Heavyweight boxing

DILLIAN WHYTE believes Britain boasts the top three heavyweights in the world as he put himself third in his top five list.
The Body Snatcher – who has been waiting for a shot at the WBC title since 2017 – has just one blemish on his record out of his 29 fights.

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British boxer Dillian Whyte has won 28 out of his 29 professional fightsCredit: PA:Press Association
The 32-year-old suffered a defeat at the hands of rival Anthony Joshua in 2015, but since then has racked up 11 consecutive wins.
And the Jamaican-born fighter has established himself as one of the most feared men in the division thanks to epic victories against the likes of Derek Chisora, Joseph Parker and Lucas Browne.
Alexander Povetkin is the next man tasked with the challenge of stopping Whyte in his tracks with the duo locking horns on August 22 in the finale of ‘Fight Camp’.
Uploading a clip on his Instagram story, Whyte was asked by a fan who he believes are the best active heavyweights.

And he stated that he believes he is a better fighter than former world champions Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz Jr.
He said: “Top five heavyweights would have to be Tyson Fury, Joshua, me, Deontay Wilder probably and Ruiz.
WHYTE NOISE
“Or one of those guys I guess.”
One of those boxers could be unbeaten Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk who has moved up from cruiserweight having become the undisputed champion.

Another potential fighter to challenge Ruiz Jr for fifth place could be Kubrat Pulev – who is set to challenge AJ for the IBF, WBA and WBO belts later this year.
Whyte recently signalled his intentions to swap boxing for UFC, with MMA monster Francis Ngannou a potential opponent.
Commenting on Whyte switching sports, former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping backed Whyte to take on Ngannou.

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Whyte believes WBC champion Tyson Fury is the best heavyweight in the worldCredit: Reuters

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Whyte’s rival Anthony Joshua currently holds the WBA, WBO and IBF beltsCredit: PA:Press Association
He said: “I trained with Dillian back in the day, I know him a little bit because he came up to help a training camp with Rampage Jackson many years ago.
“Personally I like to see the best boxers fight the best boxers and the best martial artists to fight the best martial artists. Too often it is a set-up for someone to lose.
“But Ngannou would be a good opponent, he cannot wrestle to save his life but if he connects in those 4oz gloves, it’s goodnight. The gloves are only really there to protect your hands.”

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TYSON FURY put on a workout with his dad John in front of local fans at Morecambe Bay.
The heavyweight champion, 31, treated his supporters to an impromptu training session on the sand.

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Tyson Fury put on a workout with his dad John in front of local fans at Morecambe Bay

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Fury was training with dad John on the sand
He hit pads with John with a small crowd cheering on.
Fury, who recently got his dad on Instagram, is preparing for his next fight, having won the WBC title against Deontay Wilder in February.
The pair are signed to a trilogy bout, which was targeted for December.
US promoter Bob Arum warned the rematch could now be backdated as far back as February.

But according to Fury’s UK matchmaker Frank Warren, the Gypsy King is desperate to fight again before the year’s out.
And he has been instructed to find the unbeaten heavyweight a bout before 2020 is over.

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Warren said: “Tyson made it very clear – I’ve got to give him a fight by the end of the year.
“I don’t want him fighting behind closed doors.

“But Tyson’s been in lockdown since February so, by December, it’s ten months out of the ring.”
Fury’s chances of immediately defending his belt against 34-year-old Wilder relies on when fans are allowed to return.
The heavyweight division’s hero is not ruining out fighting in front of an empty arena.

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Warren said: “The only way the Wilder fight works financially is in front of  a crowd.
“In the meantime, let’s think about what works health-wise for Tyson.
“So a fight here, behind closed doors, is something to look at.”

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Fury is preparing for his next fight, having won the WBC title against Deontay Wilder in February

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DANIEL DUBOIS the silent assassin is causing sickening sounds in deepest darkest Canning Town.
With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, the Peacock Gym remains closed off to its usual swath of noisy members who can usually drown out the thuds of even the hardest hitters.

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SunSport had the chance to watch Dynamite Daniel Dubois during a brutal sparring session at the Peacock gymCredit: The Sun

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The Brit heavyweight roped in Dorin Krasmaru to help him prepare for his bout with Joe JoyceCredit: The Sun

But with just a handful of strictly tested pros operating in the far end of the famous sweatbox – during a brutal heatwave – SunSport was granted unprecedented access to film the usually top-secret sessions ahead of Dynamite Dan’s August 29 bout with Erik Pfeifer.
Three men are paid to take turns this Wednesday morning trying to take off the 22-year-old’s head.
But more importantly they must be able to withstand his power.
Lead sparring partner – and somehow close friend – Dorin Krasmaru is also a part-time security guard at a local East London store.

Dorin understands he has to be on his A game because I am always going in for the kill and I take any opportunity
Daniel Dubois on his sparring partner Dorin Krasmaru

Chasing down villains and daring to confront possibly armed thieves must be the easiest part of his day and Dubois respects his rival’s commitment.
He told SunSport: “Heavyweight sparring is hard.
“You can’t always rely on people to turn up on agreed days and do the number of rounds you want in a professional way.
“Dorin understands he has to be on his A game because I am always going in for the kill and I take any opportunity.

“Dorin has been around since day one of me turning pro, I have learned a lot from him and I hope he has learned some from me.”

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Dubois hunts down his sparring rivalCredit: The Sun

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The sweaty session takes its tollCredit: The Sun

Martin Bowers, Dubois’ trainer, bounces around on his haunches guiding his charge through each phase, praising his successes and curing his few mistakes.
In the politest possible terms, Bowers evicts us for four rounds when he and DDD will focus on a few very specific things for possible-banana-skin Pfeifer.
BT Sport must make it abundantly clear to their viewers in a couple of weeks the Russian-born German is much more than a 7-0 prospect.
The 33-year-old is a decorated amateur with two wins over reigning Olympic champion Tony Yoka.
Members of Frank Warren’s promotional team were even shocked to learn this was the latest target in the Dubois crosshairs.

FURY COULDN’T BREAK HIM
When Dubois first emerged as a painfully shy teenager, more comfortably in front of an 18st rival than a camera, he was lazily labelled a banger skittling fall guys.
But the wins against Razvan Cojanu and Nathan Gorman unveiled a seriously gifted talent with a textbook full of foundation skills and a Larry Holmes-like jab that could take him around the world without even needing his savage right hand.
For a few of the most recent 14 wins, Bowers has flown in sparring partners from New York, hungry unknown faces with no respect for Dubois’ British title or his potential and they have been sent packing after helping to make him even more devastating.
Hard men like Tyson Fury, Martin Bakole, Mariusz Wach, David Adeleye and Jay McFarlane have done behind-closed-doors rounds with the Greenwich kid and failed to break him.
There is a growing trend among some new-age fighters and trainers that hard sparring rounds might no longer be the essential base for a fighter to build on.

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But Dubois and Bowers, the fitness fanatic theatre-lover, remain loyal to the old school idea that the more you sweat in the training, the less you bleed in battle.
The last time Pfeifer faced a young London lad with plenty of promise, it was the 2011 World championships in Baku and he had his nose shattered inside a round by a gangly kid called Anthony Joshua.
If these few insightful rounds in the bowels of the Dubois camp are anything to go by, Pfeifer’s doctors might have another bloody job on their hands.

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Hard men like Tyson Fury have done behind-closed-doors rounds with Dubois and failed to break himCredit: The Sun

The Greenwich kid is one of Britain’s hottest prospects and has a proud unbeaten record of 14 straight wins

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TYSON FURY’S dad John has dedicated his latest Instagram post to two of his brothers that have passed away.
The 56-year-old uploaded a clip showing off his punching power, claiming he has been inspired to stay fit after the death of two of his siblings.

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John Fury has shown off his punching power in a video he shared on social media
Fury’s brother Hughie died on October 11, 2014, from a blood clot after failing to take anti blood clotting medication.
And he also paid tribute to another brother that has died in a video he shared on social media.
In the clip, John can be seen smashing a punchbag, while his world heavyweight champion son Tyson can be heard roaring him on.
Captioning the video, John – who took a year off his actual age – said: “Working hard at 55 years old, iv (sic) lost to (sic) brothers both younger than my age now.

“So I will keep up the fitness and stay active, stay positive and stay blessed.”
Fans were quick to comment on his post, as one said: “Inspiration to soooooo many.”
Another messaged: “Amen. May the good lord bless you with health & happiness.”

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John Fury already boasts over 79,000 followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @gypsyking101

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A third added: “When Big John talks people listen. Keep up with your wise words John.”

Fury only set up an Instagram earlier this week, and he already boasts over 79,000 followers.
His first post delighted his fans after Tyson filmed his dad after he drank a ‘pint of vodka’.

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ANDY RUIZ JR and Chris Arreola are reportedly closing in on a fight to take place later this year.
The 30-year-old hasn’t fought since he lost his WBA, WBO and IBF belts in December when he was outpointed by Anthony Joshua.

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Andy Ruiz Jr is looking to catapult himself back into world title contentionCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
Meanwhile, Arreola, 39, has been out of action since his points defeat against Poland’s Adam Kownacki in August 2019.
According to The Athletic, the two Mexican-Americans have agreed a fight to face each other at the end of the year.
Both men are signed with Premier Boxing Champions, and it has been claimed the organisation just needs to finalise a broadcast date and venue.
Ruiz Jr will have new trainer Eddy Reynoso in his corner having dismissed Manny Robeles following the AJ loss.

The 33-2 boxer is looking in great shape after he showed off his slimmer look in a training video.
RU BEAUTY
It had been thought that Ruiz Jr was to face Manuel Charr after the WBA ‘regular’ champ stated that talks were set to take place.
But a fight against Arreola has always been in the works after the three-time world title challenger revealed negotiations have been held with Ruiz Jr.
Speaking in July, he said: “Yes, actually there’s been a couple of talks [about Ruiz Jr fight], but I’m not at liberty of saying anything right now.

“But they are looking fairly good. Looking very good. I’m actually very excited for that fight.
“I think that’s the only fight that looks promising for myself.”

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Chris Arreola (left) hasn’t fought since losing to Adam Kownacki in August 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty

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Before adding: “We’re both Californians, we’re both in the rankings, we’re both fan-friendly fighters and we’re both of Mexican heritage.
“We all know what Mexican fighters bring to the table. They bring non-stop excitement.
“We just come forward and we just love to fight. I think it will be a great fight between me and Andy.”

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ROY JONES JR showed off his fighting shape aged 51 after hitting the pads in preparation to face Mike Tyson.
The former four-division champion faces the reformed Baddest Man on The Planet in an eight-round exhibition bout on November 28.

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Roy Jones Jr training ahed of his fight against Mike Tyson

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Jones faces Tyson in an eight-round exhibition bout in November
Tyson, who retired in 2005 and claims to have not boxed since, has broken the internet on several occasions with his viral training clips.
But it was Jones’ turn to remind fans of his legendary skills after uploading some footage of himself taking on the pads.
The pound-for-pound legend – who last fought in 2018 – demonstrated impressive hand speed for his age, doubling up on the left hook.
Jones has been training for the pay-per-view spectacle from his home gym in Florida.

British middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr, 30, had been alongside the American great before his comeback against Tyson was announced.
And the pair have continued the work after Jones’ return was confirmed.
Eubank admitted Tyson was a “hero” of his – but cannot help but root for his new mentor.

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He told talkSPORT: “Mike Tyson and Roy Jones are two of my favourite fighters of all time.

“I never ever thought I would be watching a fight and rooting against Mike Tyson.
“Mike Tyson is a hero of mine, but I’m in this crazy position where I’ve got two heroes and they’re fighting and I can’t go against Roy.”

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Chris Eubank Jr has been alongside Jones More

MIKE TYSON was snapped hugging the ref who disqualified him for biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
The photo of Iron Mike sharing an embrace with official Mills Lane has been doing the rounds online, seven years after it was originally taken.

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Mike Tyson can be seen hugging ref Mills Lane in a picture taken seven years ago

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Mills Lane was the man in the middle for the infamous Tyson vs Holyfield rematchCredit: AFP – Getty

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Lane checks out the damage to Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1997Credit: AP:Associated Press
Holyfield shocked the world in 1996 after stopping Tyson in the eighth round of their first bout.
But it was the rematch a year later that went down in boxing folklore.
Tyson was dramatically disqualified by Lane after BITING a chunk out of Holyfield’s ear.
Holyfield previously talked up the chances of the pair getting it on for a third time in aid of charity and explained how the ear episode still plagues him.

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Mills Lane disqualified TysonCredit: Reuters
Holyfield told Sky Sports: “When people look at me, I know they are looking at my ear.
“People think I got the whole ear bit off!
“People don’t understand the relationship I have with Tyson.
“Tyson and I were both on the losing squad trying to make the Olympic team in 1984, that tells you how tough amateur boxing was in my day.

“When Tyson became heavyweight champion of the world, it made me realise that I could do it.
“Tyson and I had sparred and he was a tough guy even back then, when he was 17 and I was 21.”

For his part, Tyson revealed how the incident transformed him into the “most hated man in the world”.
He opened up on the ‘Bite Fight’ on ‘Mike Tyson Undisputed Truth’, and said: “I’m really very grateful that Evander forgave me for this.
“What was I thinking about? He lost a piece of his ear, I lost a piece of money. A lot of money and I lost my licence.
“All I could say is that I snapped. I went through pure hell. I went from the tenth most-hated man on the planet, which I can handle, to numero uno.”
Unfortunately Lane, who made that all-important call 23 years ago, suffered a devastating stroke in 2002.
Just four years after he retired from officiating in the ring, Lane suffered heartbreaking damage after the incident.
Moving is a struggle for him and he is unable to speak due to his deteriorating condition.

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Tyson is launching an incredible boxing comeback after 15 years out of the ring and will take on Roy Jones Jr in a charity fight.
The two legends were set to get it on next month in an eight-round exhibition.
But the fight was shifted to November 28 to allow further time to promote the pay-per-view spectacle but it was also suggested the decision was made in an effort to shift more tickets.

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MIKE TYSON could potentially make his boxing comeback against Roy Jones Jr in front of fans.
The eight-round exhibition was shifted from September 12 to November 28 to allow further time to promote the pay-per-view spectacle.

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Mike Tyson could potentially make his boxing comeback against Roy Jones Jr in front of fans
But YouTuber Logan Paul – whose brother Jake faces former NBA star Nate Robinson on the undercard – hinted the decision was made to wait and see if tickets can be sold.
Fans are not yet allowed back into arenas amid the coronavirus pandemic, despite hopes reduced crowds would return by October.
When asked why Tyson’s return was postponed with supporters already prohibited, Paul responded: “That’s not true. Depending on what state you’re in.
“Imagine if it was in a football stadium. They want to make sure the infrastructue is right.

“Dude, it’s Mike Tyson’s return. This is going to be one of the coolest things to happen in 2020.”
Organisers had pushed to take the exhibition to the Middle East but there was no such interest.
Instead it was set for California, with the event being streamed on social media app Triller.

And Paul added: “Apparently the traffic they’re getting to the site is so great, they’re truly trying to maximise capturing all audiences.

“They want to host the event somewhere massive and it takes a little careful navigating to make that happen.
“There’s only some states you’re allowed to do it.”
Under the California State Athletic Commission, Tyson and Jones were also due to box under strict orders, prohibiting KOs and not having judges score the bout. 
But now an unnamed but recognised sanctioning body will oversee the fight, adopting more familiar rules. 
Officials will be ringside scoring and the winner of the exhibition will receive a special belt.

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Tyson said: “Changing the date to November 28 will give more people the opportunity to see the biggest comeback in boxing history.
“This temporary inconvenience will last longer than Roy Jones Jr.
“He better be ready, I’m coming full force.”

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