Tyson Fury plays down chances of showdown with Anthony Joshua and claims his heavyweight rival’s career is in ‘tatters’ – as he aims for trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk following their highly-anticipated rematch

Tyson Fury is contractually bound to a trilogy fight with OIeksandr Usyk if he beats his rival this weekend, reports mirror.co.uk. The two heavyweight rivals are set to renew their rivalry on Saturday night, with Usyk looking to go 2-0 up in the series.

The Ukrainian became the first man to defeat Fury in a professional setting after securing a split-decision victory in Riyadh back in May. With just days to go until the rematch, Fury appears to be as confident as ever and is targeting a vicious knockout. With Usyk potentially planning on a move back down to cruiserweight, defeat on Saturday night would mean the Ukrainian will have to stick around at heavyweight a little longer after Fury’s promoter Frank Warren revealed a third fight between the two giants is ‘contracted.’

When asked whether a trilogy bout between Fury and Usyk ‘trumps’ potential fights with Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, Warren told Boxing News: “Oh it does because it’s contracted. And whatever happens, that would be the case if Tyson wins… providing nobody retires.”

The news serves as a real blow to Joshua – who recently ruled himself out of a February 22 rematch with Dubois owing to fitness concerns and the chance to face Fury next – regardless of the result this weekend.

‘AJ’ was knocked out by ‘Dynamite’ back in September, but is still hoping for an all-British showdown with Fury.

‘The Gypsy King’ himself has also distanced himself from a potential fight with Joshua claiming he will go for the decider against Usyk if he wins this Saturday.

“When I win on Saturday night, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury told Al Arabiya. “Joshua’s in tatters at the moment. He has got to pick up the pieces from his last fight. But the fight with Usyk – one on Saturday and the one afterwards – would be fantastic for me.”

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to lock horns again on December 21 with the Brit attempting to avenge his defeat by the Ukrainian in May. With Fury seemingly focused on Usyk, the Brit has recently revealed his tactics for the mouthwatering sequel this weekend.

In an interview ahead of the release of the boxing game ‘Undisputed,’ Fury said: “I needed to get Wilder out of there or he got me out of there and that’s the type of fight it had to be. It had to be a 50/50 gunsling with the biggest puncher in history or else he’d have chinned me in round nine. Going into the rematch with Usyk, it’s going to be the same. I’m going to roll the dice and it’s going to be you or me… best foot forward and swing away. I’ve never been afraid to get knocked spark out. I’ve always put it on the line every time.”

BOXING

Coach suggests Fury’s father will not be in corner

Tyson Fury’s head coach SugarHill Steward has suggested John Fury will not be in his son’s corner for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday in Riyadh.

Fury, 36, is targeting revenge against WBO, WBA (Super) and IBF heavyweight world champion Usyk, having narrowly lost their first encounter on points last May.

John was in the corner for that fight, alongside trainers Steward and Andy Lee, and the cutman.

Speaking at the open workouts on Wednesday, Steward appeared to confirm John would not return to the corner.

“Just myself [will be in the corner], Andy Lee and the cutman,” Steward said. “Pretty much that’s it.”

The comments will come as a surprise to many, despite calls for Fury to make changes.

There was criticism about the chaotic nature of Fury’s corner in his first encounter against Usyk, with his father John and both coaches giving him instructions all at once.

Fury, who suffered his first pro defeat in 36 fights against Usyk, had already said this week he was unsure if his father would be in his corner.

“I don’t know,” said Tyson when asked about his dad’s involvement. “I don’t get involved in all that.”

Fury’s assistant coach Lee also said he did not know whether John would be involved while, earlier this month, promoter Frank Warren told BBC Sport he expected Fury Sr to be in the corner once again.

While Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion for almost 30 years six months ago, the Ukrainian has since dropped the IBF title for the rematch.

Before the last Usyk v Fury bout, John appeared to headbutt a member of Usyk’s team on the Monday before the fight, but is yet to be seen this week in Riyadh.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather Adds a New Twist to Conor McGregor-Logan Paul Fight Rumors in Stephen A. Smith’s Disclosure

Before Conor McGregor lost the high-profile civil lawsuit in the Dublin High Court, he was supposed to face Michael Chandler. After the court proceedings, he was rumored to face featherweight king Ilia Topuria in his return. Now, the͏ former du͏al-͏wei͏ght ch͏ampion ͏pu͏t an e͏͏͏nd to the spe͏culation when he a͏nnounced he wo͏ul͏d be c͏lashing w͏͏i͏th the m͏averick Logan ͏Paul in Ind͏ia someti͏me ͏next ͏year. Thi͏s revelation sent shockwaves thr͏o͏ugh th͏e M͏M͏A co͏mmunit͏͏y, as͏ ͏fans͏ ͏had͏ ͏long b͏een a͏ntici͏pati͏ng M͏c͏Greg͏or’s r͏et͏u͏rn to co͏m͏petition in MMA. Neve͏rthe͏less, th͏is͏ w͏i͏͏͏ll͏ m͏ark McGregor’s ͏sec͏ond box͏in͏g ͏e͏n͏deav͏or, f͏ollowing his͏ lo͏ss to Floyd M͏ayweather, however the fight with Paul will be an exhibition bout. ͏’Money’ M͏ay͏w͏eat͏her def͏eate͏d M͏cGr͏ego͏r͏͏ via technic͏al kno͏c͏k͏o͏ut, and y͏ears afte͏r thei͏r fight, Stephen A. Smith ͏revealed the se͏cret behind the͏ kno͏ckout.

While having a conversation with ESPN and Shannon Sharpe, Stephen A. Smith revealed the art of boxing used by Floyd Mayweather to knock out Conor McGregor back in 2018, “Floyd Mayweather told me this. He was in the preview of the fight to Conor McGregor. I never forget this. I go interview Floyd “Money” Mayweather for ABC. He says, ‘Stephen A, he don’t stand a chance. I’m going to keep him around’, and he told me everything that was going to happen.”

He further added, “He says, ‘I’m going to stay right in his chest.’ I said, ‘What are you talking about? You don’t do that with anybody.’ He said, ‘With him, I’m going to. He’s a striker, he’s used to clipping people. I’m going to be in his chest, he’s going to have to push me off and then swing. Plus, he’s going to have to circle around backwards to gain leverage to punch. By about the third or fourth round, his legs are going to be gone, and he’ll be target practice. I’ll keep him around until like the eighth or ninth round for entertainment purposes, and then I’ll finish him.’ And that’s exactly what Floyd did.

Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor fought for 10 rounds out of 12 on August͏ 26th, 2017. ‘The Notorious’ started strong, but Mayweather’s experience as well as his gas tank helped him to slow McGregor down in the later rounds. Mayweather͏ secured a TKO vict͏ory in the 10th round, maintaining his unde͏fe͏ated͏ record and improving͏ to 50-0. Regardless, Mayweather was a seasoned boxer but what about Logan Paul? Can he defeat McGregor? Stephan A. Smith had an answer to that question as well.

Stephen A. Smith revealed his winner for Conor McGregor vs. Logan Paul match

Who do you think will get the victory between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul? Well, according to Smith, even though Conor McGregor has more fighting experience, it will be Logan Paul, who will get the victory. Arguing his stance at the ESPN Stephan stated, “I think Logan Paul is going to beat him. Logan Paul is going to win because I don’t think Conor is a boxer; he’s a striker.”

He further added, “He’s just sitting up there, not even throwing. You ain’t clipping Logan Paul like that. No, you have to do more than that.” He further added, “I just think that Logan Paul is bigger. Um, he’s a much bigger man, and he’s a more experienced boxer.” It’s a valid point, considering Conor McGregor stands at 5 ft 8 inches (173 cm), while Logan Paul is significantly taller, measuring 6 ft 2 inches (188 cm).

BOXING

Manny Pacquiao Reveals His One Condition For Rematch With Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao is still looking to make a return to the ring.

Pacquiao was last in action in August 2021 when he lost a WBA welterweight title fight to Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas.

Despite now being 46-years-old and it being over three years since he stepped through the ropes, ‘Pac-Man’ has made it no secret that he still intends to compete once again.

One fight that Pacquiao has craved for nearly a decade is a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, after the duo battled it out in the ‘Fight Of The Century’ back in May 2015.

It was a fight that had been years in the making, even if a lot of fans felt it had come several years too late. The event set a number of records commercially, and saw Mayweather add to his undefeated record with a unanimous decision win.

Mayweather retired in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record. Pacquiao insists the rematch could still happen, but has told Seconds Out that it may have to be an exhibition.

“I can fight Floyd again. He wants an exhibition.”

Pac-Man has revealed he is willing to do that but only if his own condition is met – that there is an awarded winner rather than the typical exhibition style of calling it a draw.

“I said ok I can fight [an] exhibition, but there has to be [a judges’] decision.”

Both Mayweather and Pacquiao have taken part in several exhibitions in recent years, but it may not appeal much to traditional boxing fans.

Instead, Pacquiao could turn his attention to another star, after revealing that he would be open to a fight against Gervonta Davis as well as continuing to chase a record-breaking welterweight world title shot against Mario Barrios.

BOXING

Claressa Shields hopes to inspire people around the globe with harsh reality of ‘The Fire Inside’

Shields believes the portrayal is incredibly accurate to her situation growing up in Michigan

From her meteoric rise out from poverty and a dysfunctional home life in Flint, Michigan, to a pair of Olympic gold medals and world titles in five divisions as a professional boxer, Claressa Shields has built her name upon the principles of always staying true to herself.

Raw, real, brash, unapologetic and relentless would be just some of the adjectives used to describe the 29-year-old who, against all odds, willed herself to a life and career that has produced varying levels of highs and lows in the public eye.

Critics can call Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) whatever they want. Heck, she has gone as far as to call herself the “GWOAT” (shorthand for the Greatest Woman of All-Time) and began doing so as early as her first pro bout. But if Shields’ story is told correctly, it would be difficult to leave out the word inspirational.

“Being who I am is why I am here today,” Shields told CBS Sports last week. “I tried to make the changes that everybody was saying and it made me depressed, sad and not feel as powerful and strong as I am. I had to throw it out the window and just stick to being me and knowing that regardless of how the world looks at me, I know myself.

“I made a way out for me and my family. I am a once-in-a-lifetime woman and athlete. I feel good knowing that even though people are going to judge me. But I think that Flint mentality is just in me and I just love who I am. I’m happy that I didn’t let the world change me because who knows what it would have changed me into.”

On Christmas Day, the story of Shields’ improbable rise will hit theaters nationwide with the release of the Amazon MGM Studios biopic, “The Fire Inside,” directed by Rachel Morrison and starring Ryan Destiny as Shields. The film chronicles Shields’ run as a teenager to a pair of Olympic gold medals and focuses on the relationship between her and trainer/father figure Jason Crutchfield, played by Brian Tyree Henry.

The film isn’t your typical feel-good, underdog story. In fact, much like the city of Flint, which acts as an intimidating co-star thanks to the grit of Morrison’s cinematography, the movie is an unflinching look at the reality of the hand Shields was dealt growing up with an imprisoned father, alcoholic mother and the responsibility of looking after her younger siblings.

Watching the film adaption of so many bittersweet life memories, like when she first entered Flint’s iconic Berston Field House at age 11 against the wishes of her father, a former underground boxer, and was told that females weren’t allowed to train, brought tears to Shields’ eyes at the film’s September premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“I watched it and I said, ‘What the hell? That was really my life,'” Shields said. “And then to see things I put so far back in my head, it was really painful to see how I didn’t grow up with any food and how my mother and my relationship wasn’t that great. At a time when I didn’t have friends and I didn’t have support, I had Jason and I had boxing.

“I know that my life is about to change on Christmas Day. People will have a better understanding of who I am and what I have been trying to tell people the whole time. Now, I feel like they will have a great understanding and want to support me until I die.”

BOXING

Mike Tyson turns the page on Jake Paul with a ‘challenging’ venture to rehabilitate his image

Tyson lost to Paul in an eight-round bout last month

After a month in the shadows following his loss to Jake Paul on Nov. 15, Mike Tyson has re-emerged with aplomb.

Tyson‘s return to the ring was highly-anticipated, but 70,000 fans at AT&T Stadium — not to mention millions more watching at home on a constantly-buffering Netflix stream — will have been disappointed by Iron Mike‘s display. Despite a bright start, the 58-year-old Tyson struggled to match the 27-year-old Paul‘s energy and activity and landed far fewer blows — which led to a unanimous victory for Paul. A month on, Tyson has had the opportunity to recover in advance of a surprise announcement.

Tyson’s new series…on Netflix

Thank you for watching

In response to the relative broadcast success of the fight with Paul, Netflix has commissioned a new series centered on Tyson’s 1980s rise and his 1990s fall from grace after becoming heavyweight champion.

“Having an opportunity to share my story through the reflective lens of my growth and maturity in a multi-part documentary on Netflix will be a challenging journey, yet a very welcoming one,” Tyson said in a statement about the upcoming three-part docuseries.

It appears that the new docuseries will take a critical look at Tyson’s life and career, which spiraled out of control in the early 1990s and led to a 1992 rape conviction that put him in prison for three years. But before then, Tyson was the dominant force in boxing; he became a heavyweight champion in 1986, at 20 years of age, and won the first 37 fights of his career.

“Most people are too scared to look at their lives objectively, wanting to paint themselves as the hero of their own story,” Tyson’s statement continued. “But if we are truly objective, we know we can never be the hero in our own story. We have to be able to face the man in the mirror, taking the good with the bad to give a full account of our contributions in this life. Netflix is the perfect platform to tell my story because of their global reach.”

In the meantime, Tyson was recently spotted in South Africa, travelling to promote his line of cannabis products known as “Tyson 2.0”. Through one ambitious venture or another, Iron Mike is ensuring he stays in the spotlight and keeps the cash flowing after years of financial issues.

BOXING

Tyson Fury aims fresh dig at Anthony Joshua and threatens to snub fight again

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk made their ‘Grand Arrivals’ in Riyadh on a cool Tuesday night in the desert but there was another name on the mind of the Gypsy King

Tyson Fury has threatened to snub Anthony Joshua for their all-British showdown – by chasing a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

The Gypsy King is facing Usyk in a rematch this weekend looking to regain his seat at the top of the heavyweight table. Fury, 36, is confident he is going to avenge his May defeat to the Ukrainian which will leave them tied at 1-1.

But it is understood that Joshua has skipped a February 22 rematch with Daniel Dubois owing to fitness concerns and the chance to face Fury next – whether he wins, loses or draws this weekend. Fury is trying to distance himself from that by claiming he will go for the decider against Usyk if he wins this Saturday in Riyadh.

“When I win on Saturday night, I think there’s gotta be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury told Al Arabiya. “Joshua’s in tatters at the moment. He has got to pick up the pieces from his last fight. But the fight with Usyk – one on Saturday and the one afterwards – would be fantastic for me.”

Joshua was stopped inside five rounds by Dubois back in September to leave his career on the brink. But he has been given hope that Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh would push for the Fury fight.

Usyk is the favourite with the bookmakers to beat Fury again after he became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 by beating the Gypsy King in May. Fury felt he won the bout with one judge scoring it 114-113 in his favour, but the other judges gave it 115-112 and 114-113 to Usyk.

“He won by one point in a close fight,” said Fury. “Good luck to the guy. And we’re going run it back on Saturday and it’s gonna be victory for me.”

BOXING

Tyson Fury plays down chances of showdown with Anthony Joshua and claims his heavyweight rival’s career is in ‘tatters’

Tyson Fury plays down chances of showdown with Anthony Joshua and claims his heavyweight rival’s career is in ‘tatters’ – as he aims for trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk following their highly-anticipated rematch

Tyson Fury believes Anthony Joshua‘s career has broken into pieces following his spectacular knockout defeat at the hands of Daniel Dubois in June.

Fury is preparing to take to the ring with Oleksandr Usyk for their highly-anticipated rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday night.

The 36-year-old is looking to avenge the only loss of his career, which Usyk handed to him back in May to become the undisputed king of the heavyweight division.

However, Dubois would go on to become IBF heavyweight champion a month later by knocking out Joshua at a sold-out Wembley Stadium after Usyk gave up the belt.

Many had touted Joshua and Fury to face off during their illustrious careers, but the Gypsy King now has his eye on a third fight with the Kyiv Cat instead.

‘When I win on Saturday, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,’ Fury told Al Arabiya.

‘Joshua’s in tatters. He has got to pick up the pieces from his last fight. But fighting Usyk on Saturday, and the one after, would be fantastic for me.

‘It’s not revenge, just me smashing his face in. Not in a million years will I walk away after this. All great dance partners have trilogies. Facts.’

Before a third fight is even on the cards, Fury will have to overcome the undefeated Ukrainian fight under the lights at the Kingdom Arena at the weekend.

The first bout would prove to be a tight affair with Fury controlling many of the early rounds and even showboating.

However, Usyk would come back strong to rock the British fighter in the ninth round and control the match until the final bell.

Ultimately, Fury would lose the fight by split decision with the judges scoring the contest 115–112 for Usyk, 114–113 for Usyk, and 114–113 for Fury.

The Gypsy King has now knocked back any suggestions that he underestimated the three-belt heavyweight champion back in May.

‘No, I didn’t. He got a decision over me and won by one point, good luck to the guy,’ he continued.

BOXING

clear way for Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury trilogy fight with ‘special condition’

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri has confirmed to talkSPORT.com that the major sanctioning body will not stand in the way of a trilogy bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

The WBO are next up in the sanctioning body rotation system to order a mandatory challenger for the winner of the upcoming rematch on December 21 for the WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight titles.

As a result, they could order the victor to face their No.1 contender and then proceed to strip the champion of their version of the world title should he refuse the fight.

The IBF exercised their right to do this in June when they ordered Usyk to face IBF interim champion Daniel Dubois.

Usyk was unable to return the call due to his contracted rematch with Fury and so was forced to relinquish the IBF belt.

Dubois was then elevated from interim to full world champion and went on to defend his red and gold strap by knocking out Anthony Joshua in September.

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has stated his intentions to make a rubber match between Fury and Usyk if ‘The Gypsy King’ manages to level the scores this weekend.

And the WBO’s newly appointed president, Olivieri, is happy to go along with that plan so long as the second fight merits a trilogy.

“Absolutely. Why would I or the committee prevent the trilogy taking place?” Olivieri told .com of a possible third fight between Usyk and Fury.

“And I concur with this philosophy: we try to serve what is in the best interest of boxing as far as our rules allow us to…

“In order to leave the door open for a future rematch, we sanctioned the [first] fight with a specific condition whereby the championship committee would reserve its right to order the mandatory when it deemed appropriate.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather Delivers Honest Verdict On Conor McGregor’s Power As He Announces Boxing Return

Floyd Mayweather capped off his professional campaign with a win over UFC star Conor McGregor in one of the most lucrative events the sport of boxing has ever seen.

Mayweather and McGregor brought crossover contests to the big stage when they announced they would face off inside the ropes in 2017. The pair reportedly earned into the hundreds of millions for the fight, billed ‘the biggest in combat sports history.’

As for the action, ‘Money’ Mayweather was largely comfortable for ten rounds before scoring the TKO. Though he was stalked by McGregor around the ring, his famed defence held up and his counters took their toll on the MMA man.

McGregor made the contest look close in the early stages with his pressure, but fatigue kicked in as the rounds went on and he was the 27th stoppage victim of Mayweather’s 50-fight career.

At the press conference in the aftermath, Mayweather discussed his rival’s power and was relatively complimentary.

“As far as his punching power – he’s solid. I’ve felt it before, so that’s why I kept coming straight ahead. Obviously, it wasn’t the type of power to say, ‘I can’t come forward.’ Because if it were that type of power, I wouldn’t have come forward.”

One issue many feel with MMA stars crossing over to boxing is that the way in which they throw their shots isn’t as effective with bigger gloves.

McGregor will hope that isn’t the case when he returns to the ring, which will be, according to him, against YouTuber, occasional boxer and WWE star Logan Paul next year.

“The rumours of a bout with [Ilia] Topurio are false. I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon.”

Paul, who’s younger brother Jake recently fought Mike Tyson, has previously had an exhibition with Mayweather. He has also faced British star KSI (points loss) and former McGregor training partner Dillon Danis (Points win).