22 March 2023 , 18:00
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Anthony Joshua has outlined a silver lining for boxing fans after the collapse of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk's undisputed heavyweight title fight.
Former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua, 33, is back in action on April 1 as he looks to pick up his first win in over two years when he takes on Jermaine Franklin at The O2 arena. The Brit's promoter Eddie Hearn recently laid out his three-opponent shortlist if Joshua gets past Franklin as he could be set for a fight against Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte or Fury.
'AJ' lost his heavyweight title to Usyk in September 2021 and failed to win them back in their rematch last August, with his last win coming against Kubrat Pulev in December 2020. Joshua is seemingly unsurprised at the collapse of Fury vs Usyk and pointed out that fans can now see the politics that go into making a big fight.
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"Look at all the s*** they are going through now with this Usyk stuff," he said. "It’s just crazy. I don’t publicise things so it’s actually good that people are starting to see what goes on in negotiations. It’s good that people can actually see the s*** that people have got to put up with to make a fight, Me and Usyk got two successful fights done. It’s just crazy.”
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Joshua has been heavily linked to a fight against domestic rival Fury throughout his boxing career and the pair were booked to meet in an undisputed fight of their own in August 2021, but an arbitration case saw Fury fight Wilder for the third time whilst Joshua lost his belts to Usyk. 'AJ' admitted he isn't confident that the domestic clash will ever be made before both men hang up their gloves.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk's fight is OFF (Top Rank via Getty Images)“I will be real, as much as I like to entertain that gossip and Fury situation," he added. "I have been there twice and people don’t remember that. I was supposed to fight him before I fought Usyk, the first time, and he pulled out due to his legal case, the arbitration, with Wilder. That was all up in the air and done online. Then we had the one for this December.
"Will the fight with me and him get made? I don’t know. I cannot say I am just going to sit around and wait for this geezer. There are other great fights out there I can have. Without Fury on my record I will not wake up tomorrow and regret my whole boxing career. If he is on it, I am on it, if he is not, he is not. Whatever.”