Tyson Fury’s plans for 2021 have taken a further blow, Oscar De La Hoya wants to mix it with his former protege Canelo and Josh Taylor could be in for an incredible homecoming fight in Edinburgh. Here are five boxing stories you might have missed this week.
Fury vs Wilder III Postponed - Dillian Whyte Could Step In For Gypsy King
So far it’s been a year to forget for Tyson Fury.
First, he saw his much-anticipated heavyweight unification bout with fellow Brit Anthony Joshua collapse at the last minute due to outstanding contract obligations for a third fight with Deontay Wilder and now that scrap, set for July 24th, has been postponed after a Covid-19 outbreak in the Gypsy King’s camp.
According to Dan Rafael, Fury, who has been in the United States training for the Wilder fight, has started displaying symptoms and is feeling ill. Rafael added that Fury’s assistant trainer Andy Lee, featherweight Isaac Lowe and former WBO heavyweight champ Joseph Parker have also returned positive test results from the camp.
The fight cannot go ahead on July 24th as a result and will now likely happen in October.
It leaves Wilder without a dance partner, however, Eddie Hearn tweeted last night that Dillian Whyte would be willing to step in for Fury.
Oscar De La Hoya, 48, Targeting Showdown With Canelo
Former six-weight world champion Oscar De La Hoya says he’s lining up two exhibition bouts before turning his attention to Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez or Floyd Mayweather.
‘The Golden Boy,’ 48, has been talking up a return to the ring for some time now and speaking to Mike Tyson, a man who inspired De La Hoya’s return with his own comeback exhibition last year, he outlined his plans.
Talking to the former heavyweight champion on his Hotboxin’ podcast, De La Hoya said, “This might be my fighter juices flowing again and first of all, you inspired me, Mike...looking as good as you did against Roy [Jones Jr.] who’s a master, and just for coming back you inspired me, so I said I wanna do it too. But in the back of my head my demons are telling me ‘no, you gotta do it motherf**ker.’
“I want to do two of these fights and then guess what? I want to do a real fight, a 12-round fight, with either Floyd or Canelo.”
David Haye And Dereck Chisora Announce Split
After three years together, with David Haye acting as Dereck Chisora’s manager, the former heavyweight rivals have announced that they have amicably parted ways.
‘Del Boy’ won three of his fights under Haye’s stewardship including a standout knockout win over David Price, but the 37-year-old also suffered a stoppage defeat to Dillian Whyte and in his last two fights he lost on the scorecards to Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker.
"It's been an action-packed couple of years, getting Derek back in the mix of the heavyweight division, taking him from 'Del Boy' to 'WAR' mode,” said Haye.
When we announced our unlikely partnership we pledged to give fight fans the big nights of heavyweight clashes they have called out for and that I believe we have achieved.”
Josh Taylor Could Fight Terence Crawford In Front Of 60,000 Home Fans In 2022
Josh Taylor could welcome pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford to his home city of Edinburgh, according to promoter Bob Arum.
Taylor, the undisputed lightweight champion, has proven himself to be one of the finest boxers on the planet right now and now he wants to further cement his legacy by challenging Crawford for his welterweight titles.
"Josh is a major talent," Arum told Sky Sports. "He will be fighting Jack Catterall in November.
"Then, we hope, early next year we will be able to do a fight that will blow the lid off of everything in the UK.
"That would be Taylor challenging Crawford for the welterweight title. It would be primetime in the UK. We'd love to do it there in the spring with 60,000 people in Scotland.”
Jake Paul Wants To Expose Conor McGregor As A Fraud
Ahead of Conor McGregor’s comeback in the Octagon at UFC 264 this weekend, YouTuber Jake Paul has accused the Irishman of being a fraud, hinting at a future fight between the two.
Jake and his older brother Logan have been prevalent in the boxing world in recent times. Jake has established a 3-0 professional record with wins against fellow YouTuber Ali Eson Gib, NBA star Nate Robinson and former UFC fighter Ben Askren. The 24-year-old is also scheduled to fight another MMA fighter in Tyron Woodley next month but that hasn’t stopped ‘the Problem Child’ from setting his sights on McGregor.
"You can tell Conor has lost it,” Paul said. "He no longer speaks from a place of authenticity and you can tell he's trying to convince himself of his own lies.
"He takes offence to everything now. He's bathing in his own insecurity. When we fight I will further expose him for the fraud he is."
