Boxing

Joshua, who raised the prospect of the mouthwatering mega-contest taking place as early as March – also revealed his next fight will be in London, at either the O2 or Wembley Arena, in December.

Fury is back in action against former UFC world heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou next Saturday and a deal to face Usyk – which will see the winner crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era – in Saudi Arabia has already been agreed.

Speaking in Austin ahead of Sunday’s United States Grand Prix, Joshua, 34, said: “They want to put Usyk v Fury and Joshua v Wilder on the same night.

“When Fury gets through Ngannou it is going to be late October going into November so I doubt he will prepare for Usyk and then fight in December. It is too short.

“So, the next window will be in March or April and that is when the undisputed fight will happen.

“What we are being told is that they want to make it a mega-card.”

Following two defeats to Usyk, Joshua got back on track for a future meeting with former WBC belt-holder Wilder by knocking out Finnish fighter Robert Helenius in the seventh round at London’s O2 Arena in August.

Asked about the identity of his opponent in December, Joshua said: “It won’t be a championship fighter – which is Usyk and Fury. It won’t be none of them guys and I am not too sure about the Wilder situation.”

Asked why a date has not yet been set to face Wilder, Joshua said of the American: “It feels like a land grab at the moment.

“Some fighters want to maximise their revenue. When I first started, you start, you build up your record, you fight and then you fight the big fights.

“But it is like, ‘where can we get the most money for the fight?’. And they want to go to Saudi Arabia so they are waiting for the undisputed fight.

“For my career I have got to stay busy. And in terms of an opponent for December we have got to find the right opponent.”

Joshua, who has been announced alongside golfer Rory McIlroy, England star Trent Alexander-Arnold and World Cup winner Juan Mata as part of a £173million strategic investment led by consortium Otro Capital in Alpine, continued: “I am following my process. They didn’t want me to fight this year. I have fought twice and I could have had a stagnant year.

“I need to follow my process and I am not listening to the noise about Wilder or whoever. When the opportunity comes I will be ready. I am not waiting around for big opportunities.”

Joshua is in Austin supporting Alpine after this week completing a health retreat where he was submerged in darkness for four days.

Joshua had been in negotiations to face Tyson Fury in an all-British blockbuster but an arbitration hearing ruled Deontay Wilder had a contractual right to face the WBC champion for a third time.

Fury and Wilder's trilogy showdown was set to take place this weekend before the 'Gypsy King' tested positive for coronavirus.

That bout has now been shifted to October 9 in Las Vegas, meaning Joshua will have another chance to impress before his heavyweight rivals step out again.

That is not to say looking ahead to future contests would be wise for the 31-year-old, given the exceptionally skilled Usyk is intent on cleaning up at heavyweight as he did in the 200lbs division and boasts a professional record of 18 victories and no defeats.

Joshua avenged his shock loss to Andy Ruiz with a lopsided points win over the Mexican-American in Saudi Arabia at the end of 2019. The sole defence of his second reign as champion came with a dominant ninth-round stoppage of Kubrat Pulev at Wembley Arena last December, before Joshua's latest period of Fury-based frustration began.

Usyk has previously enjoyed success in the UK, both when he knocked out Tony Bellew in his final fight at cruiserweight and outpointed the veteran Dereck Chisora last year.

The Ukrainian also won heavyweight gold at London 2012, where Joshua triumphed at super-heavyweight. Indeed, this will be the first professional meeting between men who won Olympic gold medals in those respective categories.

"We are two Olympic gold medallists who have fought our way to the top and never avoided challenges," Joshua said.

"The stadium is exceptional, the atmosphere will be electric. I'm honoured to be the first person to fight in such an awe-inspiring venue. The stage is set and I am ready to handle business."

Joshua's stadium shows have become a fixture of UK boxing in the modern era.

He stopped Wladimir Klitschko in a thrilling Wembley contest in April 2017 before a September 2018 KO of Alexander Povetkin at the same venue – a fight for which Usyk was in attendance.

In between those triumphs, he beat Carlos Takam and then-WBO champion Joseph Parker at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

In his sole remarks around the fight announcement, Usyk cryptically said: "The path will be mastered by the walking one."

Joshua claimed the 26th victory of his professional career with a first knock-out in three years, but even before this bout all the pre-fight talk was about what next for the British heavyweight.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the state of play for the former two-time world heavyweight champion.

Was the booing justified?

The Matchroom show had been in doubt a week earlier when Dillian Whyte had to be withdrawn after “adverse analytical findings” were discovered in his doping test with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).

It saw Helenius drafted in at the 11th hour but while there is no doubt a sold-out O2 Arena would have been happy to see Joshua in action, they clearly wanted more from the former Olympian during the first half of the 12-rounder. Joshua faced whistles and boos during round three and jeers followed after another pedestrian round saw the contest reach its halfway point. A thunderous right hand ensured the next outburst by spectators inside the London venue was applause.

DJ getting a tune out of AJ?

While Joshua was tentative early on against Helenius and did not want to initially trade off with the 39-year-old, some context must be provided. The Finchley boxer had only a week to prepare for his Finnish opponent and there is a number of inches difference between Whyte and Helenius, which would have brought out a significant adjustment for the home favourite.

Joshua struggled to land with his right hand early on but was urged to keep persevering by highly-respected trainer Derrick James in only their second bout together. James told Joshua to “keep shooting the right” and it landed emphatically during the seventh round with Helenius sent toppling to the canvas.

Wilder next?

Even before Whyte’s withdrawal, a large chunk of the discourse around Joshua was whether he would actually fight Wilder next. The former world heavyweight champions have been speculated to lock horns for several years and it would have been a unification contest as recently as four years ago.

Joshua had to block out the noise to do the business against Helenius but after he did, all eyes are now on Wilder. Saudi Arabia promotional entity Skills Challenge is eager to host the mouth-watering clash and dates in January and February are being drawn up.

So that’s that then?

We have been here many times before, not only with Joshua and Wilder but Joshua and fellow Briton Tyson Fury. It seems getting the best of the heavyweight division in the ring together is one of the hardest jobs in the sport. However, there is a lot of reason for optimism on this occasion.

A traditional stumbling block can be the fact world heavyweight champions have mandatory challengers to face, but with Joshua and Wilder holding no belts, they are free to fight whoever they wish. The money on offer should satisfy the demands of both boxers, but Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott did hint this week that his fighter would like to be active before fighting Joshua.

An October bout was proposed but even if that happens, these two generational heavyweights should still trade blows in 2024.

The unified heavyweight champion has Tyson Fury pencilled in for a fight in 2021 – provided he comes through Saturday's main event at Wembley Arena, which will see a 1,000-strong crowd present. 

Pulev has patiently waited his turn – this pair were initially due to meet back in 2017, only for the Bulgarian to have to pull out through injury – but finally gets his chance, this a second attempt to stage the contest in 2020 after a June date was scuppered by the coronavirus pandemic.

He certainly did not waste his opportunity at the weigh-in to get under Joshua's skin, as a lengthy exchange between the pair went on for several minutes as security watched on, just in case.

The challenger has a record to suggest there is reason to believe he can back up his words with meaningful actions. Pulev's only defeat in the paid ranks was to Wladimir Klitschko six years ago - and he's won eight on the spin since that setback.

Still, he is now 39 and has not fought anyone close to Joshua's level since being stopped inside five rounds by Klitschko.

In truth, though, this is all about Joshua. The Briton bounced back from a first career loss to regain his titles a year ago against an out-of-shape Andy Ruiz Jr, a considered approach allowing him to dictate terms over 12 rounds. 

His method paid off on that occasion, aided by his opponent's lack of thorough preparation, but will we see a return to the more aggressive, open style that helped his rise in popularity? 

A desire to impress somewhat caused his downfall in the first meeting with Ruiz, who climbed off the canvas to cause a monumental shock at the famous Madison Square Garden. Pulev's pre-fight words may well have tempted Joshua into a battle, but to do so is a risk for the home favourite when so much is at stake.

Fury - and boxing fans across the world - will watch on with great interest, knowing a win for the home favourite clears one of the major hurdles in the way of a huge unification showdown for next year.

RECENT HISTORY 

Joshua has not fought at home since September 2018, when he stopped Alexander Povetkin at a packed-out Wembley Stadium.

Since then, his two fights on the road have both been against Ruiz Jr, the last of them a rematch staged in Diriyah that went the distance.

Pulev, meanwhile, fought twice in 2019, beating Rydell Booker on points in a 10-rounder to follow on from a stoppage success against Bogdan Dinu earlier in the year.

He has two relatively recent bouts against British fighters on his career resume too, having beaten both Hughie Fury (October 2018) and Dereck Chisora (May 2016) on points. 

TALE OF THE TAPE 

ANTHONY JOSHUA

Age: 31
Height: 6ft 6ins (198cm) 
Weight: 241lbs 
Reach: 82ins  
Professional record: 23-1 (21 KOs) 
Major career titles: IBF, WBA, WBO heavyweight

KUBRAT PULEV

Age: 39
Height: 6ft 4.5ins (194cm) 
Weight: 239lbs 
Reach: 79.5ins  
Professional record: 28-1 (14 KOs) 
Major career titles: European heavyweight

THE UNDERCARD 

Lawrence Okolie takes on late stand-in Nikodem Jezewski in a cruiserweight contest as chief support. Originally, the plan had been to fight for the vacant WBO title against Krzysztof Glowacki, who was forced to withdraw from the card after testing positive for COVID-19.

Hughie Fury - a former Pulev foe - is in action against the experienced Mariusz Wach, while there is an intriguing heavyweight clash involving Martin Bakole and Sergey Kuzmin.

Unbeaten welterweight Florian Marku makes his Matchroom debut, taking on Jamie Stewart over eight rounds. However, the former nearly came to blows long before the first bell after becoming involved in a Twitter spat with another boxer inside the bubble.

Macaulay McGowan, who is up against Kieron Conway on Saturday, made clear in an interview he wants to take on Marku in the future, leading to an exchange of messages on social media and a meeting in a hotel corridor that required the presence of security to diffuse the situation.

WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY... 

Joshuaon the weigh-in confrontation: "I know what's he like. He thinks he's a warrior. I said, 'Don't let the guys you've fought gas you up - you're in against a real one now'."

Pulevafter the verbal exchange: "I respect him - he's an Olympic champion, a world champion. I respect him so much, but I am the better boxer. Tomorrow (Saturday) I will show him."

Trainer Rob McCrackenon Joshua's mindset: "He doesn't underestimate anybody, takes everybody seriously. But he's not unified champion twice for no reason - he's a fantastic fighter and will only get better."

Discussions are advancing between the two camps and Saudi Arabian promotional agency Skills Challenge over the two ex-heavyweight champions doing battle in the ring in January.

Joshua ensured he remained on track for a future meeting with former WBC belt-holder Wilder by knocking out Robert Helenius in the seventh round of Saturday’s show at London’s O2 Arena.

Anticipation is now growing over two of the best heavyweights of the era finally stepping into the ring together after years of a match-up, which at one stage would have been a unification contest, being mooted.

But Joshua insisted: “There is no pressure on this whole situation, I am just rolling with the punches. It is not as important as this and that.

“I am just happy I have done my job and I can go home. It is not a big deal. I will take it step by step.

“For me, it is just another fight. I can’t get caught up in the hype and the build-up, what it means to people. For me I have to go in there as a gladiator, right?

“A gladiator doesn’t worry about what it means to other people, he just goes to fight. Take it from my aspect as a fighter, I am training to fight someone and hurt someone.

“I have no interest in what people think of me in the future. All I have an interest in is taking this guy out one way or another. That is just where my head is at.”

That mentality extends to speculation Wilder could himself arrange a tune-up fight, having last been in the ring back in October when he stopped Helenius in the first round of their New York clash.

While in the past this bout could have been for all the world heavyweight belts, Joshua admits the absence of titles makes it an easier contest to make, with Saudi representatives ringside in London at the weekend.

“Wilder is able to do what he wants. I have no control or concern about what he does, honestly,” the Finchley boxer added.

“I can’t answer for him and I don’t really have an interest too much on what his thought process is and psychology behind it. It is too much energy wasted on unimportant things.

“For me personally, the networks when we were champions was an issue, but now we’re here and it is a good time to be a heavyweight because Wilder is not champion any more, I am not champion, we don’t have network pressure, mandatory pressure.

“When I had four of the belts, I was challenging all my mandatories every other month and now I am free. When we look at the landscape, it is probably easier now to get active and busy again. That is probably the same situation for him as well.”

Joshua’s aim for this year was to fight more after solitary bouts in 2022, 2021 and 2020, but wins over Jermaine Franklin and Helenius have not kept the critics at bay.

The 33-year-old was booed and jeered at points on Saturday night before a devastating right hand produced a knock-out of the year contender.

It appeared to briefly pierce the armoury Joshua has built around him during a professional career that will reach a decade in October and future plans for the Briton were hinted at in the aftermath of his 26th win.

He said: “I will be honest, I am not going to answer anything negative. I feel like there is too much, ‘What do you feel about the booing or this or that’.

“I have no interest in conversing with any more negativity, I just need to hear some positive stuff. There is too much.

“Why are we so focused on so much negativity? We just had a great show, it was one of the best cards, it was heavyweight boxing, there was a knock-out. Let’s address something positive for once.

“Retiring healthy (is the aim). Just leaving the game healthy and paying my dues as a British heavyweight. I have put in a lot of work and I have paid my dues.

“One day I know I will be able to support some up-and-coming fighters, speak to them about the psychological aspect, business aspect and the training aspect of the game.

“I just feel it is very challenging and a lot of people will find it challenging to push through.”

Joshua regained the IBF, WBA and WBO titles with a lopsided points win over Andy Ruiz Jr last December, instantly avenging his shock knockout loss to the Mexican earlier in the year.

Two months later, Fury spectacularly dethroned Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC title, meaning there is considerable clamour for the two Britons to meet and decide an undisputed king of boxing's blue riband division.

Joshua understands the demand for what would be a blockbuster event, but refuses to place Fury – who recently said he would "batter" the Londoner – on a pedestal.

"There's going to be even bigger [fights] because I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to make history," he told British GQ.

"I'm hungry, I'm fired up. Fury's just another opponent at the end of the day.

"Yes it's going to be big for everyone else but I've got to keep myself together and I'm looking at Fury like he's just another fighter.

"But in terms of the spectacle, the trash talking, two juggernauts coming together – I can't wait.

"I've tasted what being at the top of the mountain feels like and I've tasted what being knocked off that mountain feels like and I've climbed my way back up.

"Whoever steps in front of me now will know I ain't looking to go back down. When I'm fighting Kubrat Pulev and I get the opportunity to fight with Tyson Fury for the WBC championship of the world, they're going to see what it feels like for a man to have had it all, lost it and got it back.

"A man who doesn't want to feel that turbulence again."

He added: "I can't really comment on Tyson Fury, to be honest. I've got my own opinions and views of that person but all I need to know is when I'm going to beat him and when I'm going to fight him."

Joshua was due to face IBF mandatory challenger Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in June before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

His promoter Eddie Hearn insists that bout, ideally in front of a UK stadium crowd later in the year, remains Joshua's immediate priority.

 "Wouldn't it be great to come through all this and stage a world heavyweight title fight in the UK this year? For us, that is the absolute focus and if that's taken out of our hands, we will look at other options around the world," he told Sky Sports.

Joshua beat Ruiz in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East could come to the fore as an alternative venue for his next outing, while Pulev's manager Ivaylo Gotsev claims to have secured financial backing to stage the bout at Pula Arena – a Roman amphitheatre in Croatia.

"Croatia is a potential option at this stage and just a part of wider discussions," Hearn added.

"Given the current uncertainty, I would expect to see him in the ring again end of September at the earliest, but more likely October or November as the restrictions hopefully start to ease."

Fury retained his WBC world title with a victory over Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April and stated that was his last fight. 

The Brit appeared to backtrack this month by stating he would be returning to the ring and wanted to face Dereck Chisora for a third time, having already been victorious over his compatriot in 2011 and 2014.

Fury then announced once again that he has retired in a social media post on his 34th birthday last week.

Joshua and Usyk will do battle once more this weekend in Saudi Arabia, after the former undisputed cruiserweight champion took the Brit's IBF, WBA and WBO belts with a unanimous decision victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September.

Arum believes the 'Gypsy King' can be tempted back into the ring to face whoever comes out on top.

He told Sky Sports: "Absolutely - it's really the only fight that makes sense for Tyson Fury.

"I've discussed this with my co-promoter of Fury, Frank Warren, and once this fight is over we're going to put together a total unification match between the winner and Tyson Fury.

"Now, if Usyk wins the fight, which I expect, that will be quite easy to do because we're very close to the Usyk people as they're the same people who manage Vasyl Lomachenko who fights for us. If Joshua wins, Eddie Hearn is his promoter. We've talked many times with Hearn about various matches and I'm sure we'll be able to come together on this one.

 "I've talked with him [Fury] and every day is different, but he's a fighter and if the right fight is there then Fury will be up for that fight. The right fight is the unification fight against the winner of Usyk and Joshua and I think - based on my conversations with Fury - he'll be up for that challenge.

"How much longer he will go after that, god only knows and I'm not sure, but I'm confident at least that he'll answer the bell for that major fight."

WBC champion Fury last month stated that he had grown tired of waiting for his next bout amid talks with Joshua's camp.

Joshua told Fury he was ready to fight him "in my back garden [or] your back garden".

A roadmap has been set up by coronavirus restrictions to be eased over the coming months in the United Kingdom, with social distancing rules potentially being lifted on June 21.

That could make an all-British battle a possibility on home soil in June and although Arum could not provide details, Fury's promoter believes an agreement has been reached.

"As far as I'm concerned, all the points have been agreed to," the American told IFL TV. 

"That's what each side has said. Now, we're just scrambling around to get things signed.

"I can say clearly, based on my view of everything, there are no more issues."

Promoter Bob Arum is confident a deal can be struck for a heavyweight blockbuster between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua but insists the fight will not take place until next year.

The two Britons hold all of the major belts in boxing's blue riband division, with Joshua avenging his shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr to reclaim the IBF, WBA and WBO straps last December.

Fury then battered Deontay Wilder to a seventh-round loss in Las Vegas in February to take the WBC title, leaving him once again on a collision course with Joshua.

However, each man has contractual obligations to uphold. Fury is committed to a third meeting with Wilder, with whom he shared a contentious draw in December 2018, while Joshua was set to meet IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in June before the coronavirus pandemic laid waste to those plans.

Arum, who promotes both Fury and Pulev, told Stats Perform News those fights will have to happen first but remains confident he can broker an agreement.

"We're going to have to wait for that fight until maybe the end of the first quarter of 2021. We've been talking about this at length – both Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren and myself.

"Obviously it would require both Joshua and Fury to be successful in the fights that they're already contracted for.

"If that's so, we would work together – all of us, MTK [Fury's management] – to get that fight on sometime early next year."

Arum's Top Rank promotional outfit relaunched boxing behind closed doors in Las Vegas this week and hopes to bring back shows with minimal attendance later in the year.

However, he concedes Fury v Wilder III is a fight of such magnitude and expense that it requires a live gate, meaning reports Sydney's Bankwest Stadium could stage the bout on Christmas Day that emerged this week are not as far-fetched as they might initially sound.

"Dean Lonergan [the promoter behind the proposal] is a good friend of mine. We did the Manny Pacquiao v Jeff Horn fight and he's been back and forth to me with the idea of doing that fight around Christmas in Sydney, Australia," he explained.

"There's the big, big stadium there. There's been a lot of support from the [local] government to do that fight and the Aussies are used to doing these big events around noon on a Sunday, which is equivalent to prime time in the United States on a Saturday night.

"It's all good but there are a number of questions. Will the authorities allow boxing or any of the sports events with full capacity in an outdoor stadium? We don't know that. I told Dean he's got to find out whether that's so.

"It's the same problem we have in the United States. If we can't do an event with a full capacity, then why go all the way over to Australia?"

Joshua activated his option for an immediate rematch after losing to Usyk, who is now the IBF, WBA and WBO champion, on September 25.

As a result, the 30-day period granted by the WBC for Fury and Usyk to arrange a fight passed without negotiations, with WBC interim champion Whyte in line to face Fury instead.

Fury is more interested in a clash with the Ukrainian, however, in an attempt to claim his belts and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, according to Arum.

"If Joshua decides not to exercise his rematch against Usyk and decides to step aside, the fight we would like to make is between Usyk and Fury," Arum said to Sky Sports.

"That is a fight to unify the titles once and for all. Then Joshua can fight the winner of the undisputed fight. Whyte can stand in line and fight the winner ultimately.

"That's what Tyson would like. And I represent Tyson. That is his preference. If they want to fight each other, which I believe they do, I would facilitate it."

Arum also explained why the WBC did not name a mandatory challenger to Fury's title on Tuesday night, despite Whyte expecting to be given a first opportunity to fight for a world title.

"Whyte's people had brought an arbitration proceeding against the WBC," Arum continued. "The WBC said they would not grant Whyte a mandatory position while the arbitration is pending.

"That was appropriate. Fury may end up fighting Whyte, we'll see. But it won't be with the requirement of the WBC. Whyte is an excellent fighter."

Fury had been in discussions with Joshua last year over an undisputed title fight, but it never materialised and Arum believes Joshua's best chance of facing Fury is to walk away from his rematch with Usyk for now.

"If Joshua decides he wants the rematch [with Usyk] straight away, which I think would be a mistake because there is no way he will win unless he gets new trainers in and figures out how to fight a southpaw, then he has the absolute right to do it and nobody will interfere with that contract," Arum added.

"If he decides, which I think he should, to take another fight, Usyk can fight Fury for all the belts, Joshua can fight the winner. I think that's the way he should go. If he does that, everybody will accommodate him."

Fury initially offered Joshua the chance of a December bout last month, with Hearn subsequently revealing positive talks had been held with the Gypsy King's team.

However, Fury then set Joshua's representatives a deadline of September 26 to get the fight signed off, and declared discussions were "officially over" when that was not met.

Last week, Hearn told Sky Sports he was "baffled" by Fury's antics, adding: "we'll see what happens from here".

Hearn now appears convinced the fight will not take place, and has hit out at Fury for repeatedly insulting Joshua on social media.  

"As far as we're concerned, the fight's off. We're happy to continue the discussions," Hearn said in an interview with Matchroom Boxing.

"In our mind, he's not fighting Anthony Joshua. We're more than happy to continue those conversations, but what we've been told is the deadline has passed, and so have the entire country.

"We have sent the final version of the contract back, they've come back with points and we were told that the fight is off by the man himself.

"They gave us terms, ultimately, and a date they thought we wouldn't accept. We did accept that. We were ready to go. 

"If they were to sign the contract on Monday [September 26], they had a fight. We were asked to agree the deal by Monday, then we were asked to agree it by Wednesday. 

"We got the comments back on Wednesday. We were never going to sign the fight [then], and we were told the fight's off.

"It's still there. It's still open for discussion. But we're not going to play a game with a bloke that's just coming out telling AJ it's off, and then that he's a 'dosser', that he's got to sign it, etc.

"Have your fight if you fight someone else, and we'll do our thing and we'll see what happens."

Jack scored a fourth-round knockout against Colina at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday – the final fight before the exhibition showdown between boxing great Mayweather and YouTube sensation Paul.

Sweden's Jack (24-3-3), who is a former super middleweight and light heavyweight champion, dropped underdog Colina (15-1) three times in the fourth round.

"I'm a way better boxer than him," Jack said after Colina stepped in to fight on barely a week's notice, having replaced WBC light heavyweight champion Jean Pascal – who tested positive for four banned substances. "Outbox him, and everything else will come."

Earlier, Luis Arias (19-2-1) claimed a shock split-decision victory over Jarrett Hurd (24-2) in the 10-round middleweight contest.

"People close to me were telling to get a job, give up on boxing, and I'm here," Arias said.

"I believe I won the fight," Hurd said. "I had him out sometimes and they gave him a break wiping off the ring, but they gave him the fight and I have to go with what they said.

"The plan was to come in here and box but we couldn't move around as much because the ring was slippery."

Taylor retained his world super-lightweight titles after a points win over Catterall that caused huge consternation.

The judges determined that Taylor had triumphed 112-113, 114-111, 113-112, despite his opponent dominating the first five rounds.

Taylor was also knocked down in the eighth round by 28-year-old Catterall, who stormed out of Glasgow's OVO Hydro following the judges' decision.

Catterall's trainer Jamie Moore, who spoke in the boxer's absence, said: "It's difficult to put into words.

"You're talking about a kid who has worked all his life for that moment, who waited three years for that opportunity. He then performs like that and beats the champion in his own backyard – and gets absolutely robbed."

The BBBofC announced on Monday it was investigating the scoring and would "advise accordingly".

Taylor, who said he took time off with his family before watching back footage of the fight, praised Catterall but insisted he felt the decision was fair.

"First and foremost, I want to congratulate Jack Catterall on a great fight. He rose to the occasion and fought a valiant fight. However, I believe I won a very close fight," Taylor said on Instagram.

"Many fans believe Jack deserved the decision, and that's fine. We both went in there and fought our guts out for 12 rounds… but the personal attacks on myself and especially my family are disgusting and uncalled for.

"My days at 140 are numbered. My future is at welterweight. Jack Catterall deserves another title shot, and as soon as possible. I've never ducked a challenge in my career, and I'd be happy to fight Jack again, but it would have to be at welterweight. Jack is a great sportsman, a helluva fighter, and deserves every bit of the admiration he's been receiving.

"Fighting as the undisputed champion on Scottish soil was a dream come true, but I'm only getting started. I'll be back and better than ever, this time ready to conquer the welterweight division."

Lopez suffered his first career defeat and lost his IBF, WBA (Super) and WBO lightweight titles in shock fashion against Kambosos on Saturday.

The champion had promised a first-round knockout but was instead himself on the canvas early. Although Kambosos was knocked down in the 10th, he did enough to secure a split decision victory.

The long-awaited fight at Madison Square Garden, which saw a series of date changes, led Kambosos to declare himself "the emperor".

"I can't believe how good I boxed," he added, although for Lopez the disbelief centred around the result.

"He's a hell of a fighter, but I won tonight, everybody knows that," he said. "The referee raised my hand.

"I won tonight; I don't care what anybody says, I won tonight. At the end of the day, I've been here, I've done that, I want to thank God, I want to thank everybody that came out tonight.

"Look, I ain't no sore loser, I take my wins like I take my losses. At the end of the day, man, I'm a true champion, I did what I had to do, and I went out there and did my best.

"I don't care what anybody says, man, I am as real as they come, and this is the takeover, man, we don't stop, we keep coming.

"At the end of the day, man, I love you all, I won this fight."

Bell secured a knockout in the final round with a strong right hand on Peterson, though no winner was declared due to the contest being an exhibition bout.

Having both left the NFL earlier this year, released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks respectively, the pair have turned their hand to boxing.

While Bell's triumph will not be recorded, the 30-year-old spoke of his pride at the result and made it clear this is only the start of his journey in the ring.

"I had a great performance, I put in a lot of hard work. All the hate that just motivates me, it was a badge of honour on my shoulder and I use it to be the best I can be," he said.

"It's a lot different, in football it's team orientated, don't get me wrong I have my team in my corner but when I'm in the ring it's just me and my opponent whereas in football I've got 10 other guys helping me. I'm so proud of myself because I worked so hard to come this far.

"I envisioned this happening and for it come true, I'm not surprised, but I'm just so happy. Boxing is one of the biggest challenges I've ever had to pick up. 

"It's about how far you want to go, you have something inside you that says you need to keep going further and that's what boxing brings out of me, this is the perfect sport, I want to see how far I can go, I want to test my limits. 

"I've put my hard work and passion into this and if I put my heart into this I know I can be the best at it."

The two had been due to meet in an all-British encounter last October before it was scrapped at short notice after Benn failed a drugs test.

Though Benn was subsequently restored to the WBC rankings, he remains barred by the British Boxing Board of Control from competing in the UK.

Suggestions earlier this week pointed to an announcement for a June fight in Abu Dhabi, but Hearn has now pushed back against claims a deal is near.

"It's definitely not [signed]," he told BBC Sport. "Conor Benn's had a number of offers internationally to fight, [like] Manny Pacquiao.

"Kell Brook was in the office yesterday – he's desperate to fight Conor Benn as well. For me, the fight I want to make is the rescheduled Chris Eubank fight."

Any bout between Benn and Eubank Jr would need the latter to get permission from the BBBofC, given the former is currently unsanctioned.

Both men are unlikely to get their blessing, however, with general secretary Robert Smith stating they would not back a fight in another country.

"If the situation remains as it is today then I would think that would be unlikely," Smith told The Guardian. "But we have not had any applications."

Eubank Jr last fought in January, when he was defeated by Liam Smith, while Benn had been strongly linked with a bout against Pacquiao, who is eyeing a return from his second retirement.

The boxer twice tested positive for the banned substance clomifene last year ahead of a scheduled bout with Chris Eubank Jr in October that was subsequently scrapped.

Benn's reinstatement to the WBC rankings in March appeared to pave the way for a return, but he remains without a licence from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).

Reports on Tuesday from Boxing News suggested he has been provisionally suspended since March 15, to which Benn responded on social media with defiance while acknowledging he could not say much else on the matter.

"I can't comment on anything to do with UKAD other than to say that I am in touch with them," he wrote on Twitter.

"Someone at the BBBoC or UKAD obviously wanted to create a headline, unlike the [Amir] Khan case where it was kept quiet for 14 months.

"But this is nothing new. I remain free to fight outside the UK. This isn't even about my innocence anymore, it's all politics. You can't keep a good man down."

Benn had been plotting a comeback bout abroad in Abu Dhabi later this year, with multiple options such as Eubank Jr and Manny Pacquiao apparently touted by his promoter Eddie Hearn.

However, any such bout would risk the British licences of all involved regardless of it taking place on foreign soil if Benn is suspended by UKAD.

The Briton was due to fight Chris Eurbank Jr in a high-profile contest last October, only for the bout to be pulled at short notice after he tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene.

A fight between the two was prohibited by the British Boxing Board of Control and eventually cancelled by promoters, with Benn subsequently struck from the WBC rankings.

But following an appeal, the WBC confirmed he would be reinstated on Wednesday after they did not find enough data to further support his suspension.

"The WBC found that there was no conclusive evidence that Mr. Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of clomiphene," said an official statement.

"[In addition,] there were no failures in the procedures related to sample collection, sample analysis, or violations of Mr. Benn’s B Sample rights that would justify questioning or invalidating the adverse finding.

"[Furthermore,] Mr. Benn’s documented and highly-elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection, raised a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding."

Though Benn will return to the WBC rankings, he remains under investigation by the BBFoC and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and therefore is not licensed to box in the UK while those processes are ongoing.

However, he could now seek another country and a different jurisdiction in which to fight if he so chooses.

Eubank Jr suffered a third career loss last month in Manchester against Liam Smith, following the cancellation of his match with Benn.

Promoters Top Rank confirmed the 29-year-old's CT scan had come back clear, allaying fears after Berchelt lost his WBC belt in brutal fashion.

Valdez dethroned his compatriot at the MGM Grand on Saturday, flooring Berchelt with devastating left hook in the final second of the 10th round.

Having knocked down Berchelt twice earlier in the fight, Valdez finally landed the decisive blow to leave his opponent lying unconscious on the canvas for a few tense moments in Las Vegas.

Top Rank posted a picture of the pair in the ring after the fight showing a groggy Berchelt sat on a stool with Valdez kneeling in front of him, the two touching gloves.

The caption read: "In the end, the respect between these two was at the core of what made this fight so special."

It added: "Per reports from the hospital, Miguel Berchelt's CT scan was clear, and he has been released."

In a brutal bloodfest in Montreal, unbeaten champion Beterbiev defended his unified WBC and IBF belts against mandatory challenger Browne courtesy of his 17th knockout in 17 fights.

Both men were left bloodied following a clash of heads in the fourth round – Beterbiev (17-0) had a deep gash that poured blood from the centre of his forehead, while Brown was leaking from the outside of his eye.

Beterbiev eventually overpowered Brown (24-2), flooring his opponent in the seventh round before a body shot in the ninth saw the fight come to an end.

"We win this fight," said Beterbiev. "This is another experience in my career. This is boxing.

"You never know what happens in boxing. I'm happy to get the win. I have two world titles. I am open to fighting the other champions in my division.

"I am happy I had the opportunity to give the great fans of Montreal a memorable championship fight."