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“We agreed the deal!” – Eddie Hearn explains the collapse of Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder after seemingly confirming the heavyweight banger

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Deontay Wilder And Anthony Joshua's

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder once appeared destined to stand across from one another in the squared circle.

Several months ago Matchroom Boxing chairman, and Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, was brimming with confidence about the likelihood of the heavyweight slugfest taking place.

But a sharp turn of events has seen Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder collapse, and Hearn has now explained why.

During a recent interview with Seconds Out, the Matchroom Boxing chairman stated that the initial offer from Saudi Arabia to host the heavyweight clash had been withdrawn, leading to a fallout of the fight.

He said:

Boxing has become infamous for being unable to book fights among its biggest stars.

But with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s merry-go-round of negotiations seemingly coming to an end following the announcement of their fight, hopefully, Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder can follow suit.

anthony joshua and deontay wilder

Eddie Hearn scoffs at the idea of Anthony Joshua vs Joe Joyce

On September 23, Joe Joyce faced off against Zhilei Zhang in an immediate rematch of their clash earlier this year.

Zhang once again walked away victorious, although this time in a far more brutal fashion. Joyce was stopped via TKO in their first fight but was knocked out cold in their second clash.

Following the bout, several members of the boxing community have called for Joe Joyce to retire. But given his English nationality, there have been talks in the past of a potential clash with Anthony Joshua, in what would be an all-British affair.

Eddie Hearn was recently asked about the possibility of ‘AJ’ versus Joyce, and the Matchroom Boxing chairman could not have made his feelings any clearer. He said:

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BOXING

Joshua to get IBF world title chance

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Anthony Joshua

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua could have a shot at the vacant IBF heavyweight world title after Tyson Fury’s agreed deal to fight Oleksandr Usyk created an opportunity for the 33-year-old.

Fury and the Ukrainian announced last week they would take eachother on in a battle for the undisputed heavyweight champion, due to be held either on December 23 or in January.

Between them, the pair hold all four of men’s heavyweight world titles with Fury the current WBC champion and Usyk holding WBA, IBF and WBO belts.

However, after ESPN reported there was a two-way rematch clause confirming a second bout between the two, it opens up a possibility for Joshua to fight for the IBF title.

The rematch clause will allow the loser of Fury versus Usyk to force a second fight, but this will not be an undisputed bout.

Gervonta Davis

16-0 Croatian Filip Hrgovic is the current IBF mandatory challenger and is already overdue his shot at the title.

The winner of the first fight between Fury and Usyk has been ordered by the sanctioning body to defend against the dangerous unbeaten Croatian next, with no exceptions.

With the rematch clause meaning the two greats will fight again, Hrgovic will have to fight the next best ranked contender for the IBF world title and currently, this is Joshua who is coming off the back of a brutal knock-out win over Robert Helenius.

At present, Joshua is trying to negotiate a fight with American powerpuncher Deontay Wilder, with promotor Eddie Hearn even hinting this bout could happen on the same night as Fury versus Usyk.

However should this not come through, Joshua could take on Hrgovic for a world title belt.

Hearn, who said the much talked about Joshua-Deontay Wilder fight is much bigger added that the Hrgovic fight comes with a world title.

“You saw yesterday, the IBF, basically saying that, he’s going to fight Filip Hrgovic for the world title,” Hearn told Boxing Social.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how that plays out. He is desperate to become a three-time heavyweight champion, and I believe he’s gonna do it. We’ve got the Wilder fight, there’s a lot to think about. But that news certainly changes things.

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BOXING

Devin Haney Willing To Do Whatever It Takes To Face KO Artist Rival

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Devin Haney amd Gervonta Tank

The former undisputed lightweight champion, Devin Haney, has declared that he is prepared to do whatever it takes to continue his run of blockbuster bouts.

Haney earned the respect of the boxing community when he twice travelled to Australia to challenge for and then defend the four lightweight belts against George Kambosos Jr at such a young age.

‘The Dream’ won via wide unanimous-decisions against the Aussie twice before taking on pound-for-pound superstar, Vasily Lomachenko, in Las Vegas, where he grinded out a much tougher-fought and controversial decision.

Gervonta Tank Davis

Now, Haney is aiming to taking things one step further, moving up to super-lightweight and beginning life at 140lbs against the division’s WBC champion, Regis Prograis.

However, that challenge has not stopped talk of potential fights between the youngster and some of the other poster boys of the 135 scene, in Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Shakur Stevenson.

In an interview with Fight Hype, Haney confirmed that he is happy to face ‘Tank’ when the timing is right and that he is willing to sacrifice in order to make the all-American clash happen.

Davis has 27 knockouts from 29 wins, and is coming off the back of career-best victory over Ryan Garcia.

First, Haney will attempt to become a two-division world champion against Prograis, headlining a card that takes place on December 9 and is available to watch live on DAZN PPV in the US and as a part of the regular subscription for UK viewers.

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CELEB NEWS

Sir Lewis Hamilton keeps cards close to chest over ‘top secret’ Mercedes upgrade ahead of Qatar Grand Prix

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Lewis Hamilton

SIR LEWIS HAMILTON is keeping schtum about the “top secret” upgrade to his Mercedes.

The seven-time F1 champion will bid to pick up his and Mercedes’ first win of the season at the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday.

Mercedes have made changes to their struggling car during the recent break following last month’s Japanese Grand Prix in a desperate bid to get a first-place finish.

Hamilton recently visited the’ Brackley factory to see the fruits of the team’s labour but is keeping the details close to his chest.

The Stevenage speedster told Sky Sports: “I can’t tell you, man, I can’t tell you. It’s all top-secret stuff.”

When pressed further, the 38-year-old said: “From my experience in all these years, firstly [I’m] not an aerodynamicist.

“And you go into the wind tunnel and it’s always mega exciting.

Lewis Hamilton

“No matter what point of the year you go in there’s always new bits coming, there’s bits in the bucket and you know there’s just stuff being tried all the time.”

Hamilton was left disappointed with his car’s performance at Suzuka, where he finished in a disappointing fifth place.

But he’s been thrilled by the effort the entire team has put in to try to rectify the issues plaguing his suped-up motor.

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CELEB NEWS

F1 LIVE: Verstappen and Red Bull chief clash as Lewis Hamilton snubbed by Fernando Alonso

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Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen is expected to secure his third consecutive World Championship this weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix, and there is still plenty at stake across the board at the Lusail Circuit. The Dutchman needs just three points to retain the title, and he could even be triumphant before Sunday’s big race gets underway.

This weekend will see the return of the sprint race, meaning that Verstappen could earn himself a vital three points on Saturday to reign triumphant. The Red Bull star has made it no secret that he is no fan of the additional races though, despite the sprint presenting him with an opportunity to secure the 2023 title early.

Speaking earlier this week, Verstappen claimed that the format ‘takes a little bit of the excitement away’, feeling that fans are unable to grasp the superiority of cars as the sprints make the situation ‘unclear’.

Elsewhere, Ferrari and McLaren still have plenty to play for in Qatar as they look to secure a second-place finish in the Constructor Championship, with Mercedes currently occupying the spot and 20 points clear of the field.

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CELEB NEWS

Lewis Hamilton Bows to ‘Faultless’ Max Verstappen as Red Bull Set to Snatch Mercedes’ Record

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Lewis Hamilton

Dominance. The 2023 Formula 1 season has become synonymous with the word. And it’s all thanks to the relentless charge of Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Another race weekend, another bunch of records to their name. That’s been their mantra throughout the season. Had it not been for the Singapore GP, who knows? Red Bull could’ve become the first team to win every race in a calendar year. But a streak needs to break for another one to start, and that’s precisely what the Milton-Keynes team is focusing on. Needless to say, it’s back to it’s ‘another race weekend, another record’ mantra, and the next race to conquer is the Qatar GP.

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Verstappen single-handedly secured Red Bull’s sixth Constructors’ Championship in Suzuka. Two weeks later, at the Qatar GP, the reigning champion will get his first opportunity to become a three-time champion. As he sets out to become a part of history once again, Verstappen has found an unlikely appreciator in Lewis Hamilton.

What did Lewis Hamilton applaud Max Verstappen for

It’s no secret that Verstappen and Hamilton don’t have the best of relationships. It all started in 2021 when a resurgent Red Bull Racing was aiming to overthrow the incumbent champions, Mercedes AMG. That was a season for the ages, with Verstappen and Hamilton giving their absolute best every time they went out on track. Because of how hard they pushed each other at times, there has been this underlying animosity between the two champions since then. Even so, Hamilton set aside his pride and appreciated Verstappen for what he’s done in 2023.

Red Bull gave Verstappen the RB19—the fastest car on the grid. He got what he wanted, and he’s been making the most out of it. Discussing his dominance this season, Hamilton said, “Max has been faultless, and no one can take that away from him. He has done an amazing job with the package he has. He and the team have been phenomenal. They’ve raised the bar.” They certainly have raised the bar, one that Hamilton and Mercedes look to beat in the near future. But Red Bull isn’t quite done yet. It’s on its way to claiming another record, one that belongs to the eight-time champions.

Lewis Hamilton

If either Red Bull scores points in Qatar, the team would equal Mercedes’ record. What is the record? Most consecutive points finishes for a team. The current record is 38 races, set by Mercedes twice from the 2016 Monaco GP to the 2018 Australian GP. Having scored in every race since the 2022 Saudi Arabian GP, Red Bull is on a 37-race points-scoring streak, one that looks tipped to become 38. Another race weekend, another record to its name, right? Wondering what else Verstappen and Red Bull have achieved this season?

What records have Verstappen and Red Bull broken in 2023?

Max Verstappen has been close to invincible this season. Of the 16 races so far, the Dutchman has won 13 of them. After winning two of the first four races in 2023, he began a record-breaking winning streak at the Miami GP. From Miami to Monza, Verstappen won 10 consecutive races, surpassing Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record of 9 in a row. With 48 wins to his name now, he surpassed Ayrton Senna’s 41 wins at the Canadian GP. Currently fifth in the career win tally, he needs just four more victories to surpass Alain Prost. In 2022, he won a record 15 races. With six weekends to go, he needs to win just three more to better his own record.

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BOXING

Amid Tiger Woods’ Tragic Hiatus, Terence Crawford Vows to Fill In Billionaire Golfer’s Shoes While Detailing His New Achievement

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Terence Crawford

On July 29, Terence Crawford entered history books as the first man to become a two-division undisputed champion. For a man who has been active in the sport for the past fifteen years, he no longer needed to justify himself to those who questioned his legacy. However, time is running against him. He turned thirty-six last week. Hence, soon after the victory over Errol Spence Jr., he has been gunning for the next big match.

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However, that doesn’t mean that Crawford has forgotten what it means to have fun. The Omaha-born Southpaw seems to have found a new love: golf. He shared clips of his adventures at the golf course early today with fans and followers. With Golf Hall of Famer Tiger Woods remaining out of the scene on account of health issues, on a lighter note, it seems like the sport has gained a new star who even changed his name to bring out the inner golfer in him, much to everyone’s amusement.
The Nebraskan first displayed his Ping Hieoki luxury brand kit in Instagram stories. Fans can hear the world champion in the background: “You all see it? Call me Terence Woods, about to hit the 300-yard bar. They don’t believe in me. I believe in myself. Dope, let’s get it.” The moment he said to call him “Terence Woods,” everyone around him erupted into a big laughter.
TerenceCrawford
The following clip shows him at the course. Crawford checks with one of the officials, “How…how far was it?” And pat came the reply, “306.” Happy with the job done, the Welterweight champion said, “I’m out here, and they said I couldn’t do it, so I had to prove him wrong. 306 baby, I’m like that. Call me Terrence Woods…Terrence Woods.” Once again, those who accompanied him let out a huge bellow of laughter.

The final clip shows him looking through a sizable collection of golf clubs that Tiger Woods and other famous players most likely used. He said, “You know I want my majors..here clubs, Tiger Woods ain’t here with me.” One of the persons drew his attention: “He (Tiger Woods) is over here.” From one of the racks came a gold-plated club with Tiger Woods, 1995 US Amateur Champion written on it.

Where else the ‘Bud’ can bloom?

For sure, Terence Crawford was having a gala of a time. As regards the ring, he reportedly made it clear that he would no longer be chasing Jermell Charlo after his defeat at the hands of Canelo Alvarez. As many fans might remember, he has also called out the Mexican champion. But, with so many options available, only time will tell whether the Super Middleweight champion will reciprocate. But otherwise, there have been questions about Crawford’s willingness to climb three divisions – whether the move would be prudent.

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BOXING

George Groves outlines reason why he expects Tyson Fury to get beaten by Oleksandr Usyk

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tyson fury and oleksandr usyk

George Groves is backing Oleksandr Usyk to beat Tyson Fury, despite ‘The Gypsy King’ being the favourite.

Fury and Usyk have signed to fight, with December 23 or January 2024 the proposed dates for the undisputed heavyweight world title clash.

Due to his significant size and weight advantage, Fury is expected to beat Usyk, who only moved into the heavyweight division in 2019.

But, former super middleweight world champion Groves disagrees, claiming that Fury’s preparation for Usyk over the last year may be a disadvantage come fight night.

Fury’s last fight was a comfortable victory in a mismatch against Derek Chisora and next up he will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who has never had a boxing fight, on October 28.

Meanwhile, Usyk has recorded back to back victories over Anthony Joshua, as well as knocking out his mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois last time out.

“Usyk wins,” Groves told Grosvenor Sports.

tyson fury and oleksandr usyk

“I don’t think Fury’s run of fights serve him well to fight in January, say, because his last time out was Chisora, that was almost like a glorified spar.

“He’s got this fight coming up with a UFC fighter, who knows what your mindset is when you’re fighting someone who you know is inferior to you.

“So, has he been training properly? Is he sharp? Has he had the right sparring?”

Groves continued: “Usyk is exceptional at being able to change and adapt. His boxing ability is superior, in my opinion, to everyone else in the heavyweight division.

“What he lacks in natural size, he makes up for in timing, shot placement, adjustments of feet, tempo and power.

“It’s Usyk’s hardest fight, and it might be a close fight, but I think I think Usyk wins.”

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BOXING

Oleksandr Usyk Says He’s Ready to Fight Tyson Fury ‘Tomorrow’ After

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tyson fury and oleksandr usyk

Oleksandr Usyk Says He’s Ready to Fight Tyson Fury ‘Tomorrow’ After Daniel Dubois Win

It did not take long for Oleksandr Usyk to look towards his next fight after defeating Daniel Dubois.

The Ukrainian fighter defeated the British Dubois in the ninth round Saturday, retaining his three heavyweight titles in the process. After the match, he professed his appreciation for the Ukrainian military and then got down to business.

Usyk declared that he wanted his fight against Tyson Fury and he wanted it sooner rather than later.

tyson fury and oleksandr usyk

The matchup between the two would be one for the ages. Usyk is a career 21-0 with 13 knockouts while Fury is 33-0-1 with 24 knockouts. It has been rumored that the two could have a fight in the works in December, but that would have been dependent on Usyk beating Dubois and Fury taking down Francis Ngannou in October.

With Usyk’s work out of the way, his declaration of wanting the fight with Fury means that it is likely coming sooner rather than later. The matchup would determine the undisputed heavyweight champion as Fury holds the WBC belt while Usyk holds down the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.

The two were looking into a fight this past April but talks over logistics put it on hiatus. It appears that the desire to have the bout still exists on Usyk’s end.

 

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Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk deal could gift Anthony Joshua a world title shot vs dangerous Croatian 

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tyson fury and oleksandr usyk

Anthony Joshua could receive a vacant IBF heavyweight world title shot as a result of the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk deal.

It was announced last week that Fury and Usyk have signed contracts for an undisputed showdown, which is eyed to take place on December 23 or in January.

The pair will unify all four of boxing’s major heavyweight world titles when they meet, as the Brit holds the WBC crown while the Ukrainian owns the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.

However, it’s now been reported by ESPN that they have also agreed a two-way rematch clause.

This all-but guarantees a second fight between them, as it contractually allows the loser the opportunity to force a rematch.

But if Fury vs Usyk II does indeed happen, then it will not be for the undisputed crown.

IBF mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic is already overdue for his world title opportunity.

The sanctioning body have now sent letters to both Fury and Usyk confirming that the winner of their fight will be ordered to defend against the dangerous unbeaten Croatian next with no exceptions.

This means that the Fury vs Usyk winner will almost certainly be stripped of the IBF heavyweight world title before their second clash.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr

Remarkably, this may well open the door for Joshua.

If the IBF belt does indeed become vacant, then Hrgovic would be ordered to fight for it against the highest ranked available contender in the IBF rankings.

At present, this is AJ.

Joshua’s plans remain unclear at present as his team remain locked in talks to try and salvage his potential clash with Deontay Wilder.

It appears likely that the Brit would favour this long-awaited mega money showdown against the American, rather than an IBF heavyweight world title shot against the little-known Hrgovic.

However, should AJ vs Wilder not materialise, then Joshua vs Hrgovic could quickly become a more appealing option.

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