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Boxing, Sports

Usyk to fight Chisora with Joshua unavailable

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Usyk is Joshua’s mandatory challenger but will take on Chisora in the interim in what will be just his second fight at heavyweight.

Dereck Chisora has vowed to shatter Oleksandr Usyk’s dream of becoming heavyweight world champion.

The former undisputed cruiserweight ruler is Anthony Joshua’s mandatory challenger but may have to wait until next year for his opportunity.

Joshua is due to defend his three belts versus Kubrat Pulev in June and could then face fellow champion Tyson Fury in December.

In the meantime, Usyk will take on Chisora in just his second fight in boxing’s premier division on May 23.

And the Brit is ready to ruin his rival’s plan and set himself up for a shot at Joshua – and a seven-figure pay day.

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Chisora said: “He is already at the top and could easily have not taken this fight.

“I just hope I don’t scare him too much that he pulls out of the fight. He has the golden ticket and I’m going to take what he has and make it mine.”

Usyk conquered all four belts at cruiserweight in just 16 fights and signed off with victory over Tony Bellew in Manchester.

He stopped Chazz Witherspoon on his heavyweight debut last October and Chisora is all too aware of the challenge in front of him.

He added: “I’m fighting one of the best guys out there, he knows how to box, there’s no two ways about it.

“I can’t get sparring partners who know how to box like him so I’m going unorthodox for this fight, I’ve decided to chuck whatever I can chuck for however long I last.

“I believe he can knock me out but if that doesn’t happen I’m going to keep coming and coming. I’m ready to die in this fight.

“The guy has good foot movement, if I box his way he’s going to win. He can dance around me 24/7 but I know I need to land a couple of punches to slow him down.”

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Boxing, Sports

Fury reiterates talk of retiring after 2 more fights

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After teasing a retirement in the near-future in the lead-up to his rematch versus Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury doubled down on his idea of retirement after fighting out the last two bouts on his contract with Top Rank Boxing.

“I’ve got two more fights left, and then we’re going to really think about what we’re going to do from there, said Fury, who was a guest alongside his wife Paris on “This Morning” on ITV in the United Kingdom on Wednesday.

“Because how long is a piece of string? I’m undefeated in 31 professional fights. This is my 12th year as a professional.”

Tyson later circled back to the thought of an early retirement, saying, “I’ll come back, and I’ll have two more fights, and hopefully we’ll sail into the sunset.”

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“It’s almost an anti-climax. You elevate yourself in your mind and body to go and box at this level, and nothing means anything apart from the fight on that night. And then it’s almost like you win, and it’s like, ‘Oh well, I’ve done that now,’ and then I’ve gotta slide down the other side. It usually takes me about two weeks to get back to normal after a massive fight.”

Fury says he is in good condition.

While Fury said he feels good about boxing Wilder, and then Joshua once that’s done, he also claimed he felt no particular inspiration from the opportunity of winning all of Joshua’s belts and becoming undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

“As far as I’m concerned, Anthony Joshua’s only got my leftovers, because I never lost those belts. I had to vacate them for mental health problems,” Fury said.

“They’re my belts. Until a man is defeated in a boxing ring, how can you claim to be the champion when you haven’t beat the champion? I beat the dominant heavyweight of our era, [Wladimir Klitschko], 26 title defenses, and went to Germany to do it. Then I went to America and beat the guy that nobody wanted to fight.”

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Boxing, Sports

Joshua confirms June world title fight with Pulev

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After a lot of back and forth, it seems that unified heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua has finally reached final terms with Kubrat Pulev to make his mandatory IBF title defense.

The two sides were known to have been negotiating terms for Joshua’s next outing, but last week the fighters reached an impasse over the site for the fight, with Joshua wanting to defend in the U.K. and Pulev believing he can’t get a fair shake there.

That impasse led to the IBF scheduling a purse bid for tomorrow, where the promotional rights to the fight would’ve been up for grabs. That’s not something that Hearn and Joshua were probably up for, so ultimately it seems this boiled down to money.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn informs ESPN that Joshua ended up taking less money than he otherwise could’ve made just to ensure the fight would be held at home on June 20, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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“Joshua’s probably taking a third of what he could make against Pulev to fight in the U.K next, because he wants to fight in the U.K.”

Now Joshua will put three of his major world titles on the line versus Pulev for the first time since winning them back from Andy Ruiz last December.

“I’m back in my home city after some time away,” Joshua said in announcing the fight. “A spectacular stadium has been built in North London and I’m honored to bring the boxing community from all over the world to witness us make history with the stadium’s first heavyweight world title fight. The belts go back up in the air and nothing will stop me from being victorious.”

John Wirt, president of Pulev co-promoter Epic Sports and Entertainment, added: “This fight has been a long time coming, but we finally have Joshua cornered, and on June 20, I guarantee Pulev will be victorious and Great Britain’s recently acquired chokehold on the heavyweight division championship will be brought to a quick and sudden ending.”

On Feb. 22, Tyson Fury knocked out Deontay Wilder to claim his title, giving British fighters a hold on all four major belts.

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Boxing, Sports

Mikey Garcia ready to erase doubts at welterweight against Jessie Vargas

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For 39 professional fights, Mikey Garcia didn’t know what it felt like to lose. He’d risen through the ranks on his way to becoming a four-division world champion and being regarded as pound-for-pound one of the best fighters in boxing by taking the hardest challenges along the way.

That was certainly the case when Garcia jumped up two weight classes to battle IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. in front of over 47,000 people at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, back in March of last year.

However, things didn’t go Garcia’s way, and Spence dominated from the opening bell to win a lopsided decision. Eleven months later, the fire is reignited, and Garcia comes back to the ring on Saturday versus Jessie Vargas at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, live on DAZN.

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“That fight isn’t indicative of who I am and what I’m capable of doing,” Garcia said. “The last fight doesn’t represent who I am. It was just one of those nights where I just couldn’t get off or do anything. I feel this a good way to get back on track against a big name in search of winning a world title in a fifth different weight class. I know there’s a lot more I can deliver, and that’s what this fight is all about.”

Garcia (39-1, 30 KOs) had plenty of routes on who to take on for his in-ring return.

He could have easily taken a tune-up in the welterweight division. However, that’s not the mindset Garcia possesses.

It’s about taking the toughest matchups — ones that will further establish himself and help him be remembered after his career is over.

That’s why Garcia is excited about facing Vargas, who checks all the boxes that he’s looking for. Vargas (29-2-2, 11 KOs) is a former two-division world champion and has taken on Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley and brings an exciting style to the table.

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Boxing, Sports

Hearn says Fury fight the “priority” for Joshua

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Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has been tearing up the media scene ever since this past Saturday night, clamoring for an undisputed heavyweight title unification fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

So with Hearn talking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, Hearn was asked if Joshua is already locked into a fight with mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, or if he’s still hoping to work something out with Fury’s team.

“We want the Tyson Fury fight next. AJ called me yesterday and said ‘How do we make this fight happen?’ We have a mandatory in Kubrat Pulev. The great thing about the whole situation is Bob Arum promotes both Tyson Fury and Kubrat Pulev, so there is clearly a deal to be done if — and you are quite right — if Deontay Wilder excercises his rematch clause, there’s nothing we can do. That fight’s happening and we accept that…

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Recent news reports suggest that Wilder does in fact intend to exercise his immediate rematch clause, but with some apparent turmoil in his camp we’ll just have to see how things develop.

Fury is the WBC heavyweight champion and is also believed the lineal heavyweight champion.

Joshua, meanwhile, holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

A fight between Fury and Joshua, both England natives, would be for undisputed heavyweight gold — a rare opportunity at that kind of history for both men. Fury vs. Joshua would be one of the biggest fights in heavyweight boxing history.

Even if Wilder and Fury fight for a third time, Hearn said he still believes Fury vs. Joshua could happen this year. He said Joshua would target December if Wilder decides on the rematch. “Honestly, I will do everything I can to make that fight,”

Hearn said of Fury vs. Joshua. “This is a historic moment for our country and the sport of boxing where two British heavyweights prove who is the king. Right now, it is up to Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to decide who is the best heavyweight in the world. And I’ll back our man all day long.”

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Boxing, Sports

Fury will consider “walking away” once contract up

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With his long-awaited rematch versus Deontay Wilder less than a week away, Tyson Fury is considering when he might exit the sport of boxing.

The 31-year-old former heavyweight champion told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani that it might come earlier than many would expect:

“I’ve not got an age, but I’ve got three fights left on my contract with ESPN,” Fury, 31, told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on Monday. “And after that, I will seriously think about walking away.”

When asked why he is considering walking away during the prime of his career, Fury seemed to indicate that he cared more about reaching the top of the mountain than staying at the top:

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“Because I don’t need to fight anymore,” he said. “What is the point? What am I going to gain from it? When I beat Wilder on Saturday, I’ll have completed the game. The game will be completed. I’ll have won every single belt there is to win in the game, from minor to major, and I’ll have won The Ring magazine belt twice — becoming only the second man in history to do that, me and Muhammad Ali.

“… Even after this win on Saturday, there’s nothing more to do. Nothing more to be gained.”

Fury retiring in his early 30s would be a surprise, though his career has hardly followed a conventional arc.

After shocking the world by ending Wladimir Klitschko’s reign over the heavyweight division, Fury took a hiatus from boxing that lasted two and a half years while dealing with depression and other personal problems. He would face Wilder soon after his return and draw the WBC champ in a classic fight, and their rematch has loomed ever since.

In the meantime, Fury has made appearances with the WWE and even flirted with facing UFC fighters.

A victory for Fury over Wilder would cement him as the undisputed top dog in the heavyweight division between defeating Wilder and Anthony Joshua’s stumble versus Andy Ruiz Jr. A loss would still leave him as a highly desired fighter, though it would be hard to not think what could have been.

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Boxing, Sports

Gassiev to return versus Forrest in heavyweight bout

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Murat Gassiev will make his long-awaited Heavyweight debut versus Jerry Forrest at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Saturday February 29, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK – with rising Junior-Middleweight star Israil Madrimov in a World title eliminator and headline star Mikey Garcia showcasing two of his Garcia Promotions talents.

Gassiev (26-1 19 KOs) informed his move to Heavyweight in April after signing a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing USA, Ural Boxing and Warriors Boxing to fight on DAZN, following hot on the heels of his old Cruiserweight foe Oleksandr Usyk, the last opponent he faced in an undisputed World title clash and the final of the World Boxing Super Series in July 2018.

The Russian banger was set to make his bow in July at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas versus Joey Dawejko but a shoulder injury in the build-up forced the 26 year old to delay his entrance into a red-hot division.

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“I’m so happy to finally be able to make my debut at Heavyweight,” said Gassiev. “It has been frustrating not being able to fight but I am ready to go now, and I want to make up for lost time.

“When I box in Frisco it will have been nearly 600 days since I’ve fought and a lot has happened in the Heavyweight division over that time – I know that I can be a World champion at Heavyweight but I need to show to the rest of the division that I am a serious threat, and that starts on February 29.”

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Boxing, Sports

Ex-titleholder Andy Ruiz cuts ties with trainer Manuel Robles

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Former WBO, IBO, WBA, IBF heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz has parted ways with head trainer Manny Robles.

Robles led Ruiz to one of the biggest upsets in the history of the heavyweight division, when the Mexican heavyweight stopped heavily favored Anthony Joshua in seven rounds to conquer the unified crown at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

But the December rematch was a complete tragedy.

After winning the first bout, Ruiz partied for two months. He started training camp way too late – and entered the rematch out of shape with a bloated 283.5-pounds on the scale.

He was unable to put his punches together, he was much slower in the ring, and all of that let Joshua to easily reclaim his titles with a lopsided twelve round decision.

Since that defeat, Robles had barely any contact from Ruiz.

So the veteran coach was not surprised when Ruiz’s father reached out on Wednesday night to advise him that his son was going in another direction.

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“I’ve seen it coming, I’ll be honest with you,” Robles said to Steve Kim of ESPN. “I’ve seen it coming during camp. I saw it coming, Andy was just doing whatever the hell he wanted to do. The dad, obviously with him being the manager, he just had no control over his son. None of us had control of him, for that matter.

As per Robles, he was told by Ruiz’s father that Al Haymon made the final decision for a trainer change. Ruiz is advised Haymon and fights under Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions banner.

“They apparently told them that they didn’t want the same thing to repeat itself, again,” Robles said. “It is what it is, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s not the first time it’s happened to me. I’m sure it’s not the first time it’s happened to other coaches. It happens time and time again. We always end up getting the short end of the stick. But it is what it is, you keep moving forward.”

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Boxing, Sports

Rising star Garcia to face Fonseca on Feb. 14

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Golden Boy and DAZN will present a special night of boxing on Valentine’s Day as rising star Ryan Garcia (19-0, 16 KOs) defends his WBC Silver Lightweight Title in a 12-round fight versus rugged contender Francisco Fonseca (25-2-2, 19. KOs). The event takes place Friday, Feb. 14 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. and will be streamed live exclusively on DAZN.

“Golden Boy is proud to present the biggest rising talent in the sport of boxing,” said Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy. “Ryan Garcia silenced all the skeptics by knocking out a tough contender in Romero Duno, and he did it in just one spectacular round.

Garcia is a 21-year-old contender who has quickly developed into one of boxing’s most popular young athletes. After a decorated amateur career, Garcia debuted as a professional and later signed with Golden Boy in 2016.

Since then, he’s passed every tough test put in front of him, including victories versus “Ruthless” Romero Duno, Carlos “The Solution” Morales and Jason “La Maravilla” Velez. Now, he’ll look to put himself on the path towards the highest levels of the sport with a win at the same venue where Canelo Alvarez became world champion for a first time in 2011.

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On the other hand, Fonseca represents a recent wave of young talent from Managua, Nicaragua who have recently had much success in the sport.

With fighters such as Felix Alvarado and Rene Alvarado becoming world champions within the past 18 months, Fonseca feels inspired to build off that momentum and upset Garcia. The 25-year-old will return after a tough draw versus Alex Dilmaghani for a vacant title.

“Nicaraguan boxing is a the very top right now because we have two world champions representing us right now,” said Francisco Fonseca.

“That’s why I will not let my country down. When I face Ryan Garcia, I will expose him on his own territory, and I will deliver him his first professional victory. My manager Rosendo Alvarez and I have been waiting for. We’ve dreamed of fighting Ryan Garcia, and we have the antidote to defeat him.”

“From rising stars to crafty veterans, the lightweight division is poised for a huge year in 2020,” said Joseph Markowski, DAZN EVP, North America.

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Boxing, Sports

Wilder- Fury rematch set for MGM Grand in Las Vegas

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The February 22 rematch between World Boxing Council heavyweight world titleholder Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, promoters stated on Saturday.

Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions said tickets for the highly anticipated fight would go on sale on Saturday, now that the venue has been confirmed.

“I’m happy and I’m excited that the rematch is finally happening,” said Wilder, who will make his 11th title defense. The American is coming off a seventh-round knockout of Luis Ortiz on November 23 in Las Vegas, a win that saw him improve to 43-0.

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“I want to give the fans what they want to see. I’ve been doing it with my last three outings — Fury, (Dominic) Breazeale and Ortiz,” he said. “They’ve been spectacular events — from my ring walks, where I gather all the energy of the people, to my uniforms that I wear to help spread that energy. Then I give them what they all come for — the knockouts, and my knockouts have been amazing.”

Wilder and Fury fought to a split decision draw last December in Los Angeles.

Former world champion Fury was leading on the scorecards before he was knocked down by the American in the 12th round. The big Briton beat the count, but a second knockdown helped cost him a victory.

“I proved myself the first time and I’m ready to do it again,” Wilder said. “It was a very controversial fight. I promise my fans that there won’t be any controversy with this one. I’m going to finish it.”

Fury, who survived two severe cuts to defeat Otto Wallin by unanimous decision in September, said he was looking forward to taking care of “unfinished business” versus Wilder.

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