12 July 2023 , 07:55
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Anthony Joshua has hit out at Tyson Fury for agreeing a "nonsense" fight with the former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
Yesterday, the WBC title holder announced he will compete in a non-title fight with his MMA equivalent, who is the lineal heavyweight champion in his division having never lost his UFC belt before leaving the promotion. The bout will take place under boxing rules but Ngannou will not be able to win Fury's belt.
Many fans and pundits have mocked the move and taken aim at the Manchester native for what is seen as a money grab, particularly after the high-profile breakdowns of his efforts to fight Oleksandr Usyk - as well as Joshua. And his fellow Brit, who himself is rematching Dillian Whyte before facing Deontay Wilder within the next five months, has added his name to the list of critics.
“Three thoughts," he responded when asked about the fight by IFL TV. "One – I shouldn’t give a f***, it’s none of my business. It has no business concerning me. It pays me no business. Number two – Why? He should’ve been fighting for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Straight up. That’s nonsense. His fault.
"Three – If we’re acknowledging his business, good luck to the man. Do your thing. If it’s right for him, what’s it got to do with me? That’s my three views on it.”
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Earlier in the year, talks appeared to be at the final stages for an April showdown between Fury and Usyk for what would have been the first undisputed heavyweight title fight of the four-belt era. The Ukrainian was hit with a string of outlandish demands including a lopsided 70/30 split and no rematch clause, accepting them all before his rival eventually moved on anyway.
And Joshua, speaking with media on Monday, believes that Fury was not keen on the fight. "What happened with the champ [Fury] saying ‘I’m training for Usyk', then his coach comes out and says ‘I’m not training for him’?" He queried. "You’ve got to call him out. If that was me what would people say? I’m going to start holding people accountable. Yes Usyk didn’t duck, Fury did.”
Joshua is referring to photos that emerged of Fury, who hasn't fought since December when he faced Derek Chisora in a farcical trilogy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, seemingly in camp with his trainer Sugarhill Steward. However, it later emerged that he was simply doing light training in the gym that he had borrowed to Lawrence Okolie who was in camp for a bout in Manchester.