Section: Sport:Boxing

RYOSUKE NISHIDA was pulled out of his title fight against Junto Nakatani after suffering a grotesquely swollen eye.

Nishida put his IBF bantamweight title on the line against WBA champion Nakatani in Tokyo.

4

4

But after just six rounds, the thudding left hands and uppercuts from Nakatani proved too much for Nishida.

Halfway through the bout, Nishida’s eye was swollen shut to leave the doctor with no choice but to pull him out.

Three-weight champ Nakatani said: “Ever since I was at flyweight, I wanted to unify the titles.

“Finally at bantamweight, I received my first opportunity and I am very happy with the result.” 

Japan’s unified super-bantamweight king Naoya Inoue was ringside to watch Nakatani’s dominance.

And a blockbuster between the country’s two biggest stars is now being touted.

Nakatani said: “I am coming, so please stick around for me.”

Inoue’s promoter Bob Arum previously stated the fight – eyed for May 2026 – could be as big as Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Arum said: “A lot of people say Nakatani is the guy that could beat Inoue. That’s why it’s such a big fight. That’s a real, real fight.

“People who really know and follow those lower weight divisions, they think that’s as interesting a fight, if not more so, than Canelo and Crawford.

“And it’ll be the biggest fight ever in the history of Japan.”

4

4

CALLUM SIMPSON called on inspiration from his late sister Lily Rae to come from behind and stop Ivan Zucco to win the European title.

Simpson suffered the devastating news that his 19-year-old sister had tragically died last year in a quad bike accident on holiday in Greece.

5

5

But the Barnsley boxing hero – who headlined at the Oakwell Football Ground – continues to fight in Lily Rae’s honour.

And she would have watched on with pride as her big brother came back to stop Zucco in round ten after three knockdowns.

Simpson, crowned the European super-middleweight champion, said: “Not once did I give up, those last few rounds I’ll be honest I started thinking about my little sister Lily.

“I’ll be honest, I just thought I had to push for her and for everybody.

“This time last year, Lily was sat up here cheering me on and she was there with me tonight when it got tough, when it got hard.

“From round eight, I thought, ‘I’ve got to dig deep, I’ve got to keep pushing, I’ve gotta do it for her. She was with me tonight.”

Simpson filled Barnsley’s 23,000-seater – but he got off to a horror start after being floored by only the second punch Zucco threw.

Simpson made it to his feet with little trouble but opted to try and make Zucco pay – and buzzed the travelling Italian himself before the bell sounded.

The opener was a frenzy of wild shots with both men hurt and the following two rounds was much of the same.

And again Simpson was down in round three after a huge left hand as the chaos continued.

The former British and Commonwealth super-middleweight had to pick himself up and dust himself off to turn the fight around.

And that is exactly what he did with constant pressure in the second half of the fight turning the tide.

By round ten, Simpson was on the front foot and trapped Zucco in the corner – letting off a devastating triple uppercut.

It dropped Zucco – who got to his feet – but again he was pinned in the corner and floored with two of the same shots.

The underdog European once again made it to his feet but Simpson, smelling blood, jumped on Zucco and forced him to the floor with a barrage of shots.

This time there was no coming back for Zucco – as Simpson turned the fight on its head with a comeback victory for the ages.

5

5

5

FABIO WARDLEY has floored the baffling suggestion that he could fight his mentor and pal Dillian Whyte.

After following all of Wardley’s career, we were stunned to hear the idea even mooted from some clumsy pundits.

5

But Wardley told SunSport with a laugh: “From the second it would be announced, everybody who knows the sport and who knows us, would know it would be fake and not something I would ever do, because of the amount of love, respect and admiration I have for Dills.

“People go on about my story, white-collar, coming from nowhere, sparring Usyk.

“But none of that is possible without Dillian at the beginning, giving me all of these opportunities.

“So I would never spit in his face and fight him.

“Even if all the sanctioning bodies called for the fight and somebody was silly enough to put all the money up, I would take a knee in the first round and give him the win.”

Ipswich’s 30-year-old former recruitment worker and white-collar boxer headlines Portman Road on Saturday night against tough Australian Justis Huni.

Whyte was due to feature on the Ipswich undercard but pulled out to secure a summer showdown with Lawrence Okolie.

He has not boxed in England since November 2022 and was supposed to have a rematch with Anthony Joshua in August 2023.

5

FABIO WARDLEY VS JUSTIS HUNI: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF HUGE BOUT

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

But that O2 sell-out was scrapped when Whyte failed a doping test.

Whyte has boxed in Gibraltar and Ireland since that big-money clash was binned, landing underwhelming wins.

For Wardley, on June 16 his partner is scheduled to give birth to his first child, a bouncing baby girl.

For anyone else, the nail-biting fortnight would be a crippling rollercoaster of emotions impossible to combine. 

But the Suffolk Puncher – who went on an Oleksandr Usyk sparring trip to Ukraine in 2018 when he barely knew how to throw a jab – is loving the chaos.

The class act told SunSport: “June 2025 is going to be a wild month I talk a lot about, for the rest of my life.

“I will be an old man in a rocking chair, telling people about it and wondering how we pulled it off.

“Everything has come together at the same time, it might seem a bit hectic but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I thrive on it, I love the chaos.”

Nine months ago, the 18-0-1 ace got the wonderful news he would be a dad for the first time.

5

And a few weeks later he got the offer of a lifetime, to headline at his boyhood football club, a chance that some Olympic and world champions never get.

It seems like a psychological and logistical nightmare that would be destined for the divorce courts but Team Wardley is way too tight.

“If my little girl is anything like me, then she’ll be chilled out and late, which will give me a little bit more time to decompress from the fight,” he grinned.

“The flight date has been moved around a few times but my missus has been unbelievable.

“I have just promised to her that, as soon as Saturday night is over, I am all theirs.

“This week, though, is just my week. I need to be totally focused on me and then it’s all on them.”

Wardley – who cracked 2020 Olympic bronze winner Frazer Clarke’s skull in their one-round rematch in October – somehow combines being a brutal boxer with being a lovely bloke and he insists that won’t change with another win or a baby.

“I don’t know how parenthood will affect me,” he said. “I do plan to be the fun-dad though. 

“I want mum to do the telling off. I think I will always be driven to push myself in everything, though. 

“That’s something just innate in me. And I am sure I will need to feed and stoke that fire regularly.”

5

5

JOSH KELLY once played alongside Jordan Pickford – now he is targeting world title fights against champions taller than the goalkeeper.

Kelly spent two years in Sunderland’s academy but was booted out when he struggled to juggle it with boxing.

3

3

But the Black Cats fan admits it was probably for the best having excelled in the ring after giving football the KO.

He told The Northern Echo: “I was in the academy from 11 until I was about 13. I was in and out of the academy and development centre.

“I remember playing in one training game and Pickford was in goal! I did well.

“I think I could have done OK in football but when I was making weight for boxing I didn’t really mature as quickly as the other guys, and I made the decision to focus on my boxing.

“I was trying to run both next to each other. I played for Hartlepool a little bit. But it’s hard to focus on both.

“I remember coming off one day and talking to my dad, a lot of the lads were a lot more mature than me, I was weight draining myself for the boxing and trying to diet and I knew I had to do this or that.

“When I started boxing for England and going places, that was the natural step.”

Kelly was a decorated amateur, representing Great Britain at World and European level.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

He went onto qualify for the 2016 Olympics but was knocked out in the second round by Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan. 

Kelly then turned professional in 2017 and looked to be one of the most promising talents in world boxing, with flashy speed and eye-catching combinations.

But after drawing to unknown American Ray Robinson in 2019 and losing to David Avanesyan two years later, Kelly’s career came into question.

He built his way back up slowly, moving up from welterweight to light-middleweight, where he won the British title.

But Kelly is eyeing 154lb the big dogs – quite literally – with his eyes on 6ft 6in WBC and WBO champion Sebastian Fundora.

He told BoxingScene: “Tall; awkward; readable; I feel like he’s readable; he’s a freak as well.”

Despite weighing the 11 stone limit, Fundora stands the same height as 18 stone Anthony Joshua.

He beat Tim Tszyu for the WBO title and the vacant WBC belt.

Kelly meanwhile also has Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn in his sights after their second generation grudge match in April.

Benn, 28, moved up from welterweight for the fight but was beaten by Eubank, 35, after 12 thrilling rounds.

Kelly returns on Friday in Newcastle against 24-1 Romanian Flavius Biea.

But he said: “Well, Benn or Eubank or someone like that would be cool.

“So, just big fights – just ones that will get people talking, ones that will get people excited, ones where you get excited.” 

3

FABIO WARDLEY is preparing for a huge homecoming bout THIS WEEKEND!

The lifelong Ipswich Town fan will take to the ring at Portman Road as he faces Justis Huni on Saturday night.

2

2

A win for Wardley would see him move into pole position for a shot at the WBA heavyweight title.

The unbeaten Brit was due to fight Jarrell Miller, but the American was forced to pull out of the bout due to a shoulder injury.

In stepped Huni, on roughly six weeks’ notice, who is looking to cause a huge upset on Wardley’s homecoming.

Wardley goes into the fight as the big favourite, but Australian Huni, 26, is not expected to be a pushover.

He is unbeaten, with a record of 12 wins and seven KOs, although he hasn’t fought much outside of Australia.

Dillian Whyte is chief support for the event – but the Body Snatcher does not yet have an opponent booked.

There will also be lots of eyes on Lewis Richardson, who makes his pro debut against Dmitri Protkunas.

Richardson won a middleweight bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics.

When is Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni?

• Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni will take place on Saturday, June 7.
• The event will take place in front of tens of thousands of fans at the home of Ipswich Town FC, Portman Road.
• The card is set to get underway at 7pm BST.
• The main event is scheduled for approximately 10pm BST.

Are tickets still available for Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni?

• Tickets for Wardley vs Huni are still available on secondary sites such as StubHub.
• At the time of writing, the cheapest ticket is priced at £55.

*Please note that StubHub and similar secondary ticket resale sites may list tickets above face value.

What TV channel is Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni on and can it be live streamed?

• Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni will be broadcast live on DAZN.
• You can subscribe to DAZN in the UK for £9.99-a-month, which commits you to an entire year of action.
• A flexible pass, worth £19.99, is also available, and you can cancel at any time with 30 days’ notice.
• You can also pay £119.99 for the year upfront, which is the lowest cost option.
• Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog of the event to keep up with all the latest on the card.

Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni undercard

Here are all the bouts taking place at Portman Road.

• Fabio Wardley vs Justis Huni – for the interim WBA heavyweight title
• Dillian Whyte vs TBA
• Pierce O’Leary vs Liam Dillon – for the EEU uropean super-lightweight title
• Nelson Hysa vs Patrick Korte – for the WBO European heavyweight title
• Mike Perez vs Steven Ward 
• Sam Gilley vs Gideon Onyenani
• Umar Khan vs Moises Garcia
• Billy Adams vs Alexander Morales
• Lewis Richardson vs Dimitri Protkunas
• Lillie Winch vs Katerina Dvorakova
• Jack Williams vs Fernando Valdez

What’s been said?

Wardley said he is facing the wrath of his partner – who is due just a week after the fight.

He said: “This is a slightly tense topic. My missus wasn’t the happiest with this fight date.

“She is due a week later but it is Portman Road. It’s not just any fight, it’s the one at Portman Road. She said, ‘Yeah I know but…’

“They say the chances are that the first one comes late but who knows.”

On fighting at Portman Road, he added: “Of course it comes with pressure. But pressure is a privilege. Being here is a privilege.

“Being able to fight here is a privilege and I think I have proven throughout my career that I do well under pressure.

“I like it. When the lights are bright, when the occasion is big, it’s when you get the best from me.

Huni told Sporting News: “I want to go over there and make them never forget my name.

“Fighting over there in his hometown, I feel like there’s no pressure on me, all the pressure’s on him.

“He has to come and perform for his people.

“At the end of the day, I don’t know anyone there and a lot of them might not even know me. They’ll know after, that’s it.”

DEONTAY WILDER has been urged to hang up his gloves just a month before his ring return.

The former long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion will bid to get back to winning ways on June 27 in a rebuild fight against Tyrrell Herndon.

4

4

4

Wilder, 39, will enter the bout on the back of four defeats in his last five outings, with three of those losses being brutal knockouts to Tyson Fury and Zhilei Zhang.

The American has looked like a shell of the fighter who struck fear into the hearts of heavyweights during his pomp, so much so that a litany of boxing icons, Fury, included, have urged him to call it a day.

During an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with former UFC champs Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, he said: “I’d like to see poor old Deontay retire from boxing.

“When I beat Wilder, he was 44 and 0, with 43 KOs, and he KO’d the guy who went the distance with him in the rematch, so that means he knocked out every single person he ever faced. 44 people.

“Obviously, he lost the three fights to me and since that third trilogy, we took a lot of lot of years off each other’s lives.

“That war, which ended in the 11th round by knockout, that took a lot out of our tanks.

“Between me and Wilder in that trilogy there was 10 knockdowns. It takes a lot out of a fighter.

“Even when he’s come back and had a couple of fights since, he’s only a shadow of his former glory.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS

4

“The only thing left that remains the same about Deontay is his name.”

Legendary boxing coach Teddy Atlas, who used to train Mike Tyson, shares the same view as Fury.

Atlas told Slingo: “The last thing to go, George Foreman showed, is that the last thing to go with a fighter is power.

“As long as you have power, you’ve got a shot.

“But the way he’s looked, the punishment he took against Zhilei Zhang.

“Wilder took a lot of punishment in his last few fights.

“And the way he took it, how clean he got hit, and how he reacted to it, just as a human being.

“Forget trainer, promoter, anything, just as a human being, I’d be concerned about him fighting again.”

Wilder and his team are hoping a win over Herndon will kick-start an unlikely run to a world title, with head coach Malik Scott saying: “He’s still got that urge to become champion, because he’s a champion at heart.

“He’s on the second half of his career, he’s filthy rich.

“He wants to make another run at the heavyweight championship of the world.”

TYSON FURY’S popular Netflix reality show could be the unlikely key to securing a fight with Anthony Joshua.

The father-of-seven and childhood sweetheart wife Paris starred in a nine-part fly-on-the-wall series called At Home with the Furys.

4

4

It culminated in Fury’s December 2022 victory over Derek Chisora – but much has happened since then.

Fury faced ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou in October 2023 – surviving a knockdown to win a controversial split-decision.

He then twice lost to Oleksandr Usyk on points before announcing his retirement in January, a month after defeat in the rematch.

Fury was spotted filming with Netflix in March, meaning the next series could document his two losses to Usyk and subsequent retirement.

The Gypsy King also looks set to walk away from a huge Battle of Britain bout against Joshua.

But, Fury has started to tease a comeback with glimpses of his return to training while the success of his series could factor into his decision to fight again.

Netflix bosses will be keen to centre a series around Fury’s preparation for what would be the nation’s biggest-ever fight.

And with the streaming service now in the boxing business – they could even make a play to broadcast the mega-bout.

4

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul had 100 MILLION watch his fight in November with Mike Tyson – who controversially made a return aged 58.

The stream crashed amid the demand and Netflix also home to Katie Taylor’s July 11 trilogy against Amanda Serrano.

Joshua, 35, and Fury, 36, are both exclusive to DAZN per the deals their promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren signed.

But DAZN gave permission for Irish star Taylor, 38, to rematch and beat Serrano, 36, on Paul’s undercard.

It would take quite some convincing for DAZN to allow a similar pass for AJ and Fury but the streaming giants are making an aggressive push in live sports.

They have exclusive UK rights to the WWE and Monday Night Raw in America while also pushing to take over UFC coverage from ESPN.

In March, Chris Mannix reported that Netflix were “aggressively” targeting the rights for Joshua vs Fury.

Another was Canelo Alvarez’s September undisputed fight against unbeaten American Terence Crawford.

Netflix were on board for the super-fight, planned for the Las Vegas Raiders’ 65,000-seat, £1.5BILLION stadium with UFC boss Dana Whiyte to promote.

But Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has since revealed the fight is set for September 13 – the date of UFC 320.

And Alalshikh said it will be on pay-per-view with Riyadh Season – who have an exclusive deal with DAZN.

It suggests White and Netflix are now out of the fight.

4

JOSH TAYLOR takes on Ekow Essuman in a Scottish homecoming fight THIS Saturday!

Taylor is looking to rectify back-to-back defeats as he takes on 36-year-old Essuman.

2

2

‘The Tartan Tornado’ Taylor comes into the clash off the back of two losses, having been beaten by Teofimo Lopez before losing his rematch to Jack Catterall in May 2024.

Ekow ‘The Engine’ Essuman comes into the bout with a record of 21-1-0, with eight of his 21 victories coming by KO.

Essuman’s only defeat came at the hands of Harry Scarff in 2023, losing by unanimous decision in Manchester, meaning Taylor will look to be the first man to KO Essuman to get back to form.

The Engine in turn looks to be the first man to KO Taylor, with both of his defeats coming by unanimous decision, with whoever can score the victory becoming the WBO international welterweight champion.

When is Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman?

• Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman is LIVE on Saturday, May 24.
• Coverage of the card starts at 7pm BST on DAZN.
• The fight takes place at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.
• Ringwalks for Taylor vs Essuman are expected at around 10pm BST.
• Tickets are still available on Ticketmaster.

*Please note that StubHub and similar secondary ticket resale sites may list tickets above face value.

How to watch Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman and is there a live stream?

• The bout will come live to fans on DAZN to over 200 countries.
• An annual DAZN subscription costs £119.99 or £14.99 for monthly.
• There is also monthly flexible pass – which can be cancelled at any time – for £24.99.
• The broadcast is on DAZN TV or can be live streamed via the website or app.
• SunSport will blog all the action from the card as it happens.

Full card

• Josh Taylor vs Ekow Essuman; Welterweight
• Nathaniel Collins vs Lee McGregor; Featherweight
• Aloys Junior vs Davie Jamieson; Cruiserweight
• Moses Itauma vs Mike Balogun; Heavyweight
• Luke McCormack vs Samir Cuentas; Light welterweight
• Alex Arthur Jr vs Robbie Chapman; Super middleweight

TERRI Harper looks to continue her reign as WBO lightweight champion when she clashes Natalie Zimmermann.

Harper defends her title in her hometown of Doncaster on Friday, May 23.

2

2

She is a multi-weight strap holder, and makes her first defence of her new title after beating Rhiannon Dixon for the title last September.

The 28-year-old puts her world title on the line at the stadium of Doncaster FC.

Her opponent, German Zimmermann, comes into the fight with a record of 12-0-0, with three wins coming by way of KO.

Harper has two losses to her name, but with a record of 15-2-2, with six wins coming by KO, she holds an experience advantage.

How to watch Terri Harper vs Natalie Zimmermann and is there a live stream?

• Terri Harper defends her WBO lightweight title against Natalie Zimmermann LIVE in the UK.
• The whole card will stream live via DAZN to over 200 countries.
• DAZN subscriptions start at £14.99 per month for an Annual Super Saver subscription, or £24.99 for a Monthly Flexible pass.

When does Terri Harper vs Natalie Zimmermann start?

• Terri Harper takes on Natalie Zimmermann on Friday, May 23.
• Coverage of the card starts at 6pm BST.
• Harper and Zimmerman are expected to make their ringwalks around 10pm BST.
• The full card will stream live from DAZN.

Full card

• Terri Harper vs Natalie Zimmermann; Lightweight, for the WBO title
• Maxi Hughes vs Archie Sharp; Lightweight
• Tysie Gallagher vs Ebonie Jones; Super bantamweight
• Reece Mould vs Lewis Sylvester; Lightweight
• Jimmy Joe Flint vs Haithem Laamouz; Super lightweight
• Stevi Levy vs Ellie Hellewell; Super bantamweight
• Joe Hayden vs Lewis Booth; Light middleweight

JAKE PAUL has a fight with KSI on his Christmas list after sending his bitter rival an offer to fight on December 24.

The bitter YouTube enemies are yet to settle their score in the ring – despite recent attempts to strike a deal behind the scenes.

2

Nakisa Bidarian – co-founder of Most Valuable Promoters alongside Paul – revealed an offer to fight on Christmas Eve was sent to KSI.

Bidarian said KSI and Wasserman – who promote Misfits Boxing bouts – have had the contract for 15 days.

A bout over ten rounds, at 192.5lb, in an 18x18ft ring with VADA testing to be promoted by MVP and Wasserman was tabled.

He added that the offer included a 50/50 deal PPV share other but the UK which is 60/40 in KSI’s favour and 60/40 to Paul in the US.

A fan probed Bidarian on why the fight would be staged on Christmas Eve.

He responded: “What are you watching Christmas Eve? Nothing. Jake and KSI will have the entire world’s attention.”

Mams Taylor – KSI’s manager and co-founder of Misfits which homes to celebrity-style crossover bouts – hit back.

Taylor said: “Hey man, we sent you an offer too and you insisted we redline yours.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

“Yours is one sided. Ours is fair and clearly a real attempt to make the fight actually happen.”

Taylor said they countered with a fight in the US, with a coin toss to decide who walks out second.

It would include full drug testing, at 190lb over eight rounds in a 20x 20ft ring, co-promoted down the middle with both to mutually approve all costs.

Taylor added: “Your contract had MVP as lead promoter in charge of everything and you put Wasserman boxing USA as side promoter.

“(FYI Wasserman boxing USA does not exist). You purposely omitted Misfits as an ego based mind game tactic.

“C’mon man. Let’s give the people what they want and not let ego’s get in the way.

We have a duty to our clients and respect due to the fans that made them!!”

KSI, 31, is yet to fought since losing a controversial decision to Tommy Fury, 26, in October 2023.

Jake Paul vs KSI: The terms

Jake Paul’s terms

• 10 rounds
• 192.5lb
• 18x18ft ring
• Full VADA testing
• December 24th
• MVP in association with Wasserman

KSI’s terms

• Fight in USA
• Full VADA testing
• 190lb
• 8 rounds
• 20x20ft ring
• Co-promoted down the middle
• Both promotions to mutually approve all costs and undercard fights etc

He was due to return last August but pulled out with a hand injury before illness saw him withdraw from facing MMA star Dillon Danis, 31, in March.

KSI is now due to have surgery on his busted hand with his boxing career in the air.

Meanwhile Paul, 28, returns against ex-middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, on June 28 in a cruiserweight clash.

It comes after he fought at heavyweight in November to beat Mike Tyson, who controversially came out of retirement aged 58.

Paul now drops back down to the 200lb limit of 14st 4lb while KSI lost to Fury a stone lighter at 183lb.

Their weight disagreement has been the biggest factor standing in the way of the grudge bout.

And Bidarian said: “Not engaging in a back and forth.

“We proposed our terms to Wasserman on April 4th and the offer that followed was those exact terms. Jake Paul wants to fight KSI.

“He does not need to fight KSI. Jake has campaigned at 200+ since December of 2023 and plans to continue at that weight with the intention to contest for a world championship by the end of 2026.”

2

ANTHONY JOSHUA is to have surgery on his elbow THIS WEEK – as talks to finally fight “big tease” Tyson Fury move a step closer.

Joshua, 35, is yet to return since his September knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois, 27, with a secret injury delaying his comeback.

4

4

AJ has since revealed the setback was caused by a problem with his elbow – which promoter Eddie Hearn reveals is due to be fixed this week.

Hearn told SunSport: “He just goes back into camp and just can’t fire on all cylinders consistently.

“So he can go back, have a couple of sessions, bit of soreness in the elbow.

“They tried to let it rest and recover and they’ve told him that I think it’s this week, he has a small keyhole surgery in the arm.

“Clear out, and it’s four-six weeks, he’s good to go. So I think we’re looking post-September.”

Following Joshua’s loss and Fury’s double defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, last year, it set up the beaten Brits to finally settle their overdue score.

That was until Fury announced a shock retirement – the fourth of his career – in January only one month after Usyk won their rematch.

But the unpredictable Gypsy King has since ended his social media silence to begin hinting at a comeback – leaving Hearn hopeful.

4

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

The promoter said: “Tyson Fury is a big tease, every day I open up Instagram like today and he’s got his wraps on saying he’s done 12 rounds.

“He looks super fit, Tyson Fury, he looks like he’s ready to go now! Which is encouraging, but obviously probably the delay that AJ’s got is a blessing, to be honest with you.

“One, you’ve got Usyk against Dubois coming up so that gives you a little bit of time.

“And number two, you’ve got Tyson Fury who could potentially come back to the ring so it’s gonna be interesting to see what plays out.”

Turki Alalshikh’s introduction to boxing and his deep Saudi pockets have helped bridge the gap between Hearn and long-time rival Frank Warren.

The previously warring promoters even share the sports streaming platform DAZN now – paving the way for talks between AJ and Fury.

Hearn admitted: “I’d be lying if I said we haven’t discussed it socially, because obviously everyone’s desperate to make it happen.

“But, no one said, ‘Oh, I think it’s coming, I think he’s coming back.’ But at the same time, he’s training.

Tyson Fury is a big tease, every day I open up Instagram like today and he’s got his wraps on saying he’s done 12 rounds. He looks super fit, Tyson Fury, he looks like he’s ready to go now! Which is encouraging

Eddie Hearn

“And I feel like with Tyson Fury over the years, you’ve seen him not training and balloon out of shape and then it takes him a long time to come back.

“Now it looks like he’s either ready to fight or he’s ready to begin camp, which is hugely encouraging. But I just don’t think he’ll be able to leave it alone, if I’m honest with you.

“Because, the money’s one thing, but just the occasion and the challenge, and he’s a competitor, he’s a winner. And I just can’t believe he’s gonna let it slide.”

While Fury is Joshua & Co’s main target, Hearn warned they will await the result of Dubois’ July 19 rematch with Usyk at Wembley.

Hearn is adamant AJ will fight before the year ends – with or without Fury.

He warned: “Next couple of months, if there’s no movement, we fight.

“I mean there’s no way AJ’s not fighting this year. So who that will be? I can’t tell you.

“I mean, that’s the million dollar question at all times, but I think more importantly is, do we get any news from Fury in the next four, six, eight weeks?

“If we do, we’ll fight him this year. If not, we’ll fight and then maybe he comes back next year, who knows?

“But I’d be lying if I said we weren’t desperate to see him return. But, at the same time we can’t just wait around and see what happens.”

4

DAVE ALLEN has lived several lives, from supply school teacher to gambling addict and now, thankfully, a beloved boxing star.

Allen started as an amateur aged 16 and had just ten bouts before turning professional in 2012 – snubbing the chance to join the GB Squad.

3

He was 20 when he made his debut but only three years later Allen had only fought seven times and was in need of cash.

The heavyweight made ends meet as a sparring partner – earning around £500 a week – but it was not enough.

So he got a job as a supply teacher – lying on his CV to get the gig – before returning to the ring in 2015.

But by then, Allen was gripped by a horrific gambling addiction which started after making a £1 bet on the horses with his dad when he was just eight.

And after being introduced to online betting, the boxer’s life began to spiral.

He bravely said on ex-middleweight champion Darren Barker’s podcast: “It just snowballed really.

“I used to go to the bookies and play on the machines there, they were great times.

“But the online stuff is where it got bad for me because it was so easy, it was numbers on the screen.

“Probably at the worst? It’s difficult to say really. I wasn’t gambling that much in my early 20s, but I was gambling everything that I had.

“As I got a bit older, I was gambling way more, tens of thousands of pounds. Maybe into hundreds of thousands overall.”

Allen – who has sparred Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk – said winning the bets was the route of his addiction not the cash.

He explained: “I have no interest in the money at all.

“The kind of gambler I am, it’s not about the money for me. When the money runs out, that’s the only issue.

“I never wanted to withdraw any money, I just wanted to keep winning. To be honest, at that time it was like an escapism from real life.”

Allen revealed his routine consisted of going to bed at 6am and waking up by 2pm to catch the first race of the day.

Fortunately, Allen has overcome his addiction with the help of his sister and wife, who he shares a son and daughter with.

As I got a bit older, I was gambling way more, tens of thousands of pounds. Maybe into hundreds of thousands overall.

Dave Allen

He said: “Since I was 26, I’ve not been in control of my own money.

“So at 26, I said to my sister, ‘You’re going to have to look after my money, to be honest.’

“My sister set me up a bank account and for the last seven and a half years if I want any money at all, I have to text my sister and now my missus, I get a card and they send me money.

“Because, if I could still gamble now, I think I would. I’ve spent mad money on mad s***, I was spending ridiculous money and when I boxed Luis Ortiz, I did it for the money, really.

“I think I owed a few quid at the time of the Dillian Whyte fight, I think I lost about eight grand on the day of the fight, I didn’t clear too much more than that really.”

Allen has also become a trainer and manager to young fighters to also keep himself on track.

He said: “I need it as much as them, start training the kids seven or eight years ago and that’s my sustainability really.

‘He’ll get knocked out’

“It’s really kept me on the straight and narrow.”

Allen initially retired from boxing in 2020 aged 28 after a brutal knockout loss to 2008 Olympic bronze medallist David Price.

But he returned a year later and has fought eight times since, remaining a hugely popular figure amongst British fans.

Allen, 33, is coming off a controversial split-decision loss to Johnny Fisher, 26, in Saudi Arabia last December.

But the pair now rematch on Saturday at Fisher’s adopted home of the Copper Box Arena.

And Allen – who dropped Fisher in round five – warned: “If he fights me May 17th he’ll get knocked out because I’ll be sharper, a little bit fitter.

“If he boxes me it will be hard work, of course it is. But I don’t think at the Copper Box he’ll hold it together and box.

“He’ll get in a fight at some point. I’m not the biggest puncher but I hit too hard for him and I’m too strong for him. He’s tough, though.”

3

3