Tag: Frank Warren

Frank Warren, Bob Arum insist there are no Fury-Joshua talks

Frank Warren and Bob Arum say Eddie Hearn was stretching the truth when he said Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua talks were underway.

Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn says there were talks. Maybe, there were. But Tyson Fury co-promoter Frank Warren makes it sound as if Hearn was talking only to himself and the media.

Rubbish, Warren said of Hearn’s comments this week that there have been discussions about a Joshua-Fury fight for the undisputed heavyweight title late this year.

“All this rubbish about a deal almost being done,’’ Warren told iFL TV Friday. “There ain’t no deal done. It’s misleading the public. I’ve not had a single conversation.

“What he’s saying, Eddie Hearn, is untrue. Untrue, lie, whatever you wanna call it, it just didn’t happen. … Do we want the fight? Of course, we want the fight. But it’s gonna be something that’s gonna be done collectively.”

“I think Pulev wins and then I negotiate with myself to do a Pulev-Fury fight,’’ Bob Arum said.

Hearn told several media outlets that there had been “plenty of conversations’’ about Fury-Joshua in December. There has been lots of conversation among fans. But none with either Warren or his co-promoter Bob Arum, both say.

“Let’s make this crystal clear: I am co-promoter of Tyson and the other co-promoter is Frank Warren,’’ Arum said Friday.’’ I would not talk to Eddie about a fight without Frank’s participation. Frank’s never even talked with Eddie.’’

There’s some interim business on the table before negotiations for Fury-Joshua can begin. Joshua has a mandatory title defense against Kubrat Pulev on June 20 at Tottenham in north London. Then, there’s a third Fury-Wilder fight, a bout in mid-July in Las Vegas that was put into place a week ago when Wilder exercised a rematch option.

“Fury-Joshua is never going to happen,” Arum said. “Pulev is going to knock Joshua out. So why would I talk to Eddie, who I love dearly, about a Joshua-Fury fight?’’

Safe to say, Arum loves his current position in potential negotiations more dearly than he loves Hearn. Arum promotes Pulev.

“I think Pulev wins and then I negotiate with myself to do a Pulev-Fury fight,’’ Arum said.

Hearn told U.K. media that “myself and Bob Arum have been talking to a point.”

It’s not clear what or who he meant by point.

Point wasn’t available for comment.

Read more:

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua in December? Gears already turning

Deontay Wilder formally exercises right to third fight with Tyson Fury

Deontay Wilder has formally exercised the rematch clause for a third fight with Tyson Fury, according to multiple reports.

It’s official.

Deontay Wilder has formally exercised the rematch clause for a third fight with Tyson Fury, according to multiple reports.

Top Rank President Todd duBoef confirmed to Yahoo! Sports that Wilder exercised the clause Friday. Fury is tied to Top Rank.

The move was no surprise. At the news conference after Fury’s stunning seventh-round stoppage of Wilder nine days ago at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, trainer Jay Deas and manager Shelly Finkel said there would be an immediate third fight.

Last week, Fury co-promoter Frank Warren and Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn urged Wilder to step aside for a price. That might have led to a Joshua-Fury showdown in the U.K. for the undisputed title later this year. But their pleas fell on deaf ears. Wilder has other ideas.

He wants to avenge an embarrassing performance, which ended with assistant trainer Mark Breland throwing in the towel. A couple of days later, Wilder blamed a heavy costume for weakening his legs in his walk to the ring

According to the contract, the third leg in the trilogy will happen sometime in July.

Meanwhile, Joshua is expected to fight Kubrat Pulev in a mandatory title defense June 20 in London. On Friday, the deal was still not done. Maybe Hearn was waiting on Wilder’s decision. Now that Wilder’s move is official, Joshua-Pulev might soon be too.

Read more:

Tyson Fury beats the heavyweight title out of Deontay Wilder

Costume did it? Deontay Wilder says weight of get-up weakened legs

Deontay Wilder not wavering on third fight with Tyson Fury

Deontay Wilder evidently still wants an immediate third fight with Tyson Fury despite a call from U.K. promoters for him to step aside..

Deontay Wilder continues to talk as though he wants an immediate third fight with Tyson Fury despite a call from U.K. promoters and fans for him to take the money, step aside and make way for a Fury showdown with Anthony Joshua.

But Wilder said on social media he isn’t going anywhere.

“Hello my people, my Bomb Squad army, my Bomb Squad nation, to all my loved ones around the world,’’ Wilder said in a video message late this week, just days after his devastating seventh-round TKO loss to Fury. “I just want to let you know I am here. Your king is here and we ain’t going nowhere, for the war has just begun. I will rise again. I am strong. I am a king, you can’t take my pride. I am a warrior. I am a king that will never give up. I’m a king that will fight to the death.

“And if anyone don’t understand that, don’t understand what it is to go to war, don’t understand what it is to fight, we will rise again. We will regain the title. I will be back. We will hold our heads up high. Your king is in great spirits. We will rise like a phoenix from the ashes and regain the title. I’ll see you in a few months, for the war has just begun. All my love to all my people.”

Wilder has already said he would exercise a contract clause for a third fight. But Fury co-promoter Frank Warren and Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn hope there’s enough money to convince him to step aside.

However, Fury’s American promoter Bob Arum is already talking about a Fury-Wilder rematch in July. Arum has also floated the idea of doing a third fight at the Las Vegas Raiders’ new home, Allegiant Stadium. Construction is expected to be done on July 31.

Meanwhile, Hearn is moving forward on plans for Joshua to make a mandatory title defense against Kubrat Pulev on June 20 in London. However, that deal still is not done. It’s been under discussion for several weeks.

“If they do rematch, I just hope they stick to the contract date of July because we want this fight in 2020 and no later,’’ Hearn told the New York Post. “We’ll fight our mandatory in June, and we’ll sign to fight the winner now. But we don’t want to wait beyond 2020. Seize the moment.”

Read more:

Bob Arum to explore staging Fury-Wilder III at new stadium in Las Vegas

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

 

Promoter confident Wilder-Fury II could generate 2 million PPV buys

Bob Arum is more confident than ever at the chances of 2 million pay-per-view buys for the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury rematch Saturday.

LAS VEGAS – Bob Arum is more confident than ever at the chances of 2 million pay-per-view buys for the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury rematch Saturday night on ESPN/Fox at the MGM Grand.

A buzz was evident Friday from a capacity crowd for the weigh-in. Five thousand fans jammed the available seats at the Grand Garden Arena. People had to be turned away by security when the last seat was filled.

“People are talking about this fight all over the country,” Arum said of a heavyweight fight that has been marketed with ads on several platforms, including the Super Bowl.

When Arum first predicted 2 million for the PPV telecast, it sounded like another exaggeration. It’s still bold. But the signs are promising. Arum, who co-promotes Fury with Frank Warren, believes the 2 million buys could be split evenly between the U.S. and the U.K.

“Frank thinks it could hit 1 million in the U.K., even at 4 a.m. (Sunday),’’ Arum said.

If it hits 2 million, Fury and Wilder are expected to collect more than $40 million each.

“It all depends on the pay-per-view in the U.S. and the U.K.,” Arum said.

Contracts filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission include a purse number of $5 million for each. However, the guarantees are about five times more than that. Fury and Wilder are guaranteed between $25 and $28 million, according to sources tied to the promoters for each heavyweight. Wilder is represented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).

DAZN among suitors interested in buying Top Rank

Bob Arum, the founder and CEO of Top Rank, is serious about selling his company to the highest bidder. Potential suitors include DAZN.

Bob Arum, the founder and CEO of Top Rank, is listening to offers from those interested in buying his storied company. And potential suitors have lined up around the block.

Arum, 88, told Business Insider recently that he has had discussions with at least three entities about selling his promotional firm: Endeavor, Liberty Global and DAZN.

“Endeavor, here we are,” Arum said. “We’re talking to Endeavor. We’re talking to Liberty Global. We’re talking to DAZN. I met with [DAZN owner] Leonard Blavatnik last week. We’ll see. Maybe we don’t sell.”

DAZN, of course, is the sports streaming platform best known in boxing circles for showcasing stars Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin and Anthony Joshua, among others.

Endeavor is one of the premier talent agencies in the world. In addition to representing stars from across the entertainment spectrum, the company owns the Mixed Martial Arts behemoth UFC, which it bought for $4.025 billion.

And Liberty Global is a telecommunications giant that owns the British cable company Virgin Media.

Arum envisions remaining with the company even after a sale, as Dana White did with UFC. “Anything is for sale if I can stay alive in the business,” Arum said.

Founded in 1973, Top Rank has promoted some of the greatest fighters in the sport, such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. The company currently promotes elite talents Vasiliy Lomachenko, Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue and Tyson Fury, who faces Deontay Wilder on pay-per-view in a highly anticipated rematch Saturday in Las Vegas.

Included in the potential sale would be fighters under contract with Top Rank, mortgage-free Las Vegas real estate and a film library of more than 10,000 Top Rank-promoted fights.

It’s not clear what Top Rank is worth. According to Business Insider, Arum said that his company represents the “biggest combat sports asset” in the market since the UFC sale.

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Josh Warrington leaves Frank Warren, signs with Eddie Hearn

In a quick two-step, Josh Warrington left Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

Josh Warrington didn’t waste time. Neither did Eddie Hearn.

In a quick two-step, Warrington left Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and signed with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

“It’s great to be back with Matchroom, Sky and now DAZN, and I’m very excited about the future,” Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) said in a release Wednesday announcing his return to Matchroom. “I have enjoyed my time at BT [Sport], but now I’m looking forward to going on to achieve my dreams of both fighting in the USA and unifying the division.”

A news conference is scheduled for Thursday in Warrington’s hometown, Leeds, England.

Warrington has defended his 126-pound title three times, including a victory over Carl Frampton, since winning it by outpointing Lee Selby in May 2018.

Shakur Stevenson, who won a featherweight belt by beating Joet Gonzalez in October, has been calling out Warrington. However, Stevenson’s first title defense will be against Miguel Marriaga on March 14 at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

“I’m ecstatic to welcome Josh Warrington back to Matchroom,” said Hearn, who re-signed Warrington within hours after he split with Warren. “We had some amazing times helping to build Josh in Leeds, and now we re-unite at a time when he is the king of the division.

 “Josh has some of the most loyal and passionate supporters in sport, and we look forward to delivering nights they will never forget. There is so much more for Josh to accomplish, and today starts a new chapter in the thrilling Josh Warrington story.”

Frank Warren: Anthony Joshua talking ‘rubbish’

Frank Warren called Anthony Joshua’s claim that he has made an offer to Deontay Wilder as believable as his offer to spar with Tyson Fury.

Anthony Joshua is talking. And talking.

But don’t believe any of it, says Frank Warren, Tyson Fury’s co-promoter.

Warren dismisses Joshua’s claim that he has already made an offer to fight Wilder, if Wilder prevails Feb. 22 in his rematch with Fury at Las Vegas MGM Grand on Fox/ESPN pay-per-view. The offer, called a “curveball” by Joshua, would be enough for Wilder to sidestep a potential third fight with Fury.

But Warren says that comment is as believable as Joshua’s offer to be a Fury sparring partner for the rematch. Fury’s camp has been underway in Las Vegas for weeks. Still no Joshua sightings.

“Tyson and Wilder fight on 22 February and the loser has the right to invoke a trilogy fight,’’ Warren told the U.K.’s Metro. “That’s in their contracts. Can things change? Of course, but it’ll be expensive to do that. And I mean really expensive.

“Whatever this fight makes, Joshua will have to match it to get the loser to step aside. That will be millions upon millions. But to talk now all glib about a curveball offer is rubbish.”

Warren says Joshua already faces a busy 2020, including a possible mandatory title defense against Kubrat Pulev.

“It’s more difficult now to do a heavyweight unification fight than ever before,’’ Warren said. “Wilder and Tyson are tied into two fights, Joshua has his mandatories.

“Joshua knows full well he’s talking nonsense. Is he trying to con the public? He’s certainly playing dumb. Joshua will say anything at this stage. Why did he say he’d go spar with Tyson? He never had any intention of doing that either.’’

Tyson Fury reminds Deontay Wilder: ‘I got up’

Deontay Wilder promises Tyson Fury that we will not get up from the canvas the next time they meet inside the ring on Feb 22.

LOS ANGELES – Deontay Wilder’s chant sounds like an alarm.

“Bomb Squad,” he shouts at an almost concussive volume that forces just about anybody within the scream zone to cover their ears or look for shelter.

Yet, Tyson Fury, a singer when he’s not boxing or wrestling, just smiles. He’s not alarmed. He’s heard the scream. He’s seen the bomb. He even got up from the bomb, or at least the physical manifestation of it. It landed, along with a left hand, on Dec. 1 in the final moments of their first fight more than 13 months ago.

That makes Fury a survivor, a lone exception, yet proof, perhaps, that Wilder’s right is not quite as lethal as he and his long list of KO victims – 40 in 42 fights – might think. It’s no coincidence that Fury is using that moment, reminding Wilder of it again and again as their Feb. 22 rematch approaches at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand in a Fox/ESPN+ pay-per-view bout.

Fury reminded Wilder of that moment, taunting him about as often as Wilder broke into his trademark chant, during repeated face-to-face poses at a news conference Monday.

“Yeah, I told him I got up with my heart and balls,’’ Fury said in a tone that promised a lot more of both would be there for the rematch.

For the clever Fury, it represented an opening salvo in the psychological byplay expected to unfold over the next few weeks. No skillset is world class without a mastery of head games.

“I’m already living in his head,’’ Fury said.

Wilder, of course, laughs at that, screams Bomb Squad and promises to rip off Fury’s head.

In the first fight, Wilder said he gave Fury a baptism, which is an initiation. It’s a new beginning.

“Rising up is part of baptism,’’ Wilder said.  “But this a different story. This is unfinished business.’’

Further business, Wilder says, that will end with no improbable rise from the canvas. There’s no counter for his power, he says.

“When you’re facing power there’s no way around it,” Wilder said. “You can’t prepare for that. You just have to hope that when it lands, it doesn’t do that much damage. He doesn’t even know how he got on the ground or how he got up in the first fight. He’s been dealing with that feeling ever since the end of the first fight’’

Fury might not remember how he landed. But the confidence he gained in getting up might be a seed for some doubt in Wilder, who is defined by a right with a dimension as singular as it is powerful.

Fury will try to plant it and Wilder will try to knock it out. Have no doubt about it.

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II loser can get third fight

A clause in the contract for the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder rematch on Feb. 22 could lead to a heavyweight trilogy.

A clause in the contract for the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder rematch on Feb. 22 could lead to a heavyweight trilogy.

Frank Warren, Fury’s co-promoter, told U.K.-based talkSPORT that the contract allows the loser of the fight to exercise a clause mandating one more bout.

The loser “has the option to activate a third fight,’’ Warren said.

An immediate third bout could knock out Anthony Joshua’s hope for a bout with the winner later in 2020. It’s still not clear what Joshua intends to do. He has as many options as he has belts. His future is a multiple-choice question.

Even if Fury wins the rematch and Wilder exercises the trilogy clause, however, Warren hopes for an eventual all-U.K. showdown between Fury and Joshua. Warren also suggests another option for Joshua. Forget all the belts.

“If I was Anthony Joshua, I wouldn’t fight again until we know the winner of this [Wilder-Fury] fight,” Warren told the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph. “I’d let them strip me of my titles and not fight anybody until the big one.”

Shakur Stevenson likely to face Miguel Marriaga: report

Shakur Stevenson is headed to his first featherweight title defense against Miguel Marriaga, according to the Athletic.

Fresh off his title-winning effort last October, featherweight Shakur Stevenson wasted no time calling out Josh Warrington for a unification bout.

Turns out that matchup will likely have to wait.

The 22-year-old southpaw from Newark, New Jersey is projected to face Miguel Marriaga at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theatre in New York, perhaps on March 14, according to The Athletic.

The news arrives after Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said he would present Stevenson’s handlers – James Prince and Andre Ward – with two offers for the spring: either a Warrington fight, in Leeds, England, Warrington’s hometown, or main event at MSG.

Encouraging signs that a deal would get done seems to have given way to acrimony, as Stevenson and Warrington engaged in a small spat on social media recently. Stevenson, in particular, hinted that money issues were at play. 

https://twitter.com/ShakurStevenson/status/1211017306484150273

https://twitter.com/ShakurStevenson/status/1212576847004938240

Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) outpointed Joet G26.onzalez to win a vacant 126-pound title on Oct.

Marriaga (29-3, 25 KOs), a hard-hitting and durable Columbian journeyman, has reeled off four consecutive wins since notching back-to-back losses to Oscar Valdez and Vasiliy Lomachenko.