Question marks still remain over Anthony Joshua’s stomach for battle, with the former unified world champion now having a target on his back more so than any other time in his career.
Joshua is no stranger to stick from heavyweights named Fury, however this time it is not WBC champion Tyson who’s had something to say about Joshua’s current standing as a boxer.
In a recent interview with Boxing News, Hughie Fury claimed he would “destroy” Joshua if they were to fight, describing the Olympic gold medalist as a “big stiff.”
“I’d absolutely destroy him, I don’t think he’s the same fighter. I do think he is a big stiff, he’s robotic and just throws 1 or 2 shots. As soon as he gets into those deep waters, he’s finished.
I do believe that fight, I would win, and win in good fashion.
But it’s okay talking and saying all these things, but you’ve got to back it up. And that’s what I am going to do. I’m more hungry than ever now to get back in there and take over this division – because it’s wide open.”
A first cousin of ‘The Gypsy King,’ Hughie’s own career hasn’t exactly been much to shout about thus far, having suffered losses to three men all dealt with comfortably by Joshua – Povetkin, Joseph Parker and Kubrat Pule
The 28 year old has also only had one fight in over three years, so one would imagine a domestic dust up with Joshua is not particularly likely to happen any time soon.
If he has heard them, Fury’s words are unlikely to be of much concern to Joshua, who looks set for a generational clash with Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia this December, as well as a potential rematch with old foe Dillian Whyte in August.