Tag: Derek Chisora

Anthony Joshua vs. Kubrat Pulev set for June 20 in London: report

Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev have reached a deal to fight on June 20 at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev have reached a deal to fight on June 20 at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, promoter Eddie Hearn told BoxingScene.com.

Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) will be making the first defense of the three titles he regained by outpoining Andy Ruiz Jr. in their rematch on Dec. 7. Ruiz stunned the boxing world when he stopped Joshua in seven rounds to take the belts in June.

Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) is the mandatory challenger for one of Joshua’s titles. The 38-year-old Bulgarian was scheduled to challenge Joshua in 2017 but had to pull out because of a shoulder injury.

In 2014, Wladimir Klitschko stopped Pulev in five rounds in Pulev’s only world title fight. He has won eight consecutive fights since.

Joshua has another mandatory challenger for a different belt, Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua will likely defend against the former cruiserweight titleholder late this year if Usyk beats Derek Chisora on May 23.

Tyson Fury owns the fourth heavyweight title after stopping Deontay Wilder on Feb. 22.

Oleksandr Usyk ring return stalled again because of old injury

Oleksandr Usyk’s second fight at heavyweight, against Derek Chisora, has once again been delayed out of concern for an old injury.

Oleksandr Usyk may want to think about trying to get on the good side of the boxing gods: Pour out some libations, sacrifice a lamb, say a prayer, something.

The former unified cruiserweight champion has had his share of bad luck since he moved up to the heavyweight ranks. A right biceps injury ruined his debut, delaying it for 11 months before he eventually returned to stop Chazz Witherspoon in seven rounds last October. Now, in his sophomore attempt at heavyweight, reportedly against British contender Derek Chisora, the Ukrainian finds himself facing yet another setback.

Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) requested a six-to-eight-week postponement of his bout against Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs) to allow for the proper rehabilitation of an old injury to his left below, according to BoxingScene. Usyk had sustained it ahead of his match against Murat Gassiev in the 2018 World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight final.

This means that his bout against Chisora, originally penciled in for March 28 on a card headlined by a potential heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Kubrat Pulev, will have to wait.

“We expect him fighting in May versus Chisora,” Usyk co-promoter Alex Krassyuk told BoxingScene.

Krassyuk also clarified that Usyk did not sustain another injury, as has been reported by several outlets; the delay is a precautionary measure.

“Usyk is not injured,” Krassyuk said. “He is 33 and as the professional sportsman has some issues about his body. Normally he does his recovery routine once a year. This year, his doctor emphasized some rehab measures on his elbow and [the full recovery] took a bit [longer] than usual.”

Usyk was originally in the running to face Joshua as one of his mandatories, but the nod went to Pulev under the condition that Usyk is guaranteed an opportunity to face the winner.

Joseph Parker hopes to put bite on Shawndell Winters on Feb. 29

Heavyweight Joseph Parker is scheduled to face Shawndell Winters on the Mikey Garcia-Jessie Vargas card Feb. 29 in Frisco, Texas.

Joseph Parker envisions a second world title. That’s the ambition. But to get there he has to start anew while also avoiding any rematches with dangerous insects. He might be the only heavyweight in history making a comeback from a spider bite.

It looks as if a spider did what no heavyweight has to Parker. It put him down and knocked him out of the heavyweight division’s title mix. He was forced to withdraw from a scheduled bout with Derek Chisora in October when he began to feel ill and fatigued. It was determined that he was suffering from the venom of a poisonous spider

But the poison is gone and the ambition is back as Parker resumes his quest Feb. 29 against Shawndell Winters on a DAZN card featuring welterweights Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas in Frisco, Texas.

“It was frustrating to be ruled out of the Chisora fight in October, especially in such an unusual way,’’ Parker (26-2, 20 KOs) said after Matchroom Promotions announced the fight this week. “But I have been on fire in the gym in Las Vegas and we’re ready to get back to business. The division is moving at a great pace and this is a perfect opportunity to show the world that I am one of the elite players in the division.’’

Parker won a heavyweight belt in a majority decision over Andy Ruiz Jr. in December 2016 at home in New Zealand. He defended it twice. Then, he lost it in a decision to Anthony Joshua in March 2018 in Cardiff, Wales. A few months later, 2018 just got worse for Parker, who lost a decision to Dillian Whyte in July in the U.K. He went on to win two bouts. But the road back went awry by something unforeseen. Nobody saw the spider.

In Winters (13-2,12 KOs), Parker faces an unknown heavyweight from Harvey, Illinois. Twelve knockouts in 13 victories indicate he has power.

“This is the biggest fight of my career and I am going to make it count,” said Winters, who is promoted by Lou DiBella. “I am used to being the underdog. It’s something that I thrive on, and if Joseph Parker underestimates me, he’s going to be in for a bad night, because I am going in there to take him out.’’

Oleksandr Usyk, Derek Chisora close on deal to fight in spring: report

Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Promotions says he is close to completing a deal for Oleksandr Usyk to fight Derek Chisora this spring.

Oleksandr Usyk is looking for a quick path to a title. But it looks as if the former cruiserweight champion will have to test his skills and heavyweight expectations at least one more time before his gets his chance at a belt.

Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Promotions says he is close to completing a deal for Usyk to fight Derek Chisora this spring.

“It’s very close,’’ Hearn told Sky Sports.

Hearn says he hopes to schedule Usyk-Chisora for March 28 at the O2 Arena in London. April 11 in Manchester is another option, he said.

“A brilliant fight,’’ said Hearn, who believes Chisora has re-emerged as a serious contender with David Haye, a former heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, as his manager. “A great team. They believe they can win that fight. They believe they can cause a big upset. They think Usyk can’t handle the big boys.’’

Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) made his heavyweight debut last Oct. 12 in Chicago, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Chazz Witherspoon. But the Ukrainian appeared tentative against the 6-foot-4 Witherspoon. Despite the victory, Usyk’s performance left questions about whether the 6-3 Olympic gold medalist is big enough in a division dominated by 6-9 Tyson Fury, 6-7 Deontay Wilder and 6-6 Anthony Joshua.

Against Chisora (32-9, 23 KOs), he gets another chance. Chisora, listed at 6-2, is an inch shorter than Usyk. But he fights at about 240 pounds. Usyk was at 215 pounds for Witherspoon.

Joseph Parker’s trainer: Fight with Oleksandr Usyk unlikely

Joseph Parker trainer Kevin Barry is less confident that the former titleholder will fight Oleksandr Usyk anytime soon.

The options change almost daily. One day it’s Oleksandr Usyk. The next day it’s not. The dizzying merry-go-round of speculation leaves heavyweight contender Joseph Parker with only one sure thing. He waits.

Parker trainer Kevin Barry is less confident that the former titleholder will fight Usyk anytime soon.

“It’s looking least likely now that fight is going to happen,” Barry told Sky Sports.

Instead, Barry said Parker will look for other possibilities, including a bout with Derek Chisora. Parker, who is training in Las Vegas for a fight Feb. 29 against a still unknown foe on a DAZN card featuring Mikey Garcia vs. Jessie Vargas in Frisco, Texas, appeared to be in line for a title fight against Usyk.

But recent talks between Usyk promoter and Anthony Joshua, Barry said, indicate that Usyk will probably wait for Joshua’s expected mandatory title defense against Kubrat Pulev in the spring. Negotiations are ongoing.

If Joshua wins as expected, Usyk would be next in line for a shot at one of Joshua’s belts, Barry said. Joshua has shown no willingness to relinquish any of his belts. Likewise, there’s been no move from any of the acronyms that they plan to strip him. Instead, there has been talk that Joshua is trying to swing a deal that he’ll fight Deontay Wilder after his rematch with Tyson Fury Feb. 22 on Fox/ESPN+ pay-per-view.

“I honestly believe what we’re going to see is Usyk (wait) and he will fight Joshua in the summer, providing Joshua blows out Pulev, which he should look spectacular doing,’’ Barry said. “I would love nothing more than the opportunity for us to fight Usyk. But the reality of it is, I don’t think it’s going to happen.”

WBO orders Anthony Joshua to defend title against Oleksandr Usyk: report

Anthony Joshua barely had time to savor his victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. when the WBO ordered him to defend its title against Oleksandr Usyk.

Could Olexsanr Usyk be next for Anthony Joshua?

Joshua barely had time to grasp what he accomplished by outpointing Andy Ruiz Jr. in their rematch Saturday in Saudi Arabia, winning back three heavyweight titles, when the WBO ordered him to defend its belt against Usyk.

Joshua (23-1, 21 knockouts) must face Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) by early next June, according to the Daily Mail.

Joshua, who was stopped by Ruiz  last June, thoroughly outboxed him in the rematch to win a wide decision to regain the clout that comes with holding heavyweight titles.

In a perfect world, he’d fight the winner of the Feb. 22 fight between Deontay Wilder, who holds the fourth major belt, and Tyson Fury to unify all the titles. It’s not that easy, though.

If Joshua decides not to defend against Usyk, he could be stripped of the belt and any immediate chance of becoming undisputed champion. In that case, Usyk, the mandatory challenger, could fight someone (Derek Chisora? Joseph Parker?) for the vacant title.

However, Usyk, a cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight who was 2018 Fighter of the Year, is an attractive opponent for Joshua. He could possibly take that fight and, if he wins, take on the Wilder-Fury winner afterward.

Another option for Joshua is a third fight with Ruiz, as Joshua suggested immediately after the fight.

Joshua is likely to take some time to enjoy his victory and then sit down with his advisors to plot out his future. All possibilities undoubtedly will be considered.

 

 

Joseph Parker still hoping deal with Derek Chisora can be made

Derek Chisora’s manager, David Haye, is targeting Oleksandr Usyk for his fighter but Joseph Parker remains in the running.

Joseph Parker is holding out hope that he’ll fight Derek Chisora yet.

Parker, the former titleholder from New Zealand, was set to fight Chisora on Oct. 26 but pulled out because of what he said was a spider bite. Chisora went on to stop David Price in London, giving him some momentum in his quest to fight for a title.

David Haye, Chisora’s manager, says he wants his fighter to face Oleksandr Usyk next but Parker still wants Chisora. Both Chisora and Parker are promoted by Eddie Hearn.

Parker told Sky Sports that he expects to learn his fate this week.

“He hasn’t won a world title, Chisora, so I think they are trying to look for the fastest and the best way of getting there, and they think Usyk is the best way of getting to a world title,” said Parker, who is ranked No. 4 by one sanctioning body. “But, firstly, it doesn’t make sense, because he’s not ranked and there’s a lot of guys ranked before him. I’m not sure why they want that fight. Obviously the fight was locked in for us both, and I couldn’t control what happened with the illness, but I want to reschedule the fight.

“I’m healthy, I’m fit, I’m ready to go. I know I can smash him, I know I can beat him. He’s going to bring a lot of pressure, but I know I’ve got better boxing skill and better movement than the other guys he’s faced. I told him before that I will retire him and I’ll be his last fight. Lock in the fight, I’ll put in a great show. He will get his money that he wants, but I will put him into retirement. He’s had a good career.”

Parker’s manager, David Higgins, also hopes a Parker-Chisora fight will come together.

“We’ve been advised by Joseph Parker’s promoter Matchroom, led by Eddie Hearn, that we’re going to get some answers next week on who Joseph might fight next, where and when,” Higgins told Sky Sports. “We’re sitting tight, leaving that in the hands of Eddie Hearn and Matchroom. The obvious answer is Derek Chisora. There has been talk of Chisora-Parker for two years now. Chisora has been baying to make that fight happen. On our front, the deal is done. We have a three-fight contract with Matchroom, so the terms are all agreed. It’s an easy one. Chisora wanted it, Parker wanted it. The only thing standing in the way is the Machiavellian David Haye.

“Joseph Parker is an old-school boxer, who fights the guy in front of him and is fearless. I think Chisora is arguably the same, however, enter David Haye the master thief of heavyweight boxing. He was lucky to be heavyweight champion and ‘stole’ the belt in a bizarre spectacle against a giant, somewhere in eastern Europe.”

Haye reiterated that Usyk is his prime target.

“It was all scheduled, four weeks prior to the fight, he gets bitten by a spider and the fight doesn’t happen,” Haye told Sky Sports. “That was Parker’s opportunity for the fight. It could still happen, but for me, Usyk is definitely the frontrunner, the fighter that I want, the fighter that Derek wants.”

Oleksandr Usyk could face Derek Chisora next, says manager

Oleksandr Usyk said he wanted to fight for a title after his successful heavyweight debut but might face Derek Chisora first.

Oleksandr Usyk didn’t waste any time. He went from a predictable victory in his heavyweight debut to saying he wanted a shot at a title in his next fight.

Not so fast.

It’s beginning to sound as if Usyk is altering his timetable.

Usyk manager Egis Klimas said the former cruiserweight-turned-heavyweight would be interested in a bout with Derek Chisora. No title there. But Chisora would keep Usyk busy in what would also be a chance to get some more experience at his new weight.

Usyk plans to be Saudi Arabia on December 7 for the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Anthony Joshua rematch on DAZN. Three of the major belts are at stake in that one. The fourth is at stake on November 23 in champion Deontay Wilder’s rematch with Luis Ortiz in Las Vegas on pay-per-view.

“We don’t know what happens on December 7,’’ Klimas told Sky Sports. “But if it is possible to fight in between and not to wait for another six months, I think Chisora will be a good fight for Usyk.”

Usyk, who held all of the cruiserweight belts, is already the mandatory challenger for one of the heavyweight belts held by Ruiz, who upset Joshua on June 1 in New York.

Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn has said that the December 7 winner will probably vacate one of the belts.