It’s fight week for Anthony Joshua as he aims to end 2020 on a high, Dana White slams the sport of boxing and Clarissa Shields has vowed to beat up a YouTuber. Here are the five boxing stories you may have missed this week.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury Spar On Social Media
Anthony Joshua may have a fight to deal with against Kubrat Pulev this weekend but despite that all the talk is still about the potential all-British heavyweight unification fight between him and Tyson Fury. The pair this week have been exchanging jibes on social media, starting with AJ, who began by saying, “I do think he [Tyson Fury] should come over to Matchroom and 258 Management and let us handle his career. He's a superstar, he's a superstar in the making with the right management. He could go all the way.”
The Gypsy King replied on Twitter, “Anthony Joshua, has it ever dawned on you I'm not interested in being a superstar, or famous, I'm a fighting man and only interested in smashing your face in, u keep the stardom, I'll stay real, #youbigdosser. I'm coming for u superstar, tick tock tick tock.”
Roll up, roll up...the embers are starting to crackle.
Claressa Shields Promises To “Whoop Jake Paul’s Ass”
The baddest woman on the planet and the GWOAT Clarissa Shields (top prefixes to have) has thrown her hat into the ring to face YouTuber and 2-0 boxer Jake Paul. The two-time Olympic champion told TMZ Sports, “I, Claressa Shields, will whoop Jake Paul's ass. He can come in the ring weighing 180lb and I will come weighing 168lb and I will beat the s**t out of him."
"And anybody out there that says, 'Oh, Jake Paul will destroy her because she's a woman'... I'm the greatest woman! So, no, Jake Paul won't do nothing with me - and if he thinks he can, he can come see me."
Paul knocked out Nate Robinson in vicious fashion last week and has since called out Conor McGregor, prompting Shields to make these remarks. But don’t expect to see this any time soon.
Pulev Declares Himself The New World Champion
The biggest fight in British history is on the cards for 2021 but there is a stumbling block in the way for AJ this weekend, and it comes in the fearsome form of Kubrat Pulev. The Bulgarian is aiming to become the first heavyweight champion from his country and upset the applecart, not just for AJ but for Fury as well.
“I think after this fight I'm going to fight with Tyson Fury. I don't believe that the Joshua vs Fury fight is going to happen because I will win on Saturday night. I think the world needs a new world champion like me. I am the new world champion."
That is the sort of confidence that comes from a man who has only lost once, to Wladimir Klitschko across 29 professional fights. But is he really the man to stop AJ? Watch this space.
What next for Billy Joe Saunders?
Billy Joe Saunders, fresh from a points victory over Martin Murray, is already targeting big fights for 2021, Already next year looks like it will be a stacked year of boxing, given the delays to the schedule over the past nine months. BJS, now 30-0, has several options at his disposal but one of the most likely seems to be a potential fight vs Demetrius Andrade.
Eddie Hearn said, "I spoke to Demetrius Andrade last night, I think this fight is gonna happen, I really do." But many fans would love to see a super-fight between Gennady Golvkin and BJS or potentially Canelo Alvarez, who faces Callum Smith later this month. One thing is for sure, with all these storylines on the table, 2021 is going to be huge for boxing. And we can’t wait.
Dana White Lands Another Dig At Boxing
Earlier in the week we reported some massive news as Floyd Mayweather announced an exhibition fight between him and Logan Paul, Jake’s older brother. Now, the internet has been awash with reaction to this news, but UFC president Dana White took the opportunity to stick the knife into the sport of boxing (he rarely misses the opportunity, to be fair).
"When people ask me, 'what's the state of boxing right now?' That's where it's at."
Logan Paul of course lost his first professional boxing fight to a fellow YouTuber, KSI, something White was again keen to reference. "Didn't that kid get beat up by the video game kid from England and now he's going to fight Floyd Mayweather?" You've got to admit, he’s got a point.