Anthony Joshua is targeting a long-awaited showdown against Tyson Fury, saying the fight "has to happen this year".
Joshua was speaking at The Ring magazine awards in London on Saturday night where he was surrounded by the great and the good of world boxing, past and present.
The magazine has been acquired by Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and the man behind the Saudi boxing project.
Alalshikh has also thrown his support behind a potential Joshua-Fury bout after including it on a list of five fights he wants to make this year.
Joshua, who was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his most recent outing last September, said: "It's a fight I want to see because I am a fan of boxing.
"When I am in the gym, everyone is asking me [about this fight]. I ain't got many years ahead of me. I want to leave the game with a bang and make an impact.
"Everyone is asking me the same question. It's up to me to deliver, that's why I'm saying it has to happen this year. I think we can make this fight happen."
Fury was absent from the event having gone to ground since losing to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for a second time in their Riyadh rematch just before Christmas. Usyk was named Fighter of the Year in London.
"I want to see Chris Eubank Jr versus Conor Benn, I want to see of course Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua," Alalshikh told the Froch On Fighting podcast. "I want to see Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford, and I also want to see Devin Haney versus Ryan Garcia the rematch.
"For Oleksandr Usyk he will wait for the card of February [featuring Daniel Dubois v Joseph Parker]. He has said he wants to fight one or two fights more, and I would like to see the Dubois rematch."
Perhaps the most significant development of the weekend though, was Alalshikh meeting with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and the increasing likelihood that the Mexican legend will face his fellow pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford this year.
It's a fight that wasn't on many people's radar given Crawford has just moved up to the super welterweight division while Canelo is up at super middleweight, but Alalshikh has been pursuing the idea for some time.
Canelo has previously dismissed Crawford as being too small, but changed his tune after meeting with Alalshikh on Saturday.
"[There's] always a chance there. We'll see, we'll see, but there's always a chance. We're here to make the best deals," said Alvarez in London when asked about fighting Crawford.
The details of a potential fight remain unclear, but given Canelo fights almost exclusively on Cinco De Mayo weekend - the Mexican holiday that has become synonymous with big fights - it is not inconceivable we could see Canelo and Crawford headline a Riyadh Season Cinco De Mayo show on May 3.
Crawford is 41-0 and has won world titles in four weight classes from lightweight to light middleweight. Canelo, meanwhile, has rebuilt following his 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol and defeated Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga last year.
Also in attendance in London were bitter rivals Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney. Garcia last year handed Haney his first loss but then tested positive for performance enhancing drugs and the result was turned into a 'no contest'.
Haney, who has since filed a lawsuit against Garcia, labelled his foe a "cheat" and admitted their feud has become deeply personal.
But Garcia said: “First and foremost he needs to drop the lawsuit if he even wants to have a conversation about [a rematch]. To me, I thought that was a weak move by him and now he wants to backtrack and say that’s how he’s going to get it back but before he was saying different. But I’m ready to fight him, I already fought him and beat him.”
Napoleon
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Ain 2 Al Duhail 4
Second leg:
Tuesday, Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha. Kick off 7.30pm
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
RACE CARD
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
More on animal trafficking
The biog
Born: High Wycombe, England
Favourite vehicle: One with solid axels
Favourite camping spot: Anywhere I can get to.
Favourite road trip: My first trip to Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan. The desert they have over there is different and the language made it a bit more challenging.
Favourite spot in the UAE: Al Dhafra. It’s unique, natural, inaccessible, unspoilt.
