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Tyson Fury has “no interest” in boxing if Anthony Joshua is not next

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LONDON – Tyson Fury said if he doesn’t get the opportunity to fight Anthony Joshua next, he has no interest in continuing boxing.

Fury marked his return to the ring with a unanimous victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, boxing well and shaking off ring rust after a 16-month layoff.

Having already said earlier in the week that he wanted to face Joshua next, Fury doubled down and strongly called out his British rival.

Joshua did not commit to the fight and refused to get in the ring with Fury, who made it clear that he only wanted to face Joshua next.

“Let’s continue the fight. Here’s the thing: If there’s no Anthony Joshua next time, I’m not interested in boxing,” Fury said at the post-fight press conference.

“I’ll eat a thousand Easter eggs, up to 35 stone. I’m leaving. I’m not interested. It’s either him or I’m gone again.

“I’m not interested in rising stars, someone trying to prove something over me, I don’t care about that. I don’t care about the rankings. I don’t care about the belts. I’m only interested in AJ now. It’s the most crucial fight for British boxing.”

The fight between the two former two-time heavyweight champions has been ongoing on and off for the better part of a decade.

However, negotiations always ended in failure, even though a 2021 fight was looming – a fight that would be an undisputed title fight.

Promoter Frank Warren said Fury had signed a contract and agreed to take the fight, while his manager Spencer Brown said he believed the fight “100% will happen this year.”

There was no indication of where the fight would take place, with London’s Wembley Stadium and Croke Park in Dublin being potential venues.

Despite Joshua’s denials that the fight would definitely take place, Netflix posted on social media that it would take place this fall.

Joshua refused to take part in Fury’s post-fight call, instead remaining grave and in his place rather than entering the ring.

“I’ll be completely sincere, there’s a negotiation to go through. I’ve sat at that table with him many times,” Joshua said on Netflix.

“Deep in my heart I will fight Tyson Fury tomorrow, especially after watching it [this fight]. I’m not going to sit here and say, “Yes, I’ll fight him.” I’m not here to gain strength. I’m here to fight. The contracts will be sent. We will go through the smallest details and you will probably see us in the ring next, which is more than likely.”

Joshua said a fleeting struggle is possible and he will need time to consider his next steps after he was involved in a car crash in Nigeria in December that killed two of his closest friends.

“About four months ago I was involved in a grave incident,” Joshua said. “So I have to really check what’s going on with my return to the ring. But I’m here. I’m focused on the game. Real things are happening in my life. I’m not avoiding anyone.

“I know what my job is. I know why I’m here, but I have really crucial things going on in my life that I need to take care of as well.”

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Boxing

Former footballers’ boxing event, supported by Tony Bellew and David Price, raised £73,500 for charity

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Ex-footballers’ boxing event backed by Tony Bellew and David Price raises £73,500 for charity

A commendable sum of £73,500 was raised for charity as Tony Bellew and David Price gathered for a boxing night in Liverpool.

The gala took place on April 17 and former professional footballers clashed at the event, which was endorsed by sporting icons such as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

The event, billed as “A Night To Remember II”, followed Pro Project Promotions’ first charity boxing event in October with the aim of giving retired athletes the opportunity to rekindle their competitive spirit.

Similarly, Pro Project Promotions founder Graham Stack, a former Arsenal goalkeeper, hopes to raise a total of £500,000 in the organization’s debut year.

He’s already close to halfway there, having raised a total of £201,000 for charities including Children’s Charity Merseyside and Autism Merseyside.

Stack made it clear that this was just the beginning.

“I am very proud to see Pro Project Promotions grow from strength to strength. These events give retired players a purpose, structure and a way to continue to compete for something that truly matters.

“To raise £73,500 [in April] and moving our total for six months over £201,000 is fantastic. We are closing in on £500,000 raised for the charity and I want to thank everyone who has supported us so far.”

Pro Project Promotions will return to Liverpool’s Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22, with ambassadors such as Natasha Jonas and Liam Smith expected to continue to provide support.

As for April’s performance, it was ultimately Swansea City cult hero Lee Trundle who won the main event against former Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo.

Participants, artists and charities for Pro Project Promotions’ next boxing event will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Boxing

Shakur Stevenson may not be seeing the real problem

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Image: Shakur Stevenson May Be Missing The Real Problem

The response was immediate.

One fan accused Stevenson of talking about major fights without taking steps to make them happen.

“The fuck is when are you??? You ran to Zuffa to avoid Shock??? You didn’t want to smoke with Devin, if you’re waiting for the right moment it makes sense if you fight, now you’re trying so tough to keep it 0,” the critic wrote.

Shakur either really doesn’t get it yet or is trying to masterfully do public relations damage control to keep his name among the division’s elite.

If Dana White runs Zuffa Boxing by the UFC playbook, the league format completely changes the game. In this world, you don’t call on top-level players or Matchroom players because you’re locked in a closed ecosystem. The UFC does not partner with Bellator or PFL to stage superfights, and they have no intention of sending their prized fighters to fight on a rival network under a different promotional banner.

If Shakur really thinks he can just pocket a huge salary at Zuffa and still easily land Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, or Teofimo Lopez, he’s in for a rude awakening. The promotional walls are bulky, and Dana White is not known for playing well with classic boxing promoters.

At this point, Shakur still speaks like an independent performer who can dictate his own path. But if Zuffa is building a league, it has simply traded that independence for a corporate structure. He may find himself trapped in a gilded cage completely isolated from the struggles that he claims define the legacy.

If the UFC model is the plan, it guarantees financial security but risks complete isolation from the wider boxing world. By the time he finishes his tour of duty and realizes that mass promotion fights will be off the table forever, the physical attributes that made him a four-division champion may already be gone.

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Trainer Buddy McGirt Picks Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 Winner Based on One ‘Plain Fact’

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Trainer Buddy McGirt picks a winner in Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 based on one ‘simple fact’

Former two-division world champion and top trainer Buddy McGirt has suggested that one fighter, between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, will likely go into the fight with one clear advantage.

According to reports, both pound-for-pound legends will face each other in a professional rematch scheduled for September 26.

It was originally proposed to take place at the Sphere in Las Vegas on September 19 just for those dealing with the Netflix event to choose a different date and location.

However, despite the uncertainty, it appears that both fighters have agreed to collide in a fully sanctioned fight, with Mayweather graciously putting his 50-0 record on the line.

The 49-year-old hasn’t fought professionally since a 10th-round knockout of Conor McGregor in 2017, which came just over two years after he edged ‘Pac Man’ by unanimous decision.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, has competed in eight professional fights since their first meeting, most recently drawing to a 12-round draw with then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios last July.

McGirt said that because of this increased activity in recent years ESNEWS that it favors the 47-year-old Filipino, even if neither player can realistically claim to be a role model of activism.

“I am [going to] follow Pacquiao for the straightforward fact that Floyd didn’t fight – e.g [in] fight-fight – for how long?

“These exhibition fights, you can’t really count them. Then again, I’ll go with Pacquiao, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Floyd manages to do it.”

Although Pacquiao has fought more recently than Mayweather, his draw with Barrios ended a nearly four-year hiatus that followed his unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas.

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