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      I saw Ali’s Phantom Punch and Tyson biting an ear off – history’s not in Tyson Fury’s favour in Usyk rematch

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      TYSON FURY, a boxing historian, is aware the record book shows he has less than an even-money shot at regaining his world title from Oleksandr Usyk.Fellow heavyweights Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis achieved it in fights straight after being dethroned.Tyson Fury is set to do battle with Oleksandr Usyk once again on Saturday nightCredit: GettyMuhammad Ali famously took on Sonny ListonCredit: GettyMike Tyson’s rematch with Evander Holyfield went down in infamyCredit: AFPBut Patterson was also among the failures — along with Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Deontay Wilder and Jack Dempsey.Movie sequels are rarely as good as the originals but where the world heavyweight title is concerned, some of the return battles have been sensational.If Fury and Usyk provide the same edge-of-the-seat excitement — and controversy — when they meet again, it will captivate fans.It’s not difficult to pick out the most scandalous, outrageous and unforgettable clash since the first champion John L Sullivan laced on his gloves 135 years ago.READ MORE ON BOXINGEvander Holyfield defied the odds in 1996 and stopped Tyson in 11 rounds to lift the WBA belt.They met again in the same Las Vegas ring seven months later in the hideous Bite Fight.That nauseating image of Tyson chewing an inch of flesh out of Holyfield’s right ear, and spitting it on the canvas, is still fresh in my mind.Disqualified by referee Mills Lane, Mike claimed he did it in frustration because Holyfield had been head-butting him.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSIt cost him a $3million fine and 12-month ban — and he never ruled the division again.Just as contentious was what occurred in Maine in May 1965, 14 months after Cassius Clay did the unthinkable by stopping Sonny Liston to become champ.Meet the AI boxing official who’ll be ringside for Fury v Usyk with fans convinced it ‘will eliminate judges completely’When they met again, Clay had changed his name to Muhammad Ali and Liston was favourite to crush the Louisville Lip.But that opening round left the 4,000-strong crowd shocked and bewildered. An innocuous Ali right cross clipped Liston and left him lying on his back.Ali stood over him yelling “Get up Sucker” — and it became known as the Phantom Punch.New York sports writer Jimmy Cannon wrote that the punch “couldn’t have crushed a grape”.Liston eventually got to his feet but referee Jersey Joe Walcott stopped the fight after two minutes and declared Ali the winner.Because of Liston’s long links to the Mob and doubts over that punch, arguments rage to this day about the fight being fixed.Fury vs Usyk 2 – top storiesREAD MORE on all the build-up to the blockbuster fight in Riyadh..All the info:News, features and interviews: ALI vs SPINKSRoll on thirteen years to Las Vegas, Ali barely bothered to train when challenged by Olympic gold medallist Leon Spinks having only his eighth pro fight.Astonishingly Spinks deservedly beat him on points.Seven months later in New Orleans Ali reversed the points decision and, for the third time, was top of the world.DEMPSEY vs TUNNEYMention the Long Count and any student of the Noble Art will know what you are talking about.Jack Dempsey, having lost his title to Gene Tunney in 1926, tried to get it back a year later.Dempsey floored Tunney in the seventh but didn’t obey the referee’s command to go to a neutral corner.It meant Tunney was on the canvas for about 14 seconds before getting up — and those extra seconds enabled him to recover and repeat another points win. Dempsey never fought again.PATTERSON vs JOHANSSONIn June 1960, Patterson KO’d Ingemar Johansson to become the first man to regain the heavyweight world title.It was sweet revenge for losing to Johansson the first time.PATTERSON vs LISTONBut two years later, Patterson was KO’d by Liston in just 126 seconds of the first round.Patterson, bidding to win back the title for a second time ten months later, lasted only four seconds longer against him.HOLMES vs SPINKSLarry Holmes had reigned for seven years and was expected to beat Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.But in September 1985, Michael Spinks became the first world light-heavyweight champ to win boxing’s richest prize when he outpointed Holmes over 15 rounds.Spinks repeated his triumph seven months later.FURY vs WILDERWilder, despite picking himself off the floor twice and putting Fury down twice, found the Gypsy King too good.He suffered an 11-round KO in his bid to resurrect his title, in the third fight of their trilogy.LEWIS vs RAHMANIn April 2001, Lennox Lewis paid the price for not preparing properly to fight at Johannesburg’s 5,500ft altitude.And 20-1 outsider Hasim Rahman flattened him in five rounds to score one of the greatest heavyweight upsets.He had to take Rahman to court to force him to honour the return fight clause in the deal.Rahman’s eminence lasted just seven months — Lewis joined the short list of regainers by knocking him out in the seventh round in Las Vegas.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt’s highly unlikely there will be any ear-biting, disqualifications, long counts or Phantom Punches in Riyadh on Saturday night.Instead, let’s hope Fury and Usyk’s fight will be a memorable, quality contest with no disputes whoever is named winner.Fury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – all you need to know for big rematch More

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      What is the AI boxing judge and how will it work for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2?

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      TYSON FURY vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 will make history this weekend for more reasons than one. For the first time ever, the bout will be scored, unofficially, by a fourth boxing judge which has been created by AI (Artificial Intelligence). Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will run it back this weekend in Saudi ArabiaCredit: AFPBoxing is often ridiculed for its unfair scorecards and dodgy judging decisions, with Fury believing his first fight with Usyk was unfairly scored. Usyk won the bout on a split decision with scores of 115-112 to Fury and 114-113 twice to Usyk. But now an AI judge is also set to score the fight, providing fans with a unique look at how boxing could be scored in the future. How will the scoring work?Ahead of the rematch, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh announced the experiment would be used on the fight, but would not impact the result.He wrote on X: “For the first time ever, an AI-powered judge will monitor the fight.”Free from bias and human error brought to you by The Ring.”Fury vs Usyk 2 will be unofficially scored by an AI-powered boxing judgeA video was released explaining how the scoring would work. An AI figure explained: “I’m here to bring fairness to the ring.Most read in Boxing”I analyse every round, every move and every decisive moment during the fight, using real-time metrics like aggression, landed punches, impact and defensive deployments.”With this data, I’m able to calculate a score to determine who should win the match.”After the fight, the result of the AI judge’s analysis will be revealed to the public. And it’ll be down to boxing fans to decide whether they agree with the three human judges, or whether the future of boxing scoring sits firmly with AI. More

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      in Soccer

      Glam footballer Madelene Wright gives fans a Christmas treat as a sexy elf in stockings and suspenders

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      MADELENE WRIGHT got into the Christmas spirit as she left fans feeling festive.The footballer is no stranger to dazzling posts on her Instagram page.Madelene Wright stunned fans in a Christmas outfitCredit: INSTAGRAM @madelene_wrightShe has 321,000 followers on InstagramCredit: X @WrightMadelene_And her latest snap added some winter sparkle to the recipe.Taking to her Instagram story, Madelene was seen wearing a sexy elf outfit while standing next to a Christmas tree.Madelene, 26, was seen in a green top and bottom set complete with red suspenders.She was also seen wearing thigh-high red and white socks.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThis completed the tree which possessed a huge red bow at the top.Meanwhile, red and silver baubles were scattered across the branches alongside lights, acorns and Christmas crackers.Madelene left Leyton Orient in the summer. Her joining the O’s had signalled a return to the beautiful game following a four-year hiatus.Most read in FootballBut while she is now without a club, she makes money through her Instagram and OnlyFans pages.The former Charlton women’s star has 321,000 followers on Instagram.Glamorous footballer Madelene Wright puts on busty display in black bikini and bathrobeInside Madelene’s glamorous life as influencer, footballer and OnlyFans star…Wright lives a glamourous lifestyleShe often wows her fans with raunchy picturesCredit: InstagramMadelene has over 300k followers on InstagramCredit: Instagram @madelene_wrightShe recently celebrated her 25th birthdayCredit: Instagram / @madelene_wrightThe football also has an OnlyFans accountCredit: Instagram / @madelene_wrightShe claimed to have made over £500,000 from the platformCredit: Instagram @madelene_wrightThe footballer has recently signed for Leyton OrientCredit: Instagram/@madelene_wrightShe has continued her OnlyFansCredit: twitter @MaddieMadeleneShe often dresses in revealing outfitsCredit: InstagramMadelene used to play for CharltonCredit: Instagram @Madelene_Wright More

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      in Soccer

      Inside Mikel Arteta’s five years at Arsenal as boss celebrates anniversary – now pressure is on to win major silverware

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      TO understand the rise of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, you must first remember the fall of Unai Emery.Hired as Arsene Wenger’s replacement in May 2018, Emery’s tenure showed early glimpses of hope, reaching the Europa League final and narrowly missing out on the top four.Mikel Arteta returned to Arsenal five years agoCredit: GettyThe Spaniard won the FA Cup shortly after arrivingCredit: APBut he was sacked on November 29, 2019 after a seven-game winless run – at the time the club’s worst since 1992 – leaving behind a mess that would take years to be fixed.The culture was toxic. The dressing room was divided. Big-money flops lacked motivation. The recruitment strategy was non-existent.Rumours some players were openly mocking Emery’s thick Basque accent and poor grasp of English never went away.On December 20, 2019, in came Arteta – a 39-year-old former Arsenal player raised by Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and moulded by Pep Guardiola as an assistant at Manchester City.Read More in FootballArteta had witnessed first-hand the problems just five days earlier, in the away dug-out as City romped to a 3-0 Prem win at a half-empty and miserably flat Emirates against a woeful Arsenal under interim boss Freddie Ljungberg.He would later say about that game: “I saw what was going on and I felt sad. It wasn’t only the performance, it was the atmosphere and energy that worried me a little bit. So, let me help.”Five years on, and Arteta has done more than that. Arsenal are a club reborn, revitalised, reinvented – considered a Prem titan again and competing with the very best in Europe once more – even if they are still chasing their first top flight title for 20 years.But perhaps more impressively, Arteta rebuilt a crumbling culture from the ground up, brick by brick, with his non-negotiables and emphatic, obsessive desire for perfection on and off the pitch.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSArteta replaced Unai Emery, who was sacked by the GunnersCredit: APDuring that process, experienced pros were brutally axed in favour of young, hungry stars, both from the academy and in the transfer market, who continue to follow Arteta to the ends of the earth.Skipper Martin Odegaard joined permanently from Real Madrid in the summer of 2021 after a six-month loan spell. He said: “We were struggling a little bit with a lot of noise around the club.Arsenal player ratings: Gabriel Jesus resurrects Gunners career with three fine finishes but Sterling still yet to shine“We didn’t perform as well as a club like Arsenal should, but I believed so much in the project after speaking to him and speaking to the club and seeing everything that was going on around here.“He just gets everyone to work together and in the same direction, it’s unbelievable.”Mikel Merino – who signed this summer – revealed: “Mikel is a coach who speaks with players every single day, there’s not a single detail in training sessions that he doesn’t take a look at.”And Hale End product Myles Lewis-Skelly added: “It’s incredible the culture he’s built within the team, you can sense around the ground the energy’s always high and positive vibes.”The journey has not been smooth, but for a manager so young, Arteta had a knack of making the right calls at the right time – most of them caught on camera in their All Or Nothing Amazon documentary in the 2021/22 campaign.Bad eggs like Matteo Guendouzi, Sokratis, Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were ousted and shamed – the latter a ballsy move considering the Gabon star was his captain.It did not solve everything. Bust-ups were snapped on the documentary, including Alexandre Lacazette and Cedric Soares having a tussle in training.Arteta has his fingerprints all over the training ground, from the length and colour of the grass to the slogans donning any available wall space.Yet Arteta himself is understood to enjoy confrontation. He recently admitted he wants to feel “uncomfortable” under the gaze of the owners Stan and Josh Kroenke, and did not always agree with former sporting director Edu on transfer targets.He has also surrounded himself with assistants who are NOT ‘yes men’, the likes of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover and 29-year-old youngster Carlos Cuesta.But Arteta also likes control at a football club, something he gained when his title was changed from head coach to manager in September 2020, and has made himself a strong voice in the recruitment team in charge of replacing Edu in the coming months.Unlike more experienced managers, Arteta is heavily involved in training sessions, often laughing in joking with players as he takes part in heated rondos, on one occasion even nut-megging Odegaard before running off to celebrate.Make no mistake, however, the intensity of these sessions have become infamous. Just weeks into joining the club, Merino commented: “I have never seen anything like it”.That is partly down to his obsessive nature. Arteta has his fingerprints all over the training ground, from the length and colour of the grass to the slogans donning any available wall space.In their inside training dome at London Colney – one that has just been ripped up and replaced to fit Arteta’s requirements – one of the walls reads: ‘Set-pieces win matches’.There is also a slick new paint job in the press conference room at Colney – now with all-black walls and a new air conditioning unit after suggesting it would get too hot on occasion.Arteta likes the colour black – it was his favoured kit in the 2022/23 campaign because he wanted his players to look and feel more intimidating during away games.The Emirates has felt the Arteta-effect for that very reason. The Spaniard was desperate for a club anthem to rev up the atmosphere, eventually picking out Louis Dunford’s ‘North London Forever’ hit.Mikel Arteta at ArsenalTotal matches – 256Wins – 155Draws – 41Losses – 60Trophies:1x FA Cup2x Community ShieldArteta has also been instrumental in pre-match inspirational videos to feature on the big screens before big matches.But there are different sides to a man often so focused and serious on camera – a man Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso called a “competitive monster” this summer after a pre-season clash.Arteta is devilish. He admitted to reporters he often toys with the truth when it comes to revealing team news before games in press conferences.He explained: “I am not going to lie to you, but if I don’t want to tell you, I will keep you guessing.”There have also been incidents where Arteta has deliberately had injured or unavailable players walk off the team bus in full kit with the squad for added mystery until the very last moment.The devil is in the detail, suggesting this month he wants Arsenal to be the “kings of everything”.Arteta will try anything to gain an extra edge, using props like lightbulbs and giant dominos, getting his players to squeeze lemons and hiring undercover waiters as football tricksters and pickpockets during team meetings.Arteta is devilish. He admitted to reporters he often toys with the truth when it comes to revealing team news before games in press conferences.In November 2021, before a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool, he played ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ on speakers by the training pitches to acclimatise his men.They went on to lose the game 4-0, one that Arteta learned a big lesson from. A dug-out clash with Jurgen Klopp inspired a response from the home fans, coinciding with Liverpool taking the lead and Arsenal crumbling in the second half.Despite his often frantic touchline appearance, Arteta has that game in his head at all times, notably at the Battle of the Etihad this term – refusing to react when Erling Haaland told him to “stay humble” at the end of the feisty 2-2 draw.So, what could the next five years bring?He has expressed a fanciful desire to one day field a starting XI with 11 academy players. So far, he has three in Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.But he remains an open book as a coach and person, currently in a WhatsApp group chat with figures from other sports like former England rugby boss Eddie Jones and New Zealand head coach Scott Robertson.Knowing Arteta, he will already have the future painstakingly mapped out, starting of course with winning major silverware sooner rather than later, as well as leaving the shadow of mentor Guardiola behind him on his quest for top flight domination.The Spaniard this week insisted that he has won three major trophies with Arsenal as opposed to just the FA Cup – if you include two Community Shields.But now is the time to go for more.Arsenal have narrowly missed out on the Premier League title for the last two yearsCredit: ReutersThe Gunners have spent the last two years edging closer and closer to the Prem title, with only Man City standing in their way.It was always expected that Arteta would be the cream that rises to the top when Guardiola leaves England.But despite signing on for at least another year, Guardiola finds himself in uncharted territory – with City spiralling in a run of poor form.Arsenal should, in theory, be right up there, leading the title race.But they are now behind both Liverpool and Chelsea.If the Gunners don’t win the Premier League this season – and if City fall short – it will be considered a huge missed opportunity for Arteta.Furthermore, a Champions League run is also crucial.Arsenal are on the verge of securing automatic qualification to the knockouts.But historically, they have rarely lasted too long in those when it comes to European football.READ MORE SUN STORIESNow is time for Arteta and Arsenal to push on and prove they can win trophies.Otherwise, he might not get another five years.How to stop Arsenal at cornersArsenal have turned into a prolific team when it comes to scoring from corners.The Gunners have now scored 22 goals from them since the start of last season – seven more than their nearest rival Manchester City and eight more than Premier League leaders Liverpool.Two of them came against Manchester United – Jurrien Timber and William Saliba netting in the second half to earn Mikel Arteta’s men a vital win as they chase down Arne Slot’s Reds.Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were the architects with their deliveries, and each now have seven set-piece assists since the start of the 2023/24 campaign – more than any other player.United legend Dimitar Berbatov joked Arsenal are the new Stoke City of the top flight – a side under Tony Pulis who terrorised the so-called “bigger clubs” with set-piece mastery.Here are four ways to stop Arteta’s side at corners More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk could decide replacement judge with COIN TOSS with camps split on who should be ringside

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      A NEW judge for Tyson Fury’s rematch against Oleksandr Usyk could be decided with a COIN TOSS.The rival camps are locked in a dispute over a replacement official as two potential judges have been drafted in to replace Fernando Barbosa.Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s replacement judge could be decided by a coin tossFrank Warren was the one who purposed with the solutionFury, 36, and Usyk, 37, will square off for a second time on Saturday night.Barbosa had been due to be one of the three judges on fight night but he was unable to travel to Riyadh due to illness.Two back-up officials, Steve Weisfeld and Ignacio Robles, have been flown in to fill the void.But the respective fighter teams are split on which judge should be used on fight night.READ MORE BOXINGThe Gypsy King’s promoter Frank Warren has now suggested a coin toss should settle the issue.Warren told Sky Sports: “One of the judges has taken ill of the three that were decided upon.”There are two standby judges, both of them are flying in and we’ve got to decide which one it’s going to be.”We want one of them and the other camp wants the other, so I’ve suggested we spin a coin.”Most read in BoxingFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – all you need to know for big rematchWarren believes a resolution will eventually be found.He added: “This will get sorted. Use a bit of common sense, and actually both camps are very, very professional and know what they have to do.”Meet the AI boxing official who’ll be ringside for Fury v Usyk with fans convinced it ‘will eliminate judges completely’Weisfeld was a judge on Usyk’s first match with Anthony Joshua in 2021, scoring the Ukrainian a 116-112 winner.He has led an illustrious career stretching back to 1991, with over 2000 fights under his belt, and has largely avoided controversy in that time.Robert Ramirez Jr of Puerto Rico has been picked as the referee.But there has been late drama just under 36 hours before the fight is due to get underway.Fury has drastically changed his look since his May defeatThe other key points of contention at Friday’s rules meeting were the length of Fury’s beard, the position of the shorts and kissing a cross in the corner.Fury was a clean-shaven giant when he took on Usyk the first time, when the Ukrainian hero won via a split decision.However, he now sports a great big bushy beard, with Fury admitting he has not groomed anywhere from the eyeballs down.But the board in charge of the rules for the rematch state fighters must have their jawline visible for safety reasons.Usyk famously kissed a cross in his corner during the first fight and went out to deliver an inspired performance. But Fury’s team don’t want a “foreign object” in any corner, in order to eliminate any potential doubt and reduce online speculation.READ MORE SUN STORIESWarren said: “After the fight there was a lot of speculation, they weren’t sure what it was. “We just cut through it all. If there’s anything that is used other than water that goes to the fighter’s lips, then the inspector will take it away and hold it and if anything is seen to be not correct then they’ll deal with it, test it, whatever that may be, what they have to do.” More

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      Meet the AI boxing official who’ll be ringside for Fury v Usyk with fans convinced it ‘will eliminate judges completely’

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      TYSON FURY’S rematch with Oleksandr Usyk tomorrow night is set to be judged by an AI official.The Gypsy King’s bid to dethrone Usyk and claim back his world heavyweight titles is set to go down in Riyadh this weekend.An AI judge will run the rule over Saturday’s fightCredit: X @Turki_alalshikhThe AI judge will take several factors into accountCredit: X @Turki_alalshikhOleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury are ready for battleCredit: AFPAs usual, the 12-round contest will be judged by three officials.But in a boxing first, there will also be scoring from a robot judge.While the robot’s scores will NOT count towards the outcome of the fight, fans will be able to see how its card compares with those of the actual judges.Posting about the robo-judge, Saudi supremo Turki Alalshikh wrote on social media: “Ever wondered how AI could change the world of boxing?READ MORE IN SPORT”Meet the 4th Judge. An experimental AI scoring system debuting at Usyk2Fury on December 21.”Let’s see how this experiment unfolds.”Turki, 43, added a video explaining what is set to happen.A robotic-sounding voice said: “Hi. I’m the first ever AI boxing judge, and I’m here to bring fairness to the ring.Most read in BoxingBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”I analyse every round, every move and every decisive moment during the fight, displaying real time metrics like aggression, landed punches, impact and defensive deployments.”With this data, I’m able to calculate a score and determine who should win the match.Fury v Usky 2 – Longest face-off in boxing history before fighters are forced apart”See you on December 21 for Usyk-Fury 2.”Turki’s post has received plenty of feedback on social media.One fan responded: “Incredible! This will eliminate judges completely.”While a second gushed: “Wow, that looks incredible, and this could end referees wild scorecards.”Although a third joked: “This is a video game parody from the 90’s.”And another warned: “Different sports but look at var and football. Technology and sports doesn’t always work. Be careful what you wish for.”The judges were required to determine Usyk’s victory over Fury back in May.On that occasion the Ukrainian triumphed via a split decision, despite most fans feeling that he’d comfortably won the fight.But on the contrary, Fury himself felt that he’d done enough to have his hand raised – and has promised this time not to leave it up to the judges.’I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A BAD MANHe said: “I’ve always been a bad man my whole life, and I’m still one today at nearly 40 years old, a few years off 40.”I’m going to go in there with destroy mode. Last time, I went to box him, I was being cautious.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Anybody can get caught as we have seen in a lot of these heavyweight fights.”But this time I’m not going for a points decision. I’m going to knock that motherf****r out.”Fury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – all you need to know for big rematch More

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      Is there a rematch clause for Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2?

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      TYSON FURY is looking to become world champion once again this weekend but he’ll have it very tough against the man who beat him last time. Oleksandr Usyk was superb in their fight back in May, scoring a knockdown en route to a split decision victory which saw him earn undisputed status in the heavyweight division. Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury fought to a split decision in their first fightCredit: PAAs soon as the fight was over, however, Fury got on the microphone and immediately called for a rematch. It was part of the contract for their first fight that the winner would be able to exercise a rematch clause, and that’s exactly what Fury did. Usyk will be looking to end this chapter with Fury with another big win on Saturday night, but if Fury wins, the Ukrainian will likely want to run things back a third time. SunSport are on hand with all the details on whether or not Usyk will be able to do that. FURY VS USYKIs there a Fury vs Usyk 2 rematch clause?Rematch clauses can often be a sticking point in big contracts for major fights. It’s usually standard practice that in huge money-making fights a rematch clause is put down in ink. But unfortunately for both men, that isn’t the case this time around. Fury vs Usyk 2 – top storiesREAD MORE on all the build-up to the blockbuster fight in Riyadh..All the info:News, features and interviews: There is NO rematch clause in the contract, no matter what the result of the fight is. Most read in BoxingThis presents an unfavourable situation for Usyk, who was legally bound to give Fury a rematch the first time round, but may not have the favour returned if he loses the rematch. Of course, if after two fights the score is even at one win apiece, boxing fans will be pining for a trilogy fight, as will promoters of the event. So there remains every chance a third fight could happen. If Fury loses again, however, the chances of it happening are slim to none. Usyk doesn’t have to grant fury a third fight, and the demand from the public for one will be low. More

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      Boxer Florian Marku ‘facing up to five years in jail after arrest for wounding and illegal possession of a weapon’

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      FLORIAN MARKU is facing a second term in prison after he was reportedly arrested in Germany.The welterweight boxing champion was arrested by police on Wednesday before being extradited to Greece.Florian Marku has been arrested in GermanyCredit: GettyHe faces a second term in jail for wounding and illegal possession of a weaponCredit: PAHe was detained for an incident that happened seven years ago in Thessaloniki after police issued a warrant for his arrest.Marku, 32, is accused of wounding and illegal possession of a weapon. According to Greek media, he faced seven years in jail for the incident after he was previously convicted and jailed, serving one-a-half years locked up.However, the case has since been appealed, and according to changes in Greek law, he must serve at least one-third of the original sentence.READ MORE IN BOXINGWhile it means he could be facing up to five more years in jail, according to Pamfleti, Marku’s family have been told he will need to serve around six months to call the case closed.According to VoxNews, Marku was in Germany for personal reasons on December 9 before he was detained on the 18.The report adds that he has claimed the incident involved a bar fight with some Russians.Marku fights out of London with a background career in kickboxing and MMA but found the most success in professional boxing, where he has a 13-1-1 record.Most read in BoxingIn 2021 Marku won the IBF International welterweight title and Maxim Prodan. March 2024 saw Marku went up against Chris Kongo for the vacant IBO Intercontinental welterweight title.The arrest has cast doubt over his boxing future. More