Boxing
Anthony Joshua breaks silence on Dillian Whyte rematch
Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has spoken about his desire to face Dillian Whyte in a rematch this summer as he sets his sights on winning another world title
Anthony Joshua has opened up about his desire to agree to a rematch with Dillian Whyte.
The former world champion earned a TKO win over Whyte in 2015 and looks set to face him for a second time as he continues his attempt to climb back to the top of the heavyweight rankings. Following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usk, ‘AJ’ returned with an unconvincing win over Jermaine Franklin in April.
Joshua has been sounded out by Saudi Arabian promotion company Skills Challenge Entertainment to face Deontay Wilder in December. However, the Olympic gold medalist hopes to face Whye at The O2 on August 12 and has explained why he is refusing to wait until the end of the year for his next fight after heading out to Dallas to begin his training camp.
“What am I doing this fight for? I want to become three-time heavyweight champion of the world. I want to test myself,” he told his YouTube channel. “I’ve been through a lot and I want to see what I have left to give. When I say what I have left to give, I am not resting on what I have, I am building on what I have and I want to see how far I can take myself.
“I know what it takes, I know what this game is about and I’m going to push myself beyond the limits where I’ve been before, hence why I find myself in Dallas because I’m trying to find an environment that can stimulate me, motivate me and push me onto higher highs.”
There have been disputes between Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn and Whyte over rematch clauses and other aspects of the contract, with Agit Kabayel suggested to be one of two possible back-up opponents if the quick-fire fight talks fell through. However, a representative for Whyte’s camp confirmed to ESPN that a contract has been signed.
“Dillian returned the signed agreement on Sunday morning ET and that he is unaware of any other party being in the frame for the fight. He is looking forward to fighting Anthony Joshua for a second time on Aug. 12 at The O2.
-MEN
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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Former multi-weight world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement this year for his first official fight in nearly a decade, his new promotion CSI Sports/Fight Sports said on Friday, though his opponent has yet to be decided.
Before his official return, Mayweather is set for an exhibition bout with fellow boxing great Mike Tyson, with the date and venue still to be announced.
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing – from my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – than my events,” Mayweather, 48, said in a statement on his new promotion’s website.
It will mark the American’s fourth comeback from retirement, following previous exits in 2007, 2015 and 2017 — the last after beating Conor McGregor to extend his record to 50-0. He has, however, fought several exhibitions since.
Across a three-decade career, Mayweather defeated many of his era’s top fighters and headlined the three highest‑grossing bouts in history, against Manny Pacquiao, McGregor and Canelo Alvarez.
-Reuters
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