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Anthony Joshua’s dream scenario – Tyson Fury agrees to fight and Oleksandr Usyk retires

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Anthony Joshua’s career has been written off by boxing experts and social media “experts” alike. The British heavyweight suffered his fourth professional defeat in September after a punch from underdog Daniel Dubois, which ultimately saw him knocked out in the fifth round.

After the devastating defeat that allowed Dubois to retain his IBF title, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn was quick to suggest a rematch. However, returning to the ring with “Triple D” on the originally planned date of February 22 is too early for Joshua, who was injured in their clash.

Moreover, the convincing nature of Dubois’ victory suggests that the second fight may not be at all favorable to Joshua and his ambitions. What does the future hold for AJ?

At the age of 35, he must first recover from the physical and mental wounds of another shocking defeat. Earlier this month, Hearn announced that Joshua would return to the ring in the summer of 2025 against an as-yet-unnamed opponent, stating confidently: “It’ll be fine.”

This break could provide the former Olympic gold medalist with the opportunity to mentally regroup while providing enough time to potentially transform the heavyweight division, helping him in his bid to become only the fifth boxer to win the world heavyweight title three times. This would be his dream scenario.

The main factor that could open the way to Joshua’s revival is Usyk’s retirement. Joshua has little chance of retaining the belts in a direct fight with Usyk, who was decisively defeated by the Ukrainian in the two previous meetings, losing the titles in the process.

However, Usyk’s defeat of Tyson Fury again in a rematch on December 21 may force the WBA, WBC and WBO holder to hang up his gloves for good. In 2022, after sealing his second victory over AJ, Usyk announced that he wanted to fight just three more fights before retiring – against Fury, a “bizarre” fight against Canelo Alvarez and a farewell fight.

With his upcoming fight against the Gypsy King, which will be his third fight since that statement, Usyk has confirmed his ambitions to become a footballer in 2023 when all is said and done with Fury. A win for Usyk would not only lure the belts back, giving AJ another realistic shot, but would also pave the way for the long-awaited all-British clash with Fury.

Over the past few years, the mammoth heavyweight clash between Fury and AJ has come close several times, but has always ended in failure for one reason or another – much to the annoyance of boxing fanatics. Everything indicates that this fight will be lucrative and is expected to be one of the biggest in boxing history.

A distraught Fury even admitted to leaving the ring after Joshua’s crushing defeat in September: “Listen, it cost me £150 million!” However, interest in this fight remains high from both Fury and his promoter Frank Warren.

The Gypsy King recently said: “I would still fight him whether he has five losses, 10 losses or 20. It doesn’t matter because at this stage of our career, the most vital thing is to have good fights. I think it would still be engaging to fight for a paid expert.”

Warren told Sky Sports: “Let’s see what happens in this fight [Fury vs Usyk]. I believe Tyson [Fury] he will get through this and who knows, maybe it will happen. AJ can get the fight back and get back into contention. I’m sure people would buy it – there’s no doubt about it.”

In December, Fury will face a huge task against the undefeated Usyk. And if the talented Ukrainian achieves another victory, there is no guarantee that he will hang up his gloves. The former undisputed champion seemed to make another U-turn in May, stating that he still had three years left in the ring.

He told Boxing Scene: “Yes, of course, I intend to continue boxing. Maybe for another three years. My motivation to fight is discipline, family and fans. I appreciate the support of the people and Ukrainian soldiers.

“This is my motivation. Thanks to good work, we can do more. My biggest win is yet to come. It will happen when my soul is sent to paradise. I feel fine. The fight with Fury is a huge event for me, my family and my country I can’t wait.”

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UK Boxing

Carl Froch urges the former world champion to retire

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Froch believes Joshua should retire following his defeat to Dubois Photo Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

Froch pulled no punches (Joseph Raynor, Nottingham Post)
Froch pulled no punches (Joseph Raynor, Nottingham Post)

Carl Froch maintained his opinion that two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua should have finished the fight.

In the immediate aftermath of Joshua’s brutal stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois, Froch was one of those who said it was It’s time for the Watford player to hang up his gloves.

The 35-year-old fell several times before being caught by Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley Stadium, preventing him from winning the IBF title.

Although the former Olympic gold medalist will avoid the rematch due to “DDD”, he will continue his professional boxing career and is expected to face long-time rival Tyson Fury in 2025.

And talk to Fight LensFroch revealed that he is worried about Joshua’s health if he continues boxing.

Froch believes Joshua should retire after the defeat to Dubois. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Froch believes Joshua should retire after the defeat to Dubois. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

“I’m just being sincere. I’m just telling the truth and I think Anthony Joshua has had a fantastic career considering his skill level.

“He was pushed several times and the last scream he took from Daniel Dubois looked painful. Potentially harmful to health.

“You can have as much money in the bank as you want, 100 million, 150 million, whatever. [But] you can’t put a price on your health.

“The way he was knocked out, it looked like Dubois tasered him. Hurt in the first round, destroyed in the fifth. Why is he fighting?”

Joshua is expected to return to the ring in May and many eyes will be on the rematch between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 in Riyad.

The domestic grudge match between ‘AJ’ and ‘The Gypsy King’ has been long overdue and there is a feeling it will take place next year – regardless of the result in Saudi Arabia in a few weeks.

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UK Boxing

British boxer with 121 defeats attacks critics and swears ‘I’ve never been knocked out’

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The journeyman boxer, who has 121 defeats, has slammed his critics, referring to Tyson Fury’s book, calling them “huge, stiff dossers.”

Dale Arrowsmith has only won six fights, but he still jumps into the ring regularly. He has faced 25 opponents in the last 12 months and lost to all of them, apart from a hard-fought draw against Gabriel Marsh.

The 30-year-old is one of many boxing journeymen, unsung heroes of the sport, who challenge youthful, up-and-coming fighters to improve their professional records and provide them with valuable experience.

Arrowsmith’s own record of six wins, five draws and 121 losses was recently noticed by former Olympic boxer Jamel Herring, who brutally mocked him with a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Herring shared a screenshot of Arrowsmith’s profile on the site BoxRec next to the caption: “I need to talk to my British family. In the US, you get a discount and a break for two months.

“And forget about the break, you might not see each other until the end of the year. It takes a lot of effort to step into this ring, but what is the motivation here?!”

Arrowsmith quickly responded to Herring and the rest of the critics with a stern message: replying: “I will fight every man born to his mother, twice on Sunday. You are all huge, stiff hunters.”

He went on to explain that despite eight stoppage losses, none of them involved a loss of consciousness.

“I wasn’t knocked out at all,” he added. “I was stopped twice for cuts, once for a perforated eardrum and stopped in front of the judge five times.”

Journeyman boxers still play an extremely significant role in the sport, with many world champions starting out by recording victories over fighters like Arrowsmith.

Jamie Speight, who retired with a professional record of 15 wins and 46 losses, previously provided a fascinating insight into the life of a journeyman.

“You will hear people say that boxing is the most corrupt sport in the world and that is one of the truest statements ever made,” he said Elephant sport.

“The promoters told me, ‘Don’t hit that kid, move him, don’t hit him, don’t hurt him.’ You actually get instructions on what to do and what not to do.

“Mostly if you’re ringside during one of my fights, you’ll hear me talking to my opponent. I’ll say, ‘Lift your left hand up a little more, don’t do this, don’t do this,’ and try to advise them because the best time to learn is at work.

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UK Boxing

“The greatest card of all time” – social media reaction to the Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 bill

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Beterbiev and Bivol run it back on February 22 Photo Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

On February 22 in Riyad, Artur Beterbiev will face Dmitry Bivol in a rematch in a gala called
On February 22 in Riyad, Artur Beterbiev will face Dmitry Bivol in a rematch, and the gala will be hailed as the “biggest” gala of all time. Photo: Turki Alalshikh

Turki Alalshikh’s latest card for the Riyad season, headlined by the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on February 22, is being hailed as one of the best cards of all time.

Alalshch, the head of boxing in Saudi Arabia, finally confirmed on Monday evening what had been widely reported for several weeks that Beterbiev and Bivol would bounce back after a thrilling first fight in October, from which Beterbiev won a majority decision to become the undisputed delicate heavyweight champion.

All four belts will be at stake again, and Bivol will want to take revenge for his only defeat in his career.

Just like in the rematch, six consecutive fights announced, including three world title fights.

Daniel Dubois, who ruthlessly defeated Anthony Joshua in the fifth round, will defend his IBF world heavyweight title for the second time against former world champion Joseph Parker.

Shakur Stevenson puts his WBC lightweight crown on the line against rising prospect Floyd Schofield, while Hamzah Sheeraz fights for a maiden world title when he meets WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames.

Beterbiev and Bivol fought again on February 22. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Beterbiev and Bivol fought again on February 22. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

An All-British delicate heavyweight clash between Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith, a heavyweight clash between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel and a super welterweight fight featuring Vergil Ortiz Jr and Israil Madrimov round out the blockbuster bill, with all three fights being for interim titles.

Broadcasters for the event have not been confirmed, but Alalshikh claims it will reduce the pay-per-view price in the US to “no more than $25.99” as part of its plan to reduce the exorbitant prices seen particularly in the US, with the event priced at $19.99. £99 in the UK.

Many were quick to hail the event dubbed “Last Crescendo” as the “greatest card” they had ever seen.

Here’s how the boxing world reacted to the news:

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