CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Monday, June 15, 2020 | 19 SPORTS BOXING Fight fans sensing heavyweight history Fury vs Joshua “We’re making great progress,” Hearn said. “There is still a lot to betting earning overcome. We are looking at venues comparisons to and dates. It’s fair to say Joshua and Fury are in agreement regarding the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ financial terms of the fight. “The most difficult part of any By MURRAY GREIG deal is the financial element. I [email protected] believe we’re in a great place where both guys have agreed to what that Within days of being unofficially should be. confirmed, an all­British heavy­ “The main positive news is that weight super­fight is already gener­ Joshua and Fury have agreed to a ating the biggest buzz among two­fight deal, in essence. The first boxing bettors in nearly half a fight could happen next summer.” century. The split for the first fight has On June 10, lineal champion been reported as 50­50, with the Tyson Fury announced on social winner taking a 60­40 split in the media that an agreement has been second. reached for a showdown against Joshua netted nearly $50 million unified titleholder Anthony Joshua for his second fight with Ruiz, while in mid­2021 — though the exact date Fury earned an estimated $20 mil­ and venue have not been finalized. From left: Tyson Fury, aka the Gypsy King, has Deontay Wilder on the back foot during their WBC heavyweight championship bout in Las lion for his first fight with Wilder By the weekend, bookmakers Vegas in February. An all­British world­title showdown between Fury and Anthony Joshua, pictured connecting a vicious right on Andy before signing a five­fight deal with were favoring Fury (30­0­1, 21 KOs), Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia last December, is a step closer after Fury last week said that an agreement has been reached with Joshua's camp on ESPN and Top Rank which is even though he will likely first have a two­fight deal between the current holders of the main heavyweight belts. AP thought to be worth in excess of to survive a third bout with Deontay $100 million. Wilder (42­1­1, 41 KOs), which is pro­ Hearn added he has been talking jected to take place this fall. Joshua, the 2012 Olympic gold med­ Fury is already creating compari­ Fury, who reclaimed the lineal smuggles drugs and guns into Ire­ with Fury’s management team, Fury opened at ­200 (bet $200 to alist, is listed as a betting underdog. sons to the 1975 “Thrilla in Manila” championship and the WBC title land, the UK and mainland Europe MTK Global, to help arrange the win back another $100), according A 33­1 favorite going into his KO loss between Muhammad Ali and Joe with a brutal seventh­round stop­ and “has associations that facilitate fight. Last month MTK CEO Sandra to Oddschecker.com, while Joshua to Andy Ruiz Jr last June, he was a Frazier — and the early indication is page of Wilder in their rematch on international criminal activity in Vaughan said MTK had no associa­ (23­1, 21 KOs) was at +175 (bet $100 3­1 pick to win their December that Fury is the clear favorite. Feb 22, raised some eyebrows by Europe, Asia, the Middle East and tion with Kinahan, but days later it to win another $175). rematch, in which he regained the “It’s the ‘People’s Champion’ thanking Daniel Kinahan for “get­ South America”. announced a partnership with Mid­ “It’s been a dream fight for a num­ IBF, WBO and WBA crowns by Tyson Fury who has been most ting this deal over the line”. Fury said he received a phone call dle East­based KHK Sports, which ber of years, which at times looked unanimous decision. backed since the market opened, Last July, Kinahan, an Irish citi­ from Kinahan to confirm “the big­ recently appointed Kinahan as an unlikely to happen, especially Joshua is next due to face IBF taking 61 percent of bets compared zen who lives in the Middle East, gest fight in British boxing history adviser. through Fury’s struggles with his mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev with just 36 percent for AJ and 3 was identified in the High Court in has just been agreed”. As usual, the last word went to personal demons and AJ’s loss to (28­1, 14 KOs), with unbeaten Olek­ percent for the draw,” said Watt. Dublin as a “senior figure in orga­ But Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Fury. Andy Ruiz,” Pete Watt, spokesman sandr Usyk (17­0, 13 KOs), the WBO’s Odds for a draw opened at +2800 nized crime on a global scale”. Hearn, told Sky Sports News there “I’ve got to smash in Deontay Wil­ for Oddschecker.com, told No 1 contender, waiting in the wings according to Fox Bet, but were Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau are still “several obstacles to over­ der’s face in my next fight and then Boxingscene.com. for his overdue title shot. quickly bet down to +2500. said Kinahan “controls and mana­ come” and no contracts have been we go into the Joshua fight next This marks the first time that But betting action on Joshua vs In his Instagram announcement, ges” the operations of a group that signed. year,” he said. BASKETBALL Jordan advises Hornets players to add some sting Michael Jordan helped build the even better,” Graham said, reiterat­ you have to play with in the play­ they are first. Some people don’t like Chicago Bulls into a winner as a ing Jordan’s remarks. “You’ll bond offs,” Zeller said. “That was what I to be confronted in front of others; player. better. Your team is stronger. There enjoyed hearing from MJ, especially some people you have to pull aside. He’s desperate to do the same is more of a respect level, instead of as a younger team.” So I feel like it is a mixture of learn­ thing in Charlotte as the owner of not saying anything and letting Jordan’s tenacity and desire to ing your teammates and knowing the Hornets. guys mess up over and over and win at all costs were exhibited dur­ when to call them out.... so that peo­ Charlotte players say Jordan spoke over again, and you’re losing and ing The Last Dance. ple don’t have a bad taste in their to them recently via video confer­ losing.” That meant at times emotions mouth about one another.” ence about what it takes to be a Jordan hasn’t come close to boiled over at Bulls’ practices result­ Zeller said Jordan admitted as champion, emphasizing the need for matching his success as a player ing in altercations between team­ much in the meeting. accountability — even if it means since taking over majority control of mates, including one notable He said the 57­year­old Jordan making teammates uncomfortable. the Hornets 10 years ago. exchange of blows between Jordan talked about his post­Bulls tenure Those are some of the same quali­ Charlotte has never made it out of and Steve Kerr. with the Washington Wizards when ties that were on display during the the first round of the playoffs and Hornets guard Terry Rozier joked his feedback and criticism wasn’t as 10­part documentary The Last has only won three postseason that, after watching The Last Dance, well received. Dance, which focused on Jordan’s games in the Jordan era. he probably would have got into a “He said he wishes he had have sixth and final NBA championship In an effort to stop that cycle of few fistfights with Jordan, too. done that a little bit differently,” Zel­ run with the Bulls. mediocrity, Jordan hired Mitch Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan’s often abrasive interac­ “I would have taken the Steve ler said. “The next generation of In the hour­long conference call Kuchak as the team’s new general tions with teammates during his playing days were highlighted in Kerr route,” Rozier said with a players that had come in didn’t real­ that came after the conclusion of manager in 2018 and the Hornets the ‘Last Dance’ documentary. The 57­year­old hopes some of that laugh. “I’m super­competitive.” ly want to hear the same feedback The Last Dance, Charlotte point have since embarked on a rebuilding aggression rubs off on his Hornets players, after recently urging But Rozier is not sure Jordan’s and the harshness that he used his guard Devonte Graham said Jordan process which included parting ways them not to be afraid of confrontation on the practice court. AP aggressive approach would work during his days in Chicago. He wish­ told players they can’t be uncom­ with three­time All­Star Kemba with some of this generation’s es he had’ve taken Jerry Stackhouse fortable “calling out teammates” in Walker last offseason in an effort to players. under his wing and taught him how practice when things aren’t going as focus on developing young players. takes to win in the regular season young team to hear. “I feel like you have to pick your to be a better leader as opposed to planned or mistakes become Jordan took questions from and the playoffs. “A lot of guys on our team haven’t poison,” Rozier said. “One thing trying to do it all himself.” repetitive. players and spoke directly about Hornets center Cody Zeller said played in the playoffs and don’t with being teammates with guys in “That’s going to make you guys the difference between what it that was an important message for a understand the attention to detail this league is you have to learn who AP VIA XINHUA NOTICE OF CREDITORS’ MEETING NOTICE OF CREDITORS’ MEETING NOTICE OF CREDITORS’ MEETING NOTICE OF CREDITORS’ MEETING IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL HONG KONG SPECIAL HONG KONG SPECIAL HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION ADMINISTRATIVE REGION ADMINISTRATIVE REGION ADMINISTRATIVE REGION COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS INTERIM ORDER APPLICATION NO.