There’s been more good news for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury, those YouTubers are still at it and we have an update on Daniel Dubois’ future. Here are five boxing stories you might have missed this week...
Deal In Place For Usyk Vs Joyce
A deal is reportedly in place for a heavyweight showdown between Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce for the WBO ‘interim’ belt, meaning that Usyk will step aside from his mandatory bout against Anthony Joshua. Usyk is in line for a shot at Joshua’s WBO strap but if he agrees to fight Joyce in the meantime, it will pave the way for a mouth-watering ‘undisputed’ clash between AJ and Tyson Fury in the summer with all the major belts on the line.
Usyk and Joyce have met in the amateurs before, with the Ukrainian picking up the win in London as part of the World Series of Boxing in 2013.
Joshua Vs Fury Now Set For June
Things are shaping up nicely for the biggest and most lucrative fight in the history of British boxing, with confirmation from Eddie Hearn that the first draft of the contract has been sent to fellow promoter Bob Arum. Speaking to Mail Online Sport, Hearn said, “We now await their comments before we all move on to agreeing a location. We hope to have something signed within the next two weeks.”
Hearn also confirmed that the fight will go ahead in June now rather than May, and he believes the venue will either be in the Middle East or Far East. Elsewhere, Sky’s Adam Smith confirmed that Sky Sports are interested to share the UK PPV for the fight with BT Sport.
Logan Paul Vs Mayweather Postponed
Originally scheduled for 20 February, the battle between YouTuber Logan Paul and boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather has been postponed, but Paul insists it will go ahead despite rumours that the bout could be scrapped due to low interest.
Speaking on The Night Shift Gaming, Paul said, “It’s just stupid. A guy who we had come to test to be a strength and conditioning coach leaked information about the fight.
“As soon as this got out, he said that the fight was being pushed [back], I said, ‘F*** we’ve had a leak from inside our camp, no-one else was supposed to know that.’
“Then the narrative changed to, ‘Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul fight postponed due to lack of interest.’
“Lack of interest? What the f***? There’s not been a fight that’s made this much noise the whole year.”
Jake Paul Set To Fight MMA Star Askren
One YouTuber who does have a highly lucrative bout lined up is Logan’s brother, Jake, who has signed up for a boxing match with UFC star Ben Askren on 17 April. The bout will be under the Triller banner, which also hosted the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr exhibition last year.
Askren was knocked out in seconds against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 239 in 2019 and Paul believes he’ll stop the former Olympic wrestler even quicker.
“I started boxing two years ago and I’m still going to knock his ass out faster than Masvidal,” Paul told ESPN.
“These MMA guys think because they throw punches they know how to box. The world complained because I knocked out a basketball player and not a real fighter. So now I’m giving the people what they want by taking on a ‘real fighter.’ After Ben Askren is added to my knockout meme collection, what can anybody say?”
Frank Warren Hopeful Dubois Can Resume Training Soon
Heavyweight Daniel Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren has given an update on the eye injury his fighter suffered in his knockout defeat to Joe Joyce in November, and thankfully the 23-year-old appears to be making good progress.
“I had a virtual get-together with Daniel Dubois and his team last week,” said Warren.
“The hope is there is no lasting damage to his eye. He has a further specialist examination booked in for early February where we are hopeful he’ll be given the all-clear to resume training.”
