Tyson Fury has threatened to hang up his gloves for the sixth and final time if Anthony Joshua refuses to fight him in the ring. Fury returned on Saturday evening after his last stint on the bench, easily beating the mighty Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov. Joshua was present at ringside at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but refused to comply with Fury’s demands, leaving his rival visibly frustrated.
There were reports that the fight had already been agreed, but post-fight scenes gave mixed impressions as to whether the Battle of Britain would eventually occur. “If it’s not Anthony Joshua next time, I’m not interested in boxing,” Fury insisted. “I’ll eat a thousand Easter eggs, get in 35 stone and get out, I’m not interested. It’s either him or I’m gone again. Right now I’m only interested in AJ. It’s a decisive fight for British boxing; it either happens or it doesn’t.”
Fury and Joshua have been competing against each other for ten years without ever fighting each other. Joshua will extend that wait by taking part in a warm-up competition this summer as he continues his recovery from a near-fatal car accident last December. Fury was surprised by the reluctance of his colleague, the former world champion.
“He was brought to the ring for a reason, to enter the ring, confront and end the fight,” he added. “He was very evasive and didn’t give any definitive answers. I know one thing: he didn’t say yes.”
“In my opinion, he didn’t want any smoke. He didn’t look like he wanted it, he was just in shock and didn’t know what to say. He came to the ring to fight. If it were me, I would have jumped in that ring and faced him.
“Ten years of preparation and yet, after so long, there is still no certainty whether this fight will be next. I don’t want to set any deadlines. Either he wants to do it or he doesn’t. It’s now or never.”
Ed Pereira described how through IVisitBoxing he hopes to aid change the sport for the future.
Pereira is promoting IVisitBoxing’s next appearance on July 11 in San Francisco.
The promoter spoke to proboxing-fans.com about his journey to the boxing world after great success with his other ventures, including IVisit Media.
Pereira truly introduced himself to the boxing world last May when he, along with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season, promoted an event in the middle of Times Square.
The event featured some of the sport’s biggest names, including Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Rolando Romero, with a world title fight topping the bill.
Garcia was beaten by Romero in May in Times Square. Photo: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom Boxing
Pereira reflected on the event and spoke honestly about how it all happened.
“Times Square was an incredible experience because of how tough it was to create.
“People were disconnected from the experience, and that’s what I felt: I want people to be engaged.”
Haney worked alongside Ramirez. Photo: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy/Getty Images
He also revealed what message he carries in his company and what is most essential to him when promoting events throughout the United States.
“Make something and then show it to as many people as possible. And I’m still doing it, 30 years later.”
He talked about how he believes boxing impacts the lives of individuals, from the fighters themselves to the audience, and why accessibility in sport is so essential.
Ed Pereira talked about the future he sees for boxing. photo: Boxing News/YouTube
“Boxing doesn’t just change people’s lives – it changes the way the world sees people.
“That’s the power of boxing.”
IVB and Pereira’s next appearance will be on July 11, with the main event being Anthony Olascuaga’s fight against Andy Dominguez Velasquez.
The fight card will be on display at the Civic Center and a wide range of tickets will be available, including a free section allowing anyone to watch the fights. Pereira hopes to break the boxing attendance record of 135, 132 set in 1941 by Tony Zale vs. Billy Pryor.
“For me, San Francisco is the story of every single person on that card.
“Boxing is not broken.
“We need to make boxing more open to everyone.
“It’s about affordability. It’s about accessibility.
“That’s why we stick with YouTube. That’s why we stick with TikTok.”
The post “Boxing Isn’t Broken” – Ed Pereira Reveals Vision for the Future of the Sport appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Fury, who retired to beat Arslanbek Makhmudov on points in April, is also keen to fight again before facing his long-time rival, with an August 1 date being discussed.
Joshua’s promoter Hearn questions the Morecambe fighter’s decision to fight another fight in the meantime, believing it could signal a lack of faith.
Fury will most likely fight on August 1. Photo: Mark Robinson
“He’s going to do what he’s going to do,” the 46-year-old said Sky Sports Boxing.
“And if he feels like he needs a good fight, I like that because it tells me he’s not completely confident.
“He shot 12 good rounds with Makhmudov to the point where you really need more rounds?
“He told us, ‘You don’t need another fight.’
“In two years of boxing, we had four rounds with Jake Paul.
“You had 12 rounds with Makhmudov at Tottenham but you still feel you need more rounds to prepare for Anthony Joshua.
“More rounds won’t assist you, because I can see it.
“When Makhmudov came into that fight, I knew what AJ was going to do.”
Joshua and Prenga face-to-face ahead of July clash Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
“AJ” came face to face with Prenga at their stadium first press conference on Monday in London.
The 36-year-old will fight for the first time since he knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round in December in Miami.
Joshua and Fury have signed a contract to fight. Photo: Mark Robinson
10 days after Paul was arrested, the Watford man suffered minor injuries in a fatal car crash that killed two of his close friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, while on holiday in Nigeria.
Joshua has already returned to the training camp in Valencia along with former rival Oleksandr Usyk.
The post ‘I’m not confident’ – Eddie Hearn QUESTIONS Tyson Fury warm-up fight appeared first on ProBoxing-Fans.com.
Chris Billam-Smith is the bookmaker’s favorite to defeat Ryan Rozicki in Saturday’s cruiserweight clash in Bournemouth.
Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KO) fight with Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KO) at Bournemouth International Center live Heavenly sports in the UK and Paramount+ in the US.
The former WBO cruiserweight world champion will enter the fight as a 3/10 favorite Bet365.
The 35-year-old bounced back from a loss to Zurdo Ramirez in their unification clash by defeating Brandon Glanton in April last year. “The Gentleman” is expected to win by the same method on October 11.
The Bournemouth player has not recorded a victory over the distance since he forced Mateusz Masternak to retire in 2023, and a break victory is valued at 11/4.
Chris Billam-Smith will face Ryan Rozicki at Zuffa Boxing’s inaugural UK gala on June 6 in Bournemouth Photo: Zuffa Boxing
Rozicki, the number one contender in the WBC, is a 12/5 underdog Bet365 beat Billam-Smith in his hometown.
The Canadian has recorded 20 stoppages in his 21 victories, and his best route to victory is the distance of 5/1.
In 2022, “The Bruiser” scored points only once in his career, and another success over the distance is estimated at 13/2.
Billam-Smith is fighting for the first time since defeating Glanton last April. Photo: Lawrence Lustig/BOXXER
Full Bet365 odds
The result of the fight
Chris Billam-Smith will win the fight: 3/10
Chris Billam-Smith by KO/TKO/DQ: 11/4
Chris Billam-Smith by decision or technical decision: 11/10
Ryan Rozicki will win the fight: 12/5
Ryan Rozicki by KO/TKO/DQ: 5/1
Ryan Rozicki by decision or technical decision: 13/2
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