Heavyweight boxing

ANTHONY JOSHUA is glad boxing fans can finally see all the ‘crazy s***’ that comes with negotiating with Tyson Fury.The 34-year-old WBC Gypsy King’s undisputed April 29 Wembley decider with Oleksandr Usyk has collapsed just five weeks out.
Joshua has not held back as he looked over the messy negotiations that has left the Fury-Usyk fight to collapseCredit: Getty
Team Fury are blaming the 36-year-old WBA, IBF and WBO boss for demanding too big a percentage of the potential rematch.
Team Usyk insist it is ridiculous that their man should accept the stingy side of a 70-30 split – for a four-belt showdown on away soil – and the same carve-up in any rerun.
AJ, 33, and Fury were days away from securing the biggest fight in British boxing history in late Spring of 2021 – perhaps even a two-fight undisputed spectacular – that was scuppered when Deontay Wilder won his legal claim for a third Fury fight.
And last December – after Fury had finished off Wilder and beaten up Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora – he offered AJ a short-notice showdown, after he had lost his second bout and three belts to Usyk.
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Ahead of his April 1 comeback fight against Jermaine Franklin, Joshua hopes fans finally are understanding what a nightmare it is to deal with his nemesis.
“I will be real,” he said from his Wimbledon base ahead of the O2 bout.
“As much as I like to entertain that gossip and Fury situation, I have been there twice and people don’t remember that.
“I was supposed to fight him before I fought Usyk, the first time, and he pulled out due to his legal case, the arbitration, with Wilder. That was all up in the air and done online.
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“Look at all the s*** they are going through now with this Usyk stuff. It’s just crazy.
“I don’t publicise things so it’s actually good that people are starting to see what goes on in negotiations.
“It’s good that people can actually see the s*** that people have got to put up with to make a fight.
“Me and Usyk got two successful fights done. It’s just crazy.”
It’s a sorry state of affairs and Joshua doubts him and Fury will ever settle the score in the ring.
Usyk now has to face the WBA’s mandatory challenger in Daniel Dubois, while Fury will likely sit out until the summer.
Tyson Fury is coming under fire from some fight fans for his role in the heavyweight debacleCredit: Reuters
Fans of the 6ft 9in showman will insist he has earned the right to call the shots and demand the lion’s share of any fight, especially after iconic away wins over Wladimir Klitschko and Wilder.
But his critics will now suggest his three-year hiatus and failed fights with AJ and Usyk make him a fraud.
AJ is doing his best not to lose any more sleep over it.
“Will the fight between me and him get made?” he wondered? “I don’t know.
“I cannot say I am just going to sit around and wait for this geezer.
“There are other great fights out there I can have.
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“Without Fury on my record I will not wake up tomorrow and regret my whole boxing career.
“If he is up for it, I am up for it, if he is not, he is not. Whatever.” More

DEONTAY WILDER is ready to step in and fight Oleksandr Usyk after talks with Tyson Fury broke down. Usyk’s side claimed they were forced to pull the plug on the proposed four-belt unification- the first in history – due to Fury’s “disrespectful” demands.
Deontay Wilder is ready to step in and fight Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty
Oleksandr Usyk’s fight with Tyson Fury faces collapseCredit: Getty
And the Ukrainian legend, 36, now looks set to instead face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, 25, per the WBA’s request.
But former WBC champion Wilder, 37, has thrown his name into the hat for a mega-fight with the WBA, IBF and WBO champion.
His manager Shelly Finkel told Sky Sports: “If the Oleksandr Usyk fight is available, Deontay Wilder will take it in a heartbeat.”
Wilder is a promotional free agent currently and knocked out Robert Helenius, 38, in round one of his October comeback fight.
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And the American has been in recent talks to fight Francis Ngannou, 36, who is now eyeing a boxing move after leaving the UFC.
Meanwhile, Usyk’s historic undisputed title fight with Fury, 34, faces collapse after negotiations broke down at the 11th hour.
He publicly accepted the “greedy” offer of just a 70/30 split to unify all four belts on April 29 at Wembley.
But behind the scenes organisers struggled to get the deal over the line as the target date fast approached.
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Usyk’s promoter Alex Krassyuk spoke out to reveal that the sticking point was the financial split for a potential rematch between the rivals.
But Fury’s promoter Frank Warren hit back to try and shift the focus to the original fight again.
Warren sensationally came to a head with Krassyuk live on air with talkSPORT, where an agreement to renegotiate was met.
He said: “We’re not gonna be negotiating over the radio, that’s for sure. But Alex and I are friends.
“I still believe this fight can be made and I believe with the will of everybody concerned we can get it over the line and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Krassyuk replied: “From our perspective now this fight is not going to happen on April 29.
“Maybe some miracle can happen, but I’m really sincere, I’m not trying to play games. Usyk’s camp pulled the plug out.”
Warren concluded: “As soon as we finish with you guys, we’re gonna get back on the phone together Alex and I.
“We’re gonna have a chat and if we can do this we’re gonna come back to you and tell you we’ve done a deal.”
It has punched new hope that a compromise can be met but Warren admitted: “We’ve probably got about a day, maybe two days, then we’re done.”
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Tyson Fury facing off with Oleksandr UsykCredit: REUTERS More

OLEKSANDR USYK’S promoter confirmed talks to fight Tyson Fury are over – following too many “unacceptable” and “disrespectful” demands. Usyk publicly accepted Fury’s “greedy” offer of just a 70/30 split to unify all four belts on April 29 at Wembley.
Oleksandr Usyk with his promoter Alex KrassyukCredit: Instagram @alex.krassyuk
But behind the scenes organisers struggled to get the deal over the line as the target date fast approached.
Now Usyk’s team have spoken out to confirm the collapse of the historic title unification and pinned the blame on Fury.
Promoter Alex Krassyuk told talkSPORT: “The fight is called off. The reason for that is it went too far.
“There was a feeling that after Usyk accepted 70-30, Tyson Fury started thinking that he could put a tether around his neck and start riding Usyk as much as he can.
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“It’s not right. I mean, Usyk accepted the 70-30 split as a courtesy, he was so loyal, and he was so willing to make this fight happen.
“But the fight isn’t about Tyson Fury, the fight is about the WBC belt that is pending in his collection.”
Usyk’s team believed they called Fury’s bluff by accepting the slim purse split for what is a super-heavyweight fight.
But despite the financials being agreed upon the deal is believed to have broken down due to a disagreement over other material terms.
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Usyk is now expected to face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois, 25, which the WBA have already ordered if talks with Fury fell apart.
Krassyuk said: “If I start telling you the list of things he wanted, one, five, ten, or 15 minutes will not be enough.
“There was a list of things he wanted to get in his favour that was absolutely unacceptable, which were completely disrespectful to the unified champion and former undisputed champion.
“I cannot disclose the negotiations, it’s part of the ethics. So, if I start to go into the details, it won’t look good.
“Maybe, if the other party would be willing to take the decision to disclose what were the things then we can talk about it.
“At this time, I cannot do this just for this reason…. With huge regret in my heart, I must admit [the fight is off]… [Usyk] will take a short break and comply with his mandatories.”
The fight would have promised to put all four heavyweight belts on the line for the first time in history.
And Usyk, 36, was attempting history in trying to become the first men’s two-weight undisputed champion.
But Krassyuk insisted Fury, 34, denied them the opportunity by purposely putting roadblocks in their route to getting the deal done.
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He said: “If it’s so complicated that Tyson tries to avoid it by putting so many obstacles in front while making the deal then there’s no need to put more effort in and we just go our way.
“The only thing that stays in my mind, we can claim very clearly that undisputed stays our highest priority and we will do our best to make it happen in the shortest period of time, and whoever is the temporary holder of the WBC belt we will try to make it happen.”
Oleksandr Usyk pictured with Tyson Fury More

ANTHONY JOSHUA said he lost “admiration and respect” from legends after losing the belts – but he is done with trying to prove a point. Joshua returns on April 1 – live on talkSPORT radio – against American Jermaine Franklin following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua after his rematch loss to Oleksandr UsykCredit: PA
AJ surrendered the unified titles to Usyk in September 2021 and failed to regain them in their Saudi Arabia rematch last August.
The 2012 Olympic champion’s tactics and mindset were called into question by experts of the game.
It left Joshua bemused but the heavyweight superstar is through with chasing the recognition of his peers.
He told talkSPORT’s Spencer Oliver: “I love this industry, I respect boxing so much, because I do it, and I know what it takes.
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“And it’s crazy to think that a lot of the legends that I admire and people that I look up to are doing podcasts now, and I can actually go online and hear what they have to say.
“I used to do a lot of it to try and get the respect and admiration from people that I admire, and you’re kind of chasing that.
“And when I lost the belts, I just felt that admiration and respect from the legends of the game had just disappeared with those belts.
“It was a hard pill to swallow, and now I’m just in a place where it’s like, ‘F*** everyone, I’m doing this s*** for myself.
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Credit: SUNSPORT
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“I ain’t going through that s*** anymore where I’m putting pressure on, ‘I’m going to do this, and I’m going to do that.’
“Listen, if I just knuckle down and take one day at a time and take one round at a time, and I put my mind to it, what will be, will be.”
Joshua, 33, is without a win since December 2020 when he knocked out Bulgarian veteran Kubrat Pulev, 41.
And following his pair of defeat to Usyk, 36, AJ has parted ways with his coaching team to link up with Derrick James in Texas.
Even his promoter Eddie Hearn has warned to expect an all-new Joshua, having completed his camp away from home for the first time.
But the man himself said: “Are we going to see something different?
“You can’t really say that, Spencer, I’ll be lying to you if I was like, ‘I’m going to do this, I’m going to come out southpaw…’
“It’s all bulls***, I’m going to go in there and do what the f*** I do and I’m going to get this win. That’s what I’m focusing on.
“Let me go in there and do my job, I’m going to do my best, I’m not going to make it over complicated, I’m a good fighter.
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“I’ve got a f****** good jab, good defence, good right hand, good uppercut, and I’ll find the gaps needed to break my opponent down.”
Anthony Joshua training out in AmericaCredit: INSTAGRAM
Anthony Joshua with promoter Eddie Hearn and Jermaine FranklinCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has three major options lying in wait if he beats Jermaine Franklin. AJ faces American Franklin on April 1 – live on talkSPORT radio – as he looks to bounce back from consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua, Eddie Hearn and Jermaine FranklinCredit: Getty
His promoter Eddie Hearn was confronted live on air by Simon Jordan, who called Joshua a “flat-track bully” who has “gotten found out.”
Jordan also questioned Hearn on whether AJ will consider facing Joe Joyce, 37, or Daniel Dubois, 25, if he gets back to winning ways.
But Hearn responded: “I don’t think the Dubois fight, I think Joyce is the guy.
“I think Dubois is miles away in terms of the heavyweight division of the elite guys but I think Joyce is right in there.
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“Those guys have sparred thousands of rounds, it’s brilliant to watch. Honestly if you asked AJ about fighting Joyce, no problem at all.
“He has three options after Franklin are Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte.
“I don’t think there’s any disgrace off the back of the Usyk fight going Jermaine Franklin, Dillian Whyte and then Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder. That’s a hell of a 2023.”
Joshua, 33, is without a win since December 2020 when he knocked out Bulgarian veteran Kubrat Pulev, now 41.
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Credit: SUNSPORT
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And Franklin, 29, won praise for his performance over Whyte, 34, in November in which he lost a controversial decision.
Hearn agreed it is “make or break” for Joshua and the nerves are running high.
He said: “Absolutely. I’m a promoter and I’m hyping the fight, but at the same time I am nervous.
“He’s coming off two defeats, albeit to Oleksandr Usyk, we saw emotionally the position he was in because he wanted to win so badly.
“He’s got a new trainer and he’s taken himself to Dallas with a very small team to work his absolute socks off.”
Eddie Hearn pictured with Anthony Joshua in TexasCredit: https://twitter.com/DAZNBoxing/status/1636082079212486659/photo/1 More

TYSON FURY vs Oleksandr Usyk is currently OFF with promoter Frank Warren trying to work one final miracle to save it.The deal for the Wembley April 29 heavyweight undisputed decider was hours from being signed off before a row on Tuesday grounded negotiations on the final straight.
Tyson Fury facing off with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Reuters
Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas has blamed the 34-year-old WBC Gypsy King for the collapse, saying: “No matter how much Usyk compromised, he was pushed for more”.
But SunSport understands Team Fury will lay the blame at 36-year-old Usyk’s door for making unrealistic demands behind the scenes.
Southpaw mastermind Usyk undoubtedly called Fury’s bluff by accepting a paltry 30 per cent of the mega-money showdown.
And then the 6ft 9in Brit pulled off another coup by getting the rematch clause ripped up.
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However he pushed his luck too far when he posted one final video mocking Usyk and his team for taking the skinny end of the four-belt showdown.
Fury’s faux pas was roaring: “You get what you’re getting, don’t worry.
“You got your fighter to accept 30 percent, you bum dosser.
“You got outwitted by a man who never went to school in his life, sausage!”
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Hall-of-fame promoter Frank Warren and his Queensberry team hope the deal can be resurrected in the next 24 hours.
Despite the planned bout being just five weeks away, they had done all the groundwork to get the fight on track to be another record-breaking Wembley spectacular.
If the fantasy fight really is dead then WBA, IBF and WBO boss Usyk will have to fight Fury’s stablemate and WBA mandatory Daniel Dubious.
Fury will cancel his April 29 date and not rush into a hastily made Plan B, returning to the drawing board for a summer showdown of his own.
The frustrating talks have been rumbling on since August, when it was slated for Saudi Arabia and included a rematch.
After the Sheikh’s pulled down, Fury successfully moved the goalposts to make it a 70-30 split in his favour.

🥊 Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
Canny Usyk snapped up the offer, on the provision Fury donated £1million to help his war-ravaged nation of Ukraine fight off Russia and rebuild.
But then Fury countered with a demand to have the rematch clause – that had always previously  been included – ripped up.
Fury then went into camp, drafted in southpaw sparring and had trainer Sugarhill Steward fly in from America but there was still no solid confirmation that all the caveats had been agreed to and on Tuesday night, the dreaded news broke.
Seen as Usyk had already agreed to a stingy slice of the pie and fight in Fury’s backyard yard where he would concede crucial home advantage, it’s no surprise he has baulked at axing the rematch.
If the London 2012 Olympic winner gets a dodgy decision on foreign soil – where Fury would have close to 100,000 fans cheering him on potentially swaying the three judges – it would be a travesty for him to have no chance at instant redemption.
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Fury and his team are now sure to blame Usyk for ducking out and the Eastern European’s will return fire with claims and accusations of greed.
It’s another sorry state of affairs for boxing that needed this bout so much.
Tyson Fury with promoter Frank WarrenCredit: PA More