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Hearn hints at Joshua’s retirement

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Hearn hints at Joshua’s retirement

Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn has suggested that former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua may be nearing the end of his professional boxing career, Saturday PUNCH  reports.

Speaking to BoxNation, Hearn expressed doubt about Joshua’s long-term future in the sport, stating, “I don’t think he has four or five more years in him, but who knows?”

The promoter indicated that Joshua, who turns 35 in October, might only have “three, four, five, or six more” fights left before hanging his gloves.

Joshua is set to face Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21, in a title fight to be broadcast live on TNT Sports Box Office. The bout comes after his knockout victory over Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua wins heavyweight fight against Jermaine Franklin | UK News | Sky News

READ MORE:Andy Ruiz Jr planning to fight former rival next if he beats Jarrell Miller – but not Anthony Joshua

Hearn emphasised Joshua’s willingness to take on any opponent, saying, “AJ would fight anybody. He would be happy to fight Ruiz again. He’s not going to be around forever.”

Despite hinting at retirement, Hearn also outlined ambitious plans for Joshua’s future, including a potential undisputed title shot against the winner of the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk rematch scheduled for December 2 in Riyadh.

“Part of me would like to see AJ beat Dubois and then fight the winner, Usyk-Fury, twice. If you won those, imagine winning those and then calling it. That would be unbelievable,” Hearn added.

Hearn emphasised Joshua’s willingness to take on any opponent, saying, “AJ would fight anybody. He would be happy to fight Ruiz again. He’s not going to be around forever.”

Mixed Reactions Trail Anthony Joshua's First Knockout Win In Three Years

 

UPDATE:Delicious Orie exclusive: The ABBA-loving boxing star following in Anthony Joshua’s footsteps

Despite hinting at retirement, Hearn also outlined ambitious plans for Joshua’s future, including a potential undisputed title shot against the winner of the Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk rematch scheduled for December 2 in Riyadh.

“Part of me would like to see AJ beat Dubois and then fight the winner, Usyk-Fury, twice. If you won those, imagine winning those and then calling it. That would be unbelievable,” Hearn added.

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BOXING

Andy Ruiz Jr weighs in at heaviest weight since Anthony Joshua rematch but is still over two stone lighter than Jarrell Miller

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Andy Ruiz Jr weighs in at heaviest weight since Anthony Joshua rematch but is still over two stone lighter than Jarrell Miller

Andy Ruiz Jr has reportedly pilled on 5.4lbs since his last outing.

The former unified heavyweight champion returns to the ring on Saturday night after a two-year hiatus to face Jarrell Miller on the Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov undercard.

Heavyweight Who Was KOd By Joshua And Dubois Has No Doubt Who Hit Harder: "I Lost My Senses" - Seconds Out

Last time out, he defeated Luis Ortiz via unanimous decision in a WBC eliminator bout in September 2022 after weighing in at 268.8lbs (19.2 stone).

Ahead of his upcoming clash with Miller, Ruiz Jr has tipped the scales at 274.4lbs (19.6 stone) during a behind-closed-doors weigh-in.

That is according to respected boxing journalist Lance Pugmire, who has also reported that Miller is over two stone heavier at 305.6lbs (21.8 stone).

For Miller, it is his lightest weight since 2018 and a 27.4lbs drop from his last fight against Daniel Dubois.

Meanwhile, Ruiz Jr’s weight is his heaviest since his rematch with Anthony Joshua in December 2019.

Ruiz Jr shocked the world in June 2019 when he knocked out Joshua to become WBA ‘super’, IBF, and WBO world champion in their inaugural encounter.

For the first fight, Ruiz Jr was 268lbs (19.1 stone) but when he ran it back with AJ six months later he was a whopping 283.5lbs (20.2 stone).

The stocky puncher blamed the 15lbs weight gain on ‘partying too much’ after winning the world titles and looked extremely sluggish as he laboured to a wide unanimous decision loss.

He will have to put on a far better display against Miller at Los Angeles’ BMO Stadium if he hopes to return to the upper echelons of the heavyweight division

Elsewhere on the bill, Crawford and Madrimov made championship weight for their WBA super welterweight showdown

Crawford came in at 153.4lbs (10.9 stone) while the Uzbek weighed in at 154lbs (11 stone).

Isaac Cruz and Jose Valenzuela’s WBA super lightweight title fight will also go ahead with the champion making 140lbs (10 stone) and the challenger stepping on the scales at 139.8lbs (9.9 stone).

In the other heavyweight bout, Martin Bakole was 284.4lbs (20.3 stone) while Jared Anderson was 252.4lbs (18 stone).

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BOXING

Andy Ruiz Jr planning to fight former rival next if he beats Jarrell Miller – but not Anthony Joshua

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Congo star Martin Bakole challenges Nigerian-born boxer Anthony Joshua to an African showdown.

Ruiz Jr shocked the world in 2019 when he knocked out Anthony Joshua to become WBA ‘super’, IBF, and WBO world champion.

The 34-year-old came in as a short-notice replacement for Miller, who had failed a pre-fight drug test before his scheduled date with AJ.

Six months after Ruiz Jr’s upset win over Joshua, the fight was run back in Saudi Arabia.

This time, Joshua got the better of his adversary over the distance.

Since then, Ruiz Jr has been campaigning for a trilogy to no avail.

 

Anthony Joshua beats Andy Ruiz Jr. by unanimous decision: Round-by-round recap - Los Angeles Times

However, he has now turned his attention to a different former foe.

“For me next it’s Jarrell Miller; god willing we get that win and hopefully I’d love to run it back with Joseph Parker,” said Ruiz Jr.

Joseph Parker defeated Ruiz Jr back in 2016 in his native New Zealand via majority decision to claim the vacant WBO heavyweight title.

The fight was very close with many believing Ruiz Jr had done enough to get his hand raised.

Joshua beats Ruiz on points, reclaims heavyweight titles

“I’d love to get that rematch,” Ruiz Jr continued. “Of course, I rate Jarrell Miller. Any fighter inside that ring is dangerous.

“You can’t underestimate nobody. We’ve got to be prepared. We’ve got to be ready for whatever comes our way. We’ve just got to get that win.

“The main thing is just getting the victory, getting back in action and getting ready to fight those big boys.

“Me personally I would like to have two fights, against people that are in the top ten or top fifteen.

“I’ll fight against anyone else after this fight. I just want to fight the top guys man.

“Joseph Parker is doing amazing things right now. He beat Wilder and he beat Zhang. I’d love to fight him too.

“I had a lot of rollercoasters and a lot of up and downs over the years since my last fight against Luis Ortiz.

“I had surgery on my shoulder. I had some ‘baby mumma’ drama but guess what?

“I’m back, I’m ready to go and I’m ready to become and two-time Heavyweight Champion of the World.”

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BOXING

Delicious Orie exclusive: The ABBA-loving boxing star following in Anthony Joshua’s footsteps

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Delicious Orie exclusive: The ABBA-loving boxing star following in Anthony Joshua's footsteps

ABBA isn’t the typical choice of pre-fight music for a super heavyweight boxer, but then again, Delicious Orie is anything but ordinary.

Born in Moscow to a Russian mother, he moved to Britain aged seven where his Nigerian father had better work opportunities.

Orie only started boxing aged 18, but his natural size and ability meant that he quickly rose through the ranks. After winning the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 European super heavyweight title, the Wolverhampton-based fighter is now considered a medal favourite for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

But why does the 27-year-old opt for the upbeat disco tunes of four famous Swedes from the 70s?

Deontay Wilder's coach only wants Anthony Joshua fight amid tournament talks - Mirror Online

“My music taste is different and the reason I love ABBA is because my dad is a big fan and he was always listening to them growing up,” Orie told Olympics.com with a smile.

“So as a child, I listened to it in the background in the car or in the house on the speaker and stuff. So when I listen to that music nowadays, it just reminds me of the hardship we had growing up at that moment. Then when I’m about to box, it’s a reminder of why I’m doing it.

“That music is a little bit more sentimental than just, music that just gets you riled up and it gets me in the right frame of mind. My favourite song is, of course, Dancing Queen, because that’s what my dad used to play the most!”

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BOXING

WHY Francis Ngannou Said There Was ‘Something Wrong’ Hours Before Anthony Joshua Fight

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Francis Ngannou Said There Was 'Something Wrong' Hours Before Anthony Joshua Fight

Francis Ngannou said he told his coach Eric Nicksick that “something’s wrong” just hours before he was due to fight Anthony Joshua in a boxing-rules contest at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, in March.

The fight was Ngannou’s second foray into boxing, after rapidly rising to the very top of the UFC’s heavyweight division as a champion with proven punching power at the highest echelons of MMA. That power appeared like it transferred to the boxing ring as he floored Tyson Fury with a punch in his boxing debut, last year. But, against Joshua, Ngannou suffered a second-round knockout loss to the dominant British boxer.

On The Joe Rogan Experience, Ngannou had more to say about the defeat — specifically what he said went on in the build-up to the bout on the night of the fight.

Anthony Joshua demolishes Francis Ngannou in stunning Saudi KO - sending ex-UFC champion crashing to the canvas three times in two rounds - and now he wants Tyson Fury | Daily Mail Online

Ngannou told Joe Rogan that media obligations, an ever-changing schedule, and delays once he was already at the venue and ready to fight, seemingly exhausted him before the opening bell had even been rung.

“We get into fight week, and every time we’re going to do media, they’re going to pick me up and then I get there and have to wait an hour and a half before [any of the media] arrives. On the third day of fight week, [coach] Dewey Cooper started to get very mad, ‘This is what they do to get fighters tired’!”

There was also confusion regarding schedules, Ngannou said.

Anthony Joshua puts Francis Ngannou to sleep for minutes with brutal knockout | Marca

“Fight day, we receive an email. Pickup time: 10:30 from the hotel. And when they say 10:30, by 10:20 there’s a car at your door waiting. The supposed fight time is between midnight to 1:00. We get to the arena at 10:45. A producer comes into the locker room, says, ‘Oh, guy, we are running late on the broadcast. Now we’re gonna go around 1:45.’ I’m like okay, 1:45. It’s 10:45. Three hours.”

There was also confusion regarding schedules, Ngannou said.

“Fight day, we receive an email. Pickup time: 10:30 from the hotel. And when they say 10:30, by 10:20 there’s a car at your door waiting. The supposed fight time is between midnight to 1:00. We get to the arena at 10:45. A producer comes into the locker room, says, ‘Oh, guy, we are running late on the broadcast. Now we’re gonna go around 1:45.’ I’m like okay, 1:45. It’s 10:45. Three hours.”

“I got to the point that I was so tired, I was in the locker room hitting mitts, then sitting down, falling asleep. Then I tell [coach] Eric Nicksick there’s something wrong. I’m asleep. I feel like I wanna sleep. Like, I’m sweating. But we just keep going.”

Ngannou doesn’t blame Joshua specificially but instead appears to point the finger at event organizers.

Though it is unclear if there is a large appetite to see Ngannou fight for a third time in boxing, after Joshua beat him so resoundingly earlier this year, he said to Rogan in a separate part of the podcast that he will return to MMA — specifically PFL MMA — for a fist-fight with 6-foot-8 brute Renan Ferreira. The fight, he said, would take place in October.

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BOXING

Oleksandr Usyk Makes Final Anthony Joshua-Daniel Dubois Prediction After Beating Both

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Oleksandr Usyk Makes Final Anthony Joshua-Daniel Dubois Prediction After Beating Both

The circumstances have seen Dubois, 26, elevated to IBF World Champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt having held onto it since 2021.

Both men’s most notable opponent in common is the Ukrainian, who beat Joshua twice over the distance to retain and defend his titles and stopped Dubois the year later to keep hold of them.

 

As such, Usyk, with his elite boxing brain and experience of both men in the ring, is well-placed to pick a winner. Speaking to Boxing King Media, the recently undisputed champion backed ‘AJ.’“My favourite is Anthony Joshua. I will be predicting Anthony Joshua.”

Usyk-Dubois: Start time, live stream, TV channel, more for how to watch heavyweight bout - DraftKings Network

The bookmakers agree that Joshua is most likely to get the win at Wembley Stadium, but Dubois and his team are confident they can force a changing of the guard on the British heavyweight scene.

Both men’s most notable opponent in common is the Ukrainian, who beat Joshua twice over the distance to retain and defend his titles and stopped Dubois the year later to keep hold of them.

As such, Usyk, with his elite boxing brain and experience of both men in the ring, is well-placed to pick a winner. Speaking to Boxing King Media, the recently undisputed champion backed ‘AJ“My favourite is Anthony Joshua. I will be predicting Anthony Joshua.”

The bookmakers agree that Joshua is most likely to get the win at Wembley Stadium, but Dubois and his team are confident they can force a changing of the guard on the British heavyweight scene.

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BOXING

Tyson Fury is unliked to throw his support behind Anthony Joshua for his battle against Daniel Dubois

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Tyson Fury is unliked to throw his support behind Anthony Joshua for his battle against Daniel Dubois

Tyson Fury will be putting his backing behind Daniel Dubois for the British boxer’s bout with Anthony Joshua in September.

Dubois, previously an IBF interim titlist, was elevated to become the full champion and is looking to defend his title against Joshua at Wembley Stadium. The 26-year-old can set up a future showdown with Fury or Oleksandr Usyk if he beats Joshua.

Joshua himself has a long-standing rivalry with Fury, though the duo have never met in the ring. Fury will be in attendance at Wembley for September’s fight and unsurprisingly looks set to back Joshua’s opponent.

According to his manager Spencer Brown, Fury has a close relationship with Dubois. And while he is said to be hoping for a good fight, the 35-year-old is backing Dubois to come out on top.

Daniel Dubois vs Anthony Joshua could be the real Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn battle - Daily Star

Brown told Sky Sports: “I think he’s a good friend of Daniel Dubois and obviously he’s in that [same] promotional company. But I think Tyson just wants to see a good fight. Who will he back? Probably Daniel Dubois.”

While Fury could be in line to face the winner of the Joshua-Dubois match-up, he is instead putting his full focus into his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. Back in May, the Ukranian beat Fury in a four-belt undisputed unification bout.

The defeat saw Fury lose his WBC title, though Usyk has been forced to vacate his IBF Championship in order to take part in December’s rematch. The duo will meet in Saudi Arabia this winter, with Fury keen to have his revenge.

The Big Question The '5 Vs. 5' Show Left Us With: Joshua Vs. Dubois – Who Wins? - Latest Boxing News

“I think that we need to get this one out the way. There’s no collision course if he doesn’t win the next fight. So it’s imperative he beats Usyk. There’ll be changes,” Brown added.

“Not in management or his team, there’ll be some other stuff that he’ll be looking at training-wise. With the closeness of the fight last time, it could have gone either way. Some people will say Usyk was three rounds in front.

Some people won’t, it’s your opinion on boxing – that’s why we love it. But Tyson Fury will be back. He’ll be firing and we’ll see a new, better, improved Tyson Fury. At his age I don’t know how much you can improve.

“But there was very, very little in the fight between them, so let’s back our British guy and I’m sure he will win and then we’re going to talk about the next stage.”

September’s fight will be the 13th title fight of Joshua’s career, with the Brit having previously held having held the heavyweight title from the WBA, the IBF, the WBO and the IBO, as well as the Olympic and Commonwealth titles.

 

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WHY Former Anthony Joshua rival Jarrell Miller shows CLOWD off insane body transformation ahead of Andy Ruiz Jr fight

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Miller – who infamously blew his chance t o fight AnthonyJoshua after his 2019 doping scandal – has earned the nickname Big Baby over the years.

For his last bout against Daniel Dubois in December he weighed 23 STONE.

But in recent pictures circulating online, Miller appears to have dramatically transformed his body.

The controversial American, 36, flexed a trimmer chest and midsection just two weeks out from his bout with Ruiz.

Miller actually gave Ruiz the chance to beat AJ for the world titles after his drugs bust.

He blamed the failed tests on a tainted supplement and stem cell shots in his elbow.

Anthony Joshua discovered reason for Andy Ruiz Jr defeat two weeks after fight - Irish Mirror Online

 

He then received a contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank stable but again tested positive for a banned substance.

This time the ex-kickboxer put it down to a SEX PILL and was handed a two-year suspension.

Miller actually gave Ruiz the chance to beat AJ for the world titles after his drugs bust.

He blamed the failed tests on a tainted supplement and stem cell shots in his elbow.

He then received a contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank stable but again tested positive for a banned substance.

This time the ex-kickboxer put it down to a SEX PILL and was handed a two-year suspension.

The Mexican-American stunned Joshua, 34, in June 2019 but lost the rematch on points six years later.

He beat Chris Arreola, 43, and Luis Ortiz, 45, but has faced a spell on the sidelines as promoter Eddie Hearn predicted a tough bout with Miller.

Sand and Fog: Anthony Joshua Avenges his Loss to Andy Ruiz, Jr. - Hannibal Boxing

Hearn told Matchroom Boxing: “I actually think this is a really tough fight for Andy Ruiz. It’s going to be all actions

.“Jarrell Miller is always going to be on the front foot, always comes to fight, and Andy is a very sharp counter-puncher as well, but he’s been out of the ring for a long time. “There’s going to be huge support for him in Los Angeles, but he better have hunger in his belly for this fight because otherwise, he’ll get overrun by Jarrell Miller.”

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Tyson Fury: ‘No collision course’ with Anthony Joshua if he does not beat Oleksandr Usyk, says manager

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Tyson Fury must win his December rematch with Oleksandr Usyk if he is to remain on course to fight the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois victor, Fury’s manager Spencer Brown says; watch the Joshua vs Dubois IBF heavyweight title fight live on Sky Sports Box Office on September 21

Tyson Fury, the former two-time world heavyweight champion, is expected to attend the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois fight on September 21.

Fury lost his WBC title to Oleksandr Usyk in a four-belt undisputed unification in May. But, with Fury and Usyk set for a rematch in December, the Ukrainian had to vacate his IBF championship.

Dubois, previously an IBF interim titlist, was elevated to become the body’s full champion and now fights Joshua at Wembley Stadium, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Although Fury has a long-standing rivalry with Joshua, he might well be backing Dubois in that September 21 fight.

Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager, told Sky Sports: “I think he’s a good friend of Daniel Dubois and obviously he’s in that [same] promotional company. But I think Tyson just wants to see a good fight. Who will he back? Probably Daniel Dubois.”

 

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Anthony Joshua Names The Greatest Boxer Of All Time: “By A Mile”…

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Anthony Joshua has no doubt about who he considers to be the best boxer ever to lace up the gloves.

The British heavyweight can rightly claim that he has been one of the standouts of the current era. He quickly rose through the amateur ranks to become an Olympic Gold Medalist at London 2012 just a couple of years after picking up the sport rather late aged 18.

Anthony Joshua VS Joseph Parker

JUST IN: ‘I still think Shakur can get him’: Tim Bradley likes Shakur Stevenson’s chances against Gervonta Davis…

Once he turned professional, Joshua went on an impressive run of early knockouts, including picking up the British title with a stoppage of Dillian Whyte back in December 2015.

His first world title came with another stoppage, this time of Charles Martin, and he unified with wins over Joseph Parker, who was the first man to take him the distance, and a stoppage of long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko.

After some routine defences he hit his first stumbling block in New York’s Madison Square Garden when he was halted by underdog and late stand-in Andy Ruiz Jr, though quickly exacted revenge in the rematch.

Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte

2021 and 2022 proved difficult years with back-to-back losses to the eventual undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, though since then he has got back to winning ways with a trip of stoppages over Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius and Francis Ngannou.

SEE MORE: Oleksandr Usyk’s reign as undisputed world heavyweight champion is already over but could he lose more belts?…

Speaking to Mens Health, ‘AJ’ was asked who he considered to be the best-ever fighter and he immediately went with American Legend Muhammad Ali.

“Historically, Ali. By a mile.”

Anthony Joshua VS Francis Ngannou AND Frank Warren

After a gold medal laced amateur career, Ali beat George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and Earnie Shavers in a 61-fight campaign. The undisputed heavyweight champion formerly known as Cassius Clay left his mark not just on the sport but culture entire.

Next up for Joshua is a shot at becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion when he takes on Daniel Dubois for the IBF title at Wembley in September. That is a feat only repeated at heavyweight by Ali, who was also undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978 and is often considered one of the greatest sportsmen of the last century.

RELATED: ‘I Sparred Anthony Joshua & Tyson Fury – Two Brits Punch Harder’…

 

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