Anthony Joshua plans to be ringside for Tyson Fury’s historic clash with Oleksandr Usyk – but won’t be cheering on his fellow Brit.
Fury and Usyk will meet on February 17 in Saudi Arabia to crown the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. Joshua, who stopped Otto Wallin in the Middle East on Saturday night to reignite his own career, has tried and failed to secure a fight with Fury in the past.
He was twice beaten by Usyk as he lost his world titles for a second time – and is backing the Ukrainian to end Fury’s unbeaten record. “I’ll try and be here,” said Joshua.
“I tend not to go to many fights but Saudi’s putting on really good shows, that’s an iconic fight, so I’ll try and get out here with the team. I think it’s gonna be a really, really good fight. I’m going to be straight up, I’m leaning towards Usyk, but who knows? They’re both at the top of their game. I wish them well. I hope they have a great training camp.”
Joshua previously admitted he could not support Fury due to the nature of their rivalry – and Fury’s constant trash-talking. “I don’t know [who wins] but I’m team Usyk anyway,” he said earlier this month.
“[There’s] a respect, but Fury’s said a lot of bad things about me. I’m never going to ride with someone that disrespects me. That would make me a lunatic and I’m pretty level-headed. So I’m going to go with the person who shows me respect.”
Joshua’s own future is unclear despite his dominant win over Wallin. He had signed a contract to fight Deontay Wilder on March 9 but the American left that deal in tatters when he lost to Joseph Parker. Joshua will most likely challenge Filip Hrgovic for the IBF title which should become vacant after Fury’s meeting with Usyk.
His promoter Eddie Hearn said: “It was a tough decision between the championship and Deontay Wilder. We signed for Deontay Wilder but he lost tonight and maybe that’s a blessing because really this guy is about championships. “It’s going to be Hrgovic against AJ for the world title. I’m so happy to see him smiling and performing so well. He’s a dangerous man when he’s in that kind of mood, and 2024 is going to be very interesting and every heavyweight should be on notice – he’s back.”
