Tag: Joshua next fight

Anthony Joshua asks Oleksandr Usyk to delay mandatory so he can unify vs. Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua is hoping that Oleksandr Usyk will delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify the heavyweight titles against Tyson Fury

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

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Anthony Joshua has asked Oleksandr Usyk to delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify all four major titles against fellow titleholder Tyson Fury.

Joshua, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, and Fury, the WBC champion, are in talks to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship this year. However, WBO officials have made it clear they expect Usyk to get his shot before Joshua and Fury meet.

Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have suggested that he might vacate the WBO belt in order to make the Fury fight happen and then — if he wins — challenge whomever holds the WBO to become undisputed champion.

However, Usyk, the mandatory WBO challenger for more than a year, is keen to have own title fight after the sanctioning body allowed Joshua to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. a second time and then defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12.

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Usyk reportedly has indicated that he might be willing to wait a little longer if he were guaranteed a fight with the Joshua-Fury winner and, presumably, compensated financially for stepping aside.

“I think Usyk will be keen to step aside and let the fight happen,” Joshua said. “We’ve reached out to his management team. He’s a reasonable person, and he’ll understand the magnitude of this situation.”

Usyk last fought in November, when he defeated Derek Chisora to retain his mandatory designation.

If Usyk’s team does indeed insist on their title fight and force the WBO to strip Joshua, unbeaten Brit Joe Joyce — who put the first blemish on Daniel Dubois’ record in November — is the leading candidate to battle Usyk for the vacated title.

Also in the running would be the winner of Junior Fa vs. former WBO champ Joseph Parker on Feb. 27.

Anthony Joshua asks Oleksandr Usyk to delay mandatory so he can unify vs. Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua is hoping that Oleksandr Usyk will delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify the heavyweight titles against Tyson Fury

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

Anthony Joshua has asked Oleksandr Usyk to delay his mandatory challenge so A.J. can unify all four major titles against fellow titleholder Tyson Fury.

Joshua, who holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, and Fury, the WBC champion, are in talks to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship this year. However, WBO officials have made it clear they expect Usyk to get his shot before Joshua and Fury meet.

Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have suggested that he might vacate the WBO belt in order to make the Fury fight happen and then — if he wins — challenge whomever holds the WBO to become undisputed champion.

However, Usyk, the mandatory WBO challenger for more than a year, is keen to have own title fight after the sanctioning body allowed Joshua to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. a second time and then defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12.

[lawrence-related id=16962,16535,16405,16394,16371,16366,16305]

Usyk reportedly has indicated that he might be willing to wait a little longer if he were guaranteed a fight with the Joshua-Fury winner and, presumably, compensated financially for stepping aside.

“I think Usyk will be keen to step aside and let the fight happen,” Joshua said. “We’ve reached out to his management team. He’s a reasonable person, and he’ll understand the magnitude of this situation.”

Usyk last fought in November, when he defeated Derek Chisora to retain his mandatory designation.

If Usyk’s team does indeed insist on their title fight and force the WBO to strip Joshua, unbeaten Brit Joe Joyce — who put the first blemish on Daniel Dubois’ record in November — is the leading candidate to battle Usyk for the vacated title.

Also in the running would be the winner of Junior Fa vs. former WBO champ Joseph Parker on Feb. 27.

Anthony Joshua threatened with lawsuit if he doesn’t fight Kubrat Pulev

Kubrat Pulev’s co-promoter has threatened to sue Anthony Joshua if he tries to bypass his fighter and face Tyson Fury instead.

A member of Kubrat Pulev’s promotional team has warned Anthony Joshua there will be consequences if the Briton attempts to bypass a title defense against the Bulgarian and fast-track a superfight with fellow titleholder Tyson Fury.

Pulev’s co-promoter and right-hand man Ivaylo Gotzev told Press Box PR that Joshua promoter Matchroom Boxing has considered skipping the agreed-upon bout with Pulev, which Eddie Hearn says he is looking to stage before the year is out.

The third fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder might not happen any time soon because no spectators have been allowed to attend events. That could open the door to a fight between Fury and Joshua early next year.

“That’s something that they have always contemplated at their end. But that door will be closed with a lawsuit if they break our deal and our contract,” Gotzev explained.

“There are some very good attorneys in England and some very fair courts. So it will come down to whether they want to decide whether they want that or not.”

That said, Gotzev remains confident it will not come to that.

“I do believe AJ and his promoter will do the right thing and do as they say and finalize the deal,” he said. “Through blood sweat and tears Kubrat earned his position to challenge AJ. Will they overrule his rights, can they all overrule his rights? That’s entirely up to them if they want to try that.

“… There’s a signed agreement.”

According to Gotzev, it appears Joshua-Pulev is indeed close to being finalized, but the final pieces of the puzzle belong to the champion’s side. Hence the anxiousness emanating from Team Pulev.

“We are in the final stages of closing the deal, which we are extremely happy with,” he said. “It’s now up to Eddie to conclude their part. Our signature will come to the fore a lot easier than theirs.

“We’re adjusting the original contract. It’s finally going in the right direction that keeps both sides happy.”

And it appears London is the likely destination.

“To become a champion you must go into foreign lands and conquer and that’s what Kubrat has decided to do,” Gotzev said. “That’s where the victory will be the sweetest and the most legitimate. Let’s do it in London.

“We’re going for the knockout. Kubrat is a man’s man. He has heart, skill, talent and he’s going to upset the apple cart. The question is: Is AJ a man or is he still a mama’s boy?

“Kubrat is the big underdog. It’s like a Rocky story. AJ is a physical specimen, he’s like Apollo Creed, and we’re bringing in Rocky. When he upsets AJ that’s the end of Matchroom’s reign.”

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Anthony Joshua threatened with lawsuit if he doesn’t fight Kubrat Pulev

Kubrat Pulev’s co-promoter has threatened to sue Anthony Joshua if he tries to bypass his fighter and face Tyson Fury instead.

A member of Kubrat Pulev’s promotional team has warned Anthony Joshua there will be consequences if the Briton attempts to bypass a title defense against the Bulgarian and fast-track a superfight with fellow titleholder Tyson Fury.

Pulev’s co-promoter and right-hand man Ivaylo Gotzev told Press Box PR that Joshua promoter Matchroom Boxing has considered skipping the agreed-upon bout with Pulev, which Eddie Hearn says he is looking to stage before the year is out.

The third fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder might not happen any time soon because no spectators have been allowed to attend events. That could open the door to a fight between Fury and Joshua early next year.

“That’s something that they have always contemplated at their end. But that door will be closed with a lawsuit if they break our deal and our contract,” Gotzev explained.

“There are some very good attorneys in England and some very fair courts. So it will come down to whether they want to decide whether they want that or not.”

That said, Gotzev remains confident it will not come to that.

“I do believe AJ and his promoter will do the right thing and do as they say and finalize the deal,” he said. “Through blood sweat and tears Kubrat earned his position to challenge AJ. Will they overrule his rights, can they all overrule his rights? That’s entirely up to them if they want to try that.

“… There’s a signed agreement.”

According to Gotzev, it appears Joshua-Pulev is indeed close to being finalized, but the final pieces of the puzzle belong to the champion’s side. Hence the anxiousness emanating from Team Pulev.

“We are in the final stages of closing the deal, which we are extremely happy with,” he said. “It’s now up to Eddie to conclude their part. Our signature will come to the fore a lot easier than theirs.

“We’re adjusting the original contract. It’s finally going in the right direction that keeps both sides happy.”

And it appears London is the likely destination.

“To become a champion you must go into foreign lands and conquer and that’s what Kubrat has decided to do,” Gotzev said. “That’s where the victory will be the sweetest and the most legitimate. Let’s do it in London.

“We’re going for the knockout. Kubrat is a man’s man. He has heart, skill, talent and he’s going to upset the apple cart. The question is: Is AJ a man or is he still a mama’s boy?

“Kubrat is the big underdog. It’s like a Rocky story. AJ is a physical specimen, he’s like Apollo Creed, and we’re bringing in Rocky. When he upsets AJ that’s the end of Matchroom’s reign.”

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Anthony Joshua seen on crutches at protest march in Watford

Anthony Joshua wore a knee brace and walked with crutches during a Black Lives Matter march Saturday in his hometown of Watford, England.

Anthony Joshua tweaked is left knee. How badly? Nothing to worry about, we’re told.

The  heavyweight titleholder wore a knee brace and walked with crutches during a Black Lives Matter march Saturday in his hometown of Watford, England, near London.

“Anthony felt a slight twinge in his knee whilst training,” a spokesman for the fighter said. “The brace is a precautionary measure on the advice of physios. It will be further checked by his doctors but there is no immediate concern.”

Joshua was seen on crutches and also on a scooter during one of many demonstrations worldwide on Saturday, which followed the death of George Floyd while a police officer knelt on his neck last months in Minneapolis.

Joshua, who holds three of the four major belts, was expected to defend his titles against Kubrat Pulev on June 20 at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium. However, the fight was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

No date or site has been set but the fighters’ handlers say the fight will take place. It’s not clear whether the injury will impact the timing of the event.

Anthony Joshua rules out Mike Tyson fight because ‘people would boo’

Anthony Joshua has ruled out the prospect of facing boxing great Mike Tyson on his return to the ring.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on SportingNews.com.

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Anthony Joshua has ruled out the prospect of facing boxing great Mike Tyson on his return to the ring as he believes no fan would want to see the current heavyweight champion prevail.

Former undisputed world champion Tyson, now 53, is reportedly ready to fight again in exhibition and charity bouts. And UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz and Joshua’s heavyweight rival Tyson Fury both claim to have been offered bouts against Iron Mike.

But Joshua, who reclaimed his belts against Andy Ruiz Jr in December, is not interested in facing a legend of the sport.

“With all due respect, I wouldn’t [fight Tyson],” Joshua told The Sun. “Even if I fought Iron Mike and beat him, I think I’d be the only one cheering. People would boo. He is a legend. He is the greatest boxer of the modern era. There are only two recognized champions the world knows of, [Muhammad] Ali and Mike Tyson, the most recognized faces in the world when it comes to boxing.”

Joshua also talked about a different Tyson — Fury.

The boxer insists he has respect for Fury, even as he aims to unify the division.

“I don’t want to be in that position where I am talking down Tyson Fury,” Joshua told The Sun. “He is a great person, and he has done great things in boxing, but until the day we fight, that is where it ends, and I don’t have anything else to say about him.

“I really want the belt, and that is where I stand with Tyson Fury.”

Anthony Joshua on facing Tyson Fury: ‘Just another opponent’

Anthony Joshua says he would approach an all-British heavyweight title-unification fight against Tyson Fury as just another fight.

Anthony Joshua acknowledged that an all-British showdown with Tyson will be perceived as a monumental encounter. From his perspective? No big deal.

Joshua even suggested in an interview with Britsh GQ that a meeting with Fury would’ve even be the biggest fight of his career. His biggest moments so far are victories over Wladimir Klitschko and Andy Ruiz Jr., the latter in a rematch of his stunning knockout loss.

“You know what? There are going to be bigger fights [than Fury] because I’m not going anywhere,” Joshua said. “I’m here to make history. I’m hungry and fired up. Fury is just another opponent at the end of the day. Yeah, it’s going to be big for everyone else, but I have to keep myself together and look at Fury like he’s just another fighter.

“But in terms of the spectacle, the trash-talking, two juggernauts coming together, I can’t wait.”

Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) won his first heavyweight title in spectacular fashion in April 2016, stopping then-beltholder Charlos Martin in only two rounds. Then, after two successful defenses, he got up from a knockdown to stop Klitschko in 11 rounds and become a major star.

He looked all but unstoppable in three subsequent title defenses and then disaster struck last June. A chubby Mexican-American got up from his own knockdown to put the champion on the canvas four times and stop him in seven rounds.

Everything Joshua had built had come crashing down. How he responded would determine the direction in which his career would go. And he responded well, easily outpointing an ill-prepared Ruiz in December to regain his titles and some of the respect he lost six months earlier.

Next up are separate fights for Fury and Joshua, who are expected to face Deontay Wilder and Kubrat Pulev before the end of the year at sites to be determined if the coronavirus pandemic allows it. If they win, they presumably will face one another in that huge event.

“I’ve tasted what being at the top of the mountain feels like, and I’ve tasted what being knocked off the mountain feels like,” he said. “I’ve climbed my way back up, and whoever steps in front of me now will know that I ain’t looking to go back down.

“So when I’m fighting Pulev and get the opportunity to fight with Tyson Fury for the WBC championship of the world, I think they are going to see what it feels for a man to have had it all, lost it and got it back. A man who has experienced those turbulences doesn’t want to go through that again.”