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“I don’t think the result was fair”: Turki Alalshikh confirms plans to stage a rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol

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Turki Alalshikh Artur Beterbiev Dmitry Bivol

Turki Alalshikh, the influential Saudi sports authority and head of the General Entertainment Authority, has voiced his desire to stage a rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol following Beterbiev’s controversial points victory in their undisputed light-heavyweight title fight. 

Alalshikh, a key figure in bringing major boxing events to Saudi Arabia, believes the result of the fight was not fair and is already working to organise a second showdown between the two champions.

Beterbiev’s victory, secured by a majority decision after twelve rounds of intense action, has sparked widespread debate in the boxing community, with many—including professional fighters—arguing that Bivol deserved the win.

Artur Beterbiev scores controversial majority decision win over Dmitry Bivol in 12-round battle - MMA Fighting

JUST IN: [VIDEOS] ‘Absolutely Disgusting’ – Beterbiev Beats Bivol To Become Undisputed Amid Robbery Claims

While Beterbiev’s aggressive style and power shots earned him the judges’ nod, Bivol’s technical skill and ring control had many feeling he had done enough to claim victory.

Alalshikh, who has played a major role in bringing boxing mega-fights to Saudi Arabia over the last 12 months, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the result, suggesting that the judges may have gotten it wrong.

Speaking about the result, Alalshikh told The Stomping Ground: ‘This was one of the great fights of the last 20 years I think, but I don’t think the result was fair, in my opinion. The two fighters are like my brothers, but I think Bivol won two rounds more. I will focus and I will try to do the rematch. If they accept, we will do it.’

Known for his passion for combat sports and his ability to deliver blockbuster events, Alalshikh is already in talks with both Bivol’s and Beterbiev’s teams to make the rematch a reality.

He is reportedly keen on hosting the bout in Saudi Arabia, which has become a prime destination for high-profile boxing matches, including bouts involving Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

A rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol would undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated fights of 2025, given the controversy surrounding their first bout in Riyadh.

Bivol, who many believe was ‘robbed’ of a victory, has welcomed the idea of a rematch. While Beterbiev, now the undisputed light-heavyweight champion, has also indicated that he would be open to a second fight.

The potential rematch has already generated excitement among fans and boxing insiders alike, with many viewing it as a must-see event. Given Alalshikh’s track record of organising high-stakes fights, there is growing anticipation that this rematch could come together quickly.

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WATCH: Bob Arum Has Bad News For Anthony Joshua

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Anthony Joshua Bob Arum

Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) is “over,” according to Top Rank boss Bob Arum, who did not hesitate one bit when he said those words.

Times have not been the best for the former world heavyweight champion. He recently showcased a rather disappointing performance against Daniel Dubois(22-2, 21 KOs) at the Wembley Stadium in London. After witnessing his devastating loss, Arum did not mince words while sharing his thoughts about Joshua’s future.

The fight saw Joshua getting floored four times by Dubois. He was then knocked out in the fifth round, allowing Dubois to keep his IBF Heavyweight title. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) later handed Joshua a 28-day suspension. While the suspension is a standard medical procedure following a knockout loss, which forces the fighter to take a much needed break.

JUST IN: Terence Crawford vs Sebastian Fundora delayed

Arum, however, felt that the break was unnecessary. “No, you don’t have an off night getting the sh*t kicked out of you that way. I just think AJ has been through a lot of wars. And I think it’s over for him as well as over for Wilder,” he said while talking to FightHub. With Deontay Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) coming in after two consecutive losses against both Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) and Zhilei Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs), Arum even feels that it would be a good idea for the duo to face each other.

AJ’s promoter and Matchroom boss, Eddie Hearn, has a different plan in mind for his fighter. Speaking to TalkSport, he mentioned that he will be setting up a rematch between AJ and Dubois. “We have a fight with Riyadh Season. One of our options is to fight Daniel Dubois again, and our contract is with them. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh will deal with Frank and Daniel and make that fight happen. The terms will have to be agreed with them,” he said.

He further added that they had agreed to the terms and had an option for a rematch. Moreover, he stated that the rematch is a fight that Joshua is actually looking forward to. “Our meetings with His Excellency, he wants the rematch. AJ will always want the rematch. Daniel wants the rematch too. It’s the biggest fight for him, and they will fancy it,” he said.

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Potential date set for Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois 2 as rematch ‘agreed’

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Anthony Joshua Daniel Dubois

Boxing fans won’t have to wait long to see the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois as ‘AJ’ looks to avenge his crushing defeat to the IBF champion

The heavyweight rematch between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois seems increasingly likely and could take place in February.

Dubois was a huge underdog coming into the first contest at Wembley Stadium, but came out guns blazing, with Joshua unable to deal with the champion’s power and speed. Just moments into the opening round, Dubois had sent Joshua tumbling, and it would only get worse for ‘AJ.’ The Brit went on to drop Joshua three times before securing a sensational knockout in the fifth round to retain his IBF title.

Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois full fight video highlights - MMA Fighting

READ: Anthony Joshua blames training ‘fatigue’; for speeding

The next big fight in the heavyweight division is Oleksandr Usyk’s clash against Tyson Fury in December. It looked likely that Dubois would wait for the winner, however, it would appear a rematch with Joshua seems more realistic. Frank Warren, Dubois promoter, has revealed that ‘Dynamite’s’ next fight will take place early next year and is very much open to the rematch between the two heavyweight giants with February 22 pencilled in for a fight card in Riyadh.

When quizzed about a rematch between the pair, Warren told TNT Sports: “I’m not against that at all. That’s not an open door for me, I’ll take the door off the hinges and we’ll do it. That fight is there. If they want it, they’ve got it, have it in a heartbeat. His next fight will be in February. That’s when he’ll fight next, and we will work out who that’s going to be in the next week or two weeks.”

Warren isn’t the only one who is chomping at the bit to see a second fight. Fellow promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh intends to see Joshua take on Dubois again. “Rematch clauses come in many different forms,” Hearn told talkSPORT. “We have a fight with Riyadh Season. One of our options is to fight Daniel Dubois again, and our contract is with them. His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] will deal with Frank and Daniel and make that fight happen. The terms will have to be agreed with them.

“We have already agreed our terms, we have the option to rematch with Dubois. Our meetings with His Excellency, he wants the rematch. AJ will always want the rematch. Daniel wants the rematch too it’s the biggest fight for him and they will fancy it. It is a case of going away and talking about, do we go straight into the rematch? And when will it be? It was a heavy night at the office, we aren’t going back to fight in 10-12 weeks, he needs his rest and time to recover.”

Joshua and Hearn confirmed immediately after the main event on Saturday that the intention was to pursue a sequel. Many senior figures in the sport of boxing have suggested ‘AJ’ should consider retiring. However, the Brit is confident that he still has a lot more to give and that he can become a three-time heavyweight champion.

As for Dubois, in a recent interview with talkSPORT, the Brit revealed he will accept the fight that offers him the most money next. “I would love a rematch but either one really, whoever pays me more money,” he said. ‘Dynamite’ added that if the rematch with Joshua wasn’t imminent, he’d certainly consider the bout in the future. “Yeah, if that happens down the line then yes. I want to do even better next time. I know where I need to improve as well, so as a champion and a fighter I want to prove people wrong every time and that’s what we have been doing.”

When asked if he’d do a better job on Joshua, Dubois said: “I think so. I think I would. I think I’d be a lot better than that. It was a great show and it was a great Rocky-type fight, but next time I believe I’ll be more clinical, more sharp, everything better.”

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‘I’m the best fighter in the world!’: Canelo powers past Berlanga

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CANELO ALVAREZ EDGAR BERLANGA

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez proved he is still the man to beat in the super middleweight division after a win by unanimous decision against Edgar Berlanga.

Despite the dominant nature of the Mexican’s victory, Alvarez’s wait for a knockout continues. The 34-year-old has had to wait almost three years for a stoppage victory, since beating Caleb Plant in November 2021.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez successfully retained his unified super-middleweight world title after a unanimous decision victory over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas.
The 34-year-old won after scoring 117-110, 118-109, 118-109 on the judges’ scorecards, to inflict the first loss of Berlanga’s career.
Canelo Álvarez defeats Edgar Berlanga via unanimous decision - Los Angeles Times

JUST IN: Put me in the game!’: Terence Crawford reacts to Canelo’s win over Berlanga

Alvarez retained the WBA, WBC and WBO titles with this result, and hit back at his critics after the victory.
He said: “I did good. Now what are they going to say? They said I don’t fight young fighters.
“They always talk, but I’m the best fighter in the world.”
It looked like Canelo may have ended his three-year wait for a knockout when Berlanga was caught with a shot to the head in round three, but the American held on until the 12th round.
The 27-year-old took plenty of punishment from Canelo after the Mexican successfully landed a brilliant uppercut in the fifth round and a superb hook in the sixth.
Berlanga fell to the canvas in round seven after missing with an overhand shot and received a warning for a headbutt in the eighth.
Alvarez admitted to being upset by his opponent’s antics on a huge night for Mexican fighters, with seven mixed martial artists also taking part in the UFC 306 event to mark Mexican Independence Day on Sunday.
“I got a little angry with his tactics, but I’m Mexican man,” Alvarez added. “It means a lot to fight on this day. It’s an honour to represent my country on this day.”
However, Alvarez’s decision to take this bout cost him the IBF belt after failing to fight the division’s No.1 challenger William Scull.
It remains to be seen what lies next for Alvarez, with WBA super welterweight champion Terence Crawford stating he would be open to a super-middleweight bout with the 34-year-old.
However, those plans were put on the back-burner with Turki Alalshikh reportedly turning his attention away from setting up what would have been a mouthwatering clash.
He posted on X: “I decided to disregard the Canelo fight, as I don’t want it anymore.
“Instead, I will be focusing for the US market with bigger fights, especially for the legend Crawford.
“Additionally, I will support making fights for Boots [Jaron Ennis], [Devin] Haney, Shakur [Stevenson], Ortiz, [Jared] Anderson, [David] Benavidez, [William] Zepeda and more.
“Regarding Tim Tszyu, there’s something unclear with the communications from his team with our team, so I believe I will reconsider his situation.”
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Put me in the game!’: Terence Crawford reacts to Canelo’s win over Berlanga

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Terence Crawford Canelo Alvarez

Terence Crawford is still angling for a fight with Canelo Alvarez.

Terence Crawford was ringside for Canelo Alvarez’s win over Edgar Berlanga tonight, and though his dream fight seems unlikely, he’s not given up on it just yet.

“Put me in the game, coach!” Crawford posted on social media, still angling for a bout with Canelo, which has been repeatedly shot down by Alvarez himself.

Terence Crawford

JUST IN: Canelo Alvarez rolls past Edgar Berlanga in one-sided decision

Canelo has most notably said that fights he does will happen on his terms, not on those of Turki Alalshikh, who attempted to make Crawford’s dream a reality with a big money offer.

Crawford is a current titlist at 154 lbs, while Canelo fights, of course, at 168, and because of that he feels that he would not get any credit for beating Crawford if the fight were to actually happen.

But you can’t blame “Bud” for continuing to hope, because it would potentially be an enormous amount of money for both sides.

Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KO) dropped Berlanga (22-1, 17 KO) and won a wide decision, but Berlanga got some credit from fellow fighters for his display of toughness.

“Edgar will learn a lot from this fight,” said Jamel Herring. “Nothing to be ashamed of.”

In a really thought-out bit of insight, Devin Haney declared that Berlanga is “not a hoe.”

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Terence Crawford will never fight again and Canelo Alvarez is the ‘only way’ he returns

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Terence Crawford Canelo Alvare

Terence Crawford is only interested in fighting Canelo Alvarez, according to Eddie Hearn.

‘Bud’ could become the first three-weight undisputed champion of the four-belt era if he can unify all the major sanctioning body belts in his new division of super-welterweight, but seems more interested in other goals.

Crawford previously reigned supreme over the super-lightweight and welterweight divisions and opened his account at super-welterweight last month by snatching the WBA belt from Israil Madrimov.

He's trying to stay friends with him," Terence Crawford calls out Eddie Hearn for saying Canelo Alvarez helped promote his fight

JUST IN: Daniel Dubois shuts down Anthony Joshua claim before world title fight

He has now been handed the opportunity to take two steps closer to making boxing history after the WBO ordered their champion Sebastian Fundora – who is also in possession of the WBC title – to make a mandatory defence against Crawford.

However, Hearn doesn’t believe legacy motivates the Baltimore banger anymore.

The Matchroom boxing chief insists money is his main driving force now and anticipates Crawford will hang up his gloves unless he can land a lucrative showdown with Canelo next.

“I don’t think Terence Crawford will fight again,” Hearn told talkSPORT.com.

“Because I think he’s made really solid money in the last couple of fights.

“And I don’t think he wants to fight Vergil Ortiz, I don’t think he wants to fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

“I think the only way Crawford will fight again is against Canelo Alvarez.

“Because he’s got used to that pay bracket and I don’t think that pay bracket exists anymore outside of Canelo Alvarez.”

Canelo vs Crawford was at the top of HE Turki Alalshikh’s boxing wishlist at the start of the year.

However, a breakdown in communication prompted the Saudi boxing chief to retract his approach and release a lengthy statement, during which he accused Canelo of being afraid of fighting David Benavidez and Crawford.

Bridges have been rebuilt between the pair since and the fight looks a lot more plausible than it once did, although Crawford will have to wait for Canelo’s clash with Edgar Berlanga on September 14 to play out.

Crawford could box Fundora in the meantime or even surging welterweight/super-welterweight contenders Vergil Ortiz or Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, although Hearn thinks this is highly unlikely.

“The problem is when you’ve made that kind of money, to drop down and fight a young contender [would earn less],” he added.

“I think he probably looks at the Israil Madrimov fight and goes, ‘Blimey.’ Not that he got away with it, but could he could’ve lost it all there.

“He probably thinks in his mind that he’ll fight again, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t.

“They’re so inactive as well, really the plan for Crawford was to fight in February. And I don’t see that happening.

“He should be, really, if he wants to continue in the sport, but I think he’s happy to sit out until the end of next year.

“He’ll be just waiting and then if the Canelo fight comes up, great.

“In his mind, something will come up, but I don’t think he’s rushing to get back to training camp to fight Vergil Ortiz or Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.”

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[VIDEO] ‘Scary power’ – Anthony Joshua posts terrifying POV of what Daniel Dubois will see on fight night

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Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua looks to be in sensational shape ahead of his upcoming clash with Daniel Dubois.

The heavyweight titans are set to duke it out on September 21 at Wembley Stadium for the IBF title.

Oleksandr Usyk was previously in possession of the red and gold strap.

JUST IN: “Genius” Floyd Mayweather Leaves Joe Rogan in Awe With ‘Trick’ to Making Millions of Dollars After Retirement

 

However, he vacated the title in order to pursue a rematch with Tyson Fury in December.

As a result, Dubois has been elevated from ‘interim’ to full world champion and will make the first defence of his title against the Watford powerhouse this summer.

Joshua is leaving no stone unturned in preparation for the fight and recently posted a frightening point-of-view video of him hammering the pads.

AJ captioned the video: “In an industry where respect is earnt and not given”, while his followers were amazed by the two-time world champion’s power.

Reacting to the video, one fan wrote: “That hurt even through Twitter!”

Another tweeted: “Damn!! Those sound like pain.”

A third commented: “Great to see this. I almost feel the punches.”

Meanwhile, a fourth supporter added: “I feel like I just got knocked out, multiple times.”

And somebody else remarked: “Scary power.”

Joshua vs Dubois is on track to break the British boxing attendance record next month.

Fury vs Dillian Whyte currently tops the list with 94,000 punters attending their Wembley Stadium clash after a special dispensation was granted by the local authority.

Joshua and Dubois have already sold 90,000 tickets, but Saudi boxing chief HE Turki Alalshikh and promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren don’t intend to stop there.

The chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority recently had a request granted to extend the capacity to 96,000, which would surpass Fury and Whyte’s crowd.

The additional 6,000 tickets are set to go on sale on Friday at noon UK time – and are expected to fly off the shelves.

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Andy Ruiz Jr vanishes with future in doubt after Jarrell Miller draw

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Andy Ruiz Jr  Jarrell Mille

Andy Ruiz Jr faces another career delay after sickening injury 

Andy Ruiz Jr. has stepped back from the limelight after suffering a hand injury during his controversial draw with Jarrell Miller.

Unlike his opponent, Ruiz hasn’t been seen on social media since the fight that was co-featured on the Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov card. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh put the event together to get the Riyadh Season name into the United States domain, with one eye on making another massive heavyweight fight for the winner.

Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller fight to 12-round majority draw - The Ring

JUST IN: Canelo Alvarez: I’m not saying Terence Crawford fight can’t happen

However, it wasn’t to be as Ruiz and Miller drew following a twelve-round battle. Two scores read 114-114, but Robert Hoyle’s 116-112 effort in favor of Miller was seen by many as closer to the truth.

As Miller takes the plaudits and declares himself a moral victor, Ruiz has gone off the radar amid attempts to fix his grotesque hand ailment. Ruiz has been fleeting in and out of the sport since losing his world heavyweight title to Anthony Joshua in December 2019, and the ex-unified champion’s future has again been questioned.

After his loss, Ruiz immediately referenced the hand but stated his desire to have a second fight with Miller to see a winner finally. Those intentions may not be able to be honored for months, if ever, due to the apparent severity of Ruiz’s hand, by his own judgment.

“I hurt my hand, and you can see the bone right here. It bothered me a lot from that fifth round where I kept hitting him in the head,” said Ruiz. “He’s a strong mother******. He keeps coming forward and forward. Let’s run it again. I think it was close. It was crazy, man. I haven’t fought in two years, but let’s do a rematch.”

He added, “It’s pretty exhausting when you’ve got a 300lb man coming towards me. Throwing and throwing. I think I did pretty good after not fighting in two years.”

Ruiz has given fans zero updates since then.

Given recuperation and Ruiz’s usual timeouts, that two-year absence could turn into one fight in three years [not for the first time]. By then, the Mexican-American will be pushing 36. ‘The Destroyer’ will have wasted his best years outside the ropes.

Another world title shot could prove impossible unless Ruiz can again get serious about boxing.

In contrast, Miller is willing to move to Saudi Arabia to persuade Turki Alalshikh to bankroll his retirement run. The ‘Big Baby’ has only a few years left at the top. The New Yorker wants Alalshikh to make him a permanent part of Riyadh Season.

“I’m definitely heartbroken with the result [of the Ruiz fight], but I know in my life I’ve never had anything easy. Warriors don’t quit. Everything will come to light. They can rob you, they can steal from you, they can lie to you, but Allah sees all,” said Miller.

He added, “Brother Turki said what needed to be said. He has seen it for himself who won that fight [with Ruiz]. I’m a free agent. Free at last. I have no dealings with Dimitry Salita or his promotional company whatsoever. I’m packing my bags. It’s time to move to Saudi,” he concluded.

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Canelo Alvarez: I’m not saying Terence Crawford fight can’t happen

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Canelo Alvarez Terence Crawford

The WBO’s order for its junior middleweight titleholder Sebastian Fundora to fight interim 154-pound and four-division champion Terence Crawford might appear to be a straightforward request, but it’s anything but.

In a conversation with BoxingScene minutes after the order came down, Fundora promoter Sampson Lewkowicz said he is convinced the 30-day deadline to strike a deal is actually less than a 15-day deadline because Lewkowicz is convinced Crawford still has thoughts of fighting Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Fellow four-division champion Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) has a Sept. 14 three-belt super-middleweight title defense against unbeaten Edgar Berlanga to get through, and Lewkowicz speculates Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) will only turn to Fundora (21-1-1, 13 KOs) if he feels his chance to land that lucrative showdown is dead.

Terence Crawford Canelo Alvarez

READ: Terence Crawford’s Quest: Proving Greatness or Chasing Canelo?

“I’m waiting on an offer now, and I’m certain one will not come until after the 14th,” Lewkowicz said. “I’d like to find out right now if [Crawford’s] going to fight for the money or the titles. I believe he wants the money.

“[Crawford] will do everything he can to fight Canelo, and [his team] will not call me until after the fight.”

Asked Wednesday about the Crawford-Fundora fight being ordered, Alvarez told BoxingScene he has not participated in any conversations about a Crawford fight since expressing his disinterest in doing so at his Los Angeles news conference earlier this month.

He stopped short of saying the WBO order means an Alvarez-Crawford fight is dead.

“I don’t think so,” Alvarez said. “I’m not saying that fight can’t happen. That order doesn’t matter.”

Waiting for Alvarez-Berlanga to be complete would give the Crawford-Fundora sides less than two weeks to strike a deal before the purse-bid process is triggered. Or Crawford could just walk away from it all to either maintain his hope for Alvarez, to fight someone else or perhaps retire.

There is deep skepticism in the industry over whether the Fundora-Crawford ever happens.

Lewkowicz, however, warms the conversation by saying this following Crawford’s narrow Aug. 3 victory by unanimous decision over former World Boxing Association 154-pound titleholder Israil Madrimov. Winning the final two rounds on all three scorecards decided the outcome in Crawford’s favor after he failed to back or hurt the younger Uzbekistan fighter.

“[Crawford] is 37 years old, and Sebastian Fundora will kick his fucking ass,” Lewkowicz said. “If [Crawford] fights the way he fought [Aug. 3], he has no shot – he will get knocked out by Fundora.”

Lewkowicz said he retains hope the bout will happen, adding, “if the price is right … .”

While Crawford’s career path is now apparently being handled by his attorney, Harrison Whitman – at the same time he is being backed financially by Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh – Fundora fights for Lewkowicz and under Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions banner.

Lewkowicz is fond of keeping the proposed fight in the U.S., and PBC offers dates throughout November and December – in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, respectively – while Alalshikh has a Dec. 21 card scheduled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, headlined by the unified heavyweight champion between champion Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

“Those are two different numbers,” Lewkowicz said of Fundora’s escalated price for venturing to the oil-rich nation. “We are willing to face him.”

Asked how Fundora responded to the WBO order, Lewkowicz said, “He doesn’t give a shit. He’ll fight anybody.”

Lewkowicz spent several minutes after the order talking to WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, first disputing that Crawford qualifies as a WBO “super champion” who is entitled to a far greater purse split as the WBO interim junior middleweight champion than Fundora deserves as a unified (WBO-WBC) full champion.

Valcarcel clarified that Crawford retains his “super” distinction because he carried it up to the 154-pound division after standing as an undisputed 140-pound and welterweight champion.

Lewkowicz said he proceeded to point out to Valcarcel that Fundora always pays sanctioning bodies the full 3 percent of his entire purse money, and not the shortened 3 percent of a smaller guaranteed (non-pay-per-view) purse that he suspects Crawford has paid.

“We always pay the full,” Lewkowicz said. “It’s honorable.”

That point is being raised as Lewkowicz seeks a greater percentage of the specified purse split the WBO can designate for the bout.

“It can’t be 80-20 [in Crawford’s favor],” Lewkowicz said. “How can [Crawford] ask for [purse split] favors when he’s [shorted] the sanctioning bodies?”

For now, Lewkowicz said he’s unclear whom he’ll negotiate with.

“[Whitman] called me once. Now, we’re ready to face [Crawford], so I hope he calls me again,” Lewkowicz said. “But I’m not expecting a call until after Sept. 14.

“I’m a nice guy, but I’m not naive. I have 30 years in this business. So we’ll see. … [Crawford] doesn’t care about the titles. He only wants the money.”

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Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois could break Tyson Fury record as bid made for heavyweight fight

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Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois

Anthony Joshua’s fight with Daniel Dubois could be about to break a British attendance record.

Joshua will take on Dubois in a huge heavyweight scrap for the IBF world title on September 21 at Wembley Stadium, with over 90,000 fans watching on after the event sold out last week.

Previously in 2021, the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte set the British boxing attendance record with 94,000 attending the clash after special dispensation was granted by the local authority.

Tyson Fury

JUST IN: “It’s criminal Joshua and Fury never faced each other – I don’t see it happening now”

AJ and ‘Dynamite’ were set to fight in front of 90,000 fans, but Saudi boxing chief HE Turki Alalshikh alongside Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren are not done selling tickets just yet.

The Middle East fight maker has revealed a request has been made to extend the capacity.

He wrote on social media: “We have submitted a request to increase the capacity at Wembley Stadium for the highly anticipated Joshua vs Dubois fight at #RiyadhSeasonCard Wembley Edition.

“We are aiming to set a record for the largest boxing attendance in the history of Wembley Stadium.”

It would be a monumental achievement and could push the attendance up to 95,000 or more to ensure it breaks the record.

The request will be subject to security checks and clearances from the local authorities, and will need to be approved before more tickets can go on sale.

Fury entertained a 94,000 record crowd in an epic 2021 event

It already promises to be a stacked event, with a jam-packed undercard featuring Joshua Buatsi and Liam Smith set to come before the hotly-anticipated main-event.

Liam Gallagher will also perform on the night, which came before the news that he has settled his differences with brother Noel and legendary band Oasis will be back on tour in 2025.

Some huge boxing events have headlined the national stadium since it has been rebuilt including the famous rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves which set the record originally with 80,000 spectators.

Joshua himself has even fought at Wembley since that famous clash, with his two clashes against Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin on the hallowed turf surpassing Froch’s record before Fury vs Whyte took the throne.

It promises to be a huge occasion inside and outside of the ring, particularly for Joshua who has the opportunity to become a three-time world champion.

He will go in as a favourite given his recent form under new trainer Ben Davison, having won his last two fights over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou with devastating stoppages.

A huge clash with Tyson Fury could be on the table in 2025 if he wins, and the ‘Gypsy King’ is able to get revenge over Oleksandr Usyk in December.

And Fury himself wants to return to Wembley to face AJ in his final bow.

He said earlier this year: “Styles make fights and my style for him [Joshua] is kryptonite.

“I’ve always said AJ is built to measure for me and just because he knocked out that guy, it’s not the same.

“He couldn’t on any of those right hands on Usyk, a way smaller and lighter man. Boxing is a very difficult game. It’s changing all the time.

“When I’ve got through with the rabbit [Usyk] then we go down for AJ. And that’s the fight of Britain.

“Hopefully we do one fight in Saudi Arabia and one fight at Wembley. A showdown forever, a sign-out for the GK.”

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