: Richard Pelham – The Sun

Frank Warren leaped to Dubois’ defence Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Specialists at the Moorfields eye hospital, where Dubois, 23, slept on Saturday night, will decide today whether he needs the same career-saving surgery that once kept Sheffield’s ex-world champ Kell Brook out for eight months.
But the psychological scars might be even harder to mend than the shattered skull section.
Fighting men like ringside pundits Carl Frampton and David Haye — as well as Chris Eubank Jr and Dillian Whyte — all accused him of bottling the first sticky situation of his now 15-1 career.
But promoter Frank Warren leaped to his defence and said: “He has a fractured orbital socket.

“The last punch he took caught a nerve and it shot through him. He could not focus and see and that was that. He would have had to be pulled out in the next round anyway. It is a horrible injury he got.”
Peacock Gym boss Martin Bowers did everything he could to rouse his charge after things took a turn for the worst in the middle rounds.
But not even his best Winston Churchill impressions — in the same Church House Westminster building the WWII PM announced the sinking of Nazi battleship Bismarck — could stop him from drowning under siege.
Joyce is now ready for a civil war after warning heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua that only a world title will make up for his Olympic robbery.

Joyce stopped Dubois in the tenthCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The Juggernaut should have been launched into a mega-money pro career, like Audley Harrison and AJ, after the Rio Games but he got stuck with a controversial silver after France’s Tony Yoka won on a split decision.
But Saturday night’s emphatic win secured the 6ft 6in Putney giant with the iron chin the British, Commonwealth and European titles and a jump up the rankings.
The 12-0 KO artist with the penchant for painting and a fine art degree, insists he will not be satisfied until he has one of the four major belts currently shared by his fellow Brits and ex-sparring partners.
He said: “There’s only a small circle of elite heavyweight fighters and I believe I’m in that circle — or I’m on the outside edging in.
“If I win a world title next year I’m on my way in.
“There’s some great fights and I can’t wait to be mixing it with the best.
“This win makes up for the Olympics a little bit but the crown on the top will be a world title and to go down in history as a heavyweight champion.
“Then I can go on from there.
“Definitely winning the world title does the job for me — and securing my family’s future financially as well.”

Dubois vs Joyce – Round by round More

JOE JOYCE has warned heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury that only a world title will make up for his 2016 Olympic robbery.
The Juggernaut, 35, should have been launched into a mega-money pro career, like Audley Harrison and AJ enjoyed, after the Rio games but he got stuck with a controversial silver.

Joe Joyce has his eyes on a world title after stopping Daniel Dubois in the tenth round on Saturday nightCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Saturday night’s emphatic win over new golden boy Daniel Dubois secured the 6ft 6in giant with the iron chin the British, Commonwealth and European titles and a jump up the rankings.
But the 12-0 KO artist with the penchant for painting and a fine art degree, insists he will not be satisfied until he has one of the four major belts currently shared by his fellow Brits and former sparring partners.
“There’s only a small circle of elite heavyweight fighters and I believe I’m in that circle or I’m on the outside edging in and if I win a world title next year I’m on my way in,” the modest man mountain said.
“There’s some great fights and I can’t wait to be mixing it with the best.

“This win makes up for the Olympics a little bit but the crown on the top will be a world title and to go down in history as a heavyweight champion. Then I can go on from there. 
“Definitely winning the world title does the job for me and securing my family’s future financially as well.”
Joyce’s family were at Church House, in Westminster at the weekend, bellowing instructions and celebrating the round-ten stoppage.
But he admits Team JJ, especially mum Marvel, would prefer their hero stops using his freakishly strong chin as his first line of defence.

Joyce left Dubois with a broken eye socket and nerve damageCredit: Getty Images – Getty

But, because the former athlete didn’t start boxing until 22, he knows he might have to rely on his wonder-whiskers a little longer.
“I don’t feel much different than when I was 26,” he said. “It’s just one of them things you have to be smarter if you’re training.
“If you’ve been training for so many years it is quite hard to stay motivated to keep doing the same thing but I love the sport and I’m constantly improving myself. 
“I have my own style and I’ve been blessed with a good chin. I try not to rely on it. I want to improve my sweet science of boxing. 
“I keep on aiming to improve my technique but it is hard as I started so late and I had ground to make up in the skills department. I do my best.”
Oleksandr Usyk beat Joyce in the amateurs and is now mandatory challenger for AJ’s WBO title.
The former undisputed cruiserweight king has refused to sit out and let AJ and Fury do a 2021 double-header for the undisputed crown.
So Joyce can target a rematch with the Ukraine southpaw, if Joshua vacates the title to battle the Gypsy King.

Joyce has Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in his sightsCredit: Reuters

Putney boy Joyce is targeting world title fights against AJ and FuryCredit: PA
“A Usyk rematch would be amazing for the world title,” the Putney man said.
“We are both better fighters now, I’ve got better preparation now, I’ve had more rounds. I can land more shots, tire him out and take him out.
“He’s quite a small heavyweight, but I rate him, he’s got skill. It’s hard to hit him, but with my team I reckon I could take him because I’m a more experienced fighter.
“He’s put on some muscle, so he’s a little bit slower. I rate him because he’s got the brains and he’s got good footwork and head movement.
“It would be a difficult fight, but one I want and one I could win.”
The Dubois battle was postponed three times since April and some unnecessary needle was manufactured, leading to the 23-year-old insulting Joyce’s mum.
But Joyce was magnanimous in victory and urged his rival to bounce back from the broken orbital bone and nerve damage his ramrod jab inflicted.
He said: “It takes a lot to be a boxer and get in the ring. He was one of my GB team-mates. I forgive him for what he said. 
“Maybe it was in the heat of the moment or he might have been told to say it, it was a bit disrespectful.
“But I have respect for him and he can come again because he’s young.”

Dillian Whyte blasts ‘coward’ Daniel Dubois for ‘quitting’ as he stops fighting in shock defeat to Joe Joyce More