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      Tyson Fury offers Usyk new fight terms to ‘up the ante’ – but Ukrainian’s team claim he’s ‘trying to escape’

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      TYSON FURY has told Oleksandr Usyk to forget about a rematch clause if he wants to secure their April 29 undisputed Wembley showdown.Morecambe’s 34-year-old WBC Gypsy King has thrown a handful of financial hurdles in the way of getting the four-belt decider made.
      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are on course for a historic April 29 showdownCredit: REUTERS
      But a contract for their undisputed heavyweight title fight has yet to be finalisedCredit: GETTY
      Gypsy King Fury has challenged Usyk to scrap a potential rematch clauseCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY
      And now he is back at it again by demanding the loser gets no shot at a rerun written into the contract.
      WBA, IBF and WBO boss Usyk has already had to agree to the slim side of a 70-30 split in Tyson Fury’s home – after the Brit refused a 50-50 split in Saudi Arabia.
      And now he is being told to accept a one-fight deal, meaning no chance of getting instant retribution if he were to suffer a controversial decision in Fury’s backyard.
      The undefeated 6ft 9in giant growled: “I have been speaking to the lawyers today and Usyk’s people are talking about rematch clauses and all that bs.
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      “He is one to up the ante, how about there is no f***ing rematch clause? For both of us, let’s really up the ante.
      “Never worry about what is in the future and how many more dollars you can get after you have been defeated.
      “Worry about the fight on April 29.
      “No rematch clause, the winner takes all the glory, the loser goes home with his dick in his hands.
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      “How about that? Agree to that you f***ing b***h.”
      The undefeated Ukrainian didn’t mince his words when reacting to Fury’s latest switcheroo.
      He said: “Hey greedy belly, the rematch clause came from your side not mine.
      “Stop whining and ducking. Be a man, ink the contract or vacate the belt.
      “I need undisputed and not to play your stupid games.”
      Boxing fans were quick to react to the ultimatum, saying: “Definitely should be a rematch clause.”
      Another said: “I get the feeling if Usyk didn’t want a rematch clause, you’d be on here saying the exact opposite.”
      And another said: “Give him the rematch clause Tyson he’s agreed 70/30/.”
      One remarked: “Moving the goalposts a lot here, champ.”
      Another chimed in: “Love this! No rematch clause.”
      One boxing fan said: “Great idea, no rematch and the champion moves on to fight another contender just how it should be.”
      Fury’s latest ultimatum has left Team Usyk adamant the fight won’t happen.

      🥊 Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout

      Promoter Alexander Krassyuk told talkSPORT: “Let’s imagine Usyk accepts no rematch, Fury will search for another thing to pull out.
      “He bluffed and Usyk called his bluff, 100%.
      “His credibility is shot to pieces. The man is trying to escape.
      “I’m really sorry for Tyson’s fans.
      “It’s a shame for a fighter to behave like that.
      “It’s not about money and not about boxing. It’s about fear.”
      Usyk accepted Fury’s tight-fisted offer on the condition of a £1million donation to the people of Ukraine fighting to defend and rebuild their nation.
      The 36-year-old southpaw seems far more focused on training and fighting while Fury keeps filming himself making more and more demands.
      He said: “I’m preparing for my next fight against Tyson Fury.
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      “Promoters are having negotiations, managers are talking about the fight.
      “I think a lot depends on one person in particular, Tyson Fury.” More

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      Oleksandr Usyk in talks over shock career change to professional football… and has eyes on Premier League transfer

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      OLEKSANDR USYK wants to juggle his Tyson Fury training camp with a return to professional football.Ukraine’s 36-year-old WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight king got a 14-minute cameo appearance for second-tier FC Polissya in a February 2022 friendly.
      Oleksandr Uysk is set to throw down with Tyson Fury in a historic undisputed heavyweight title fightCredit: REUTERS
      The pair are on course to throw down at Wembley on April 29Credit: GETTY
      But Usyk wants to juggle his preparations for the bout with a return to the footy pitch
      The unified heavyweight champ made his professional debut last February in a friendly between FC Polissya and VeresCredit: GETTY
      The southpaw sharpshooter missed a sitter that thankfully didn’t cost his side, as they won 2-1.
      That single appearance came in between the two Anthony Joshua wins he secured on points in September 2021 and August 2022.
      The London 2012 Olympic golden boy and undisputed cruiserweight boss wants to lace up his boots again but his team is worried it might clash with his training for the Fury fight that is deep in negotiations and targeted for April 29.
      When asked if he had hopes of returning to the pitch, he said: “We are communicating with my team about this.
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      “But the team and my coaching staff are not very happy about it because the upcoming fight is serious and the risks are not justified.
      “We need to be focused and prepare for our match. But there is a desire, so perhaps I will have more games with Polissya.”

      The slick southpaw has his sights set on one day playing in the Prem, saying: “England. I like it, it’s tougher. There’s fewer boys fall rolling and screaming, ‘Ouch.’
      “I mean, they go toe to toe, the bone sticks out and they keep running. I like this kind of football better.
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      Usyk accepted Fury’s stingy offer of a 70-30 split – with the caveat he donates £1million to help Ukraine defend and rebuild itself against Russia’s invasion.
      The 34-year-old Morecambe giant has started his training camp but refused to address the extra contract stipulation, preferring to insult and threaten Usyk and his trademark gap-toothed grin.
      But the ice-cool leftie is taking none of Fury’s bluster to heart and has jabbed him with the nickname ‘Greedy Belly’ after he almost blew the fight by rejecting a 60-40 split in favour of the winner.
      “I wouldn’t say that there is a lot of trash talk,” he said. “In my opinion, trash talk is dirty stuff when you humiliate your opponent and call him or her somehow offensive.
      “For example, in my case, when I call Tyson Fury ‘Belly’, it seems to me to be a little bit cute. A belly, What’s so offensive about it? Especially since he has one!
      “He speaks to me a little harsher. But it doesn’t humiliate me in any way. He keeps talking and talking, let him talk to himself.”
      While dismissive of Fury, Usyk seems to have more respect for AJ, especially after he personally contacted President Zelensky.
      Watford’s 33-year-old former champ has suffered double heartbreak against the Kiev king but still reached out to offer support to his ravaged nation and Usyk will never forget it.
      He explained: “This is the sport of boxing, we don’t want to beat-up or humiliate each other.

      “We go into the ring, he hits me and I will try to hit him, it’s part of the job.
      “For example, I know that Anthony Joshua called Volodymyr (Zelensky) and asked him how he could be useful to Ukraine or help and I have double respect for him for that.”
      Usyk and Fury pair are set to throw down in a historic undisputed heavyweight title fight after finally agreeing purse splits for their Wembley war last week.
      But the bout won’t be a short-notice affair for Usyk as he’s been preparing for The Gyspy King for the best part of two months.
      The undefeated Ukrainian has left no stone unturned ahead of his shot at undisputed glory, even putting himself through gruelling submerged 10-kilometre runs.
      He said: “For example, yesterday we ran in the pool with a treadmill inside.
      “You stand on a platform, it then lowers you down into the water and the treadmill starts working there.
      “And you run there in the water.
      “So yesterday we ran with another big guy, his secret nickname is BigDi, big Dima, we ran ten kilometers in the water with him and I want to say that it was damn hard!
      “My legs still hurt to this day. Last night I felt so good that I threw my legs up to the ceiling.”
      Devout Christian Usyk’s legs were so knackered he struggled to stand up during Sunday service at church.
      He continued: “This morning when we went to church, we go there on Sundays, and when we were standing, I started to feel pain in my back & legs.
      “But my legs today, if you compare them with some human emotions, they are like Whoo-hoo!
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      “That’s what they did!”
      Unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk is a proud Parimatch ambassador. More

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      Anthony Joshua shows off hulking body as he bulks up in gym during training for Jermaine Franklin fight

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA has shown off his impressive physique as he worked up a sweat ahead of his next fight. American Jermaine Franklin awaits the Brit on April 1 as he prepares to make his long-awaited return to the ring.
      Joshua looked in a great shape as he updated fans on his progressCredit: Instagram
      Joshua has not been in the ring since his August rematch defeat to UsykCredit: INSTAGRAM
      And the 33-year-old certainly appears to be getting back in the groove of things as he showed off his hulking body to fans.
      Joshua can be seen dripping with sweat on his Instagram as he completed another gym session.
      He looks to be in great shape ahead of the bout but the star appeared visibly less muscular than before other fights.
      The heavyweight previously slimmed down before his must-win rematch against Ruiz in 2019.
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      The Instagram post has already attracted over 127,000 ‘likes’ as fans anticipated the return of AJ.
      In the comments section, one said: “AJ is an incredible fighter and one of the best in his generation.
      “Keep working hard champ.”
      Another said: “Let’s go champ.”
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      Credit: SUNSPORT
      🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
      While another fan added: “Looking less like a body builder. That’s what we like to see. The champ is back – big up AJ!!”
      Two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk halted Joshua’s momentum and left him needing to build himself back up again and regain his belts.
      For a while last year it appeared he could return to the ring for an epic all-British clash with Tyson Fury before negotiations unravelled.
      But now it is Franklin in AJ’s sights and his promoter Eddie Hearn has made clear how big the fight is for Joshua to win fans back onside.
      But he faces a tough task with the 989 Assassin vowing to KO his opponent next month.
      He told iFL TV: “I’m trying to knock AJ out. I know I’m probably not going to get no fair shake over here. That’s our mentality, kill.” More

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      ‘I’ve stopped Usyk in sparring!’ – Martin Bakole sends out warning to heavyweight division as he calls out Daniel Dubois

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      MARTIN BAKOLE claims he has already “stopped” Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois as he called out the latter for a fight.The 18-1 (13 KOs) Congolese heavyweight was last in action back in May when he handed Olympic gold medallist Tony Yoka a first career defeat.
      Martin Bakole has called out Daniel Dubois after claiming he ‘stopped’ Oleksandr Usyk in sparringCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      He is aiming for a shot at Triple D’s WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight titleCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
      Now the 29-year-old star wants to secure himself a shot at a title before the end of 2023.
      He obviously has eyes on WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF champion Usyk – who brought in him as a sparring partner ahead of his second victory over Anthony Joshua last August in the Middle East.
      However, Bakole also says that he has sparred with Triple D in the past.
      And even though the WBA ‘regular’ title holder is the more realistic target, he feels that the Londoner will avoid him at all costs.
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      Speaking to Sky Sports, the heavyweight said: “Daniel Dubois is the fight I want.
      “I’ve sparred him twice and I stopped him twice in sparring. He knows that.
      “If we fight, I think I stop him in the first or second round.”
      Bakole continued: “I’m calling him out and I want him to be ready for me. I want that fight, I can’t wait.”
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      Bakole then made his claim about Usyk, who looks to have agreed to Tyson Fury’s 70/30 split for a unification fight at Wembley on April 29.
      He added: “People are hiding because they don’t want to fight me because I made the mistake from sparring them in the gym.
      “Even Usyk, I stopped him in sparring in Dubai, he knows that.”
      Oleksandr Usyk sparred with the Congolese star ahead of his win over Anthony JoshuaCredit: EPA More

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      Eddie Hearn admits Anthony Joshua has lost appeal with fans as Brit with tickets still unsold for Franklin comeback

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      EDDIE HEARN has admitted that Anthony Joshua has lost some of his box office appeal.The two-time world champion, 33, is still reeling after his back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
      Eddie Hearn admits Anthony Joshua is not the ‘same size commercially’Credit: PA
      But Joshua will hit the comeback trail – which he hopes will be a road back to world title contention – on April 1 with a must-win showdown against Jermaine Franklin at the O2.
      However, despite AJ previously having sold out stadiums at Wembley and Tottenham, there are still thousands of tickets unsold at the 20,000 East London arena.
      And his Matchroom promoter Hearn feels that the successive losses to Usyk have had an impact on Joshua commercially.
      He told ESBR Boxing: “He’s coming off two defeats, so of course you’re not going to be the same size commercially as you were when you beat Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000.
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      “But he’s a great fighter, he’s one of the best heavyweights in the world.
      “I feel like he can still be the best heavyweight in the world.”
      The former heavyweight champ is looking to get back into title contention, however, and is starting things off with a tasty clash against Franklin.
      The Michigan-born fighter lost a narrow decision to Dillian Whyte at the tail-end of 2022, but most thought he did enough to win the fight.
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      Credit: SUNSPORT
      🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
      Should Joshua beat Franklin, a rematch with Whyte, who he knocked out in 2015, would be well on the cards.
      Joshua’s career is effectively on the line, however, so he can’t take Franklin lightly.
      Franklin, 29, will be looking to catapult himself into the heavyweight title picture himself, and a win over Joshua would give him some newfound fame in the US.
      Robert Garcia is no longer Joshua’s trainer, with the Brit set to partner up with Derrick James out in Texas.
      Joshua will be hoping some fresh eyes in his corner can reignite his career, with future super-fights against Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder still on his mind. More

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      ‘Everybody should take their hat off to him’ – Tyson Fury compared to three heavyweight legends for fighting Usyk

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      TYSON FURY has been compared to heavyweight legends of the past for agreeing to fight Oleksandr Usyk. The historic title unification faced collapse as the pair of unbeaten champions failed to agree a financial split.
      Tyson Fury is set to fight Oleksandr Usyk nextCredit: Getty
      That was until Fury spoke out to offer Usyk a greedy “take-it-or-leave it” deal of 70/30 in his favour.
      But Usyk refused to buckle and accepted the low-ball terms – so long as Fury agrees to make a donation of £1million to Ukraine.
      Promoter Frank Warren CONFIRMED a deal is nearing completion to secure the division’s first four-belt undisputed fight on April 29 at Wembley.
      And he claimed it is Fury who fans should thank as he continues to tick off the best of his heavyweight era.
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      Warren said on talkSPORT: “Everyone wants to see the fight.
      “Everybody should take their hat off to Tyson Fury because he’s the only heavyweight since those great glory days of Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Joe Frazier that has fought the best around of the generations he’s been in.
      “He’s fought against Wladimir Klitschko, who was the best of his generation, went to his back yard and beat him.
      “The longest reigning heavyweight in Deontay Wilder… [Fury] went to the States not once but three times and beat him.
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      “Now he’s stepping up to the guy who has had two wins over Anthony Joshua and has three belts.
      “You have to take your hat off to Tyson, we talk about Lennox Lewis, but he never fought Riddick Bowe, never fought Mike Tyson until he was well past his best.
      “I’m not taking anything away from Lennox – he was a great fighter. But Tyson has fought all these guys at their best.”
      Fury, 34, and Usyk, 36, were in line for a mega-money payday to unify the belts in Saudi Arabia.
      That was until the Middle Eastern hosts had to pull out of talks, leaving London as the frontrunner with far less on offer.
      But Warren has revealed the fight is due to be announced subject to contracts being signed as talks continue behind the scene.
      And despite leaving it late in the day to both promote and prepare for the bout, the Hall of Famer said April 29 is still the planned judgement day.
      He said: “That would be the date for the fight. At one stage I wasn’t sure if Tyson would be fit for it, but he’s OK.
      Read More on The Sun
      “The bottom line is they have both come out and said what they want to do and obviously we have to get the contracts signed.
      “Everybody is working on that to get everything finalised.”
      Tyson Fury facing off with Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty More

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      Logan Paul is a tool with no moral compass who stands for NOTHING, slams Sonny Bill Williams in blistering attack

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      SONNY BILL WILLIAMS slammed Logan Paul as a “tool” with “no moral compass” as he poured cold water on a potential fight. The All Black legend-turned-heavyweight boxer, 37, hit out at Paul following the YouTube star’s visit to Australia for a UFC event.
      Logan Paul has been slammed by Sonny Bill WilliamsCredit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME
      Sonny Bill Williams was knocked out by Mark HuntCredit: Getty
      Williams tweeted: “Just listened to a talk on who’s popular with the youth today & @LoganPaul came up.
      “I observed how he carried himself at the UFC event in Perth & wasn’t impressed.
      “A man that stands for nothing will fall for anything – that’s the category I put guys like this in.”
      Paul was in Australia following the sponsorship deal with his hydration drink Prime and the UFC.
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      Williams, 9-1 as a boxer, was then challenged to call out Paul but the rugby World Cup winner responded: “No, I don’t want to fight him.
      “I just don’t want my sons to be like him or all the other tools or so-called influencers that have no moral compass.
      “I don’t need anyone in this world besides my creator.”
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      Williams, 37, last boxed in November but was knocked out by ex-UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt, 48, suffering defeat in the ring for the first time.
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      At that point, he was linked with a bout against Paul’s brother Jake, 26, who also recently lost against Tommy Fury, 23.
      Paul himself has not fought since taking boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, 46, the distance in their June 2021 exhibition.
      Before that, he drew to KSI, 29, in a similar non-sanctioned bout in 2018 but lost the rematch when they turned professional a year on.
      The former rivals are now business partners following the successful launch of Prime.
      Paul was meant to make his boxing return in January on KSI’s Misfits promotion but a knee injury while starring in the WWE ruled him out.
      However, the American has confirmed he will fight again this year.
      KSI and Logan Paul at UFC 284 in PerthCredit: Getty More

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      Anthony Joshua’s training camp for Usyk was so ‘frustrating’ his coach demanded to be flown home after just one week

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’S ex-coach said their training camp before rematching Oleksandr Usyk was so “frustrating” he wanted to fly home after a week. Esteemed American Robert Garcia was hired to replace Rob McCracken following defeat to Usyk in September 2021.
      Anthony Joshua pictured with former trainer Robert GarciaCredit: PA
      But in the rematch last August in Saudi Arabia, AJ was again beaten on points with Garcia and Angel Fernandez leading the corner.
      Joshua has now parted with the two coaches and linked up with Derrick James in Dallas ahead of his April 1 return fight.
      And Garcia has not shied away from lifting the lid on what he believes went wrong in camp with AJ.
      He told iD Boxing: “I know that the work with me and Angel Fernandez wasn’t bad, but it honestly could have been better.
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      “Nobody mentions everything that went on in training camp, and I’m not going to mention it either. But we all know the way the training camp went.
      “It was frustrating for me, there was so many new people in camp. The first week that I was there, I told his management team to fly me home.
      “Because there were people there who, I believe, were not going to help out.”
      Joshua, 33, is now fighting to revive his career following the consecutive losses to Usyk, 36.
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      Credit: SUNSPORT
      🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
      He returns at the O2 next month against Jermaine Franklin, 29, who was controversially beaten on points by Dillian Whyte, 34, in November.
      Joshua is completing his camp away from home for the first time in his career as Garcia backed the heavyweight to bounce back.
      He said: “Now I think he’s in a great place, in a great training camp and I’m sure he’ll be in great shape.
      “He’s going to get a good, solid win so his next fight can be against a big name.”
      Derrick James pictured with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More