Boxing News at Five: Fury calls out Golovkin, June 23 card goes ahead, Page is back

Tyson Fury

We should know by now that Tyson Fury just says stuff. A lot of the time itโ€™s crazy and confusing and controversial; occasionally, only occasionally, itโ€™s sensible and serious.

This week, as he prepares to fight Sefer Seferi on Saturday at the Manchester Arena, his first fight in two-and-a-half years, we can expect a lot of the former. Noise for the sake of noise. Hype. Nonsense. There will be some interesting thoughts dotted among this, but, for the most part, Fury will be on a mission to grab attention, sell tickets and secure subscribers.

Itโ€™s a game he plays better than most.

โ€œThe fans are going to see the best Tyson Fury there has ever been,โ€ the former heavyweight champion told the Daily Star. โ€œI know other people talk a good game when they have been out for 1,000 days. On their comeback they always say they have done everything correctly.

โ€œBut when I say I never, ever, ever have felt better or stronger or fitter or faster, I mean it. I have sparred hundreds and hundreds of rounds in the gym.

โ€œFans can expect to see me at my best โ€“ the most flamboyant heavyweight on the planet.

โ€œA title shot is 100 percent possible this year. Donโ€™t be surprised if I take over the world this year and win a world title back.

โ€œI canโ€™t sleep at night thinking about bums all the time. Iโ€™m thinking about putting my fist through the side of AJโ€™s (Anthony Joshua) jaw.

โ€œIโ€™m thinking about knocking (Deontay) Wilder spark out, all 15 stone of him. Putting him upside down on a heap in the floor.โ€

So far, so normal, right? But then Fury starts to feel the rush, and feels the heat of the spotlight, and all of a sudden his brain and mouth become disconnected. He canโ€™t help himself.

โ€œAnd if there are any cruiserweights out there, light-heavyweights or middleweights want to move up, I will give them a good hiding too,โ€ he continues.

โ€œGennady Golovkin and Andre Ward โ€” whoever they are, move up to heavyweight and I will sort them all out.โ€

Fury vs. Golovkin. It sounds crazy. It is crazy. But, believe it or not, heโ€™s said crazier.

gennady golovkin


Martin Murray is still seething about Billy Joe Saunders and his dodgy hamstring, but the June 23 event at Londonโ€™s O2 Arena they were set to headline will still go ahead, promoter Frank Warren has confirmed.

โ€œThis is a massive blow, but the show must go on,โ€ Warren said. โ€œI feel for the fans and for Martin but if Billy is injured, thereโ€™s no way he can fight. Itโ€™s important we still deliver to the live and the TV audience and they can look forward to seeing many of Londonโ€™s finest boxing talents on June 23 at the O2 Arena.

โ€œIโ€™ve seen rumours that Billy isnโ€™t injured but he is a fighting man and thereโ€™s no way he would pull out unless he had to. Itโ€™s a shame after the devastating performance against (David) Lemieux last Christmas as this was a chance for Billy to keep momentum as we continue to chase big fights for him.

โ€œMartin may still feature on the card and we are working day and night trying to put something together and we will let the fans know news on this when weโ€™ve had a chance to look at all options.โ€

Murray, of course, isnโ€™t buying any of it. Heโ€™s made it clear on social media that he feels Saunders has withdrawn from their June 23 fight in order to pursue bigger and better opportunities.

โ€œI am sorry to Martin and the fans for the inconvenience this has caused them,โ€ said Saunders. โ€œI know Martin has put himself through two hard camps now and I am hugely sorry that Iโ€™ve let both him and the fans down and prevented a great fight from happening.

โ€œIt has been a tough time with injuries through the past few months but at this level against a top operator like Martin Murray you cannot risk going into a fight less than 100%. But I do appreciate the fansโ€™ support and I know Frank will be looking to get me back in the ring as soon as possible when Iโ€™m fit to fight.โ€

When the identity of Saundersโ€™ next opponent is revealed, brace yourselves. It probably wonโ€™t be Martin Murray and Martin Murray probably wonโ€™t be best pleased.

martin murray


And finallyโ€ฆ mixed martial artist Michael โ€˜Venonโ€™ Page will have another go at this boxing lark on June 15 at York Hall, Bethnal Green, when he looks to take his professional record to 2-0 with a win over Polandโ€™s Michal Ciach, 1-5, a man knocked out in his last two fights.

Page, one of the most exciting mixed martial artists in the UK, was recently seen producing a faultless display to stop David Rickels on a Bellator MMA event at Wembley Arena. Cool, composed and brimming with confidence, Page mixed in deadly strikes with hilarious moments of showboating to bamboozle Rickels and entertain the watching crowd. He punched, he kicked, he elbowed, he cut loose. He did everything permitted in MMA โ€“ most of which is illegal in boxing gloves โ€“ and forced Rickels to quit in round two.

The last time Page was in a boxing ring, meanwhile, he landed a big right cross to finish a fight against Jonathan Castano, 2-11-1, in round three. It was an obvious conclusion to an obvious mismatch. It told us very little.

The same applies to boxing match number two.

michael 'venom' page

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