Boxing

Frampton had patiently waited for a shot at the WBO super-featherweight champion, with the bout initially in the works for 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic forced plans to be put on hold.

A date was finally set for the fight to take place in London on February 27, only for the challenger to suffer a hand injury in the build-up that forced a postponement.

When the two finally got to meet in the ring on Saturday, having switched the venue to the United Arab Emirates, Herring proved too much for Frampton, who tried his best against a much taller fighter but, unable to work his way inside, was picked off repeatedly.

Already dropped in the previous round when walking onto a straight left hand, the Belfast-born 34-year-old was knocked down again in the sixth and while allowed to continue, Herring consistently landed heavy shots to force Frampton's corner to throw in the towel.

Having said beforehand that a defeat would signal the end of the road, 'The Jackal' stayed true to his word. Having dedicated so much of his life to boxing, he made clear the time is right to switch the focus to his young family.

"I'm deeply upset," Frampton said during his in-ring interview. "I said before if I lost the fight I would retire and that's exactly what I’m going to do.

"I wanted to dedicate the fight to Billy McKee [his former coach and mentor who died in February], and my whole career to my wife and my kids, who have made so many sacrifices.

"I've been away for so long and missed them growing up, my own kids, so I want to dedicate my life to my family now.

"Boxing has been good to me – it's also been bad to me – but the last few years with my team have been the best of my career. I just want to go home now to my beautiful wife and kids – that's it."

Frampton did have some success in the fourth round, during which Herring – who had assumed control behind a solid jab, capitalising on his size advantage – suffered a nasty cut on his right eyelid.

However, it was a fleeting moment of joy for the former title holder at super-bantam and featherweight. He ends his pro career with a 28-3 record, including two memorable clashes with Leo Santa Cruz that saw the duo split the score in the rivalry with one win apiece.

Northern Ireland's Frampton (28 wins, two defeats) has previously won world honours at super-bantamweight and featherweight and is aiming to become only the fourth fighter in history from the UK to reign across three weight classes.

He would also be the first three-division world champion from the island of Ireland, although the 34-year-old's shot at history has been delayed several times.

Herring (22-2) and Frampton were set to face off in London this Saturday but the challenger requested a delay after the recurrence of hand problems.

A change of date means a new location in The Rotunda at Caesars Palace Bluewaters, with promoter Bob Arum telling The Athletic last week that he expected fans to be allowed in attendance. The bout would have taken place behind closed doors in the UK due to coronavirus restrictions.

Herring v Frampton was first mooted in late 2019, with the global pandemic initially halting plans before Herring suffered a scratched cornea during a disqualification victory over Jonathan Oquendo last September.

Ngannou may have lost the element of surprise after a staggering professional boxing debut last October when the former UFC heavyweight champion knocked down Tyson Fury before losing a debatable decision.

He will look to prove his performance was no fluke on March 8 against Joshua, who hopes to put himself in the shop window for a crack at British compatriot Fury or a trilogy meeting against Oleksandr Usyk.

But promoter Hearn thinks Ngannou poses a sizeable challenge despite his novice status and is unlikely to fold as so many of Joshua’s past opponents have done when confronted by his frightening punch power.

“It’s definitely a fight with a lot of jeopardy,” Hearn told the PA news agency. “You really have to be on your guard for this fight, you’ve got to be razor-sharp.

“Francis has surprised everybody. He’s one stubborn competitor and it’s not going to be easy, you’ll have to knock him down and keep banging and banging and banging away.

“This isn’t going to be one hit on the chin, clearly he’s an immovable object with a fantastic chin and big, big, big power.

“You’ve got to be really smart in this fight – don’t get hit, break him down and hopefully he’ll go over like a big tower and we can just move on.”

The fight against Ngannou in Riyadh will be a fourth in the space of 11 months for Joshua (27-3, 24KOs), who is trying to boost his hopes of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion.

He is therefore positioning himself as first in line to face the winner of the rearranged clash between WBC champion and long-time rival Fury and Usyk, the WBA, IBF and WBO champion who has beaten Joshua twice.

The pair go head-to-head on May 18 in the first undisputed world heavyweight title fight of the four-belt era and Hearn is keeping his fingers crossed it is Fury who prevails.

“I really want Fury to win his fight because if AJ can do a job on Ngannou, it just sets up the biggest fight in the history of the sport in my opinion,” Hearn added.

World heavyweight champion Fury was seated in the front row in Riyadh to listen to what boxing novice Ngannou and compatriot Joshua had to say ahead of the 10-rounder in Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh hosted Ngannou’s maiden contest in the ring when he lost narrowly in a split decision to Fury back in October and the former MMA star was happy to stoke the fire some more with the British heavyweight, who will face Oleksandr Usyk in a rearranged undisputed bout on May 18.

“I really think I haven’t shocked the world. I am still in the factory building, training, learning and I think when I am really going to get it, that is when the world will be shocked,” Ngannou told a press conference.

“As I said, I am just getting started. So, I am really looking for the victory on Friday night but I don’t think that will make the heavy statement of my career because the road is still long and I really intend to gain a lot of major victories like this.

“One over Tyson. One more over Tyson because I had the first one over him and I intend to have the second one.”

This prompted Fury to shout out at Ngannou, who stunned the boxing world when he was able to put down the Briton in the third round of their bout last year.

Ngannou responded: “I am going to wipe the ring with your a*** again. You wipe the ring with your a***.

“I already tell you, you’re only chance is in the boxing ring with the boxing rules. When you step out, you better stay five metres away before I stop your s*** because if I lose it, you’re going to have a really bad time my friend.

“Respect the fact that boxing is protecting us. The rules of boxing are protecting us because without that, you are nothing in front of you. I beat you every day. Twice on Sunday.”

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren had to momentarily step in to get the ‘Knockout Chaos’ media event back on track.

The winner of Friday’s fight is expected to be in line to face Fury or Usyk, who will finally fight on May 18 before a rematch takes place later in 2024.

Joshua had no interest in teasing the prospect of an all-British showdown with Fury, which has fallen through in recent years.

“We’re not looking past this fight. This is my main focus. The incentive and all that stuff? Just the win, that’s it. Let’s focus on my game plan and what I’ve got to do,” Joshua insisted.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion is under no illusions of the task at hand despite Ngannou’s limited boxing experience but admitted he does feel the “pressure” to perform.

Joshua added: “His dream was always to be a boxer, so I know what I am up against. I look at all these small details, but I spar, I do my film study, all that type of stuff, I keep it professional.

“On the night is on the night. That’s different. All that textbook stuff goes out the window and you just have to be relentless. Give my best.

“It is our duty. We work for these people out here, you know what I mean? These are the fights they want to see.

“We are here to entertain them, so I feel the pressure but that’s the life. That is what I signed up to do, what I devoted my life to do so bring on every challenge, every competition and I’ll step up to the plate.

“I’m going to share the ring with Francis. One day I’ll share the ring with Tyson. Last fight I shared the ring with (Otto) Wallin. I signed to fight Baby Miller, I sparred (Daniel) Dubois, I signed to fight Bronze Bomber (Deontay Wilder), I’m serious about the game.

“This is just what we do. It is my duty to work for these guys and to give them entertaining nights.”

Ngannou pushed WBC champion Tyson Fury all the way in a 10-round contest in Riyadh last month, but lost by a contentious split decision on points to the British boxer.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou still earned plenty of admirers for his surprise strong showing after he knocked down Fury in the third round.

Cameroon-born Ngannou immediately signalled his intention to continue his career in boxing and has now been placed in 10th spot of the WBC rankings.

Earlier this month, Matchroom Sport chair Eddie Hearn suggested Ngannou could be a future opponent for former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua.

The WBC, a sanctioning body, announced its rankings for its respective weight divisions on Wednesday during a ratings session in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Here, the PA news agency looks at what went down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between the heavyweight rivals and the potential ramifications.

What happened?

Fury, by his own estimation the greatest heavyweight of all-time, was not only expected to win but put on a show against a mixed martial artist who had never before boxed professionally. While Ngannou holds the record for the hardest punch ever recorded, he is 37, had not fought in any capacity since January 2022 and had undergone reconstructive knee surgery in the interim. Labelled as a circus event unbecoming of boxing in certain quarters, Fury was almost the clown. Put down in the third round, he was tentative throughout and fortunate to get a razor-thin points win.

Why was the fight so close?

Only Fury can answer that. He suggested he was suffering from ring rust, having last fought in December 2022 although that does not hold much water when considering Ngannou’s activity in the past two years. The obvious response is that what appeared a gross mismatch on paper led to Fury wildly underestimating his opponent. Did he cut corners in training? Some observers felt Fury was extra fleshy for this fight. He was given the benefit on the scorecards – just. But if the judge who saw it 95-94 for Fury had scored one round the other way, Ngannou would be celebrating one of the greatest sporting upsets ever.

Was Ngannou robbed?

The shock knockdown allied to landing the more eye-catching blows left many wondering whether Ngannou should have had his hand raised. There is little doubting the result could have gone either way. LeBron James and Gary Lineker were among the most prominent critics of how the judges scored the fight but a robbery indicates Ngannou had everything his own way and that simply was not the case. Fury could not adjust to Ngannou’s awkward style although he employed the jab well and put together the odd combination. But just because Ngannou exceeded any expectations, it does not mean he was swindled.

What next?

As well as perhaps feeling a little chastened, Fury was left with a slight cut on his forehead and bruising over his left eye, injuries he would not have foreseen before the first bell rang. Usyk was brought into the ring afterwards and there was the expectation the undisputed fight between the WBA, IBF and WBO titlist and Fury, the WBC champion whose belt was not on the line in the 10-round encounter on Saturday, would be officially announced at the same venue for just before Christmas. The pair had a brief staredown but the hype was not there following Fury’s underwhelming performance. Fury’s promoter Frank Warren hinted his charge’s wounds would prevent a December clash.

Should we expect more crossover fights?

Yes. MMA has often been viewed as boxing’s poorer relation, both in terms of its actual standing and how the sports recompense their fighters. MMA fighters have generally not done well in a boxing ring – Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz have all faltered in recent years – but Ngannou has single-handedly raised his sport’s stock. Ngannou’s success will almost certainly pave the way for more MMA stars while the Cameroonian-Frenchman said in the aftermath he intends to juggle boxing with his duties in the Professional Fighters League.

Could a Fury-Ngannou rematch be on the cards?

The millions both fighters banked plus the disputed nature of the result means a return bout seems almost inevitable – even if Fury intimated afterwards the Usyk fight will be next for him. While he extended his record to 34 wins and one draw from 35 contests, will Fury be satisfied that so many thought he lost to a boxing novice? Surely he will want to correct the record down the line? For now, though, Fury announced his intention to return home and spend time with his family after what he said was a long training camp and the likelihood is he will not be seen in the ring until 2024.

Cameroon-born former UFC champion Ngannou is taking on two-time world heavyweight champ Joshua in Saudi Arabia in only his second professional fight.

His first was a controversial defeat to Joshua’s fellow Briton Tyson Fury five months ago.

But Ngannou insists his lack of experience in the ring will not prevent him from springing a shock in Riyadh.

“I finished my training camp yesterday and I feel good,” the 37-year-old told Sky Sports News.

“It has been a tough eight weeks to get here. I feel like I did everything that could be done.

“I believe if I land on anybody I knock them out. But the question is how to land, that is the hardest thing. How to carry that power and energy for 10 rounds and still be able to knock someone out after all the fatigue.

“I don’t have experience in boxing but, don’t make any mistake, I had a lot of experiencing in life, of fighting.

“I view my fighting spirit as high as anybody else’s. I don’t have any (boxing) experience but I know I can fight. You’re born as a fighter, you don’t become a fighter, I do believe that.”

Briton Joshua returns to action following December’s impressive stoppage over Sweden’s Otto Wallin as he continues his bid on becoming a three-time world champion against mixed martial arts star Ngannou in a 10-round bout.

Queensbury promoter Warren, whose prize fighter Tyson Fury came back from an early knockdown to beat Ngannou in controversial fashion in October, believes Joshua should be wary of his opponent’s punch power.

Speaking to the PA news agency at the launch of Queensbury’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ boxing card, Warren said: “Joshua’s come into this after his last fight against Wallin. He’ll be a big favourite going in, but I know that if he gets caught on the whiskers then this fella (Ngannou) could cause a massive upset because he can whack.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how he takes the fight and to see if he fights on the outside or the inside. Ngannou’s game is getting on the inside, he’s a big man, he’s strong.

“I’m intrigued to see what Ngannou’s learnt from his last fight.”

Joshua showed signs of being back to his best with last month’s ruthless victory over Wallin, which marked his third victory of 2023 following wins against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.

But Warren believes Ngannou has the tools to exploit AJ’s “wealth” of weaknesses in Riyadh.

“If I’m fighting AJ, what am I looking to do? I’d look to exploit his weaknesses and there’s a wealth of that which we’ve seen,” Warren added. “We’ve seen his weaknesses in that first fight against Tubby the Tuba (defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019).

“Also the two fights to Oleksandr Usyk, we can see what they are. People have seen him wobble a few times in fights, that happens with him. I’m not saying there’s a confidence issue, but there wasn’t that where he was such an emphatic fighter.

“I think he’s changed. He’s changed his style a bit, which he should do. His new trainer (Ben Davison) has brought some momentum to him, but he’s going to have a fight on his hand.”

Nathan Heaney and Joe Joyce are among the fighters on the ‘Magnficent Seven’ card in Birmingham on March 16, and Warren is expecting a competitive night of action.

He said: “The last one we did I think was British promotion of the year. They were great fights, competitive fights and it’s a similar situation here. We have young and established fighters who are all in competitive fights.

“This is something we will now do on a regular basis. They will all be looking these guys to outdo each other because someone wants to come through as the eye catching fight.”

Joshua, the IBF, WBA and WBO champion, and Fury, who holds the WBC belt, have been in negotiations over a fight to crown the undisputed ruler in the division.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said he expected to announce an August 14 showdown, to take place in Saudi Arabia, this week, but Deontay Wilder – who Fury sensationally deposed last year – has derailed plans.

Wilder won an arbitration hearing on Monday that recognised his contractual right to a third bout with Fury, with whom he shared a thrilling 2018 draw before suffering a first career loss via seventh-round stoppage in February 2020.

Fury's promoter Bob Arum told ESPN that Fury-Wilder III has been provisionally booked at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for July 24, stating step aside payments were not an option.

"It's better to get rid of [Wilder] and go about our business. We can make the Fury-Joshua fight for November or December," he said.

Joshua, who might now face his WBO mandatory challenger and former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, expressed frustration that the Fury fight came so close to fruition before hitting a stumbling block, accusing his fellow Briton of using the whole episode as a publicity stunt.

He tweeted: "@Tyson_Fury the world now seen you for the fraud you are. You've let boxing down!

"You lied to the fans and led them on. Used my name for clout, not a fight. Bring me any championship fighter who can handle their business correctly."

Fury was typically strident in his response, proposing a fanciful bare-knuckle bout with Joshua for a combined £40million.

"Your (sic) more full of s*** that (sic) Eddie. Spouting absolute s****. Your team knew there was an Arbitration going on, it was out of my hands!

"But I tell you what if I'm a fraud let's fight this weekend bar (sic) knuckles till 1 man quits? Let's put up 20 mill each."

The barbs continued, with Joshua saying, "I'll slap your bad head and you'll do nothing" and Fury labelling his countryman a "dosser" a "bum" and a "bottle job".

Fury became a two-time world heavyweight champion when he stopped Wilder and remains undefeated in 30 professional fights, with 29 wins and a draw.

His first title victory came when he out-pointed long-reigning unified champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 before spending time away from the ring due to personal problems.

Joshua duly collected the IBF, WBA and WBO titles with wins over Charles Martin, Klitschko and Joseph Parker respectively.

He lost those belts in a shock stoppage loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019, a sole professional defeat that he avenged in a rematch before the end of that year.

Fury and Joshua's camps were supposedly close to reaching an agreement for a huge heavyweight bout this year, yet that deal failed to materalise.

Instead, Fury is taking on another of British boxing's big names in the form of Whyte, who he faces at Wembley Stadium on April 23, with the WBC belt on the line.

However, 33-year-old Fury says he has no intention of carrying on his career after facing Whyte, who did not attend the first media conference to preview the fight.

Fury said the fight would "100 per cent" be the last of his career.

"I'm a two-time undisputed world champion," he added.

"This is the final fight of my career, I'm retiring after this, $150million in the bank, nothing to prove to anybody, healthy, young, I'm gonna buy a massive yacht abroad.

"I'm retiring, I'm out, this is my final fight, I'm done."

Fury has won 31 of his 32 professional fights, with the other being a contentious tie in his first of three meetings with Deontay Wilder – he triumphed in the second and third bouts.

An eleventh-hour agreement is reported to have been reached for a fiercely anticipated unification bout between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

It seemed a deal would not be agreed, with figures from both camps hinting at an imminent collapse in talks last week, before Usyk publicly offered a 70-30 purse split in Fury's favour.

That got the wheels moving again, with the WBA confirming it had been assured of a deal, before Warren confirmed over the weekend the fight was on – and hailed Fury for going toe-to-toe with the best in his era.

"Everyone wants to see the fight. Everybody should take their hat off to Tyson Fury because he's the only heavyweight since going back to those great glory days of Ali, Foreman and Frazier that has fought the best around of the generations he's been in," he told talkSPORT.

"He's fought against [Wladimir] Klitschko, who was the best of his generation, went to his backyard and beat him. The longest reigning heavyweight in Deontay Wilder – went to the states not once but three times and beat him.

"Now he's stepping up to the guy who has had two wins over Joshua and has three belts.

"You have to take your hat off to Tyson, we talk about Lennox Lewis, but he never fought Riddick Bowe, never fought Mike Tyson until he was well past his best. I'd not taking anything away from Lennox, he was a great fighter. Tyson has fought all these guys at their best.

"Once we get it all finalised… it's great. It's the first time four belts have been on the line. It's the biggest heavyweight fight in goodness knows how many years.

"Both are undefeated and both in their prime. It will be a fantastic event and the highest grossing event ever to take place at Wembley, beating the previous one. I'm not talking about boxing but a one-off event. The previous one was last April again with Tyson.

"He's a megastar and I'm delighted for him. People should acknowledge in him, we've got a fighter who doesn't duck anybody."

Victory for Fury against Derek Chisora in December opened the door for the British boxer and Ukrainian star Usyk to finally go head to head.

While yet to be officially confirmed, it is widely expected a bout will be scheduled in the coming months, though Fury could offer no further updates on the matter when he spoke on Saturday, saying he was in the same boat as his fans.

"I'm fantastic. I've had a good Christmas and New Year. I've been training, and we're just waiting on an announcement," Fury told Sky Sports.

"I'm in limbo like the rest of the world. I'm not interested in who, what, where or when. I just want to fight and that's it."

Earlier on Saturday, Fury's co-promoter Bob Arum announced he expects a venue for the undisputed clash to be decided in the next week.

"I think both of the fighters have agreed to the fight, I think the question is where the site will be," Arum said. "That will be sorted out hopefully next week and we'll have an announcement shortly.

"If the fight goes to the Middle East it will be sometime after Ramadan, and if the fight is in the UK it will be the beginning of April."

Before the Gypsy King returns to the ring, half-brother Tommy Fury will face off against Jake Paul next month in Saudi Arabia in a fierce grudge match.

While Paul splits opinion, and his move to boxing from the social media world has drawn plenty of criticism, Tyson Fury warned his younger sibling that he will face a capable opponent.

"I think he's a decent boxer. A lot of people think he's just a YouTube person who doesn't know how to box, but I've actually seen him training and I've actually seen his fights and I think he's decent," Tyson Fury said.

"He's like a novice professional. He's only had six fights so he's exactly as good as he should be at this stage. He's not an Olympic boxer, but then again neither am I."

Fury and Wilder will do battle in a trilogy bout at the T-Mobile Arena almost 20 months after the American's corner threw the towel in to end their rematch at the MGM Grand.

Wilder floored Fury before the Brit beat the count and went on to win the WBC world heavyweight title in February 2020.

The unbeaten Fury says there is no way he will be taking "the most dangerous heavyweight out there" lightly this weekend.

"A lot of people are writing Wilder off in this fight," Fury said at a BT Sport Box Office event.

"They almost look at him like he's a bum. Like he can't fight and he's useless. You can't write him off.

"Make no mistake about this, Deontay Wilder is the most dangerous heavyweight out there. Combine them all together and they don't make a danger like Wilder.

"So that's what I'm messing with. I'm playing with an atomic bomb, messing around, clipping wires. Every time you go into the ring with Deontay Wilder you're playing with that danger.

"This is the third time now I've been in the ring with him and every single time he's been very dangerous. He's a very dangerous hombre with big, big power and he can close the distance quickly.

"With most boxers they need to hit you with five punches, with Wilder he can hit you with a quarter punch and knock you spark out."

The WBC heavyweight champion will take part in his final bout of the year against his fellow Brit at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, with a potential unification fight against Oleksandr Usyk to come.

Unbeaten Englishman Fury has stated on several occasions that he had retired, only to unsurprisingly resume his illustrious career.

The 34-year-old cannot even bear to think about retirement as he prepares to try and defend his title once again.

"I'm terrified of it," he stated. "Hard is an understatement. I can't think of the most complex word to describe giving this up. It's more addictive than anything on the planet.

"I think going one-on-one with another highly trained athlete, you've got all the crowd there, the electricity of everything.

"While I'm not doing that, I'm just mundane. But as soon as I know I've got a fight coming up, boom, my eyes glow up. I feel a feeling inside of me bubbling [like] a pot that's on the simmer, boiling away. I just cannot wait to fight.

"It's really the competition that's the addictive thing, it's not the training. I used to think it was the training, but it's not because I was training every day [and] I wasn't happy.

"So it's definitely the boxing side of it. I believe when God's ready for me to move on and get out of boxing, I'll be shown a way out. And whatever I do next will be double as big as what I'm doing now.

"I'm just motivated by staying alive and keeping happy and healthy. This is what makes me happy and healthy - boxing - so that's why we're here."

Usyk claimed Joshua's IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on Saturday, outclassing the champion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 19-0 Usyk mastered Joshua, earning a unanimous points decision to leave the prospect of a unification fight between Fury and his fellow Briton in tatters.

With Joshua now looking set for a rematch with Usyk, Fury will put his WBC belt on the line when he faces Deontay Wilder for a third time at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 9.

Fury revealed he was rocked by the second defeat Joshua has suffered in his career.

He said: "Did I watch the fight? Yes I did. Was I absolutely wounded that he won? Yes I was. I was hoping Joshua could win the fight, but he couldn't – and that’s none of my business.

"The only thing I'm bothered about is beating Deontay Wilder, and that's the most dangerous heavyweight out there. In my opinion, Wilder beats Joshua, Usyk, all the rest of the division, comfortable – but he cannot beat me."

Fury stated that he has "no interest in slating anybody or kicking anybody while they are down".

He added: "It ain't my style. I like to pick on someone who is doing well, successful, on top of the game – I don’t like picking on people who are down and probably at their lowest point and probably mentally unstable and unwell with a big loss after such a long reign.

"Usyk did his job, he had to do what he had to do, and that's that, and Joshua has got to do what he has got to do."

Fury is focused on beating Wilder for a second time rather than who he might fight after doing battle with the American.

"I don't care about anybody else – they are not on my radar, only the 'Bronze Bomber', aka the big dosser," he said.

"After him, we will talk, the promoters will do their job, and I will always do mine. Never worry about the 'Gypsy King' fulfilling his end of a bargain – I will always f****** fight until there's not a fight left in me.

"You just worry about the other people doing their end of the bargain."

Fury warned Wilder he has no chance of gaining revenge.

"I'm in fantastic shape, fit as a fiddle. I'm absolutely ready, today, tomorrow and forever. I'll always be ready, and I'll never make excuses," he said.

"When I beat Wilder, I'll be on to the next one, so on and so forth. It's never about the opponent. It's the Tyson Fury show until I hang those gloves up. Until that day, it's all about me, and the roadshow continues. All these years, 2008 to 2021, and I'm still undefeated.

"There ain't a man out there born from his mother that can stop me or beat me. I haven't seen one yet anyway. Maybe he’s not born, or maybe he is but he hasn’t got the guts to come and fight me."

A late turnaround in the past week saw talks reignite between the two heavyweight champions, sparking fresh hope for a fiercely anticipated unification bout.

Usyk took to social media to accept a 70-30 purse split in favour of Fury, with the WBA stating on Friday it had been informed of an agreement.

Wembley is expected to be the venue for the bout, with April 29 a proposed date, and Fury has now urged his rival to make the fight a one-off event.

Posting a video on social media, he said: "I've been speaking to the lawyers, and Usyk's people have been talking about rematch clauses and all that.

"Here's one to up the ante – how about there is no rematch clause for both of us? Let's up the ante completely.

"Never worry about what's in the future or how many more dollars you can get after you've been defeated. Worry about the fight.

"No rematch clause. Winner takes the glory, the loser goes home. How about that? Agree to that."

However, Usyk's promoter Krassyuk accused Fury of being "scared" with his latest demand and suggested the 'Gypsy King' is looking for a way to pull out of a fight.

"As Usyk said, the greedy belly is still hoping to find a way to pull out. We knew before and know it now," he told talkSPORT. "As soon as Usyk accepts a no-rematch clause, there will still be searching for another thing to find and pull out the fight.

"I tell you why. He bluffed and Usyk called his bluff. This is 100 per cent. He didn't expect Usyk to accept [a 70-30 split].

"He was not in a training camp, and we saw the next morning the theatrical performance that he was pretending to jog and fight someone in the ring.

"It's all about nothing. He's not prepared and scared to fight. He will try to find a way to avoid Usyk for as long as possible.

"We don't trust him, we don't believe him. One more thing to know, when we started the negotiations, Fury's side was the first to ask for the rematch. Fury were the first to ask for the rematch, and we supported this."

WBC champion Fury and WBA, WBO and IBF world champion Usyk were due to step into the ring at Wembley on April 29.

A deal could not be agreed, though, with both parties unable to come to an agreement over terms for a purse split in the rematch clause.

Usyk's promoter Alex Krassyuk pointed the finger at Fury for "putting so many obstacles in front of making the deal."

Mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois is instead seemingly next in line for Usyk, and Fury claims that is bout the Ukrainian wanted rather than facing him.

He said in a social media post on Thursday: "[You] tried all week to get out of it, begging for a rematch like a little girl. You got your rematch, then didn't even wanna fight at that.

"Always know that you was never man enough to tangle with the 'Gypsy King' ever in your life. You little 14-stone coward, and your full team know it as well, and all the lawyers have got the full information.

"Keep running. Fight [Daniel] Dubois at the Copper Box now, and always know that you or anybody else like you would never tangle with the Gypsy King!"

The two heavyweights have both made clear they are keen for a lucrative unification showdown, with a two-fight deal previously agreed between both sides for 2021.

However, there are still details to be sorted out, including over exactly where a first bout will be staged, particularly with the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on major sporting events.

Outlining his plans for the coming year in his column for the Daily Star, Warren - whose Queensberry Promotions work with Fury - has no doubts over who will prevail, whenever the event takes place.

"The big one that everyone wants to see is Tyson Fury against Anthony Joshua to decide the undisputed heavyweight champion," Warren wrote.

"Talks are continuing as we plan when and where to stage one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.

"Of course, I'm backing Fury to come out on top in that and prove what I believe that he is the best heavyweight in the world right now."

Joshua retained the IBF, WBA and WBO titles in December when he stopped Kubrat Pulev in front of a limited crowd of 1,000 at Wembley Arena.

Fury, meanwhile, holds the WBC belt, having dethroned Deontay Wilder in their rematch last February. He had hoped to fight again before the end of 2020, but was forced to shelve those plans.

Warren confirmed the continued COVID-19 health crisis makes it unclear exactly when fans will be able to be present in big numbers inside venues, but made clear "the planning and plotting continues".

That includes trying to fix a date for Carl Frampton's bid to win a world title a third different weight, 'The Jackal' set to take on WBO super-featherweight champion Jamel Herring as early as February.

That was the message on Wednesday from Top Rank president Todd DuBoef, a key member of Fury's United States promotional team who wants to see the all-British clash in 2023.

Joshua faces Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London, though speculation continues to swirl the former could face Fury after his undisputed bout with Oleksandr Usyk fell through.

Fury's promoter Hearn added fuel to the fire after expressing hopes of reviving negotiations with the entourage of Joshua, who DuBoef suggested would deserve a headline fight if he defeats Franklin.

"I've always said that that is the fight," DuBoef told Sky Sports.

"Both of them have great brands, huge fanbases, and fortunately both of them come from the UK, so it's wonderful that your country has been able to produce these incredible prizefighters.

"That fight is always there, and, to me, is the biggest heavyweight match in the world, because of the personalities and the stories."

Both camps have pointed the finger at each other after an April 29 meeting at Wembley between Fury and Usyk failed to come to fruition.

"The frustration is for all of us," DuBoef added on that bout. "All of us are frustrated, right?

"And I think timing has been an issue with trying to make this fight happen. I'm not going to say never, but I think we all want to see this unification, and we all have hope.

"But there was a timeline that was set up, and it just got ahead of everybody and it became very tight.

"Fortunately, there's always hope and an opportunity because I think both fighters really know that this is what the sport wants, and what they want."

While holding out hopes over the mouthwatering fight between Fury and Usyk, DuBoef says his client could even face both the Ukrainian and Joshua before the end of the year.

"That's the way we move," he continued. "We move with immediacy, and we move trying to figure out and get rationality to a situation.

"I think we've always wanted this fight for Fury and Joshua, and we've wanted to see Fury and Usyk, and Tyson has wanted that, and the Warrens, and we've worked hard in getting this done.

"I would love to see, and you've just laid out a great 2023 for the Fury side, if we could do Usyk and Joshua this year, it would be fantastic."

There has been plenty of talk of a unification battle between WBC heavyweight champion Fury and Usyk – holder of the WBA-Super, IBF, WBO and IBO belts – since the latter beat Anthony Joshua for a second time in August.

Having made a U-turn on his decision to retire earlier this year, Fury beat Derek Chisora in a trilogy fight this month.

Plans for the 'Gypsy King' to meet Usyk next appeared to have been jeopardised when the Ukrainian was ordered to defend his WBA belt against mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.

Frank Warren – who represents both Fury and Dubois – has insisted the huge unification bout will take place first and Arum claims there should not be long to wait for that fight.

"The two fighters have agreed to fight each other next," Arum told Sky Sports.

"With Fury and Usyk we're dealing with two adults, not a lot of back and forth. Usyk is a good friend of mine, he's very intelligent and Tyson is Superman, both as an athlete and as an intellect.

"So they want the fight. Both of them want the fight and so there'll be very little, if any, messing around. We'll be able to make that happen. I'm very, very confident. 

"As I said, the fighters have both agreed to fight each other next without any interim fights. We'll have it all sorted out, I hope maybe by the end of the year."

Arum remains uncertain over the likely venue for the fight, though he described the prospect of being held at Wembley as "wonderful".

"Now the question is what's the date, and what's the site?" Arum said. "But that fight is definitely going to happen and it will happen in the first four months of next year.

"We are balancing a couple of significant offers from the Middle East, and also there's the possibility of doing the fight in the UK at Wembley with a massive 95,000 crowd in attendance.

"Fighters have a relatively short life and money is important, so if the money which has been proposed to us is real, that has to be taken into consideration.

"To go back to Wembley and do a fight before 95,000 people for me really stirs up the blood. It would be crazy. It would just be wonderful."