Anthony Joshua vs Pulev LIVE REACTION: AJ wins after BRUTAL KO, Fury fight wanted next – latest updates

GOOD MORNING BOXING FANS

Tyson Fury hailed Anthony Joshua as “red hot” after the pair sparred back in 2010.

Speaking to BBC Radio London, Fury said: “I came up yesterday from Manchester and I went down to Finchley Boxing Club. I sparred with the ABA Champion, Anthony Joshua.

“He’s red hot him. He’s very good.

“He’s very good. To be honest with you, I thought I’m only going to take it easy because he’s only an amateur and he probably won’t spar again if I go mad.”

Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he likes to watch combat sports over football in his free time.

Speaking to two-time middleweight world boxing champion Gennady Golovkin in the documentary “Parallel Worlds” for DAZN, Ronaldo said: “Playing football is my passion, but I prefer watching other sports on TV.

“Between watching a football match or a boxing or UFC fight, I choose boxing or UFC.”

The fight between Joshua and Fury could take place in May 2021, according to Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hearn said: “I had a good chat with [Bob Arum] him last night. It’s positive.

“I think we’re all in the same position. We want to move forward with the fight, quickly as well, which is good news for fans.

“Just trying to solve any remaining issues of the fight, of which there aren’t many, to be honest with you, and try and move forward collectively to let the governing bodies know that we plan to stage this fight probably in May, and we would like this to be for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.

“A few small issues to iron out, but I think we can start looking at drawing up contracts and try to get this moving.

“Here on both sides, every member of each team wants to do this fight. We all acknowledge this is the biggest fight in boxing, this is the best fight for both guys.

“This is for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Why are you in the sport, if you don’t want this fight?”

TALE OF THE TAPE

IN AWE

Everyone is waiting for Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to finally get inside the ring and go to war.

But it appears the pair have faced off before with never-seen before sparring footage dating back to 2010.

After sparring, Fury revealed how the session went to BBC Radio London.

Fury said: "I came up yesterday from Manchester and I went down to Finchley Boxing Club. I sparred with the ABA Champion, Anthony Joshua.

“He’s red hot him. He’s very good.

"He’s very good. To be honest with you, I thought I’m only going to take it easy because he’s only an amateur and he probably won’t spar again if I go mad.

“He’s rushed out at me… BASH, he gave me a big upper cut right in the point of the chin. If I had a bit of a weak chin like David Price, I’d have been knocked out for a month.

“He’s very, very, very good. He’s only young, watch out for that name! Anthony Joshua. He is one prospect for the future.”

RON TOP

Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has said he prefers watching combat sports over football in his spare-time.

Speaking to two-time middleweight world boxing champion Gennady Golovkin in the documentary "Parallel Worlds" for DAZN, Ronaldo said: "Playing football is my passion, but I prefer watching other sports on TV.

"Between watching a football match or a boxing or UFC fight, I choose boxing or UFC."

Ronaldo expressed his passion for boxing and explained where it all started: "When I was at Manchester United, a coach boxed with me.

"I think practicing boxing is useful for football because it sharpens your senses and you learn to move.";

CHAMP RETURNS

Anthony Joshua returned to see his old coach just hours after destroying Kubrat Pulev.

The world champion produced an explosive performance to destroy the challenger on Saturday night.

And just hours after his show stopping performance in the ring, AJ headed to Finchley ABC to see old coach Sean Murphy.

Writing on Instagram, Murphy said: "Look who came down the gym tonight."

AJ replied: He is the king 👑."

TEE OFF 

Tyson Fury unleashed his latest barb at Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn - with a T-shirt dubbing the pair 'big dossers'.

The favourite jibe of the Gypsy King has featured regularly since AJ's heavyweight title triumph over Kubrat Pulev.

Fans eagerly await the pair going head-to-head next year, with both fighters talking up the clash this week.

On Tuesday, Fury, 32, worked out in the gym and showed off his latest piece of kit on Instagram.

He posed in a grey T-shirt featuring Hearn and Joshua's faces, underneath the phrase 'you big dossers'.

A smiling Fury made up the O in 'You' and he gave a big thumbs-up for the snap.

WILD CARD 

Anthony Joshua will fight Oleksandr Usyk if Tyson Fury has to fight Deontay Wilder first.

Promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports: "[Bob Arum] tells us Fury is contractually free to take any fight he wants.

"I do believe Wilder is appealing in US courts, but we don't expect that to be a problem.

"If Fury can't fight Joshua, AJ will fight Usyk."

BATTLE OF BRITAIN 

Anthony Joshua  is set to fight Tyson Fury in May 2021 following positive talks between promoters Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum.

Hearn told : "I had a good chat with [Bob Arum] him last night. It's positive.

"I think we're all in the same position. We want to move forward with the fight, quickly as well, which is good news for fans.

"Just trying to solve any remaining issues of the fight, of which there aren't many, to be honest with you, and try and move forward collectively to let the governing bodies know that we plan to stage this fight probably in May, and we would like this to be for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.

"A few small issues to iron out, but I think we can start look at drawing up contracts and try to get this moving.

"Here on both sides, every member of each team wants to do this fight. We all acknowledge this is the biggest fight in boxing, this is the best fight for both guys.

"This is for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Why are you in the sport, if you don't want this fight?"

ICYMI - WILD AT HEART

Eddie Hearn has admitted that Deontay Wilder could still stand in the way of a unification bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

He said: “The only hitch I can think of is Wilder. If the court orders the Fury rematch, and it doesn’t sound as though they will, then it is out of our hands.

“That is the only way it falls through is if something stops their side, that isn’t me saying they don’t want it, they do, but if the court orders it then we will have to fight Usyk.”

ICYMI - FURY-OUS

Tyson Fury took his battle to be removed from Sports Personality of the Year contention to the next level yesterday, as he revealed that he had gotten his legal representatives involved.

He told Good Morning Britain: “I’ve asked nicely to be taken off the list and they’ve decided they weren’t going to take me off the list.

“So I’ve had my lawyer send them a letter demanding that I be taken off the list so let’s hope they listen and get me off that list.”

MORE HEARN

"A few small issues to iron out, but I think we can start look at drawing up contracts and try to get this moving.

"Here on both sides, every member of each team wants to do this fight. We all acknowledge this is the biggest fight in boxing, this is the best fight for both guys.

"This is for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Why are you in the sport, if you don't want this fight?"

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Anthony Joshua is set to fight Tyson Fury in May 2021 following positive talks between promoters Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum.

AJ defended his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles with a ninth-round KO against Kubrat Pulev to set up an undisputed bout vs WBC champ Fury.

Joshua's promoter Hearn is now attempting to finalise a two-fight deal with the Gypsy King's US rep Arum - with the rematch to take place in late 2021.

He told Sky Sports: "I had a good chat with [Bob Arum] him last night. It's positive.

"I think we're all in the same position. We want to move forward with the fight, quickly as well, which is good news for fans.

"Just trying to solve any remaining issues of the fight, of which there aren't many, to be honest with you, and try and move forward collectively to let the governing bodies know that we plan to stage this fight probably in May, and we would like this to be for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world."

PLAYING THE GAME

Anthony Joshua has rubbed his win over Kubrat Pulev in on social media.

The Brit wrote: "Came game. Just gamer."

TAILORED SUIT

Tyson Fury has reiterated his belief that Anthony Joshua is 'tailor-made' for him as an opponent.

He told Good Morning Britain: "I'm not just saying it because he's going to be a rival of mine, he's going to be one of my opponents.

"I've always said for a long time that I do believe that Anthony Joshua is tailor-made for someone like my style.

"I think it's going to be one of the most explosive, quickest fights you are going to see. I'm aiming to take him out inside four rounds."

'WHAT WE WANT'

Anthony Joshua has lashed out at Tyson Fury after his rival's comments on Saturday night, saying: "It's good I can get him in the ring."

AJ, 31, put in an impressive display to KO Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round of their Wembley Arena showdown at the weekend.

But despite AJ's impressive showing on Saturday, Fury suggested he 's*** himself'.

Joshua told BBC 5 Live Sport: "That's good to hear.

"At least I can get him in the ring… that's all we want, right?

"So, he's on the right track."

MANNY KEEN

Manny Pacquiao has declared his intention to fight TWICE next year at the age of 42.

The WBA welterweight champion celebrates the milestone birthday on Thursday.

Pacquiao is yet to fight since beating Keith Thurman in Las Vegas 18 months ago.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen him focus his intentions solely as a Senator in his homeland of the Philippines.

But Pacquiao, who boasts a 62-7 record, is planning to have two fights next year as he eyes a return to training after upcoming political sessions in March.

He told the Daily Tribute: “We still have sessions in March so there’s no way I am going to fight during that time. I think I can do two fights next year.”

ANT NOBODY BETTER

Anthony Joshua's trainer Rob McCracken believes that his fighter is 'still developing'.

He said: "I would think they would definitely fight and probably fight at least twice next year, that's what everybody wants to happen.

"Big Josh has had 10 or 11 world title fights and is still developing and winning. He's getting better all the time."

HEARN-EST ASSESSMENT

Eddie Hearn has admitted the importance of getting Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua on while the pair are in their primes.

He said: "It is an undisputed fight, it should be the toughest fight out there, but I've always fancied him to beat Tyson Fury, always.

"But Fury is definitely at the peak of his powers and so is AJ which actually is why it is so great if we get it made because you saw with Floyd [Mayweather] and [Manny] Pacquiao, it was rubbish."

WILD AT HEART

Eddie Hearn has admitted that Deontay Wilder could still stand in the way of a unification bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

He said: "The only hitch I can think of is Wilder. If the court orders the Fury rematch, and it doesn't sound as though they will, then it is out of our hands.

"That is the only way it falls through is if something stops their side, that isn't me saying they don't want it, they do, but if the court orders it then we will have to fight Usyk."

NICE LITTLE HEARNER

Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn, 41, has claimed that talks over Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury's 2021 unification bout could take just 'a couple of days'.

Asked about the length of negotiations, he said: "A couple of days.

"We need to write to the governing bodies and say yes we have a deal and we will now talk to the various sites and confirm the dates shortly for what I suppose will be the end of May."

FOR PETE’S SAKE

Anthony Joshua could knock out Tyson Fury, according to the Gypsy King’s uncle and former trainer Peter.

Peter Fury was in attendance on Saturday night as his son Hughie beat Mariusz Wach on the AJ vs Kubrat Pulev undercard.

Asked for his thoughts on the unification bout between Joshua and his nephew, Peter said: “Be a great fight.

“Both up for it, aren’t they. So it’ll be a great fight if it happens. Both have different styles though, Tyson is a totally different style to Pulev.

“It would be a great fight. Those shots [AJ landed tonight] wouldn’t be landing on Tyson so clean. He’s an exceptional talent but if AJ can land, anyone is going down.

“But the same for Tyson – he’s a puncher as well. So it works both ways. It’s a pick’em fight to be honest.”