Highlights of the Helenius-Duhaupas fight:
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Duhaupas is tough and durable, he showed it with Wilder too. A solid gatekeeper for the top contenders. He stood there and traded with Helenius and took some good shots.Originally posted by BostonGuy View PostComment
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Anthony Joshua has laughed off criticism from Saturday's opponent Charles Martin and his British rival Tyson Fury about his muscular physique.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist challenges Martin for the IBF world heavyweight title at London's O2 Arena after only 15 professional fights. Joshua has stopped all 15 professional opponents, yet WBA-WBO world heavyweight champion Fury claimed last week he was "useless" with "no ability".
Both Fury and Martin, who won the vacant IBF belt in December, have doubted the value of Joshua's muscular frame and questioned his fitness should he be taken into the latter rounds on Saturday.
"Those boys are haters, they wish they had six packs like me," Joshua told ESPN. "That's what it is, he wishes he has a six pack like me. That's why Charles is doing all this strength and conditioning as well.
"As an athlete you should be fighting fit. It shouldn't be an issue to be in good condition and that's what you train for. I don't get what this error of boxing is to look out of shape, as if it it's the new thing, like a slab of meat. Tyson Fury says it, Charles Martin says it. What's wrong with these guys?
"I think they should get themselves in shape and stop being so jealous. Nothing is comfortable in training, you can't get comfortable in training. People ask why the Brazilians are good at football, it's because they used to play a lot of football on sand.
"So when it comes to a nice watered pitch they can control the ball. It's a lot easier to balance and handle themselves on a more even surface, so when we train on movement we do a lot of work in the sand as it makes it uneven and builds a lot of stability in the legs.
"When I get on a nice springy canvas it makes it a lot easier to move for 12 rounds. Strong legs are everything. If you get hit or in the later rounds get tired, that's the first thing that goes, your legs."
Fury, who was stripped of the IBF title shortly after winning it, is still negotiating a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko for July after his points win in November ended over nine years as world champion for the Ukrainian. Fury is never going to be known for his politeness and Joshua has become the latest target for his vitriol.
"The way he's talking he thinks he's the second coming of Sugar Ray Robinson or Mike Tyson," said Joshua.
"He needs to pipe down and focus on his own improvement because when he comes up against someone fresh, young and hungry there's going to be problems. I've told him he needs to enjoy his time now because I'm slowly coming, clipping away at your heels, so just enjoy yourself while you can."
North-London based Joshua has vowed to make Martin feel "a mere mortal" after the American said "I walk this earth like a God".
And Joshua admits that the job will not be complete if he lifts the IBF belt on Saturday, with Fury and WBC champion Deontay Wilder, from America, also holding versions of the world heavyweight title.
"There's only one God and there's no one similar to him so I definitely have to prove he's a mere mortal," said Joshua. "I've not really allowed myself to think my life will change if I win next week because I won't be the undisputed champion.
"I will be the IBF champion and I can't let things get to me. I don't want to sit back and think about all the great things that will happen if I become champion, it's still going to be hard work.
"Charles has the counter punching power and it's about minimalising the threat when he's coming forward."
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Matthew Luzzi, ThaBoxingVoice
David Haye has been trying to beef up his next opponent, yet Arnold Gjergjaj (29-0, 21 KOs), a 31-year-old who was born in Kosovo and currently resides in Switzerland, has no significant wins other than a unanimous decision victory over Denis Bakhtov last year, a fight in which Arnold was knocked down in the fifth round. Bakhtov was the ninth opponent of Anthony Joshua and got iced in the second round of that fight rather easily. Gjergjaj is a C level heavyweight and probably isn’t much better than De Mori, who was absolutely no match for Haye in their fight. Gjergjaj will be lucky to get out of the first round of this fight which is always a terrible factor to have to deal with going into a fight.
If Haye wants to come back and face heavyweights who are simply no match for him, that’s on him, it’s his choice. He has a right to do that just as other fighters have the right to not face the best opponents in their weight division.
But to market it as some big event? To be the main attraction and name the event after yourself when you’re fighting guys who do not have a shot at winning? What kind of scam is that? Why can’t Haye fight as the co-main on a big UK PPV event and fight the winner of the main event? Haye wouldn’t do this because he wouldn’t be able to pull in the cash he would if he has all these “Haye-Days.” We can be in for another six vs the same level opponents the way it seems.
David Haye is one of the top heavyweights in the world today and is a top level fighter: which is why him fighting no-hopers in his return fights is disappointing, to say the least. Haye should be fighting guys such as Takam, Pulev, Scott, Thompson, anybody but the last two guys Haye has actually fought.
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Bolton Wanderers’ Macron Stadium could provide the venue for the year’s most eagerly-anticipated world title boxing fight. The Bolton News understands that representatives of Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko are in discussion with Wanderers’ new owners about staging their rematch at the stadium this summer.
If they get the go-ahead, the fight could be worth upwards of £1million to the club itself and would put the town firmly on the world’s global sporting map.
It would also be a huge statement of intent from Dean Holdsworth and Ken Anderson, who have vowed to use the club’s facilities to their maximum advantage in the future.
Further talks are planned on Tuesday when a delegation from both fighters’ camps will take a tour around the ground.
Fury based himself at the Macron before his first fight against Klitschko last November and was impressed by the facilities.
Logistical problems have plagued the second fight, however, and it was mooted earlier this week that they could look to delay it until the autumn to wait for the right venue.
The original bout was contested at the Espirit Arena in Dusseldorf in front of 50,000 fight fans.
Bigger venues in Germany and England have been investigated for the rematch – which is likely to take place on July 9 – but Wanderers have now thrown their hat in the ring and could pull off a major coup.
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Never felt so good on a Tuesday �� Time to boss up! ����
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua)Comment
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Updated schedule in OPComment
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Anthony Joshua lifts van to fetch kid's ball from under,
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