There are few heavyweights who have received the level of criticism Anthony Joshua has been subjected to in recent months, following back to back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and a laboured decision win against Jermaine Franklin.
Many feel ‘AJ’ looks a shadow of himself, a far cry from the ferocious puncher who stopped the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte in a run that saw him become arguably the biggest star in boxing.
And a fellow British heavyweight has taken a pop at Joshua this week, with Hughie Fury describing the former Olympian as “a big stiff,” in an interview with BBTV.
“Anthony Joshua? Knockout. Big stiff.”
“Honestly, I don’t believe these people are capable of beating me. I believe I am the best, and I’m going to show it.”
Cousin of WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson, Fury’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 Pulev.
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.
Skills Challenge Entertainment are planning to stage a bout between Joshua and Wilder on the same night as an undisputed world title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, a night the likes of which the sport has simply never seen more.