Heavyweight Division
Hall of Fame promoter Don King is returning to Casino Miami Jai Alai on Saturday, January 21. Looks like the originally announced clash between WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga Junior Makabu and Noel Mikaelyan is off. The card will now be topped by NABA gold heavyweight champion Jonathan Guidry (18-1-2, 10 KOs) against former WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (25-5-1, 21 KOs).

Guidry is coming off a good performance against tough Dacarree Scott. Guidry won a tough battle with Scott and sent him to the canvas at 2:01 of the seventh round to claim the NABA gold heavyweight title on June 11, 2022 at Casino Miami Jai-Alai.

Guidry had started the year suffering his first loss after 17 straight victories as a professional, losing a split decision and the WBA championship to Trevor Bryan in Warren, Ohio on Jan. 29.

Stiverne, like Guidry, lost his last fight to Trevor Bryan for the WBA heavyweight championship on Jan. 29, 2021 at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Bryan floored Stiverne twice, the last coming with 1:27 of the 11th round when referee Frank Gentile called a halt to the proceedings.

Seven other undercard bouts will be announced soon.

Tickets for the championship card are priced at $25, $50 and floor ringside are $100. VIP tables will be sold at $2,500. Tickets are available and can be purchased online at https://playcasinomiami.com. The card will also be presented steaming live on http://www.donking.com and http://www.Itube247.com

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the action will begin at 7 p.m.
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https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/filip-hrgovic-loses-out-ibf-rescinds-order-for-usyk-hrgovic-paving-way-for-fury-vs-usyk-fight/256642
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Hrgovic never deserved mandatory anyway
He needs to fight decent opponents- arguably he lost his biggest fight v Zhang
Fight DD... if Chisora still wants gloves in his face fight him... he needs exposure as he has a ranking but no drawing power whats so ever.
Top guys including JP, Dillian etc see no value for the medicore $$ they would get for risking v him.
Own worst enemy I reckon or poorly managed
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Hrgovic is still in a great position ranking wise. As you say, fight someone top notch and solidify it. DD sounds like a good fight, with fireworks.
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He has a great shot v DD as he isn't looking that great but is out with knee surgery for 6-9 mths
AJ v Dempsey McClean in april... AJ traveling to US to link up with his new trainer
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That's terrible. McKean is horrible. Hemi and Fa could beat him. Hrgovic must have a good promoter if he's ranked that highly, and yes, Zhang beat him.
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Hearn Says Joshua Return ‘Targeted’ for April 1 in London, Will Train in US
BY SEAN NAM
Published Tue Jan 10, 2023, 02:19 PM EST

Anthony Joshua appears to be on the brink of making the biggest training change of his career ahead of his return to the ring.

The former heavyweight champion from London is expected to start his training camp for his next fight in the United States, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua was recently seen visiting several notable trainers in the US, including Virgil Hunter and Derrick James, the trainer of undisputed 154-pound champion Jermell Charlo and unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. He also met with Roy Jones Jr. in the UK.

Joshua’s training team has been in flux ever since he dropped a title-losing decision to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, WBAO, and IBF heavyweight titlist, in their first fight in September 2021. After that fight, Joshua canned his longtime trainer Rob McCracken for veteran American coach Robert Garcia. Now, in the wake of his second consecutive loss to Usyk, Joshua is poised to enlist a new voice in his corner.

Hearn said that Joshua will make the announcement of his new trainer soon.

“He is gonna train in America, and he’ll start that camp in the next week,” Hearn said on The DAZN Boxing Show on Monday. “He’ll be flying out. You guys will get the news soon. ... Like I said, AJ’s his own man, and something like that (announcing his new trainer) is for him to confirm once he’s happy to confirm it.

Hearn said the working date for his star charge’s next fight is April in London. An opponent has not been announced but some reports have suggested that Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean will get the nod.

“April 1 is the targeted date in London,” Hearn said. “Really, I have a call (today) to go through the final list of opponents, the final, you know, bits and pieces around the date. We’re almost ready, really. He’s excited.”

While Hearn refrained from revealing Joshua’s trainer, he did indicate he was “happy” with the choice.

“Yes, I’m happy with the trainer,” Hearn said. “I’m happy with anybody that makes AJ feel comfortable, makes him feel motivated, makes him feel excited, and I think this is gonna be a nice break.”

Hearn also thinks the change in locale will be a big boon to Joshua’s preparation.

“The problem is, being in the UK, he can’t breathe, you know?” Hearn said. “When he goes to America, people still know who he is, but it’s just a different world. Can you imagine that Anthony Joshua, where he’s gonna be training, can rent a house or stay in a hotel, and can go for a walk and go and sit in a coffee shop and have a bit of breakfast and a bit of coffee with some friends, and, yeah, someone might come over and go, ‘AJ, man, how you doin’?’ But literally, that is an impossibility (in the UK). He can go to the mall and have a nice stroll around and pop into Foot Locker … and just be normal. Like, live a normal life that people should be allowed to do. It’s just a pressure cooker. It’s just a pressure cooker.

“Because he’s that guy, because he’s that ambassador, because he’s that role model, he’ll never turn down a photo, he’ll never turn down a conversation. So, it’s like, you don’t realize how much that’s going to drain you when you’re doing two or three sessions a day. I think it’s gonna be really good for him. I really feel like you’re gonna see a reinvigorated Anthony Joshua in April and I can’t wait to see him back.”

Hearn previously said he wants Joshua to fight three times in 2023: A soft touch in April, followed by a possible rematch with Dillian Whyte in the summer, and then a "mega" fight with Deontay Wilder to end the year.
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Demsey McKean Confident He Will Topple Anthony Joshua if Deal is Finalized
BY BOXINGSCENE STAFF
Published Wed Jan 11, 2023, 06:24 PM EST

According to reports, Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean is a frontrunner to collide with former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.

McKean has confirmed that he's under consideration to face Joshua, who is slated to return to the ring in April.

Joshua will attempt to recover after suffering back to back decision losses to unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk.

McKean will be a tremendous underdog, but he feels confident in his ability to topple Joshua.

If the British star loses his next bout, it could very well spell the end of his career - certainly as a top player at the weight.

"We are one of the frontrunners for a possible opponent for Anthony Joshua. I could be (the man to retire Joshua) and I am very confident I can do that. But don't get me wrong, there is still more fights for AJ. If he loses to me, a top-10 heavyweight as well, that shouldn't be the end. People probably don't give him the credit he deserves, what he has done for the heavyweight game. He has brought a lot of eyes and money into the heavyweight division," McKean told Sky Sports.

"He is probably the biggest name in boxing, everyone is after him, including me. It is the name to have on your resume. There are still fights to be made and people are still going to pay to watch those fights. But three losses in a row, does he need to keep doing this, he is well set up now? He probably still has his doubts, he still doubts himself a lot, I know that. But who wouldn't when they are at the top, in the limelight and cop a lot of criticism. There are a lot of factors but I have the skills to do that (retire him) for sure."

McKean's promoter, Angelo Di Carlo, says they are ready to face Joshua on UK soil - or even Australia.

"We are in discussion with our promotional partner Eddie Hearn regarding Demsey's next fight. We have made it clear that we are ready for the big fights and are more than willing to take on AJ in Australia or England," Di Carlo said.

"Demsey is now No 10 in the WBO and No 11 in the IBF. So whether it's AJ or another, he is well positioned for a big fight in 2023."
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Ajagba-Shaw Final Press Conference

Heavyweights Efe Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs) and Stephan “Big Shot” Shaw (18-0, 13 KOs) faced off at the final press conference for their ESPN clash on Saturday at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, NY.

Efe Ajagba: “I have the name ‘The Silent Roller’ because I don’t talk much…I’ve made adjustments for Saturday night. We’ll see how it goes. I’m ready for him.”

Stephan Shaw: “I’m a third-generation fighter. I’m looking to become a world champion. Saturday night, I’m going to make my mark.”

The 10-round co-feature sees 2016 Italian Olympian Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (10-0-1, 9 KOs) stepping up against noted spoiler Jonnie Rice (15-6-1, 10 KOs).

Guido Vianello: “Jonnie has a lot of experience, more than me. But I’m ready. I’ve been training very hard. I’ve been training very hard for four years since I moved to the USA. I train all the time to fight in a war, so I’m ready for this.”

Jonnie Rice: “This means the world to me right now. It’s another chance to beat another undefeated fighter. And that’s what’s on my mind. I’m going to go in there and beat him.”
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https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/anthony-joshuas-new-trainer-expected-to-be-derrick-james/256720
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