By Tim Parsons-
Anthony Joshua has bizarrely claimed that Tyson Fury would respond to a fight with him quicker than Deontey Wilder, presenting no grounds for his claim.
His comments come after an offer he made to spar Tyson Fury to prepare Fury for his fight with the American puncher next February. Wilder spent the best part of 2018 chasing a unification fight with Anthony Joshua, leaving boxing fans frustrated after a $50m offer from Wilder’s camp appeared to yield no fruits. Tyson Fury eventually answered the call and fought Wilder to draw in Las Vegas. Joshua later sensationally lost his U.S debut to Andy Ruiz Jnr in Newyork last June before regaining his WBA ‘super’, IBF and WBO belts with a compelling landslide victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch, returning him to the envied position as the no 1 undisputed champion.
SPARRING
Speaking to Sky Sports, Joshua said: “Honestly, I think [Fury] might beat Deontay Wilder next time they’re out. That’s just my opinion.”
“I think Tyson Fury would fight me quicker than Wilder would. If that’s the case, I want Fury to win, because I just want to fight.
“Fury, if you need me for sparring, we’re going to fight one day. I’ve sparred Tyson Fury when we were kids anyway. I would go out to America and spar Tyson Fury and get him ready for this Wilder fight.
“I would like that fight, because I think Fury would fight me faster than Wilder would.”
“It still puzzles me as to why it’s so difficult to pin this man down,” said Joshua.
“This is the man that I need to pin down to get the last ring, so I can conquer this division, as I’ve set out to do from day one.
“When he’s ready as I am, I would love to be facing off here. Facing off with Deontay Wilder, talking about the keys to victory.
“It’s not even about me now, it’s gone past that. It’s about the sport and our legacy, and I’ve always said, if he wants to create his legacy and be a future Hall-Of-Famer, he should come see us.”Wilder has always expressed an eagerness to unify the heavyweight division, taking all comers no matter the risk. He recently knocked out Luis Ortiz in seven rounds after being roundly out boxed for the previous six rounds.
WINNER
Wilder had said he hoped Andy Ruiz would win the rematch with Joshua because he felt a unification fight with Ruiz Jnr would be now likely to be arranged than with Joshua, now we have Joshua expressing scepticism that a fight with Wilder would be difficult to arrange if Wilder beats Fury, whilst at the same time Joshua expressing his views that Fury will beat Wilder. It all sounds like pointless propaganda. Joshua and Wilder really should suspend talking about each other until after February when we know the winner between Wilder and Fury./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63931713/1074542150.jpg.0.jpg)
Tyson Fury and Deontey Wilder box to a draw in December 2018: Image: Harry How/Getty Images
Fury Welcomes Joshua For Sparring
Tyson Fury has accepted Joshua’s offer for sparring in his camp to prepare for the Wilder fight. Fury said: “I’d really love to have you in camp for this fight and give Wilder a proper beating.”I hope you mean it because I’d love to have you in training camp. Thanks very much and well done in your last fight, congratulations.”