Anthony Joshua blasts Fury, Wilder

Anthony Joshua has called for Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder to fight better opponents, and claimed: "It shouldn’t be about anything else apart from the best fighting the best."

Joshua has previously explained how focusing on becoming undisputed heavyweight champion contributed to his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr - a result he plans to avenge on December 7.
Joshua said on AJ: The Untold Truth: "I've taken on the world from my 16th fight, I've consistently done that. Then I'm fighting Ruiz Jr?

"Tyson Fury is fighting Otto Wallin but nobody talks about that. I fought Wallin as an amateur. [Wilder and Fury] are the cream of the crop and shouldn't be fighting those type of people.
"Look at the time frame of when I turned professional to when others did. And they don't want to fight me. It shouldn't be about anything else apart from the best fighting the best."

Joshua became world champion in his 16th fight after three years as a professional. Fury accomplished it in his 25th fight after seven years, whereas it took Wilder 33 fights and seven years.
He continued: "The guys who I'm supposed to fight are turning down the most lucrative offers in boxing.

"[Promoter Eddie Hearn] told me that when I win the belts: 'you will be in a position of power, nobody will dictate to you'.

"I give people the opportunity to fight in front of the biggest crowd, the biggest global audience, get the most publicity, earn the highest purse, and to become champion. They turn it down. Credit to Ruiz Jr."

Fury and Wilder drew a match-up last December with the WBC title at stake, and plan a rematch in February 2020 if they each win a fight in the meantime. Fury faces Wallin on September 14 and Wilder is expected to meet Luis Ortiz, who he has already beaten.

"I've got something to fight for now," Joshua said. "The guys I wanted to fight are tying themselves up for a year-and-a-half.

"They froze me out. Wilder has [agreed] his next fight with Ortiz, his next fight with Fury.
"We take on the best competitors in the division every time. We take challenges, and Ruiz Jr was the best of the crop that was available to me.

"Manuel Charr, Michael Hunter? How can I fight someone like Charr? I wanted the best, and Ruiz Jr was the best. If you want to win every fight, don't step into battle."

Joshua reiterated that his focus has renewed on regaining the IBF, WBA and WBO titles from Ruiz Jr.
"All eyes on Ruiz Jr. Nobody can talk to me about Wilder or Fury - that is irrelevant," he said.
"And nobody should talk to me about Wilder or Fury after I beat Ruiz Jr, because they have made it clear what they are doing. They have got the whole of 2020 booked up. Until they are free, nobody talk to me about Wilder or Fury."
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Caption: Anthony Joshua, after his loss to Andy Ruiz, in June this year in New York.
 

I was unbeaten before Ruiz match in New York-------Anthony Joshua

I was never knocked out before Ruiz match-------Anthony Joshua

British-Nigerian boxer, Anthony Joshua, has stated emphatically that he was not knocked out in

sparring before he suffered a defeat against Mexican's Andy Ruiz in New York.
Joshua in June this year suffered his first ever career defeat at the hands of Ruiz, which stunned many sports enthusiasts especially boxing buffs, as the former lost all his World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) titles on a night.
But during the build up for the boxing fight, Anthony Joshua was reported to have been hurt and the Englishman has rubbished the claims.
"Definitely not. I feel like people are more interested in their five minutes of fame. Even in sparring, everyone wants to be famous, rather than a good fighter.
"Silly stories about knocking me down and all that stuff. You can't even enjoy your training and work on things without someone trying to make up false allegations, and trying to get five minutes of fame.
"You bring someone into your training camp to do them a favour, you’re paying them, nothing like the knockdown rumour in that nature has happened, you beat them up in every round, then they go and do an interview,'' Joshua told Sky Sports.
Joshua is now preparing for a rematch with Andy Ruiz which is expected to take place in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
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REVEALED! Joshua agreed Pulev fight before Ruiz loss

ANTHONY Joshua had agreed to fight Kubrat Pulev at Wembley in November before his stunning first professional defeat at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr, in New York in June this year.
It mean the Brit lost his world heavyweight belts but will look to get them back when
the rematch with Ruiz takes place in Saudi Arabia on December 7.
But it wasn’t meant to be like that for Joshua, it seems.
Joshua appeared to be on a collision course for a undisputed bout with Deontay Wilder before the defeat to Ruiz.
Pulev will fight the winner of the rematch having been named mandatory challenger by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
It comes two years after Pulev was expected to face former champion Joshua in 2017 before pulling out due to injury.
And Pulev’s team has revealed that Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn had initially set up a fight against the Bulgarian for later this year.
“Eddie is running this heavyweight title like it’s his own private enterprise,” said Ivaylo Gotzev of Epic Sports.
“The bottom line is, Pulev originally fought an IBF eliminator over three years ago. He
was next in line with his IBF mandatory status."
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Real story behind Ruiz victory------Joshua

ANTHONY Joshua has admitted it was a mistake to allow Andy Ruiz Jr to handle his world title belts before the Mexican beat him earlier this year.
Ruiz Jr stunned the boxing world when he knocked Joshua down four times on the way to a seventh round stoppage.
Prior to the bout in New York, Anthony Joshua allowed Ruiz Jr to playfully hold the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organisation belts in a press conference.
But just two days later, Ruiz held the belts for real after getting up from the canvas to hand Joshua his first professional defeat.
And, with the rematch set for December 7 in Saudi Arabia, Joshua has admitted he shouldn’t have allowed Ruiz the chance to hold the belts before the fight.
"In hindsight, I would probably tell my fighter, as a psychological thing: 'don't give them away'," Joshua said on AJ: The Untold Truth.
"I always said previously that the belts didn't represent me. I was responsible, and a champion, before I had those belts.
"The belts can't dictate who I am, as a man. The belts can go but I still have a championship mind-set.
"Boxing means, to me, more than the belts. Boxing is about building a championship mindset."
Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn have received criticism for taking the rematch to Saudi Arabia.
It’s been claimed that the bout will only take place in the country for financial reasons with Saudi Arabia previously hosting golf events and WWE.
But Hearn believes the rematch provides an opportunity to grow the sport of boxing.
"We had approaches from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi," Hearn said.
"We wanted to go somewhere that believed in the sport of boxing, which had a vision.
“We already knew Saudi Arabia was for real and knew they were investing in the sport of boxing. That was very important for us.
"If Saudi Arabia is going to invest in these fights, with the population they have, with
the potential to grow the sport of boxing, you could be seeing a big change in the dynamics of the sport, which truly excites me.”
Hearn also dismissed the notion of Ruiz Jr vs Joshua 2 being sold to the highest bidder, insisting: “I can’t tell you that money had nothing to do with it but it was more
about the infrastructure and the fact they have done it before.
“We had to be very comfortable because we knew there would be criticism. And we
also looked at the bigger picture.
“If he wins this fight it opens up a whole new world for him and for boxing. It could change the sport forever.
“He’s always had the mindset of boxing all round the world. I expect him to box not just in Saudi Arabia but in Nigeria and in China.
“That’s an iconic global fighter, not just someone who boxes in Cardiff and Madison Square Garden.”
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Why Ruiz may refuse Joshua rematch in Saudi

ANDY Ruiz Jr holds a “strong position” in his refusal to travel to Saudi Arabia for a world title rematch with Anthony Joshua.
That’s according to promoter Frank Warren, who believes the sequel is being held in the Middle East simply because of money.
Joshua and Ruiz fought back in June and the Mexican came out on top to shock the boxing world - winning AJ’s World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) world titles in the process.
After months of back and forth over a rematch venue and date, it was announced last
week that Diriyah, a small town situated on the outskirts of Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, would host the mega-event on December 7.
Criticism of the event has been peddled by those questioning the morality of the fight
being staged in a country with questionable human rights laws.
And because of these doubts, Warren believes that Ruiz Jr holds a strong case for not
travelling to the Middle East, despite Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn’s belief that
‘The Destroyer’ could be stripped of his belts if he refuses to participate.
“Eddie has a point that he’s got a contract with him, but he’s got a real problem in saying he’ll be stripped of his titles,” he told talkSPORT.
“That’s not up to him at all, the titles belong to the governing bodies.
“The bottom line is, the US State Department advises its citizens not to go to Saudi Arabia for many reasons – the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, human rights issues, they’ve got a long paragraph on torture, cruel and inhumane treatment,
women’s rights and it talks about the risk of going to airports where terrorists may attack – that’s all on their official website
“His own government is telling him his life could be in danger.
“All this nonsense about having his titles taken away from him, that is nonsense.
“You can be sued for breach of contract, and he may have a point there, but it’s not an easy case, that’s for sure.
“He has a very, very strong position for not travelling.”
And when quizzed on why he thought Hearn was so insistent on staging the lucrative
rematch in Saudi Arabia, Warren had one answer.
“It’s because Eddie Hearn wants to broaden boxing’s appeal around the world,” he joked.
“No, of course it’s the money!
“Come on now, we all know what it’s all about. It’s purely about money, no more than
that.”
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PHOTO 1: Joshua (left) on the defensive during the ill-fated clash with Ruiz Jr in New York, USA.
PHOTO 2: Joshua before the showdown with Ruiz leading to his first career defeat.

 

Why Ruiz could be stripped of IBF belt

Reigning World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organisation heavyweight champion, 

Andy Ruiz, Jr, could be stripped of one of his world titles if his rematch with Anthony Joshua goes ahead.
The Mexican-American boxer shocked the British heavyweight in June this year when he won with a seventh-round knockout.
The victory saw Ruiz take Joshua’s WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles at Madison Square Garden in New York.
An immediate rematch looks likely and promoter Eddie Hearn says it will be ‘finalised very soon’ for December 14 in the UK.
But World Boxing News reports that a spanner has been thrown into the works as Kubrat Pulev is the mandatory IBF challenger.
The Bulgarian is back from his ban for kissing a reporter after he completed a sexual harassment prevention course.
If the IBF call for that bout to happen, then it could either push the Joshua rematch, Ruiz could relinquish the belt or he could be stripped of it.
Bob Arum, founder and CEO of Top Rank, which co-promotes Pulev along with Epic Sports said: “We’ve been waiting patiently. The time is now.
“Andy Ruiz has an obligation to fight No1 mandatory IBF contender Kubrat Pulev.”
And Pulev himself added: “I was ready to face Anthony Joshua in November. Now I’m eager to challenge Andy Ruiz.
“I will fight Ruiz anywhere in the world. Let’s make it happen.”
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Caption: Ruiz deals with Anthony Joshua, during their heavyweight clash in June this year.


 

Djokovic beats Federer in longest Wimbledon final

Novak Djokovic saved two championship points in Wimbledon's longest singles final to retain his title in a thrilling win over Roger Federer.

On a Centre Court, with an atmosphere that felt at times more akin to football than tennis, Djokovic won 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 13-12 (7-3).
As the clock ticked to four hours 57 minutes, Federer hit a ball high to hand the Serb victory.
The world number one has won 16 Grand Slams - and four of the last five.
"It's quite unreal," Djokovic said after winning his fifth Wimbledon title.
Federer, who at 37 was chasing a record-equalling ninth Wimbledon singles title, added: "It was a great match, it was long, it had everything. Novak, congratulations, man, that was crazy."
A highly anticipated final between two of the sport's greats always had the potential to go the distance - and this did that and more.
With fans unable to watch at times, while leaping to their feet and chanting at others, a nerve-jangling final set turned this into a classic.
When Federer had two championship points at 8-7, Djokovic held his nerve to save both and then break back, eventually taking it to the new tie-break at 12-12.
The Serb - who for extended periods of the match had been second best - had won the match's previous two tie-breaks and he did so again, snatching victory when Federer scooped a return high.
The Swiss had been seeking to become the oldest Grand Slam champion of the Open era but instead found himself part of a different record as the match time surpassed Wimbledon's longest final - the four hours 48 minutes of play in 2008 as he lost to Rafael Nadal.
"Like similar to '08 maybe, I will look back at it and think, 'well, it's not that bad after all'. For now it hurts, and it should, like every loss does here at Wimbledon," Federer said.
"Epic ending, so close, so many moments. Yeah, I mean, sure there's similarities [between this and 2008]. I'm the loser both times, so that's the only similarity I see."
The incredible fifth set lasted more than two hours - you could have fitted in two of Saturday's women's singles finals in the time of that set alone.

Down in the stats - but up in the match. Anyone looking only at the stats for this match would simply not fathom how Djokovic came out on top.

The Serb trailed the Swiss on first-serve points won, winners made, aces, break points converted, games won and total points won and led him on double faults.
But he won the key points - and none more so than in the final set.
A diving volley winner at 5-5 and 15-30 prevented Federer establishing two break points, while having let the Swiss take an 8-7 lead with an opportunity to serve for the match, he immediately broke back.
Ignoring the increasingly vocal "Roger, Roger" chants from the partisan crowd and the cheers for some of the top seed's double faults, Djokovic surged 6-3 ahead in the tie-break.

Wimbledon 2019: Blood, sweat & tears - the best Wimbledon final ever?

There was more drama when the final point had to be replayed after a Hawk-Eye challenge, but Djokovic finally celebrated victory - albeit in muted fashion - when Federer sent a forehand off the frame of his racquet.
There was no wild jumping up and down, just a smile to himself as he walked to the net to shake hands with Federer after becoming the first man to win a Wimbledon singles final having been down match point since 1948 when Bob Falkenburg saved three match points and came back to beat John Bromwich.
An emotional Federer looked over towards his wife and children in his box during the trophy presentation, perhaps an acknowledgement that less than four weeks from his 38th birthday his opportunities for more Grand Slams may be limited.
While the match will be remembered by many for its thrills, Federer said: "I will try to forget. I had my chances, so did he. We played some great tennis."

How Federer won on paper but Djokovic won the match
Djokovic		Federer
74%	First-serve points won	79%
10	Aces	25
54	Winners	94
204	Total points won	218
29	Total games won	36

How the drama unfolded in fifth set

3hrs 25mins - A Djokovic backhand winner secures a break of serve for 4-2 lead
3hrs 31mins - Federer breaks straight back when Djokovic nets forehand
4hrs 7mins - Federer goes a break up at 8-7 with a forehand winner
4hrs 10mins - An ace brings up two championship points for Federer
4hrs 12mins - Djokovic saves both match points, then breaks back to level match
4hrs 39mins - Successful Federer Hawk-Eye challenge brings up break point, but Djokovic fends it off to lead 12-11
4hrs 47mins - Code violation for Djokovic for swinging his racquet towards umpire's chair
4hrs 48mins - First 12-12 final-set tie-break in Wimbledon singles begins
4hrs 55mins - Djokovic forehand brings up three championship points
4hrs 56mins - More drama as Djokovic successfully challenges a ball called out and point is replayed
4hrs 57mins - Federer skies a return and Djokovic wins his fifth Wimbledon title

Novak Djokovic beats Roger Federer to retain his Wimbledon title in a final-set tie-break

Analysis

BBC Sport tennis commentator Andrew Castle: "What a treat this has been. The top seed triumphs and it can surprise no one. Novak Djokovic has beaten Roger Federer in the longest final in Wimbledon history. And he's beaten Roger Federer in all three Wimbledon finals that he has played him in. Roger Federer can look back with such pride on his effort."
Former British number one Tim Henman on BBC TV: "I am still in a slight daze on Roger Federer's behalf. Federer played all the tennis in the first four sets, he could have won all of them. And to then have two Championship points on his own serve, which is one of the most efficient. He tried to be bold on the second, but Novak Djokovic came up with the pass."
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "It was a rollercoaster ride. It was amazing to see a tie-break in the end. There was nothing in that match in the end. You have to compliment both players. I was glad I got to witness this."

Caption: Djokovic lifts the Wimbledon trophy for the fifth time in his career.

Source: BBC.

41st Senior CBN Tennis Open: Iloputa out as Babalola advances

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) junior tennis sensation, Godgift Timibra who is unseeded at the ongoing 41st CBN Senior Tennis Open created an upset on Wednesday when he sent

tournament's number nine seed Ikechukwu Iloputa packing with a 6-4, 6-4 scoreline.

Six-time winner, Abdulmumuni Babalola deployed his wealth of experience to outsmart Jebutu Emnanuel 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the quarter final as well. 

In another men's singles game, Nonso Madueke outclassed Leo Anthony 6-1, 6-0 while Christian Paul beat Oyo State's Adewale Samson 6-1, 6-3. 

Tournament's top seed, Sylvester Emmanuel triumphed over Tochukwu Eze, 6-4, 6-2 as number two seed Joseph Imeh stopped John Henry 6-3, 6-3.

In the ladies category, Oyinlomo Quadre, Bukola Olowu, tournament top seed, Blessing Samuel,  Blessing Anuna and number two seed, Christy Agugbom have also moved to the next stage of the competition. 

Meanwhile, women's single defending champion, Sarah Adegoke, won't defend the title due to other career engagements, thereby throwing the title open as a new champion must emerge this year.

On paper, it could be a two-horse race between Blessing Samuel who survived a scare from Omolade Aderemi and youngster Oyinlomo Quadre.

Caption:  Six-time winner, Babalola set to reclaim the CBN title he lost last year to Sylvester Emmanuel.

2019 Aiteo Cup Round of 16 fixtures

Sunday, June 23

Cynosure FC vs Niger Tornadoes (Makurdi)

Warri Wolves vs Rivers United (Yenagoa)

Lobi Stars vs Abia Warriors (Akure)

Smart City vs Shooting Stars (Ijebu-Ode)

Bendel Insurance vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Jos)

Monday, June 24

EFCC FC vs Aklosendi FC (Lokoja)

Plateau United vs Calabar Rovers

Kano Pillars vs Kwara United

Aiteo Cup: Round of 32 results

Shooting Stars 2 Katsina Utd  0
Warri Wolves   1 Ambassador 0
Smart City        3 Enyimba       2
Abia Warriors  2 Gateway       0
Rivers Utd        3 Akwa Utd    0
Lobi Stars         2 Rangers        0
EFCC FC           1 Sunshine       0
Kwara Utd        1 Crown FC     1
(Kwara win 5-4 on penalties)
Aklosendi FC    1 Nasarawa Utd 0
Bendel Ins.       4 Ekiti Utd         2
Tornadoes        1 Gombe Utd     0
El-Kanemi        3 PH City           0 (W/O)
Calabar Rovers 1 Wikki Tourists 1
(Rovers win 4-2 on penalties)