Deontay Wilder is returning to the ring, Canelo and GGG are set to go to war once again and some uni students found out that calling out a former heavyweight champion isn’t always the best idea. Here are five boxing stories you might have missed this week.
Deontay Wilder Set For Ring Return
Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has announced that he will return to the ring having been out of action since his defeat to Tyson Fury last October.
Speaking at the unveiling of a statue of himself in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Wilder said: "In the midst of this journey, I’m being blessed. It’s not like I’m retired and it’s been ten, twenty years. This is now that I’m getting my flowers.
"I can’t stop right now. I must continue with my journey. Love you guys so much. I can’t end it like this. This journey’s not over with. I must continue my journey."
No opponent or date has been announced for the Bronze Bomber’s comeback, but it is believed the American would be in pole position to challenge for Fury’s WBC strap should the Gypsy King go through with his planned retirement and vacate.
Canelo vs Golovkin III Announced For September
It was announced this week that Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin will collide for a third time on September 17th.
The highly sought after showdown comes five years after their first battle ended in a controversial draw and four since Canelo edged out GGG via majority decision in 2018. Mexican superstar Canelo is looking to bounce back from his light-heavyweight defeat to Dmitry Bivol earlier this month, while Golovkin earned a TKO win over Ryoto Murata in Japan in his last outing in April.
“The Canelo vs. GGG trilogy is the biggest fight in boxing and I am delighted to get this made for September 17,” said Eddie Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Boxing.
“These are two men that bitterly dislike each other and want to end this incredible series with a blistering KO. I truly believe this will be the most thrilling fight between these two great champions and will be fireworks from the first bell to the last man standing.”
AJ In Altercation With Uni Students
A video uploaded to social media appears to show Anthony Joshua confront a group of students at Loughborough University who taunted the two-time heavyweight champion, suggesting he was afraid of fighting Tyson Fury.
Joshua, who is training at the university ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, marched upstairs to the accommodation of these unbelievably naive hecklers and said: “Remember you’re running your mouth, because when I bring people up here and I start cracking your glass jaws, none of you will like it.
“When your jaws start breaking and people start chasing you out of this uni, none of you will like it.
“Watch your mouths because you don’t know who you’re talking to sometimes. I know, listen, all that public eye bullsh*t, I ain’t into all that.”
After seeing the footage, Fury responded on Twitter and clearly found the confrontation humorous, saying: "I have this effect on the best of them."
Gervonta Davis Leaves Mayweather Promotions
Ahead of his weekend grudge match with Rolando Romero, Gervonta Davis has confirmed his exit from Mayweather Promotions.
Davis joined Floyd Mayweather’s promotional company back in 2015 and has built up a 26-0 record alongside the 50-0 icon, but now believes he is ready to move on.
Speaking to the Last Stand Podcast, ‘Tank’ said: “It’s about just becoming that man, handling your own responsibility, your own priorities.
“So I feel as though it’s my career, so I feel as though I need to be the one to control my career. And it’s time.”
Shields vs Marshall Will Happen In September
Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO middleweight world titles will take place on either September 3rd or 10th in the UK, according to promoter Ben Shalom.
The duo share a heated history stretching back to the amateurs, with Marshall inflicting Shields’ sole defeat, in the unpaid ranks or professionally, back in 2012. The fight had been mooted for July but an injury to Marshall has seen the contest pushed back.
“That fight should happen in the first week or two of September,” Shalom told Metro earlier in the week.
“That fight is pretty much agreed now. Obviously a huge fight that we’ve been building up to for a long time and I can’t wait.
“I think this fight will be bigger than expected by the time it comes around. Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano was very big with a load of Irish and Puerto Rican fans in New York, but this is UK v USA, two big characters, lots of history and a great narrative.”
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