Anthony Joshua Responds to Tyson Fury’s Comments on Knocking Out Oleksandr Usyk
Anthony Joshua has responded to Tyson Fury’s comments regarding the necessity of knocking out Oleksandr Usyk in their anticipated rematch set for December.
The undisputed world heavyweight champion title, which had not been contested since Lennox Lewis in 1999, was awarded on May 18 this year when Oleksandr Usyk defeated WBC champion Tyson Fury by a split decision to claim all the IBF, WBA, WBO, and Ring Magazine heavyweight titles in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A keen observer at ringside that night was two-time former world heavyweight champion and Usyk’s previous opponent, Anthony Joshua.
Just over a month after that historic bout, Fury told Furocity Energy’s YouTube channel that he needs to knock Usyk out in their rematch.
“I have to knock him out because I won’t get the decision. It’s unfortunate because winning a fight just by points is hard enough, let alone having to knock someone out. But I’m confident and looking forward to the challenge. I heard he has a broken jaw and orbital socket, so rest up, and I’ll see you in December.”
Joshua responded to those comments in an interview with The Stomping Ground, stating that everyone talks like that about Usyk and that he deserves recognition.
“Fury was pushed back for much of the fight. Usyk is a very good boxer. Give him the credit he deserves,” Joshua asserted.
Joshua has lost to the Ukrainian fighter twice, first in 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when ‘AJ’ lost his unified heavyweight champion title to Usyk by unanimous decision, and again by split decision 11 months later in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Watford fighter finds himself once again in contention for a world title as he challenges British IBF world heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21.
Dubois claimed the interim IBF world title on June 1, delivering an impressive knockout victory over mandatory IBF challenger Filip Hrgovic, stunning the Croatian Olympic silver medalist in eight rounds on June 1 in Riyadh.
Speculation about the Joshua-Dubois fight had been growing, and the day before the bout was announced, Usyk took to social media to confirm that he was vacating the IBF title.
The fight between Joshua and Dubois was officially confirmed for September 21 at Wembley Stadium for the IBF title, while Usyk is expected to return to the ring to defend his WBA, WBC, WBO, and Ring Magazine world titles on December 21 in a highly anticipated rematch with Fury.
