Tag: Anthony Joshua

Boxing

Usyk stops Dubois in R9 to retain world HW titles – but not before surviving a controversial fifth-round body shot

Mosope

Oleksandr Usyk defended his unified world heavyweight titles and ended his three-fight streak without a KO. Yet four rounds earlier, it could’ve all come crashing down with the Ukrainian writhing on the canvas in agony after what the referee deemed a low blow – Daniel Dubois and many critics believed it was a legal body shot on the belt line – sparking him into action, dramatically changing the course of a bruising, gruelling battle over nine rounds.
Continue reading “Usyk stops Dubois in R9 to retain world HW titles – but not before surviving a controversial fifth-round body shot” →

Boxing

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois: The time for talking is over, tonight will tell all

Mosope

At the first London press conference announcing this world heavyweight title fight in mid-July, both men said they were ready to be finished with media and couldn’t wait to get into the ring come fight night. We’re now hours away, and WBA ‘Regular’ titlist Daniel Dubois is aware of the task that lies in-front of him: beat a champion who hasn’t been, during a decade-long pro career. Can he? Continue reading “Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois: The time for talking is over, tonight will tell all” →

Boxing

Fight week rewind: Joshua’s blunt UD12 win over Jermaine Franklin, on April 1

Mosope

Jermaine Franklin punches Anthony Joshua during the Heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin at The O2 Arena on April 01, 2023...

Most expect Anthony Joshua will score a stoppage victory over short-notice replacement Robert Helenius this weekend, especially with the Deontay Wilder-sized carrot that may be lingering ringside in London on Saturday night. These are the same people who assumed he’d crush Jermaine Franklin in April too, so what happened that night in his first fight under new trainer Derrick James? Continue reading “Fight week rewind: Joshua’s blunt UD12 win over Jermaine Franklin, on April 1” →

Boxing

Late-notice opponent or not, Joshua aware of stakes vs. Helenius in presser

Mosope

As the rebuild back to the top table at heavyweight continues with far from ideal circumstances, Anthony Joshua is in must-win territory this weekend against Robert Helenius. We all know that, but it can’t be like his UD12 Jermaine Franklin victory on April 1 either – it’s got to be an emphatic, confidence-boosting knockout. Isn’t always so simple though, really? Continue reading “Late-notice opponent or not, Joshua aware of stakes vs. Helenius in presser” →

Boxing

Robert Helenius steps into the breach, will face Anthony Joshua on Saturday night

Mosope

Swedish-Finnish boxer Robert Helenius gestures during a press conference in New York City on October 13 ahead of his WBC heavyweight championship...

Three days after the rematch between former two-time heavyweight Anthony Joshua and long-time rival Dillian Whyte was cancelled after Whyte returned an ‘adverse finding’ in a drug test, an announcement today confirms Robert Helenius – one of Joshua’s previous sparring partners – will step up on less than a week’s notice to box him in Saturday’s headliner from London’s O2 Arena.
Continue reading “Robert Helenius steps into the breach, will face Anthony Joshua on Saturday night” →

Boxing

Andy Ruiz, Otto Wallin open to late-notice Anthony Joshua fight as Whyte returns ‘adverse finding’ in random drugs test

Mosope

Anthony Joshua, promoter Eddie Hearn and Dillian Whyte pose during the Anthony Joshua v Dillian Whyte 2 Press Conference at Hilton London Syon Park...

The heavily-anticipated rematch between former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and long-time rival Dillian Whyte, set for next weekend, has today been cancelled after news broke the latter returned an ‘adverse finding’ in a random VADA drugs test. Andy Ruiz Jr, who stunned Joshua in the summer of 2019, and respected Swedish contender Otto Wallin are among those who’ve expressed a willingness to step up on short-notice. Continue reading “Andy Ruiz, Otto Wallin open to late-notice Anthony Joshua fight as Whyte returns ‘adverse finding’ in random drugs test” →

Boxing

Fury feels 2023 will be his biggest career year as he assesses contrasting matchups with Usyk, Joyce

Mosope

Tyson Fury interacts with Oleksandr Usyk after the WBC World Heavyweight Title fight between Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur...

During his post-fight press conference, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury answered a range of questions while vowing to give fight fans the big bouts “they really crave,” insisting a unification bout against Oleksandr Usyk can happen in the first quarter of 2023, before a domestic duel against Joe Joyce later on in the year – with Wembley a mooted destination.
Continue reading “Fury feels 2023 will be his biggest career year as he assesses contrasting matchups with Usyk, Joyce” →

Boxing

Wilder calls out Usyk, Ruiz after sending Helenius to sleep with another blistering R1 KO

Mosope

Deontay Wilder knocks out Robert Helenius in the first round during their WBC world heavyweight title eliminator bout at Barclays Center on October...

The former WBC heavyweight champion knocked former sparring partner Robert Helenius unconscious in Saturday night’s blisteringly brief main event from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn: landing clean with a short sharp counter right-hand late in the first round of his comeback bout – 53 weeks on from his frenetic trilogy bout against current titlist Tyson Fury.
Continue reading “Wilder calls out Usyk, Ruiz after sending Helenius to sleep with another blistering R1 KO” →

Boxing

Juggernaut rolls on: Joyce’s R11 KO weekend win over Parker sets up intriguing 2023 title shot

Mosope

Joe Joyce punches Joseph Parker during the Vacant WBO Interim World Heavyweight Championship fight between Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker at AO Arena on...

Joe Joyce remains unbeaten at 15-0 with 14 KOs, the latest a thunderous one after softening up a gamely Joseph Parker effort in Manchester last weekend with overwhelming pressure and body shots. Now the WBO interim champion, again calling for Oleksandr Usyk or Tyson Fury, the 37-year-old is finally starting to gain the respect his heavyweight work has long warranted. Continue reading “Juggernaut rolls on: Joyce’s R11 KO weekend win over Parker sets up intriguing 2023 title shot” →

Boxing

Here we go again: Ruiz ends 16-month layoff against Ortiz this weekend, needing continuity

Mosope

andy-ruiz (34)_1661399902

Having promised more activity yet eventually spending 16 months of his boxing prime sidelined with injuries and various other teething problems, former heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz has a stiff return challenge awaiting him this weekend against two-time title challenger Luis Ortiz. Having dealt with tricky times outside the ring, will the 32-year-old have the last laugh? Continue reading “Here we go again: Ruiz ends 16-month layoff against Ortiz this weekend, needing continuity” →

Boxing

Usyk weathers spirited Joshua display to retain world HW titles, calls for Fury unification

Mosope

Oleksandr Usyk punches Anthony Joshua during their World Heavyweight Championship fight during the Rage on the Red Sea Heavyweight Title Fight at...

Anthony Joshua produced a better overall showing and had the champion in duress on a few occasions, but Oleksandr Usyk’s dizzying movement and skilled defiance under pressure helped him to what should’ve been a unanimous decision win: eventually edging it 113-115, 115-113, 116-112 on the three judges scorecards. Afterwards, he reaffirmed a desire to face Tyson Fury.
Continue reading “Usyk weathers spirited Joshua display to retain world HW titles, calls for Fury unification” →

Boxing

Same result or three-time champ? Usyk-Joshua 2 poses questions before tonight’s title rematch

Mosope

Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua shake hands as Eddie Hearn, Boxing promoter of Matchroom boxing and Robert Garcia, head coach of Anthony Joshua...

329 days since Oleksandr Usyk seized Anthony Joshua’s three world heavyweight titles and boxed brilliantly to suck the air out of a capacity crowd in north London, the pair will finally do battle in their rematch tonight – albeit 3,825 miles away in Saudi Arabia. Joshua has fond memories from the last time he was here, but his upcoming Ukrainian foe isn’t Andy Ruiz Jr. Continue reading “Same result or three-time champ? Usyk-Joshua 2 poses questions before tonight’s title rematch” →