Boxing
ANTHONY JOSHUA ENTERS FULL TRAINING MODE AHEAD OF TYSON FURY BOUT
Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua’s training camp for his fight with Tyson Fury is in full swing.
It has been revealed that both heavyweights have signed a two-fight deal, with the first expected to be held this summer, but other details such as a venue are still unknown given the constant changing situation due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The highly-anticipated bout will unify the heavyweight division – with Joshua holding the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles and Fury holding the WBC belt.
Joshua has been ticking over since his dominant victory over Kubrat Pulev back in December with lighter training at his old amateur club Finchley ABC. But now he’s turning it up a notch ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
He is planning on heading to the EIS in Sheffield along with trainer Rob McCracken to continue his training camp.
And Eddie Hearn is optimistic that all the remaining details of their deal can be ironed out by the end of next week, with both fighters having to agree on a venue.
‘We can’t wait. AJ has started his training camp and Fury has been training very hard. They all want the fight,’ he told reporters.
‘They are going to be presented with a few proposals on where to do the fight and everyone has to agree on where to do it.
‘There is no other fight out there that comes close for either guy. July is the date.
‘Really I think end of next week it will be done.
‘Talks have progressed extremely well and we’re closing in on securing the venue and there will be an announcement in due course.
‘We’re at the stage where it’s probably best not to say much more than that.’
The Middle East remains the most likely destination owing to its ability to pay the most lucrative site fees, with operators in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai all in talks with Hearn, who set off on a worldwide tour recently to look at the options for the fight.
There is also interest from Singapore, China, the US and a fringe possibility of Wembley Stadium, but that would be dependent on the UK Government’s ruling on large events once a date has been set.
Tyson Fury recently posted a photo from his training camp looking in great shape having slimmed down even further.
The ‘Gypsy King’ has been training alongside Joseph Parker, who fought Joshua back in 2018. Parker is better placed than most to help Team Fury ahead of the potential undisputed fight with the Watford-born fighter.
The New Zealander fought Joshua in 2018 and while he lost his WBO belt to the Brit in the unification bout, Parker was the first man to take him the full 12 rounds in the professional ranks.
The 29-year-old will be hoping to benefit from the training himself though, having recently appointed Andy Lee as his new trainer ahead of a big fight on May 1 against Derek Chisora.
-Daily Mail
The Nigerian boxing landscape has been thrown into uncertainty following reports that the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) is considering steps to regulate professional boxing—an area traditionally overseen by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC).
Reacting swiftly, the NBBofC has dismissed the reports as misleading, warning that any such move could destabilise the established structure of the sport in the country.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Board reaffirmed its statutory authority as the sole body responsible for the regulation, control, and sanctioning of professional boxing in Nigeria.
“The attention of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control has been drawn to insinuations that another body intends to assume regulatory authority over professional boxing in Nigeria. We wish to categorically state that such claims are unfounded and should be disregarded,” the statement read.
The Board stressed that the NBF’s mandate is confined strictly to amateur boxing, in line with global sports governance frameworks, and does not extend to the professional ranks.
NBBofC President, Rafiu Ladipo, warned that any attempt by another organisation to assume control of professional boxing could trigger administrative conflicts, weaken regulatory standards, and expose athletes to unnecessary risks.
The Board also cautioned promoters, managers, and boxers against engaging with unauthorised bodies claiming regulatory powers.
“We advise all promoters, managers, and boxers to remain vigilant and not be misled by such insinuations. The NBBofC remains fully committed to its responsibility of regulating and sanctioning professional boxing in Nigeria in accordance with established rules and international best practices,” the statement added.
Observers within the boxing community note that clarity in regulatory authority is critical—not only for safeguarding athletes but also for ensuring fair competition and maintaining Nigeria’s credibility within the global boxing ecosystem.
For now, the NBBofC has reiterated its resolve to continue overseeing professional boxing in the country, even as stakeholders await further clarification on the reported position of the NBF.
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Oleksandr Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight title belt on the line against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Ring Magazine announced on Friday.
The Ukrainian three-times undisputed champion holds the IBF, WBA and WBC titles after vacating the WBO belt.
The 39-year-old has not boxed since beating Britain’s Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last July.
“I respect his (Verhoeven’s) journey – he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings,” said Usyk, who has a 24-0 record.
“I’m ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”
The ‘Glory in Giza’ fight will be streamed live on DAZN.
“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven, 36, told The Ring.
“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger; it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”
Verhoeven has sparred in the past with former champion Tyson Fury and had one professional bout in 2014, which he won by a knockout.
-Reuters
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will face off in a professional rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming globally on Netflix, the fighters and promoters announced on Monday.
The fight marks Mayweather’s return from retirement and will be the first professional boxing match held at the Sphere.
Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, defeated Pacquiao in their 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century.”
That bout generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” Mayweather said in a statement.
Pacquiao, whose record stands at 62-8-3 with 39 knockouts, expressed confidence he would hand Mayweather his first professional loss.
“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him,” the Filipino fighter said.
The rematch will stream to Netflix’s more than 325 million subscribers worldwide, continuing the platform’s push into live boxing.
The streaming platform has recently broadcast several high-profile fights, including Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, which the company said drew 108 million live global viewers
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