Dusseldorf, Germany (July 24) A press conference was held this past Tuesday at the ESPRIT Arena to formally announce the highly anticipated World Heavyweight Championship between undisputed and long reigning champion Wladimir “Dr. Steelhammer” Klitschko and #1 ranked mandatory challenger Tyson Fury set for Saturday, October 24. The event will be televised in the U.S. live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Sporting a record of 64-3-0 (54KO’s) and holder of the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO and “Ring Magazine” heavyweight titles, Klitschko will be making his 19th championship defense. He returns to battle following a dominant 12-round decision victory over Bryant Jennings on April 25 in front of a crowd of over 17,000 at Madison Square Garden.

A native of the United Kingdom, Fury brings an unblemished record into battle of 24-0-0 (18KO’s). Most recently he stopped Christian Hammer in the 8th round on February 28 in London, United Kingdom.

“After all these years, all the guys I have fought have been a challenge for me to motivate myself,” said Klitschko. I believe Tyson Fury really means what he says. He is coming to win the fight. “

“I have done my homework, he is very entertaining, he sings, he dances, people either like him or hate him. He’s not coming to be present on the canvas, he’s coming to win the championship.”

Stated Fury, “It’s a pleasure to be here in Dusseldorf, the time has arrived. Wladimir Kltischko is a great champion and has been for 11 years taking on all comers but I believe he has never faced a challenge like me. There’s never been someone like me.”

“I’m a very dangerous fighter, but I have to give credit to the older champion to face a fighter like myself.”
“The world heavyweight championship fight on October 24 is an energizing event for the division as well as the sport,” said Peter Nelson, vice president, programming, HBO Sports. “This is an intriguing, fascinating matchup that should captivate the boxing world. We know both Wladimir and Tyson will be ready. We are delighted to present the fight live on HBO in the United States.”

With the win over Jennings, Klitschko continued his path towards heavyweight division history with his 18 consecutive title defenses behind only Larry Holmes (20) and Joe Louis (25, the record for any weight class). A crowd in excess of 65,000 is expected at the ESPRIT Arena where Klitschko has fought twice previously.

The title defense will also be Klitschko’s 28th world title fight, a new record in the heavyweight division, surpassing Joe Louis (27), Larry Holmes (26) and Muhammad Ali (25)!

Known as much for his brash words as his firepower in the ring, the 6’9” towering Fury has been the talk of the United Kingdom’s heavyweight division since bursting onto the scene in 2008. The 26 year-old has proven his mettle with two dominant victories over former world title challenger and rival countryman Dereck Chisora in 2011 and 2014.

LONDON (17 JULY) Heavyweight prospect Hughie Lewis Fury says his latest training camp has been boosted by news of Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title shot against Wladimir Klitschko and that he fully expects his cousin to bring the belts back to England when the pair meet on October 24 in Germany.

Twenty-year-old Hughie faces durable Brazilian veteran George Arias on July 25 at Derby Arena and admits he couldn’t be happier right now.

“It’s a good thing for the whole family that Tyson has finally got his shot,” he said. “I’m over the moon for him.

“It will be great to see him become the first fighter to beat Wladimir Klitschko in a long time. The Klitschkos have taken over the division and dominated for a number of years now. All respect to them, they’re very good men, but it’s about time Tyson took those belts. It will be nice for the Fury family to hold the titles instead.

“We’ve always believed Tyson would one day fight for the world heavyweight title and win it. We’re not in boxing just to win a few titles or for the money. We’re in it because we love the sport and we want to be the best. That’s why we train hard every single day.”

For the last four weeks both Furys have been in the south of France preparing for their upcoming fights. In total, Hughie will have spent over eight weeks there by the time he steps through the ropes at Derby Arena.

Given this time spent in each other’s company, it’s fair to say Hughie, better than perhaps anyone, knows exactly what Tyson can produce behind closed doors.

“Tyson sometimes goes into fights just to entertain and put on a show,” he said. “Nobody has seen the real Tyson Fury yet. I think this fight with Klitschko will bring it out of him.

“I’ve seen it in Tyson, though. I’ve been there from the start with him. I know what he’s capable of doing.

“And the reason I know he beats Klitschko is that I know Tyson loves tall fighters. He loves them. Wladimir is in for a very big surprise. Stylistically, Tyson is his worst nightmare.

“Emanuel Steward, Wladimir Klitschko’s former trainer, said the same thing. He said the next heavyweight champion of the world is going to be Tyson Fury. I was at the camp with him – I heard him say it.”

*** Tickets for Blackwell vs. Jones & Fury vs. Arias can be purchased from the Derby Arena Box Office on 01332 255800 or by visiting www.derbylive.co.uk ***

*** Blackwell vs. Jones will be televised live on Channel 5 on July 25 (10pm), while the supporting undercard will be televised live earlier in the evening (8pm) on Spike ***

FOLLOW US ON ON TWITTER @HENNESSYSPORTS
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LONDON (17 July) – Liverpool heavyweight David Price will face his toughest test since his shock defeats to Tony Thompson two years ago when he challenges for the European title.

The former British and Commonwealth champion takes on undefeated Erkan Teper, live and exclusive on BoxNation this Friday from 8pm, in a fight that can see him catapulted back among the top names at heavyweight.

His losses to American Thompson in 2013 were a major setback for Price, who was being tipped as one of the potential heirs to the Klitschko brothers’ throne, but he insists he is over those defeats as he now looks to step back into the limelight.

“If someone had said to me 18 months ago that you will be fighting for the European title at this point in time I would have snapped their hand off because back then it felt like there was going to be no other opportunities,” said Price.

“But it’s also a lesson because things can change quickly if you keep working hard and don’t lose faith – we all have doubts in our minds – but if you keep working hard and plugging away you will get your rewards and that’s happening now.

“I could rest on my laurels and say I got back to this point and everything else is a bonus but I’m not looking at it like that. I want to get beyond this point because I feel that’s where I should be – heading towards world level – so I want to use this fight as that springboard.

“But that’s not disrespecting this fight in anyway because it is a massive fight and a great opportunity but I really do want to go beyond here,” Price said.

The 6ft 8” Olympic bronze medalist isn’t expecting an easy night’s work when he steps in the ring in Ludwigsburg, Germany against the unbeaten Teper, who has won nine of his 14 fights by knockout.

33-year-old Teper will be looking to start fast against Price given he has lost twice by stoppage but the Merseyside hitter, who has 16 knockouts from 19 wins, has warned him he will be running headlong into disaster.

“From what I’ve seen he’s going to try and come out and start fast. Now, because I’ve lost by stoppage people have it in their head that it will be easy to knock me out so they come out and start head hunting straight away but it plays into my hands,” Price told BoxNation.

“I’m not particularly worried about his power because it’s the same with any other heavyweight if you get hit on the chin you’re likely going to end up feeling it.

“So it’s not like I’m going to go in there worrying about his power – if anything he should be worrying about mine because he’s there to be hit.

“I’m the better fighter defensively but I do expect him to come out and start fast and try and put it on me early but he’s more than welcome because I’m prepared.”

In recent times Price has had to take a back seat as rivals such as Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury have seen their careers blossom, with the latter now set to face world champion Wladimir Klitschko later this year.

A Price-Fury showdown was long mooted before Price’s setbacks but should he claim the vacant European title in his upcoming fight he would be more than happy to finally step in the ring with Manchester’s Fury.

“It’s still a fight I would like but I don’t think it will happen at the end of this year because of his plans. Once I’ve established myself as European champion then it’s a fight that can be made as people will be interested in it again,” said Price.

“It’s definitely something that can happen next year and if he comes through the Klitschko fight it could even be for the world title but that’s for another day.

“I think he’s up against it [against Klitschko]. He might cause Klitschko a few problems with his style but I think Klitschko will have too much for him,” he said.

BoxNation will also have some top light-welterweight action live and exclusive when this Saturday night two undefeated 140-pounders clash in Macau, with China’s Ik Yang and Argentine southpaw Cesar Rene Cuenca battling it out for the vacant IBF world title.

The 2012 ‘Fighter of the Year’ Nonito Donaire will also feature on the Top Rank card as he takes on Anthony Settoul in a 10-round super-bantamweight bout.

Price v Teper is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525, TalkTalk 415 and online) from 8pm tonight. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at Livesport.tv and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

(15 JULY) By Peter Fury: So it’s on – Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko, for the heavyweight championship of the world. It’s nice to be so far out from the fight, with all the politics and business side of it behind us, and know exactly where we stand. We’re absolutely delighted.

The business side of making fights like this is the worst part of boxing, so it’s great to get it all out of the way and put it to the back of our minds; both camps know what they’ve got to do and they can just concentrate now on the boxing side of it.

As for Tyson, he’s totally motivated for this fight. No surprises there. This is his fourth week in, his weight is coming off nicely and we’re very happy with him. I just can’t wait for it to come round now. It’s a massive occasion and it makes us all determined to go that extra mile.

Some have asked me if there’s a danger of Tyson overtraining for this fight – starting too early, peaking too soon. Nonsense. We’re very professional at what we do, otherwise we wouldn’t be here; we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in. Only amateurs overtrain and people who don’t know what they’re doing.

I liaise with the best strength and conditioners around the world. We’ve got the best knowledge and it’s all science-based. We know when to push, when not to push and the type of body fat he needs to have at each stage of the preparation. It’s very, very complex, but it’s your job to know all of that. That’s why you’re a trainer and manager looking after a fighter. You’ve got to do everything – food, conditioning, boxing and so on. It’s a round-the-clock job. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you shouldn’t be doing it. There’s a lot of people doing it that don’t know what they’re doing and that’s why they fail.

In my opinion, this is 100% the best time to have the fight. Let’s look at reality here: Tyson is never going to get beaten up by a smaller guy. He’s too big, and now he’s using his boxing like he should be using them and he’s almost playing with smaller opponents. It’s too easy for him.

The only people out there who could give Tyson a fight – a genuine fight – are Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder. Apart from those two, nobody else can. He’d play with all the other heavyweights. That’s not because he’s supremely talented, it’s simply because they’re either too inexperienced and not ready for him or he’s just too big.

There’s nobody else in the division, aside from Klitschko and Wilder, who can even test Tyson at this stage. Fights against Klitschko and Wilder, though, are proper 50/50 fights. They can go either way. These are the fights we get our teeth into. We can keep beating six-foot-two heavyweights until the cows come home, but what’s the point?

Wilder is 34-0, so has officially had more fights than Tyson, but I only see him as having had two proper fights. The first was against Bermane Stiverne and the second was against Eric Molina, which was a fight that ended up being a struggle for him. Those are the only two times he’s faced decent heavyweights who gave him a fight.

Wilder is improving all the time and he’ll get better with the type of fights he’s now having. He wasn’t really prepared for a world title shot when he faced Stiverne, even though he won. Stiverne was just the right opponent at the right time. He was also very poor that night.

Wilder, though, isn’t what you’d call ‘world championship ready’. He’s not good enough or seasoned enough yet to hold that title and look at the rest of the division and think, I’ve got the beating of all of you. There are plenty of fighters out there who could trouble him at this stage.

But, with each fight, he keeps getting better and he learns more and more. He can box, he’s athletic and he’s a talented kid. In many ways, Wilder has been a victim of his own punch power – he’s been winning fights and creating a long, unbeaten run, but he’s learnt absolutely nothing in the process.

Tyson, on the other hand, has learnt plenty along the way – he’s had tough fights, easy fights, he’s faced big guys, small guys and he’s dragged himself off the floor to win. He’s more than ready to take the world heavyweight title from Wladimir Klitschko on October 24.

*** Tickets for Blackwell vs. Jones & Fury vs. Arias can be purchased from the Derby Arena Box Office on 01332 255800 or by visiting www.derbylive.co.uk ***

*** Blackwell vs. Jones will be televised live on Channel 5 on July 25, while the supporting undercard will be televised live earlier in the evening on Spike ***

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Panama City, Panama (July 6, 2015) K2 Promotions and Hennessy Sports reached an agreement today prior to the scheduled World Boxing Association purse bid for the highly anticipated Heavyweight World Championship between long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko and #1 ranked challenger Tyson Fury.

“We’re very happy to reach an agreement with Hennessy Sports for this great heavyweight title matchup,” said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, promoter of Klitschko. “The fight will be held in Dusseldorf, Germany on Saturday, October 24.”

Holder of the WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO and “Ring Magazine” Heavyweight Titles, Klitschko improved to 64-3-0 with 54 knockouts on April 24 with a dominant 12-round unanimous decision over then undefeated and #1 ranked challenger Bryant Jennings at Madison Square Garden.

The win was Klitschko’s 18th consecutive world title defense and his 22nd straight victory. His title reign is second in heavyweight history only behind the great Joe Louis.

Sporting an unblemished record of 24-0-0 with 18KO’s, Fury is coming off an eighth round stoppage of Christian Hammer on February 28 in London, England. He also owns two victories over top contender Dereck Chisora and a stoppage win of former cruiserweight champion Steve Cunningham.

Fury will be the sixth undefeated fighter Klitschko has faced amongst his last seven title defenses.

ABOUT K2 PROMOTIONS
K2 Promotions promotes the unified Heavyweight World Champion Wladimir Klitschko, along with WBA/IBO and WBC ‘Interim” Middleweight World Champion Gennady Golovkin, Former Cruiserweight World Champion Ola Afolabi and heavyweight contender Mike Perez.

Over the last decade, K2 Promotions has promoted the most heavyweight championship title bouts of any promoter worldwide. K2 Promotions is one of Boxing’s most respected promoters showcasing boxing’s biggest events worldwide.

The Managing Director of K2 Promotions is Tom Loeffler.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.con, a purse bid has been ordered for a Heavyweight title bout between Wladimir Klitscko and Tyson Fury.

Toronto – Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports, presents an exciting international heavyweight showdown this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, as U.K.-based WBO International heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (23-0, 17 KOs) risks his perfect professional record against dangerous Romanian-born German foe Christian Hammer (17-3, 10 KOs).

Scheduled to air live in Canada from 3 to 6 p.m. ET, Saturday’s Frank Warren and Hennessy Sports-promoted event emanates from 02 Arena in London, England.

Should Fury emerge victorious in Saturday’s main event, he will be next in line to challenge reigning world champion Wladimir Klitschko in a highly anticipated championship showdown.

The co-main event is also expected to produce fireworks as undefeated Russian Dmitry Chudinov (14-0, 9 KOs) defends his interim WBA middleweight crown against highly touted British banger Chris Eubank Jr. (18-1, 13 KOs).

Leading into Saturday’s live broadcast, Fight Network will present live coverage of the UFC’s “Welcome to the Show” press conference from Los Angeles, as 20 top UFC fighters will join UFC president Dana White to promote upcoming events. Fighters scheduled to appear include champions Jon Jones, Chris Weidman, Anthony Pettis, T.J. Dillashaw and Carla Esparza, plus top contenders Frankie Edgar, Urijah Faber, Lyoto Machida and Luke Rockhold. The live press conference kicks off at 2 p.m. ET.

Following Saturday’s live Fury vs. Hammer broadcast, Fight Network will present its UFC Pre-Show Live at 7 p.m. ET, featuring previews, predictions and analysis ahead of UFC 184: Rousey vs. Zingano on pay-per-view.

A UFC Post-Show Live will air on Fight Network immediately following the pay-per-view at approximately 1 a.m. ET, featuring highlights, recaps and the live post-fight press conference.

In addition to all the live pre and post-fight coverage, Fight Network is the destination for UFC library content, specials and series, including UFC Unleashed, UFC Now and UFC Ultimate Insider. All airings are listed at tv.fightnetwork.com.

Post-fight coverage continues on Monday’s edition of 5 Rounds on Fight Network, which debuts at 7 p.m. ET and features a comprehensive breakdown of Saturday’s event.

It all begins tonight, Friday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. ET with a broadcast of the UFC 184 Weigh-ins Live, as women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and unbeaten No. 1 contender Cat Zingano tip the scales before taking center stage on Saturday night.

Then, at 10:30 p.m. ET, Fight Network’s Golden Boy Live! boxing series returns to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif., headlined by former world champion Pablo Cesar “El Demoledor” Cano (28-4-1, 21 KOs) and the hard-punching Juan Carlos “Merengue” Abreu (18-1, 17 KOs), plus Diego De La Hoya (8-0, 6 KOs) battles Manuel “Suavecito” Roman (17-3-3, 6 KOs) and imposing Chinese heavyweight sensation, Taishan (2-0, 2 KOs) faces Roy McCary (3-2, 3 KOs).

For a full listing of Fight Network’s broadcast schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com and follow on Twitter @fightnet, become a fan on Facebook and visit us on Instagram @fightnet.

LONDON (27 Feb) – Heavyweight star Tyson Fury will be out to impress when he takes on the unrelenting Christian Hammer.

The 26-year-old Manchester banger knows that everything is on the line when he faces the German based Romanian, with a shot at Wladimir Klitschko’s WBO belt next up if he comes through the fight unscathed, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

However, in the big-hitting Hammer, who has a record of 17 wins from his 20 fights, he faces a man who has vowed to tear up the script and steal the show at the O2 Arena on Saturday night.

“Tyson Fury will not go the distance against me, he will be getting knocked out clean and left to pick up the pieces after the fight. He cannot hurt me with his punches because I’m in the best shape of my career for this fight. He will not last against me,” said Hammer.

“He has been put down before, he can be hit and hurt. He has plenty of heart, but once I put him down he will stay down.

“I’ve taken this fight because I know I can get the Klitschko world title fight when I beat Fury. Klitschko is talking about fighting Fury, but he will be talking about my name once I knock out Fury,” Hammer said.

Yet, the British, European and WBO International champion Fury is spurred on by the fear of losing.

Fury, who has won all 23 professional fights, said, “once you get done over there is no point in carrying on, is there?

“Boxers bounce back after a defeat, but are they the same? Are they really that good?

“When you think you’re unbeatable like I do now and get splattered all over the ring, you are not the man you were. You’re a beaten shell of yourself.

“If you get flattened you’re not as good as you thought you were, but if you lose a disputed decision or something goes wrong and you get disqualified, there isn’t much you can do about that.

“I am not in that position to know whether I would walk away if I got knocked out, but I would think about it.

“It isn’t just me I have to think about. I have got a wife and kids. Do I really need to be taking punishment where I could end up in a wheelchair?

“All the money and titles wouldn’t mean anything because I am sat there drooling from the mouth.”

Chris Eubank Jr will also feature on this Saturday night’s card when he challenges interim WBA middleweight champion Dmitry Chudinov.

The Brighton boxer is looking to bounce back in style following his split decision loss to rival Billy Joe Saunders last November, and is well aware that he splits opinion amongst fight fans.

“In this game you want to be loved, hated or both. You don’t want to be in the middle. Everything I have done, the way I fight, puts me at either end of the spectrum. I am a Marmite type fighter, you either love me or hate me,” said Eubank Jr.

“Even people who don’t like me are still going to come and pay to watch me fight and see me lose. Either way, they are still there watching, but I want to have a worldwide fan base and I believe I can do it,” he said.

BoxNation’s bumper weekend of action gets off to a cracking start tonight with the thrilling Golden Boy Promotions show set to feature 7ft heavyweight Taishan Dong.

The imposing 26-year-old hails from China and will be looking to continue his winning ways, in a fledgling career which has seen him win his first two contests by knockout, when he takes on American Roy McCrary.

The top of the bill at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California, will see the ever-exciting Pablo Cesar Cano taking on the hard-hitting Dominican Juan Carlos Abreu, who has scored 17 knockouts from 18 wins, in a ten-round welterweight contest.

Fury v Hammer is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) this Saturday at 7pm. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

LONDON (26 Feb) – Heavyweight division world champion Wladimir Klitschko would be an “easy fight” according to brash-talking Tyson Fury.

The Manchester heavyweight takes on the tough Christian Hammer this weekend at the O2 Arena in London, live and exclusive on BoxNation, and has claimed that a matchup with Klitschko would be a straightforward affair.

26-year-old Fury is the mandatory challenger for Klitschko’s WBO belt, and is expected to face the Ukrainian legend in his next bout, should he prevail this Saturday night.

The heavyweight division has seen a resurgence of late following the crowning of a new champion in WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder, with the charismatic American keen to share the ring with Fury, who has his own thoughts on how he wants the coming year to turn out.

“To be honest I’m the man in the division to beat. Everyone wants to fight me because they know I generate interest. People are interested in me probably for the wrong reasons, or the right reasons, but they’re still interested – that’s why people want to fight,” said Fury.

“They want to come to the UK to fight me. [Deontay Wilder’s] the world champion but he’s the guy who first said he wants to fight Tyson Fury after winning the title. So I must be doing something right, I must be on the right track.

“I would like to fight Wladimir [Klitschko] first because number one he’s my mandatory, number two he’s the best in the division and number three because he is an easy fight. Then I’ll fight Wilder. I won’t be taking any interim fights I’ll unify straight away,” Fury said.

The Fury camp has been a joyful one of late following the recent release from prison of Tyson’s dad John Fury after five-years away.

The imposing heavyweight believes that the return of his father will be a major plus for him going forward.

“It’s definitely [a boost] to have my dad back, he’s been away for a long time, so having him back in the gym and seeing his face every day is very good – it’s happy days at Team Fury,” he said.

“He gets to the gym at 7 in the morning and doesn’t leave till 10 at night; he’s definitely putting his misspent time back into practice in the gym. It is nice having him around and seeing his face back in the gym and the smile on it when you’re doing good things in boxing.

“Anybody would be proud of what their sons achievements are – whatever they do. You don’t have to be so successful but as long as you’ve got somebody who tries their best in something that they’re doing then I think that any father should be proud of their son.

“You don’t have to be a world champion, you don’t have to be a millionaire but I believe every father should be proud of his own son,” Fury said.

Despite talk of a world title fight in the summer, former British and Commonwealth champion Fury is well aware that he cannot overlook 27-year-old Hammer, who has 17 wins from his 20 fights.

“At this level in boxing you’re fighting top five opponents and in Hammer the number three ranked WBO heavyweight in the world so nobody is going to be easy, they’re all hard fights,” said Fury.

“You can say I’m in touching distance of a world title but in hindsight I may as well be 5 million miles away because I’m not fighting Klitschko, I’m not in the ring with him and that fight’s not happening in my mind.

“Until I’m in the ring in the opposite corner it’s not on so it’s just another fight for me, another day in the office. I’m going to go in there and box, move around and win and get out of there,” he said.

Fury v Hammer is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) this Saturday at 7pm. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

LONDON (24 Feb) – Tyson Fury’s chances of facing Wladimir Klitschko in the UK this summer have been handed a major boost with HBO Sports president Ken Hershman set to be in attendance for his fight this Saturday night.

Fury, mandatory challenger for Klitschko’s WBO title, takes on the sturdy Christian Hammer this weekend at the O2 Arena, with news that boxing bigwig Hershman will be ringside to assess the possibility of a UK megafight with the Ukrainian great acting as a huge incentive.

26-year-old Fury has taken the heavyweight division by storm and recently pushed himself into the number one position to face the formidable Klitschko with a commanding 10th round win over brave Londoner Dereck Chisora last November.

Hershman was one of the key figures in getting boxing’s most sought after fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao confirmed, when HBO and Showtime agreed to a unique pay-per-view collaboration for the highly-anticipated May 2nd showdown.

Now, the HBO Sports boss will be looking to pave the way for the first heavyweight world title fight on British soil in nearly 5 years, following David Haye’s defence of his WBA crown against the much maligned Audley Harrison.

Klitschko, however, is regarded as one of the best heavyweights of all time and the chance to see him fight in the flesh against the talented and colourful Fury will have British fight fans licking their lips.

Hershman will hold discussions whilst in London with leading promoter Frank Warren with the hopes of ironing out a summer blockbuster that will certainly give Fury the best possible advantage against WBA, WBO and IBF kingpin Klitschko.

Fury though must come through his fight this Saturday night, live and exclusive on BoxNation, unscathed against Hammer who will have ambitions of his own as he looks to tear up the Manchester heavyweight’s world title script.

The exciting starlet Chris Eubank Jr is also set to feature on the card when he’s back in action against Dmitry Chudinov for the interim WBA world middleweight title.

Fury v Hammer is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) this Saturday at 7pm. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

Ends-
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LONDON (24 FEB) American heavyweight Kevin Johnson claims time spent in the company of Tyson Fury will serve him well ahead of a proposed April 25 collision with Anthony Joshua – because Fury is considerably better than the former Olympic champion.

Twenty-six-year-old Fury fights Christian Hammer this Saturday (February 28) at the O2 Arena, live on BoxNation, and Johnson was one of his main sparring partners in camp.

The Atlanta-native couldn’t have asked for a better kickstart to his own preparations.

“Anthony Joshua is a tall, long guy, a good boxer with good strength, and Tyson Fury is a tall guy, a better boxer, a smarter guy, with better skills,” said Johnson. “In terms of preparation, it doesn’t get better than that.

“On a scale of one to ten, I give Fury an eight because he has grown and developed. Peter (Fury) has him working on so many different things and you can see the improvements when he steps into the ring. He’s a young kid as well. He won’t reach his full potential for another couple of years. That’s when he can get a ten. Joshua is at a three right now.”

Johnson, of course, boxed Fury back in December 2012. He lost a unanimous decision after twelve rounds. Since then he has watched the six-foot-nine Englishman improve on a fight-by-fight basis.

“You watch Dereck Chisora against Vitali Klitschko and Chisora looks like an ultimate beast in the ring,” said Johnson, “but then you watch Tyson Fury against Chisora and Tyson makes it look easy.

“I see a lot of improvement in Fury. He’s not doing what he used to do. Before he’d make stupid decisions and give up his size to come in and trade punches. That would allow the other guy to clip him and drop him at times.

“Now he’s boxing and using his height and reach beautifully. That demobilises a lot of opponents before he goes in to land the good blows. As Larry Holmes used to say, ‘Pick ’em apart from the outside and then, when you go in, lay ’em down.’ He’s doing that a lot better now.

“If you watch Fury over the last three or four years, you’ll see the difference. He’s just a lot cleverer now and has cut out the stupid stuff. Peter has calmed him down and has got him to use every one of his physical advantages to make fights that bit easier. I’m impressed. He’s definitely good enough to win a version of the world title one day.”

Whether Fury’s route to the title includes a shot at Wladimir Klitschko or WBC champion Deontay Wilder remains to be seen. The 26-year-old is currently mandatory challenger for Klitschko’s WBO strap, and a summer date has been mooted, but Johnson also likes the idea of Fury and Wilder getting together at some point this year.

“I’ve been in the ring with both Tyson and Deontay and that fight would come down to which one of them could take the hardest punch,” said ‘Kingpin’. “I can’t answer that because I’ve never had the opportunity to take a hard shot from either.

“Which one of them could dig down once that hard shot lands? That would be the guy who wins.

“Deontay is a great boxer, you can’t take that from him, but Tyson is a great boxer, too. They’re both at a very similar stage right now. It would be great to see them go at it. Both guys can win that fight with one shot and that’s exciting for the division.”

*** Tyson Fury fights Christian Hammer this Saturday (February 28) at London’s O2 Arena, LIVE on BoxNation ***

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BOLTON (18 FEB) By Peter Fury (courtesy of Hennessy Sports): Fight week is upon us now and I’ll be travelling out to Monte Carlo with Hughie on Thursday. We’ll get there in time for the weigh-in on the Friday and then, of course, the fight with Andriy Rudenko on Saturday night.

As you can imagine, Hughie is in great spirits at the moment. The finish line is in sight and he’s straining at the leash to show the world what he can do.

He sparred four rounds on Monday and then yesterday did a few rounds with me on the pads. Now it’s all about recovery. We’ve done all the hard stuff – that’s all in the bank – and there’s no real need to do more cardio work. It’s just a lot of shadowboxing and light weights to keep loose. We’re counting down the days now.

Hughie knows he’s had a good camp, he knows he’s done plenty of sparring and he knows no stone left has been left unturned. Hughie is ready to show people exactly what he’s about.

I’ve been to Monte Carlo many times in the past and I’ve been to the casino as well. It’s an unbelievable place. It’s got to be ranked up there as one of the very best places in the world to host a boxing event. That’s how highly I rate it.

I only live fifteen miles down the road, so I know the area very well. We consider that a bit of an advantage on Saturday, funnily enough. Although Hughie has fought all over the world, we see a fight in France as giving us a bit of a home advantage. Hughie has been going there since he was a child. He knows the area inside out. It’s like a home from home, to be honest. I know a lot of people there and Hughie has even featured in a few of the local papers over the years.

In addition to Hughie’s crucial fight with Rudenko, I’ll also be keeping a close eye on the intriguing world middleweight title fight between Gennady Golovkin and Martin Murray, which is shown LIVE that night on Channel 5.

I just think it’s unfortunate that Murray is coming up against probably the best middleweight in the world right now. Golovkin’s got immense power and he’s got skill. You can train as much as you want, you can be the fittest you’ve ever been, but that all counts for little if the other guy is an elite-level talent. I like Murray, and I hope he does really well, but you have to say it’s a very tall order for him.

I admire everything Golovkin does. I like the way he cuts the ring off and I like the way he makes his opponents fight his kind of fight. He seems to do everything well. He’s like a hawk. As soon as he spots an opening, he’s on to you. If you blink, you’ve got a problem.

Murray will be well-prepared, of course, and he’ll be in super condition, but he has never before met anybody quite like Golovkin. Golovkin will be right in front of him and he’ll be waiting for him to blink. Once that happens, he’s got you. The man can hit like a mule and he can also box. That’s something you rarely see nowadays. Only the world’s very best fighters can combine big punch power with good fundamental skills. Golovkin has both.

I just think he’ll get to Murray with clean shots and eventually wear him down. But that doesn’t mean Murray will be outclassed. It doesn’t mean he won’t put up a fantastic fight. Murray always does. He’s a quality operator in his own right. Murray is a world-class fighter who is good enough to win a world title, but I see Golovkin as another Floyd Mayweather. He’s an elite world champion – the very best in the world.

If I was advising Martin Murray, I’d advise him to keep up a fantastic work-rate. He’s got to be all over Golovkin and not let him set. In other words, he’s got to take him out of his rhythm, rough him up and chuck boxing out the window. He’s got to step all over Golovkin and land punches, arms, elbows, whatever it takes. He’s got to rough him up and have a good go. He needs to bite down on that gum shield and say to himself, ‘Right, let’s have a war.’ He needs to be on Golovkin’s chest to stop him getting leverage on his heavy shots. He needs to completely maul him.

If he stands off from Golovkin and tries to have a boxing match with him, he’s going to get annihilated. No, he’s got to jump all over Golovkin and take him out of his comfort zone. Then he might have a chance. I wish him the very best. May the best man win…

*** Hughie Fury fights dangerman Andriy Rudenko over ten rounds on February 21 in Monte Carlo, televised by Channel 5. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury defends his WBO International heavyweight title against Christian Hammer on February 28 at the O2 Arena, live on BoxNation ***

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[three_fifth_last]

Heavyweight star Tyson Fury has vowed to make it a short night’s work when he meets dangerous German Christian Hammer next weekend.

The European and WBO International Heavyweight Champion, who is the mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko’s world crown, was speaking during a media workout at his gym in Bolton, ahead of his February 28th showdown at London’s O2 Arena .

Undefeated Fury, who has an impressive 17 knockouts from his 23 wins, is looking to add another victim to his record in the shape of Hammer, though despite gunning for a knockout is refusing to underestimate the 27-year-old, who is unbeaten since 2010.

“I’ve had a great camp, training has gone very well and because of that I don’t see this fight going beyond five rounds. I want the knockout and that’s what I’m out to get on February 28th,” said Fury.

“There’s a reason this bill is being labelled ‘Risky Business’ because of everything that is on the line. I’m mandatory to face Wladimir Klitschko next but if I don’t win this fight I’ll lose that mandatory position and my chance to fight for the world title

“We’ve seen fighters in the past who have been in a similar position and lost but that’s not going to happen with me. The reason is because I’m not overlooking Christian Hammer.

“I’ve seen him in the amateurs and I’ve seen the progress he has made in the paid ranks, he’s a very good fighter and not someone you can overlook.

“But a Tyson Fury fight is never boring and I can guarantee excitement and drama when I step in the ring. Put it this way, someone is getting knocked out and it isn’t going to be me,” Fury said.

Manchester’s Fury ended 2014 on a high with a commanding victory over the much respected Dereck Chisora to muscle himself into pole position to face the world’s number one heavyweight in Klitschko.

Now, 26-year-old Fury is out to first beat Hammer before ushering in a new era in boxing’s glamour division by dethroning the formidable Ukrainian legend and making 2015 a year to remember.

“I want Klitschko but I’m not overlooking Hammer because that would be foolish. When I win this fight that will be the time to talk Klitschko and he will have to step up and face me,” said Fury.

“Last year was a frustrating year, despite it ending well, but it’s all in the past now and I’m just looking forward to the future and becoming a world champion.

“The heavyweight division has to sit up and take notice because there’s going to be a changing of the guard and crowning of a new King in 2015 in Tyson Fury,” he said.

Chris Eubank Jr will also be back in action on the night following his split decision loss to Billy Joe Saunders last November, when he takes on Dmitry Chudinov for the interim WBA world middleweight title.

Rising super-featherweight ace Liam Walsh is also part of the impressive lineup when he faces Joe Murray for the British and Commonwealth titles.

Tickets are on sale now for Risky Business, priced at £50, £75, £100 and £250 + booking fees, are available from www.eventim.co.uk and 0844 249 1000 or AXS.com and 08448 24 48 24.

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BOLTON (11 FEB) By Peter Fury (courtesy of Hennessy Sports): Family. It’s the most important thing to me, it’s life’s beating heart, and it means more than all the world titles a fighter can win.

Today the Fury family grows stronger as my brother, John, is released from prison following a four-and-a-half year sentence. It’s a happy day, a cause for celebration, and I’m just glad we get to have him home. It gives us the chance to put all of this misery behind us. Now we can concentrate on the boxing.

We’re taking this afternoon off and we’ll go out for a meal to celebrate his release. Then we’ll be back in the gym this evening and there’ll be sparring. John will be right in the mix and it will be like he never went away.

He’s going to be working full-time with me here, doing pads, and he’ll be a big asset to us. He can help me out in many different ways.

For example, there’s a lot of lads in the gym and it’s a bit much for me to take them all on the pads at the same time. But I can now split it up a bit, and it’s nice to have a good pad man who knows what he’s doing. It allows me to take a step back, have a proper look at them and then fix anything I see.

Of course, it’s great to work alongside your brother because you’ve got that natural communication. I’ve only got to say, ‘Right, make him slip that shot and come around to the body,’ and John knows exactly what I mean. He can interpret everything I want from a fighter. Sometimes it doesn’t even require words. He just understands what I want and will act on it. He knows where I’m coming from.

This is all going to be a big plus for me because I’ve always seen myself as more of a tactician, a technical strategist, someone who works on different things to allow a fighter to find the range to get their shots off. There’s a lot involved with training, though, so it’s good to now have my brother doing more on the physical side.

When you step up to world level, you need to put all your energy into the technical side of things because that’s what can make the difference. They’re all tough and fit at world level. The great fighters just happen to have that something extra technically.

I’ve always said my dream for Tyson and Hughie is for them to be like the two Klitschkos. Well, they’ve now got two fathers training them and it couldn’t be any better. We’ve got a tight bond, a close family unit, which is exactly what we need to drive them to do great things.

My family is my life. We lost our oldest brother, Hughie, last year and that completely messed us up. We still haven’t got over it. John and I were talking about it only three days ago. Things won’t ever be the same for us. We know that. We lost a part of our family.

We’ve just got to buckle in now and focus on the young ones. It’s all about them now. We’ve got my brother’s son, Dempsey, who is carrying the torch and I can make his father proud through him. I can help him achieve something in his father’s memory. That motivates me, that cheers me up, it keeps me going. If I put all of my efforts into him, I know his father will be looking down on us with a smile.

In fact, before my brother died, we had a conversation and he agreed to come and help train my son, Hughie, while I helped train Dempsey. We were going to share the responsibility. We’d have all been here at the gym together.

That never happened, though. But his son is training here with us now and I’m privileged and honoured to bear that responsibility. Family, for me, is about keeping everyone together as one unit and going forward as a united front.

*** Hughie Fury fights dangerman Andriy Rudenko over ten rounds on February 21 in Monte Carlo, televised by Channel 5. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury defends his WBO International heavyweight title against Christian Hammer on February 28 at the O2 Arena, live on BoxNation ***

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BOLTON (4 FEB) By Peter Fury: Sparring began for real on Monday and it was great to see Tyson and Hughie get put through their paces by a number of quality heavyweights.

For this particular camp we’ve got Kevin Johnson, the American heavyweight due to fight Anthony Joshua in April, as well as Marcin Rekowski, who is 15-1, and Sean ‘Sexy’ Turner from Dublin. It’s a nice mix of experience and youth.

We’ve had Kevin twice in camp now and it’s always good to have him around. He’s a good lad, Kevin, and he’s the ultimate professional. He does his job properly. When he’s got the bit between his teeth and has a big fight coming up, you get good work out of him. He does what he needs to do and is ideal for what we need.

Not everybody is, though. The likes of Johnson come back to us because they like what they see, we’re fair with them and they want to return. The ones who don’t come back, however, are the ones who come over and don’t perform in sparring. They don’t give me what I want. Some of them come over and think they’re just getting an easy payday. They do the bare minimum and expect that to be enough. Then comes the reality check. We soon get rid of them.

Sparring, I believe, is majorly important to a fighter’s development. You have to have it because it helps detect any mistakes and flaws. You’ll quickly pick up on and work on mistakes if a boxer is being punished by a sparring partner every time he makes one. Sparring puts boxers under pressure. They’re getting punched back and they’re simulating a fight.

Also, when you have sparring partners they’re not used to, and you then rotate them – in and out – it’s a different ball game. It’s impossible for Tyson and Hughie to get accustomed to any one style. Just when they think they’ve sussed one of the sparring partners, he’ll jump out and another one will jump in. It teaches them to be adjustable and to develop not just one way of fighting but a variety of ways of fighting.

Typically, I’ll have a sparring partner do no more than one round at a time. Johnson, for example, will do a round and will then be replaced by Rekwoski. After Rekowski’s done a round, he’ll be replaced by Turner and so on. I find it keeps them fresh if I’m only giving them a round at a time. They know they can give their maximum effort for that one round and then refresh afterwards ready for the next round we need from them.

Tyson and Hughie, during these sessions, will simply work on what they’re being told. It’s almost as if the opponent in front of them doesn’t exist. They’ll just go through the motions and work on what they need to work on. They’ll work on their flaws. If we’re looking to work a certain style, they’ll practice that and make the mistakes in sparring rather than on fight night itself. They’re just working on their game plan. It’s not about getting the better of the sparring partner or beating them up. That doesn’t prove anything at this stage. They have no interest in that. They’re simply focused on working towards fight night.

All in all, I’ll look for Tyson and Hughie to spar five days a week and they’ll do ten rounds each. It’s enough.

For Hughie, in particular, this camp is vital. Hughie is in a big fight and he’s right up there now and ready to go in with the big boys. He’s always done full-on sparring, to be fair, so this is nothing new to him. The only things that have hampered Hughie in the past have been health issues.

But now he’s back to full strength and he’s going okay so far. So far, so good. He doesn’t have a problem being thrown into hard sparring. He can mix it with the best. He’s shown that in previous camps; anybody who has shared the ring with him knows how good Hughie Fury is…

*** Hughie Fury fights dangerman Andriy Rudenko over ten rounds on February 21 in Monte Carlo, televised by Channel 5. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury defends his WBO International heavyweight title against Christian Hammer on February 28 at the O2 Arena, live on BoxNation ***

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LONDON (19 JAN) European heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has expressed his delight at seeing Deontay Wilder lift the WBC world heavyweight title last weekend and now seeks to dethrone the heavy-handed American later this year.

Wilder outboxed Bermane Stiverne for 12 rounds in Las Vegas on Saturday night and, in doing so, became America’s first world heavyweight champion since 2006. Fury, who boxes Christian Hammer on February 28 at London’s O2 Arena, couldn’t have been happier with how it all worked out.

“It was big man versus little man and the big man boxed tall, just as I did against Dereck Chisora,” he said. “He outboxed the smaller man with ease.

“Wilder did a good job on Stiverne and he’s now got the WBC title. That puts him in line for big fights against people like me, Wladimir Klitschko and whoever else. America has a new heavyweight champion of the world and the big boys are back in the division. The division has been set on fire again.

“It was definitely the result I wanted. Stiverne, although a good champion, was a bit of an unknown. Nobody knew who he was and nobody cared. Now America has a new heavyweight champion. Also, Wilder’s undefeated and a knockout artist. That means the division has been given a lift and we’re all back in business.”

A fight between Wilder and Fury seems something of an inevitability given their respective ages, career trajectories and exuberant personalities. And, with world titles now up for grabs, it appears even more of a certainty in 2015.

“I don’t like Deontay Wilder and he doesn’t like me,” said Fury, 23 (17 KOs). “I think he’s a big hype-job. We once had a bit of a falling out in Sheffield at one of Mick Hennessy’s boxing shows and I told him one day I will get him in the ring and knock him out. That is still my plan.

“He’s got a title now and I’m the mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko. In an ideal world I’d like to fight Klitschko first, because he’s got most of the belts and he’s the number one in the division, and then I’d like to unify all the titles against Deontay Wilder. Potentially, I’m three or four fights away from being the unified heavyweight champion of the world.”

Should the fight between Fury and Wilder materialise later this year, the Manchester man is under no illusions as to just how big an event it could become.

“It would be the biggest selling fight with the greatest smack talk in heavyweight history,” he said. “No other fight could come close to it. It would be pure entertainment.

“Back in the (Muhammad) Ali days, there was only one man doing the talking. The others wouldn’t talk. This is different, though. We can both talk, we both play the press and we are both natural born entertainers. That’s why it’s the biggest fight out there as far as I’m concerned. It’s not just the biggest fight in the heavyweight division, it’s the biggest fight in world boxing.

“I’m a big puncher, he’s a big puncher, and it’s just a matter of who lands first. I wouldn’t go out there to try and outbox somebody who is probably quicker than me. I’d go out there to switch his lights off. I’d look to demolish him early. There’d be a guaranteed knockout in the early rounds. Either way, it will be over very fast.”

Promoter Mick Hennessy added: “Wilder’s win at the weekend has put the heavyweight division back where it should be. It has made it interesting again. It has given it a new lease of life.

“Wilder and Tyson are two unbeaten sensations. They’re proper modem day heavyweights, modern day gladiators; both are over 6’7 in height and are athletic.

“Ultimately, though, I think Tyson is in a different league to the likes of Wilder and Stiverne. I think he would take care of both of them on the same night. I thought that before Saturday night and I’m even more confident now. I don’t just think Tyson outclasses Wilder, I think he blasts him out.”

END

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LONDON (13 JAN) Rising heavyweight prospect Hughie Lewis Fury aims to make up for recent inactivity with an impressive performance against Ukrainian puncher Andriy Rudenko on February 21 in Monte Carlo.

Hughie, cousin of Tyson, has been sidelined since May due to illness, but is now back firing on all cylinders and ready for the biggest test of his 14-bout professional career.

“I’m just delighted to be back training and to have a big fight on the horizon,” the 20-year-old said.

“The last eight months have absolutely killed me really. I’ve spent my days doing nothing and just getting really bored. I was basically watching films all the time. I was out of the gym completely. All I could do was swim. I had to stick to the medication and do exactly as I was told.

“It’s been very frustrating for me and for everybody around me. I’ve had to sit and watch everyone else crack on and have fights, including members of my own family, and I’ve been able to do nothing with my own career. It’s been very hard. I can’t wait to get back in the ring and make a statement.

“I feel good and healthy now, though. I am 100% healthy.”

The heavyweight’s exasperation was shared by his father and trainer, Peter, who had lined up a number of fights for Hughie only to see them fall through.

“It was very frustrating,” he said. “One of the main reasons for pulling Hughie out of those fights is that he has such great boxing skills and is a world-class performer and I didn’t want to see him perform below par. He could have carried on at the same level, having the same kind of fights and just labouring through them. But what’s the point?

“We’re aiming for world-class boxing. I didn’t want him to be someone who stepped up and failed because of his health. The decision was obvious to pull him out and just get to the root of the problem. We think we’re almost there now. He’s had extensive checks over the last eight months and it has cost upwards of fifteen thousand pounds in health bills. We’ve taken him everywhere.

“But he’s feeling good now, he’s back in training and it’s all systems go. He’s been in training for three weeks and he’s responding well to the training. Everything is going very well. His strength is increasing and I’ve seen the results I would expect to see.”

A healthy Hughie is a dangerous Hughie and he’ll need to be at his very best to overcome the considerable threat of Rudenko in Monte Carlo. The Dnipropetrovsk-native is renowned for his punch power and durability and has won 24 of his 25 professional fights, 16 via knockout. The only black mark on his record is a controversial 12-round decision loss to top contender Lucas ‘Big Daddy’ Browne last August.

“This is an easy fight to get motivated for, but I’ve always been focused and motivated for my fights,” said Hughie, 14-0 (8 KOs). “I just want to show people what I can actually do. I know I can beat anyone in the heavyweight division and, now I’m 100% healthy, it’s up to me to prove myself. You’ll see on the night what I can do at this level.”

Peter Fury added: “Hughie’s now 20 years of age and he’s been in excellent camps and sparred with some elite-level heavyweights. He’s around Tyson Fury and Eddie Chambers all the time. He is used to mixing at that level now. So, although it’s a step up and sparring isn’t boxing, it’s not like he’s completely new to this level. Hughie is a skilled fighter. He’s on a different level.

“He’s also 14-0, let’s not forget. He’s done his schooling and he knows his way around the ring. He’s been eight rounds when he’s been under the weather. He’s managed to get his way through it.

“Hughie is now experienced enough for me to be confident in taking a risk like this. He’s also got the amateur credentials. In fact, when you really condense it down and look at it, this is no inexperienced and vulnerable kid. Hughie can handle himself and he’ll show that on February 21.”

*** Fury-Rudenko is part of the ‘Thunderbolt in Monaco’ show on February 21 in Monte Carlo. The event, televised on Channel 5, is headlined by the WBA Super world middleweight title fight between the destructive Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin and well-schooled Brit Martin Murray ***

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Dmitry Chudinov will defend his WBA Interim title against Chris Eubank Jr. as part of the Tyson Fury – Christan Hammer card in London, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Promoter Frank Warren also announced that Jr. Bantamweight champion Zolono Tete will defend against Paul Butler in Liverpool on March 6.
“It’s been a busy Christmas period, but I’m delighted to secure world title fights for Chris and Paul early in the new year, which is fantastic news for them,” Warren said. “For Chris, it was a close fight against Billy and the loss to a big rival would have been hard to take, but he now has a great opportunity to go straight back into the ring and claim [an interim] world championship belt and prove that he’s learned from the loss and show that he’s the real thing.

“I believe that Paul is a super talent, and I’m especially pleased to deliver him a second and history-making world title opportunity against Tete, which should have happened in October. He gets the chance now, and I’m sure he’ll grab the opportunity with both hands.”

WBO Mandatory Heavyweight contender Tyson Fury will risk his position when he takes on Christian Hammer on February 28 in London according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I’ve said all along I’m not like these other fighters in the division who pussyfoot around, take soft touches and call themselves fighters,” Fury said. “I could have taken an easy job at the O2 Arena to keep my position safe for my world title fight against Klitschko, but that’s not what Tyson Fury is about or what the public want to see from someone who has promised from day one to win the world heavyweight title.

“On paper, it’s a dangerous job against Hammer. He’s highly ranked, he brings a big punch with him, he’ll have ambitions of his own to beat me and grab himself a world title shot against Klitschko, and I’m sure he’ll be full of confidence coming over here.”

Said Warren: “Fury will have his hands full with Hammer, who could create a huge shock if he wins. It’s a risky fight for Fury, who’s within touching distance of Klitschko and the world title. But Fury needs to keep active by fighting until Klitschko gets his fight in April out of the way and then comes to the table to negotiate the fight with Fury or the fight goes to purse bids. Fury needs to concentrate on Hammer and leave the talk of Klitschko until after he’s dealt with Hammer.

“Training for Hammer will start in early January and this year is a big one for me and the world title is in my sight,” Fury said. “My focus will be on Hammer now. He’s my priority and the man in the way of my dream. There’s no messing about in the heavyweight division. One punch can turn everything upside down. That goes for him and for me, but I’ve got two things that other fighters lack, a fighting heart and massive balls. I love to fight. If I go down, I get up and win, that’s why people love me and want to see me fight. Tyson Fury will never lose, simple.”

“I’m grateful for this fantastic opportunity to fight Tyson Fury, and I’ll be in the best shape of my life. This is a golden opportunity for me to get the No. 1 position to fight Klitschko for the world title if I can beat Fury,” Hammer said. “I love to fight bigger, taller, men, and [the 6-9, 265-pound] Fury is perfect for me. It will be a hard fight, but I’ve got every confidence that I’ll surprise everyone with a win in his backyard.”

LONDON (Dec 19) – BoxNation will end 2014 with a bang this Friday night with knockout artist Adonis Stevenson’s battle with Dmitry Sukhotsky, before ushering in a blitzing start to the New Year.

‘The Channel of Champions’ is set to pick up where they left off with some mammoth fights in 2015 starting with the heavyweight world title fight between brash-talking American Deontay Wilder and WBC champion Bermane Stiverne on January 17th.

The charismatic Wilder is renowned for his hard-hitting power after dispatching of all 32 of his opponents and could potentially set up a blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury in the future, who is also back in action on February 28th.

Manchester’s Fury has forced himself into a mandatory position to face Wladimir Klitschko for his WBO belt after his commanding victory over Dereck Chisora in his last outing.

February’s clash with a top 15 ranked contender will provide an appetizer before the heavyweight hitman tests himself against the world’s number one in Klitschko.

Also appearing on that card at London’s O2 Arena will be Chris Eubank Jr who will be looking to bounce back after his thrilling fight with middleweight star Billy Joe Saunders.

BoxNation will also screen what is set to be one of the greatest trilogies of the modern era when Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios step into the ring once again following their previous duels.

The welterweight aces will step into the ring at the 1stBank Center in Colorado on January 24th as they look to conclude their feud once-and-for-all, with both men sharing a win apiece.

However, before BoxNation wraps up for Christmas the world’s leading boxing channel will show WBC light-heavyweight world champion Stevenson’s clash with tough Russian Sukhotsky.

A fight with another Russian though has been mooted with WBA, WBO and IBF champion Sergey Kovalev someone on Stevenson’s radar.

“The fight that is huge is Kovalev and me because the world needs this fight. They don’t just want to watch that in Quebec City they want to watch that all over the world,” said Stevenson.

“The world isn’t interested in seeing me with Lucian Bute or Jean Pascal – the world needs Adonis and Kovalev.”

The 37-year-old, who has knocked out 20 of his 25 opponents, has hit back at critics who have said he is afraid of the ruthless Kovalev.

“They don’t know nothing about boxing. I can say I want to fight or Kovalev can say he wants to fight but we have to deal with the TV networks, the managers, the promoters – that’s the problem. I know my manager Al Haymon is working on that but all these guys have to come together to fix that and make the fight happen,” said Stevenson.

The Haitian-born pugilist has to first get past his impending challenger first, someone he insists he is not overlooking.

“This was probably the best training camp that I’ve had. We’re ready for this fight. We’re not underestimating him. I know he’s coming to fight and I will be ready.

“I know he’s a tough contender. And I know he’s training very hard for this fight. He’s going to try to surprise me, but I’m very prepared because I know the contender is always going to try to take your belt,” said Stevenson.

“I’m going to win by knockout. Emmanuel (Steward) always told me that knockouts sell, so I’m going to win by knockout. It’s going to be a short night,” he said.

Watch Stevenson vs Sukhotsky live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 and TalkTalk 525) this Friday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.
Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

WBO number-one ranked Heavyweight Tyson Fury will be back in action on February according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“It’s great to have my first fight of the year up and announced so now I can go away, have a break over Christmas and then get back in the gym with a goal to aim for,” Fury said. “When I haven’t got a fight lined up, I find it hard to concentrate. I need that focus to aim toward, and at least I know I’m fighting on Feb. 28 and then I’ve got the WBO world title fight next. I’ll have my opponent confirmed shortly, and then I’ll let my trainer and uncle, Peter, get on with setting up the training camp and fight plans.”

“The win against Chisora was very satisfying because I showed that I’m not just a crash, bang, wallop fighter. I can box clever and take someone apart clinically,” Fury said. “I’m now the mandatory challenger to Klitschko, and there’s no way he can dodge me. He can either vacate the title or defend the title against me. Either way I’m going to fight for the world title this summer. Klitschko can have his fight in [April], but then he knows he’s got me next. He’s run from me for the last two years and now knows that I’m reality and I’m next.

“He can be a fighting man and show the world he’s not scared by defending his title against me or prove what I’ve been saying about him for the last few years by vacating the title without fighting me. Ideally, I want to fight the man who is holding the belt, the champion, this so-called great Wladimir Klitschko. I don’t want the vacant belt. I want Klitschko.”

“I emailed Klitschko’s business manager, Bernd Boente, to try and cut through all the tape and make the fight for March, but I’ve not had a response back from them yet,” Warren said. “That’s fine, but they’ll have to sit down and negotiate after Klitschko has had his fight or we can go to purse bids. Either way, Fury’s going to fight for the world title this year.

“We’ll have Tyson’s opponent confirmed shortly, but the main thing is that he keeps busy as he’s only fought twice in a year and a half and this next fight will keep him active before he fights again in the summer. Tyson is the mandatory challenger to Klitschko, and it’s a position we want to preserve. Klitschko is the long reigning champion, the guy who holds [three of the four major] belts, and ideally we want him to defend the title against Tyson.

“Obviously, [titleholder] Bermane Stiverne and Deontay Wilder fight on Jan. 17 and the winner of that could be another potential avenue for Fury, and if an opportunity comes up there, then it will be worth exploring, but it’s Klitschko who we want.”

LONDON (Nov 28) – Rising middleweight sensations Chris Eubank Jr and Billy Joe Saunders will be out to steal the show on a truly mouth-watering evening of boxing this Saturday, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

Taking place at a 20,000 sell-out at ExCel London the pair have not minced their words in the run up to this year’s biggest and best British card, headlined by Dereck Chisora and Tyson Fury’s world title eliminator.

But despite the heavyweight hitmen topping the bill, it is Eubank Jr’s and Saunders’ clash which could prove the fight of the night on a card stacked from top to bottom.

The duo have shown little regard for one another in the build up to their eagerly anticipated clash, with Eubank Jr adamant that the current British, Commonwealth and European champion has not got under his skin.

“I can see he is not mentally ready to face what is going to be brought to him on Saturday night,” said Eubank Jr. “I could see he’s not ready at the press conference, with his nervous laughing and talking like he is a school kid. It’s going to be complete domination on my part in this fight.

“From day one of my professional career I have had people saying all types of things to me – from social media to trolls to haters. They have always been insulting me, whether it’s because they doubt my abilities or they didn’t like my dad so they don’t want me to succeed.

“So I’m used to insults and immune to any bad words that are directed towards me. He is not getting to me but I am getting to him by not reacting to the dumb things he says,” said Eubank Jr.

Despite both men having around the same number of professional fights, with the unbeaten Saunders’ 20 wins to Eubank Jr’s 18, it is the Brighton speedster who is seen as the less experienced of the two.

However, the 25-year-old is looking to follow in his father’s famous footsteps but says he is his own man when in the ring and has vowed that he will stop the highly-touted Saunders.

“I don’t take advice – I know what I’m going to do. If I feel like I have to change a certain strategy or start doing something different I will do it. That’s the difference between me and Billy Joe he needs someone to tell him what he needs to do – I don’t,” said Eubank Jr.

“I never pick a round or say when I’m going to take someone out in but he will not go the full 12 rounds with me – I’m going to knock him out. He’s not going to have enough to deal with the firepower which I’m going to bring to him,” he said.

Saunders, though, is in equally defiant mood and despite the fact he could have gone on to challenge for world honours he felt he has unfinished business back at home.

“I think you get more respect from the fans by taking on fights like this, where people can’t split you. I want to make sure everyone in Britain is beat so when I do move to world level people can say he beat everyone at his weight back home now he’s gone onto the world,” said Saunders.

“This is a fight the fans have been calling for and I’m happy we’ve managed to get this fight done – I honestly cannot wait to get in the ring,” he said.

The fight will allow the victor to go on to challenge the biggest names in the division next year, with Saunders, also 25, certain that Eubank Jr doesn’t know what is coming his way.

“It’s been a long time coming. The talking is done. This fight doesn’t need hyping up. I’m fit and ready to rock and roll. I’m going to poleaxe Chris Eubank Jr. Believe me I’m going to knock him out cold,” Saunders said.

“He says he’s going to break my heart. He wouldn’t break my heart with an AK47. So he isn’t going to break my heart – that’s definitely sure. I know what I need to do in there. I’m relaxed, all the hardwork has been done and the job is going to get done on Saturday,” he stated.

Also featuring on the night’s brilliant bill is Birmingham’s Frankie Gavin who will be looking to bounce back against the undefeated Bradley Skeete, with super-featherweights Liam Walsh and Gary Sykes challenging for the British and Commonwealth belts.

Super-middleweight ace Frank Buglioni is also appearing on the card as he takes on Andrew Robinson for the vacant WBO European title.

Once the enthralling bill is over from London, BoxNation will bring viewers live and exclusive coverage of one boxing’s hottest young superstars in the slick and exciting Terence Crawford who will defend his WBO lightweight world title against Raymundo Beltran.

In front of a full house at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska, the 27-year-old Crawford returns home for his second fight in a row, as he takes on the man who contentiously lost in his last world title bid against Ricky Burns last year.

To subscribe to BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546, TalkTalk 525) for only £12 a month (plus registration fee) please visit www.boxnation.com.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

LONDON (27 Nov) – Charismatic heavyweight Tyson Fury has claimed that Wladimir Klitschko will avoid fighting him should he overcome Dereck Chisora in their world title eliminator this weekend.

The Manchester banger steps into the ring with Chisora this Saturday night at a sold out ExCel London and has claimed that heavyweight kingpin Klitschko will refuse to take him on next year.

Fury, and the 30-year-old Chisora, have the chance of forcing themselves into a mandatory position to challenge for the Ukrainian star’s WBO world title should either prevail in their impending contest, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

”By beating Dereck I will ensure I’m mandatory for a world title shot next year,” said Fury. “I have been saying for a long time now that I don’t think Wladimir Klitschko will fight me – I think he will avoid me – but you never can tell what’s going through people’s minds.

“I hope to God that he does take the challenge and that I become the new heavyweight champion of the world,” he said.

The former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion believes the people around Klitschko are cautious of putting their prized asset in with him.

“I don’t usually think it’s the fighter it’s the people who are around him and handling his business side of things [that don’t want the fight],” Fury said.

“He’s the goose that lays the golden egg and they wouldn’t want to kill the goose that lays that golden egg. So if they want to kill it, put it in the ring with me, otherwise keep on fighting mediocre fighters because there is nothing mediocre about me,” he said.

The 26-year-old Fury has endured a terrible 18 months which has seen him suffer inside and outside the ring.

Now, though, he takes on Chisora for the second time after having beat him in 2011, but believes that the Londoner will prove a tougher test this time around.

“Dereck deserves respect for getting in the ring. He’s had a lot of professional fights, with a lot of world class fighters, so it’s going to be a tough night. He’s been very active, he’s fit and he’ll be ready because it’s all on the line,” said Fury.

“It’s a final eliminator for a mandatory shot at the world title – it’s not just a mandatory shot on the line but a lot of money. The winner excels onto big fights in the future and the loser has to regroup and go from there.

“I’m anticipating a fit, motivated Dereck Chisora, who is in great shape and willing to fight – it should be a good war. Hopefully I’ll do the double over Dereck Chisora but nothing is certain in boxing that’s why everyone loves the heavyweights.”

‘Del Boy’, as Chisora is known, is ready for the task at hand and says he is a much more mature and fitter fighter than in the past.

“I’m in really great shape for this fight and ready to go on Saturday night,” said Chisora.

“The talking is all done and now it is about stepping in there and taking care of business. I’m hungry for another shot at the world title and I’m not going to let anyone stand in my way.

“I know what Tyson brings to the ring. I’ve learned from our last fight and I’m ready for him. This is going to be my easiest fight because I know how he boxes and I’m going to beat him at everything he does. He doesn’t know what he’s in for,” said a confident Chisora.

Also featuring on the bill is a mouth-watering chief support between Billy Joe Saunders and Chris Eubank Jr which sees the British, Commonwealth and European belts up for grabs in a potential thriller.

Frankie Gavin takes on Bradley Skeete, with Liam Walsh facing Gary Sykes on a stacked card from top to bottom.

Tyson Fury vs. Dereck Chisora is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 546 & TalkTalk 525) this Saturday night. Visit www.boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-

About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

BoxNation is proud to support Fight for Peace, a charity that uses boxing and martial arts combined with education and personal development to realise the potential of young people in communities that suffer from crime and violence. Buy LUTA (www.luta.co.uk) clothing and support Fight for Peace.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.525), online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android. BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

ESPN3 will present exclusive live coverage in the U.S. of the 12-round Heavyweight rematch between British contenders Tyson Fury (22-0, 16 KOs) and Dereck Chisora (20-4, 13 KOs), which will take place at the ExCel Arena in London on Saturday, November 29. The winner of the fight will become the mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko’s WBO Heavyweight title. ESPN3’s coverage of the card will begin at 3:40 p.m. ET.

Prior to the main event, ESPN3 will feature the 12-round Welterweight contest between Frankie Gavin (20-1, 13 KOs) and Bradley Skeete (18-0, 7 KOs) and the WBO Middleweight world title eliminator bout between Billy Joe Saunders (20-0, 11 KOs) and Chris Eubank Jr. (17-0, 12 KOs). Saturday’s card is promoted by Queensberry Promotions.

About ESPN Boxing
ESPN is home to ESPN Friday Night Fights and ESPN Deportes’ Noche de Combates (Spanish version), a weekly boxing series which runs between January and August and showcases some of the best bouts in the boxing industry. Friday Night Fights began on October 2, 1998 and Noche de Combates (formerly Viernes de Combates) began on January 10, 2004. ESPN began televising boxing on April 10, 1980 when weekly boxing returned to television for the first time since 1964, with the debut of Top Rank Boxing on ESPN.

Former two division world champion David Haye has pulled out his bout with Tyson Fury for the 2nd time, this time for a shoulder injury that required immediate surgery according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

The bout was originally scheduled for September 28th but a cut over Haye’s eye forced a postponement to February 8th.

“I genuinely believed the shoulder injury wasn’t that bad,” Haye said. “But the doctor sent me for a detailed MRI scan and within 24 hours I was told the full extent of the damage. Twenty-four hours after that I was in the operating theater.

“It’s a crushing blow for me. I had big plans for next year and the ultimate goal was to win back the world heavyweight title, something my amazing fans deserve.

“What I didn’t anticipate was that this year would be the unluckiest of my career and that a number of injuries would disrupt my plans so much. Perhaps it just wasn’t meant to be. The boxing gods keep hinting that maybe enough is enough and that it’s time to finally hang up my gloves.”

“The surgery and subsequent results are a bitter pill to swallow because I truly felt I had a lot more to offer and was looking forward to paying back my loyal fans with some great fights in 2014,” Haye said. “But I’ve been boxing for 23 years now, amateur and pro, and this has clearly taken its toll on my body. I can only offer my sincerest apologies to all those fans who have followed me over the years and, like me, wanted to finish on a real high. This wasn’t how I wanted to end 2013.

“If I’m now destined to have won the European championship, the unified world cruiserweight championship and the WBA heavyweight championship of the world, then so be it. I’m proud of these achievements and consider my boxing career a huge success.”

BOLTON (7 Oct) – Team Fury are set to play host to a dazzling charity event at De Vere Whites Hotel in Bolton on Thursday 10 October.

All proceeds raised will be donated to Christie’s Children’s Hospital and the special care baby unit at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital.

Both institutions hold a special place in the heart of the Fury family after Prince, the son of heavyweight star Tyson Fury, spent three weeks in the intensive care unit last year following a bout of pneumonia and bronchiolitis which saw him enter a coma during his lowest ebb.

The two-year-old is now back fighting fit and the upcoming event will see guests enjoy a lavish five course meal, a host of entertainment including comedians, singer Wayne Devlin and a Q&A with Tyson, Hughie and Peter Fury.

Tickets for the event are priced at £100 each or a table of ten for £1000.

A limited number of seats are also available to members of the media who wish to attend.

For tickets, or if you wish to attend as a member of the media, please contact Asif Vali via email on asif@platinum-c.com or call 01204 528898.

Who: Tyson, Hughie and Peter Fury will be available for one-to-one interviews

When: Thursday Oct 10 at 6.30pm

Where: De Vere Whites Hotel, De Havilland Way, Bolton, Greater Manchester BL6 6SF

Dress: Lounge suits

London (5th October) Unbeaten heavyweight sensation and former British, Commonwealth and Irish heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has announced that his fight with former undisputed cruiserweight and former WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye is “signed and sealed” for February 8th.

“This is a message to all my fans and haters, for all those wanting to see me knock out David Haye on behalf of the nation and all those who want to see me put out of my misery,” Tyson said.

“The fight for February 8th is completely signed and sealed from both of us.

“I’m pleased that the fight is on again for February 8th – it’s going to be bigger this time, better, more people watching and I’m going to take pleasure in smashing his face in a bit more.

“He shunned me in Sheffield when I was just a kid and then this, it definitely adds to my desire of knocking him out.

“It’s been a long time coming, but it will definitely be worth waiting for – good things come to those who wait – and I’ve been waiting so long.”

David Haye and Dereck Chisora are allegedly both set to be sitting ringside tonight as Wladimir Klitschko, 37, defends his IBF, WBO and WBA ‘super’ titles against undefeated Russian and WBA ‘regular’ belt holder Alexander Povetkin, 34, but Tyson is not interested in any speculation that Haye may be looking to face the winner.

“I don’t want Mr Excuse-maker Haye coming out with any other reason than he chickened out, if he tries to fight a ready-to-go Klitschko instead of me,” Tyson said.

“Let them all go over there, cap-in-hand and watch Klitschko and give him all their credit.

“It’s very possible he chases the winner of Klitschko and Povetkin because he doesn’t want my fight and he’s terrified of me – so he could try and escape by going after one of these, but if he pulls out injured again, it would be laughable and he wouldn’t have the credibility to get in the ring with either of them.

“I really don’t know what’s going to happen in the Klitschko fight, they’re both boring – Povetkin could land that overhand right on his jaw, if not then I can see Povetkin getting beaten on points.

“If they both fight me, I’ll knock them both out, if they ever dare to step in the ring with me – but I really doubt that that’s going to happen.

“I’m confident that Haye will take my fight now as there’s too much public demand for him not to take this fight – after all the pulling out saga he’s got nowhere to go really.

“He’ll have to emigrate – he won’t be able to show his face around this neck of the woods anymore and I’m looking forward to getting in there and doing a job on him.

“Big fights need to happen and it doesn’t come any bigger than the fight we’ve signed up for – over to you Excuse-maker.”

Tickets previously purchased for the original date of September 28 are automatically valid for this new date of February 8. Alternatively, fans looking for a refund are advised to go back to their point of purchase before October 31.
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London (27 September) Watch Tyson Fury live on BT Sport when he appears as a guest on the BT Sports Panel this Saturday (28 September) from 9.30am to 11.30am.

Presented by Tim Lovejoy and Matthew Pinsent, Tyson will also be joined by snowboarder Jenny Jones and former 400m hurdler Sally Gunnell.

London (25 September) After yesterday’s rescheduled date was announced as February 8th 2014 at the Phones 4 U Arena Manchester, following Haye’s withdrawal from the original September 28th date, Tyson Fury gave this reaction:

“I’m so glad to have this fight rescheduled – in my opinion, he’s a classless pre-madonna, a diva, a no good wannabe Bollywood actor and I can’t wait to put him in his place,” Tyson said.

“There’s lots of honest and hard working people in this world and I believe I’m going to punish and poleaxe this money grabbing cry baby for all of them – he’s getting knocked spark out!

“He’s getting sorted out – I already didn’t like Mr Z list celebrity, Queen of the Jungle – but actions speak louder than words don’t they.

“I’m tired of him, he said he was going to knock Klitschko out and did nothing! Now he’s giving me the same talk – why do people believe him? He can dish it out but can’t take it.

“Mr Toemaker, your excuses are boring – you say you’re going to ‘expose me’ but the difference, Mr Excusemaker, is that every time I say I’m going to go out and do something, I go out and do it and that’s exactly what I was going to do this Saturday and 100 percent going to do on February 8th – nothing has changed, I’m still going to smash your face in, no excuses.”

Promoter Mick Hennessy also gave his reaction to the rescheduled date:

“I’ve pushed for this fight to be back on and I’m delighted it is, as I know this is a fight that Tyson wins in style, by way of the big KO,” Mick Hennessy said.

“David Haye really needs to step up as a man and make sure he’s there on February 8th, otherwise he will have zero credibility and will probably have to emigrate by public demand!”

Tickets previously purchased for the original date of September 28 are automatically valid for this new date of February 8. Alternatively, fans looking for a refund are advised to go back to their point of purchase before October 31.
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According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the bout between Heavyweights David Haye and Tyson Fury has been rescheduled for February 8th, 2014 after a cut suffered by Haye forced the postponement of the bout scheduled for this Saturday.

“News of the date in February is music to my ears,” Haye said. “I was absolutely devastated this weekend, and felt as though I’d let a lot of people down. But now, with this new date, I couldn’t be happier.

“My fans will still get the chance to see what they all wanted to see this weekend. They’ll get to see Tyson Fury sparked out in a spectacular fashion.”

“Sparring eight days before a fight is nothing new or unusual,” Haye said. “I’ve done this before fights in the past and never had an issue. Also, look at the history books. George Foreman sparred and got cut eight days before his ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ with Muhammad Ali, causing a six-week postponement. And Sugar Ray Leonard sparred and got knocked down five days before his fight with Marvin Hagler but still managed to go on and win.

“Foreman and Leonard are two of the greatest fighters of all time, so if it was good enough for them, it’s certainly good enough for little old me.”

“Not only that, those guys were preparing to face the likes of Ali and Hagler, while I was preparing to fight Tyson Fury, a man whose greatest triumph to date is shedding a few stone on Belgium’s ‘Biggest Loser’ fat camp,” Haye said. “These things sometimes happen in training, and to suggest I decided against wearing a head-guard, or that the cut was premeditated, shows a clear lack of knowledge and understanding.

“This camp was no different to any other, aside from the fact it ended on an unlucky and sour note.”

“Tyson Fury might start to get brave now that he’s received a stay of execution — and he might call me names and accuse me of ducking him — but that will all be short-lived, I can promise you,” he said. “After hearing the nonsense he has come out with in the last few days, I’m even more determined to expose him in front of millions. And only the possibility of getting another chance to land punches on his massive head and doughy gut has helped cheer me up.

“The cut will heal, the fight will happen next year, and the fans will go home happy. The only difference now is that Tyson Fury gets an even nastier beatdown than he would have received first time round. Once again, I’d like to apologize to the fans for the inconvenience caused by the postponement, and also because they will now have to endure a few more months of rubbish spewing from the mouth of Tyson Fury. I had hoped to silence him for good on Saturday night.”