Anthony Joshua responds to Tyson Fury’s comments made about having to stop Oleksandr Usyk in the rematch that’s slated for December.
The first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999 was crowned on May 18th this year when IBF, WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine champion, Oleksandr Usyk, unseated WBC champion, Tyson Fury by split-decision to capture all the heavyweight gold in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A keen observer was sat ringside on that night in former two-time unified world heavyweight champion, and ex-opponent of Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua.
Just over a month after the monumental clash occurred, Fury told the Furocity Energy Youtube Channel that he needed to knock out Usyk in their rematch.
“I’ve got to get him out of there because I’m not gonna get a decision. It’s unfortunate because it’s hard enough to win a fight just by winning it, never mind knowing you’ve gotta knock someone out. But I’m confident and looking forward to the challenge… I hear he’s got a broken jaw and a broken eye socket, so get yourself well and I’ll see you in December.”
Joshua has spoken out in an interview with The Stomping Ground about that comment and says that everyone says the same about Usyk, and deserves credit.
“Everyone says that with Usyk, ‘All he’s gotta do, he’s the bigger guy, use his size,’ but Fury was pushed back most of the fight. Usyk’s a very good fighter. Give him his credit.”
Joshua has come up short on two occasions against the Ukranian, firstly in 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium where ‘AJ’ was dethroned as unified world heavyweight champion at the hands of Usyk by unanimous decision, before succumbing to a split decision defeat 11 months later in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Watford man finds himself back in world title contention, as he challenges fellow Brit, IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21st.
Dubois won the IBF ‘Interim’ world title on June 1st, as he stunned the IBF’s mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic with a stunning victory, halting the Croatian Olympic Silver medalist within eight rounds on June 1st in Riyadh.
Speculation grew regarding a bout between Joshua and Dubois, and a day before the fight was announced, Usyk took to social media to confirm that he was relinquishing the IBF title.
Joshua and Dubois’s clash has been officially confirmed for the September 21st date at Wembley Stadium for the IBF title, whilst Usyk is slated to return to the ring to defend his WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine world titles on December 21st in a highly-anticipated rematch with Fury.
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