Tyson Fury Criticizes Anthony Joshua’s Heavyweight Record

Tyson Fury has dismissed Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight record by claiming that he has never faced a prime opponent in their career.

The anticipated match between Fury and Joshua for the undisputed title was interrupted by an arbitrator’s ruling, which mandated Joshua to have a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.

Joshua is now preparing to square off with former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25.

Throughout his career, Joshua has secured significant victories against renowned fighters such as Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Kubrat Pulev, and Joseph Parker.

During an interview with former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, Fury was asked about the absence of major boxing bouts like the one between him and Joshua.

Fury expressed on Neville’s The Overlap show: ‘I do think that the best boxers do eventually fight each other, but it’s not going to happen when everyone calls for it.’

‘It only occurs when, for example, one boxer is on the decline and the other is in his prime. Then you see them wanting to fight each other.’

‘But it’s rare to see two prime fighters facing each other because one of them is usually apprehensive about the prospect of losing.’

On Joshua’s record, Fury added: ‘Anthony Joshua has not fought a single heavyweight in their prime.’

‘They were all formidable opponents in the early to late 2000s, but not in the 2020s. They were prominent fighters 10 years ago.’

Fury recently disclosed his ideal sequence of five fights, including two clashes with Joshua, following victories over Wilder and then Dillian Whyte in December. Nevertheless, he now believes that a bout between them will never materialize, asserting that Joshua and his team were well aware of the arbitration case.

‘I was never optimistic about the fight with AJ happening,’ Fury remarked. ‘They were always aware of the situation.’

‘Eddie Hearn knew it, Joshua knew it – they were all informed. Suddenly, it’s my fault because I’m a coward, please.’

He continued: ‘I don’t think the fight will happen. We’ve been trying to arrange this fight since we were 22 years old, and now I’m 33.’