ANTHONY JOSHUA is fed up with “fool” Tyson Fury disrespecting boxing, is glad Oleksandr Usyk “beaten” him – and still hopes to get the chance to punish him himself.
The 34-year-old 2012 Olympic gold medallist was at Wembley on Wednesday to announce his IBF world heavyweight title shootout with Daniel Dubois on September 21st.
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But he was more interested in resuming a war of words with the 35-year-old Gypsy King and accusing the Manchester native of bringing disrepute to the sport.
The Watford Hulk was ringside to see Fury’s nose broken and his dreams shattered in Riyadh last month, before Usyk was crowned the undisputed king.
And, instead of offering his heartfelt condolences, Joshua – usually a mild-mannered diplomat of great skill – became offended on both counts.
And he growled at Wembley Arena: “I’m glad Fury isn’t the undisputed champion. I think he’s an idiot.
“If it were anyone else I would think it was a shame.
“I’ve always said he’s stupid, he’s very disrespectful.
“Not that I care, but I feel like he thinks it makes him feel good to step on other people.”
“I’m not in competition with anybody. I’m in my own line, but he has to step on people to make himself feel good, and that’s not good.
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WATCH Anthony Joshua go head to head with his arch rival Tyson Fury as he slams the Gypsy King for ‘looking like a tomato’.
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“The way he insulted Usyk, calling him a little rabbit and a middleweight, it’s not good for the sport.
“If I respect you and you respect me then we can elevate this sport and people will think we’re two of the best fighters in the world.
“But Fury will step all over you and make you look like someone who’s just come out of the pub and he’s not on your level.
“Then he goes and gets beaten up – he deserves it.” Ukrainian hero Usyk – who has now given his IBF belt “as a gift to Joshua and Dubois” – won by split decision after Fury lost the opening rounds, dominating four to seven, but then being beaten down over the final sessions.
Fury was gracious and generous in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
But he said officials cheated him, the fight was too easy and compared the Olympic gold medallist and former cruiserweight undisputed boss to a local amateur slugger.
It’s this sort of nonsense that has infuriated AJ – who has lost decently to two Usyk decisions – and he hopes Fury’s December 21 rematch and his bout with Dubois will finally see the warring pair settle their differences.
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Commenting on Fury’s trash talk, he added: “It’s up to him what he says.”
“Usyk is a good fighter, there’s no denying that. Just give him the flowers and move on.
“I want him to win the rematch, in a way.
“I don’t care now if he wins or loses. I just want to fight him.”
“It’s been a long cycle. Fury avoids a lot of people, he doesn’t fight a lot of people, not a lot of top level guys.
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“He needs to step up and fight me and stop wasting my time.
“I don’t want to wait until I’m 40, 41, 42 to fight him.”
