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Tyson Fury insisted he was motivated by money not legacy with a lucrative showdown against Anthony Joshua still firmly on his radar.

Fury is aiming to seize the WBA, WBC and WBO world heavyweight titles held by Oleksandr Usyk when they meet for the second time at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday.

Whatever the outcome, the ‘Gypsy King’ believes there will always be appetite for a domestic clash with Joshua even though his rival’s star has waned after his crushing fifth-round knockout by Daniel Dubois in September.

Fury was ringside at Wembley to watch Joshua’s dramatic defeat and was caught on camera saying “that’s cost me £150million, the silly c***” – a comment he insists he meant.

“Of course I did. We would have had a two-fight deal lined up for a s*** ton of money. Unfortunately doors open, doors close,” Fury said. “Does it really matter if he has another loss or not? It doesn’t matter. It’s still a big fight.

“Even if he goes in against Dubois and he gets knocked out again – which he would – that doesn’t mean it’s a s*** fight now. It’s still a great fight. It’s a great fight that we all want to see.”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Usyk was crowned undisputed champion with a split decision victory in May before relinquishing the IBF belt, which was awarded to sanctioning body’s number one challenger Dubois.

Fury earned close to £100m for their first fight but, as challenger, will take the lower percentage for the rematch, which is reported to be worth a combined £150m.

The 36-year-old insisted that the financial rewards were the only reason he continued to box.

“Legacy is my kids. I care about my family, my kids, providing for them, looking after them. That’s it,” he said. “I’m only doing it for the money. All prize fighters, if they tell the truth, do it for the money. Who here is not doing it for the money?

“I don’t want to work for f*** all. I want as much as I can get. I want the easiest fights possible for the largest amounts of money possible. I don’t want the toughest fights possible for the least amount of money. I wasn’t born in a Christmas cracker.”

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul were hit with claims that their eight two-minute round fight in Texas last month had been ‘scripted’ or ‘rigged.’

Tyson returned to the ring at 58-years-old to face Paul, 27, in what was an incredibly successful event

Unfortunately, the controversial main event did not match the hype, with ‘Iron’ Mike looking his age and unable to put inexperienced Paul in any jeopardy. The younger man cruised to a unanimous decision victory.

During a recent appearance on FOX Sports Radio, Tyson was asked directly about those fans of the sport who now claim he was paid to pull his punches. His initial response did not give much away.

“I don’t remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out a little … No I have not watched the fight … Know what I remember? Coming back from the first round and then the next thing I remember Jake was doing some kind of, I don’t know, a bow. And that’s the last thing I remember. I thought he was gonna hit me, I thought what the hell is he doing?”

However, the former undisputed heavyweight champion was then asked if he wanted to clear up any rumours about the fight. He said that there was no arrangement.

“It was a real fight.”

Paul’s promotional company MVP has already come out swinging when faced with the claims, some of which have come from big names in the sport like Oscar De La Hoya and Carl Froch.

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul

Most Valuable Promotions said in a statement that any such discussion was ‘an insult’ to the fighters and the sport.

“Rigging a professional boxing match is a federal crime in the United States of America. Paul vs. Tyson was a professional match sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR). Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight. There were absolutely no restrictions – contractual or otherwise around either fighter. Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR boxing rules.

Trash talk and speculation are common in sports, and athletes and promoters need to tolerate nonsensical commentary, jokes and opinions. But suggesting anything other than full effort from these fighters is not only naïve but an insult to the work they put into their craft and to the sport itself.”

As Paul forges head in his boxing campaign, Tyson has now retired for good. He said that he felt ‘kind of depressed’ after the highs of the record-breaking event.

Tyson Fury will change his approach for his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk following criticism from Mike Tyson, who felt the British star wasn’t serious enough in the first bout

Mike Tyson has got his wish after Tyson Fury promised to change his approach for his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk

The Gypsy King will have the chance to claim three of the four heavyweight belts when he faces the Ukrainian champion in Riyadh on Saturday, December 21. Fury suffered the first defeat of his pro career in May as Usyk edged a narrow points decision.

Despite magnitude of the fight, which was for all four heavyweight belts, the early rounds saw Fury showboat. The tactics didn’t pay off as Usyk took charge from the middle rounds, almost knocking his foe out in the ninth.

Fury’s approach didn’t go down well with former heavyweight king Mike Tyson. Recently asked for his thoughts on the rematch, Iron Mike returned to the first fight, telling Fox Sports Radio: “Tyson Fury could have won that fight if he wasn’t playing around early in the fight.”

Asked whether he thought Fury would win the rematch, Mike reiterated: “I want him to be serious enough.”

Therefore, the 58-year-old will be pleased after Fury vowed not to “clown around” this time. Via the Associated Press, Fury said: “I’ll just throw more this time. Keep hitting him in the face more often than I did last time.

Mike Tyson

“I’m just going to box smart, box clever and if I catch him, get him out of there. Pretty similar to what I did last time. A little bit less clowning around and a bit more focus and that’s it, really.

“I did more clowning than anybody in any high-level fight’s ever done. It’s taken my focus away as well, so maybe a little less clowning and more focus on the actual victory. I was messing around too much in there.”

In terms of his pre-fight preparation, nothing has changed for Fury, who was content with his training camp before the first fight. He said: “He got the decision, fantastic. Am I going to change everything in my camp because I lost a split decision? Hell no.”

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has included former two-time champion Anthony Joshua in his list of top five boxers in the world despite defeating the British-Nigerian twice, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Ukrainian, who is preparing for his heavyweight title rematch against Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21, made the surprise inclusion during an interview with DAZN.
Usyk, who handed Fury his first professional defeat in May, named pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez as his top two choices before adding Joshua to the list.
The inclusion comes as a surprise following Joshua’s recent knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September, his fourth professional loss.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed that the 34-year-old is still “hurting” from the devastating loss to Dubois, who dropped him four times before securing a fifth-round stoppage.
“Yeah, he is hurting. He took a pasting at times in that fight and I think he has got his back up and he wants to come back stronger,” Hearn told talkSPORT.
Despite their rivalry, Usyk also included Fury in his top five, alongside undefeated Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue, who continues to dominate the bantamweight division.
Fury has promised a different approach in the rematch, vowing to knock out the Ukrainian. “Last time, I went to box him, I was being cautious. This time I’m not going for a points decision. I’m going to knock that motherf****r out,” the Brit declared.
The winner of the December 21 clash could potentially face Joshua in 2024, with Hearn confirming his fighter has no plans to retire despite calls from several boxing personalities.

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has made a surprising statement, naming former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua among his top five boxers in the world. This declaration comes despite Usyk’s dominant victories over Joshua in their two previous encounters.

As Usyk prepares for his highly anticipated rematch against Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 21st, he revealed his top five list during an interview with DAZN. The Ukrainian sensation placed pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez at the top of his list. Following closely behind, he named Anthony Joshua, a fighter he has clearly outclassed in the ring.

Joshua’s recent career trajectory has been marked by setbacks, most notably his devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September. This defeat, which saw Joshua dropped multiple times before the fight was halted, has significantly impacted his reputation. Despite this, Usyk’s inclusion of Joshua in his top five highlights the Ukrainian’s respect for his opponent’s skill and past achievements.

Usyk’s top five list is rounded out by Tyson Fury and undefeated Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue. Fury, who is aiming to avenge his loss to Usyk, has promised a more aggressive approach in the rematch, vowing to knock out the Ukrainian. Inoue, on the other hand, continues to dominate the bantamweight division with his exceptional boxing skills and devastating power.

The winner of the Usyk-Fury rematch could potentially face Joshua in 2024, as the British fighter has no plans to retire despite calls from various boxing figures. This potential matchup would undoubtedly be a highly anticipated clash between two of the biggest names in heavyweight boxing.

Professional boxer and Michigan native Claressa Shields is in the news this week ahead of her biopic film premiere.

However, the headlines aren’t over the film or the two-time gold medalist’s boxing career. Instead, the talk behind the screen is about her beef with rapper Remy Ma.

Here’s what to know.

Who is Claressa Shields?

Claressa Shields is a professional boxer and mixed martial artist. She won gold medals in the women’s middleweight division at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. She also has won super middleweight, junior middleweight and middleweight professional boxing crowns.

Where is Claressa Shields from?

Shields is a Michigan native, born and raised in Flint.

Who is Claressa Shields in a feud with?

Shields was trending online Thursday after rapper Remy Ma took to social media to lash out at her husband Papoose over an affair with Shields. The beef led to Remy Ma and Papoose exchanging cheating accusations and Shields posting her own takes on the drama.

“Remy Ma vs. Claressa Shields drama heats up!,” Twitter celebrity watching account, chasethatclout, reported. “Remy accuses Papoose of cheating with the boxer, sharing alleged texts. Shields claps back, denies the affair, and even jokes about a boxing match. Both have since deleted posts, but the internet is buzzing.”

What is the Claressa Shields movie?

“The Fire Inside,” is a film about Claressa Shields’ journey from training as a boxer in Flint to becoming an Olympic gold medalist. The movie is written and produced by Barry Jenkins and directed by Rachel Morrison.

When will the Claressa Shields movie be released?

“The Fire Inside” will be released Dec. 25.

Who stars as Claressa Shields in the movie?

Ryan Destiny stars as Claressa Shields in “The Fire Inside.” The Detroit native won awards at the Denver International Film Festival and Celebration of Cinema and Television for the upcoming role.

Who is Remy Ma?

Reminisce Kioni Mackie, known as Remy Ma, is a rapper who rose to prominence for her work as a member of Fat Joe’s group, Terror Squad. Her debut solo album, There’s Something About Remy: Based on a True Story (2006), peaked at number 33 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Ma’s most commercially successful songs include “Whuteva”, “Lean Back” (with Terror Squad, “Conceited”, and “All the Way Up.” She won the BET Award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist in 2005 and 2017.

(DEC 13) On February 2, 2025, at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Michigan, Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, boasting an impressive record of 15-0-0 (3KO), is set to face off against Danielle Perkins, who comes in at 5-0-0 (2KO) from Houston, Texas. This match is particularly significant as it will be for the WBC Heavyweight world title.

Shields last fought in July of 2024, at the Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan, when she moved up to the heavyweight division and fought Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for multiple world titles, winning the bout by a second round TKO in scheduled 10-round bout.

Perkins, also last fought in July of 2024, on the same card in against Christianne Fahey in a six-rounder winning by a unanimous decision.

While the matchup is highly anticipated, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges facing women’s boxing, specifically in the heavyweight division. The talent pool in this category is notably sparse, with historically a handful at best of boxers deemed of championship caliber.

The hotly-anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is just around the corner, with the Gypsy King looking to avenge a heartbreaking loss to his rival earlier this year.

Usyk defeated Fury in Riyadh to hand him his first-ever professional defeat, and became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 in the process. The WBC, WBA, and WBO belts will all be on the line this time round, with Usyk relinquishing the IBF title shortly after beating Fury. That title is now held by Daniel Dubois, who was upgraded from interim champion and will defend that title in February against Joseph Parker.

The rematch is set for the 21st of December, and Lewis, along with other top names in the boxing scene, have been giving their predictions about who will come out on top this time.

Oleksandr Usyk & Tyson Fury’s pro boxing records (as of 13/12/24)
Oleksandr Usyk Tyson Fury
Fights 22 36
Wins 22 34
Losses 0 1
Draws 0 1

Lennox Lewis & Anthony Joshua Both Back Oleksandr Usyk

Lewis, with 41 wins from 44 fights, and despite initially throwing his support behind Fury, is now under the impression that Usyk is on the top of his game and will be hard to stop.

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

Lewis told Droeks On Boxing: “Well, I cannot go against Usyk. He has proven himself time and time again, and he is still undefeated. It really comes down to who boxes the best. Who’s smart in the ring? I didn’t think Tyson Fury was smart in the first fight. I think he played around a little bit too much, and allowed Usyk to really pile up the points. Usyk is a difficult opponent. He moves all the time, he’s always throwing punches, he’s in great shape, and that’s hard to beat.”

Anthony Joshua

Anthony Joshua, who was ringside for the first fight in May, can tell you first hand what it is like to be in the ring with Usyk, having lost to him twice. He also believes the Ukrainian will come out on top once again. He told Queensberry Promotions: “I think it’s going to be a tough fight early on, and then I feel like Usyk will edge it again. He’s a class operator, so I think Usyk’s one of the best out there. That’s why I think he will win.”

Other Fighters Have Their Say

Derek Chisora, Carl Frampton, and Amir Khan have all cast their picks

Another British fighter who isn’t backing Fury to win is Derek Chisora. He has been in the ring with both men, losing on a total of four occasions (including a trilogy with Fury). He said: “[Usyk] is still the same, bro. It’s gonna be a good fight, we’re gonna see a little bit of difference, but you have to understand: Tyson will come a little bit different, but Usyk will come a little bit different [as well]. But as the scales hit right now, my money’s still edging on Usyk.”

Someone who is backing Fury, however, is another former world champion, Carl Frampton, as he said: “I fancy Fury. My mind hasn’t really swayed from start to finish, which is strange in a fight of this magnitude; I’ve been saying Fury from the start. I think Fury is in the zone now, he’s serious, he’s ready to fight. Both guys seem to be very, very confident. Both, I think, know it’s going to be a difficult fight.”

Amir Khan similarly backed Fury to right his wrong from May, with the former world champion saying: “I just lean more towards Tyson in this fight. As we get closer to the fight, I feel like Tyson might be a little too thin. We know Fury can fight on his back foot, but we just don’t know what to expect […] Let’s see, I’m gonna stick with Fury to win the fight, but there could be a few scares.”

So the boxing world is split over who they believe will win. One thing is for sure, it will be sure to be a massive clash between two of boxing’s best.

Mike Tyson has responded to claims that his heavyweight showdown with Jake Paul was ‘rigged’, with the 58 year old dismissing the rumors and insisting it was a legitimate fight. The former heavyweight world champion made a comeback last month to face off against the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

Despite the match being lackluster, ‘The Problem Child’ managed to secure a decisive unanimous decision victory in Texas, pushing his professional record to 11-1. Tyson, who was trying to recapture his past glory on fight night, only landed 18 punches over the course of eight rounds.

After the fight, some fans were quick to label the bout as ‘fixed’ after footage surfaced showing the 58 year old seemingly pulling away from a punch. However, Tyson has since set the record straight.

In an interview with Fox Sports Radio, the boxing legend stated “it was a real fight.” He was also questioned about why he wasn’t throwing punches throughout the fight. His response was quite surprising, confessing he doesn’t recall much of the fight.

“I don’t remember the fight that much, I kind of blanked out. I haven’t watched the fight back,” he admitted. “You know what I remember… coming back from the first round and Jake was doing some sort of bow… that’s the last thing I remember.”

He added: “I wasn’t tired, I wasn’t sweaty. I went to the house we were staying in, I left the house with my wife and kids, went to the after-party then went back.”

In the same interview, when asked if the fight added to his legacy, the American star astonishingly said: “I never thought about that! The day after the fight, I woke up and told my wife ‘why did I do that?’ I just don’t know what the hell went on.”

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul

The 58 year old then shared how his family reacted to his shocking confession, stating they were very ‘supportive’ after the contentious bout. Tyson also disclosed a near-death experience before the match, saying he almost died from an ulcer flare-up during a flight.

He reflected on the event, noting, “This is one of those situations when you lost but still won,” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity, adding, “I’m grateful for [Friday] night and have no regrets about getting in the ring one last time.”

Tyson revealed his harrowing health ordeal, “I almost died in June; I had eight blood transfusions. I lost half my blood and 25lbs in hospital and had to fight to get healthy to fight so I won. To have my children see me stand toe to toe and finish eight rounds with a talented fighter half my age in front of a packed Dallas Cowboy stadium is an experience that no man has the right to ask for.”

Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has backed Anthony Joshua to return to the ring for a rematch with Daniel Dubois, even as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk prepare for their highly anticipated December 21 heavyweight unification bout in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to Spaceport Sweden, Bellew expressed confidence in Joshua’s ability to bounce back from his shocking September defeat to Dubois at Wembley Stadium, where he lost by knockout.

“I wouldn’t doubt that he’ll be back for a single second. As long as he’s still hungry and has the desire, he’ll be back,” Bellew said.

The former champion believes Joshua, who has earned over $200m in his career, including $75m from fights in 2024 alone, will take his time before making any decisions about his future.

“It’s a smart move to sit and wait. Just let it all unfold in front of you and then all he has to do is decide in January. Enjoy Christmas, and enjoy your New Year. Enjoy your time,” Bellew added.

Joshua, who started 2024 with a victory over Francis Ngannou before losing to Dubois, still has one fight remaining on his lucrative Riyadh Season contract.

Meanwhile, IBF heavyweight champion Dubois has confirmed his interest in a rematch with Joshua, despite being scheduled to defend his title against Joseph Parker in February.

“As a fighter, I would love to get in the ring and put the final touches on our rivalry,” Dubois told the Mirror recently.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated that the British-Nigerian won’t return to action until at least May 2024, with multiple options available, including a potential clash with the winner of the WBC interim title fight between Zhilei Zhang and Agit Kabayel.

However, Bellew suggests Joshua’s immediate focus should be on the Dubois rematch rather than the upcoming Fury-Usyk clash.

“I think the last thing on Anthony Joshua’s mind right now is one of those two. I think his goal and his focus will be on Daniel Dubois,” Bellew said.