By Gabriel Princewill-
Anthony Joshua is mentally prepared for combat, after reportedly sending a hostile message to Tyson Fury, insisting he will not be civilised as he prepares for combat and war for their undisputed world title fight.
Joshua, who currently stands as the heavyweight undisputed world champion, is preparing to face Fury in a lucrative unified heavyweight fight with Fury this year, with the British rivals currently finalising terms for the blockbuster battle that will decide the sport’s No 1 heavyweight.
“Some people may not understand it and I realise in this life is that, 99 per cent of the population are civilised people,” said Joshua on his official YouTube channel.
“The job I’ve chosen is for the uncivilised. This is a sport of combat and war.
“We’re not civilised people, we’re warriors, and I love it.
He said: “No matter what the tactics are, no matter how much you study, no matter how much you think you can beat me, I’m just there to win.
Fury has said on numerous occasions that Joshua’s style is made for him, and recently criticised Joshua of ”having a confidence problem”, referring to Joshua’s recent adoption of a ‘safety first style’ in his last two victories.
Joshua’s team are currently in talks with Fury’s team to stage the eagerly anticipated clash this summer, and are considering staging the fight abroad, in light of ongoing coronavirus restrictions in the UK.
Joshua was widely admired for his humility following a ruthless streak he displayed in dispatching opponents in quick succession as he rose up the ranks en route to his eventual bashing of Wladimir Klitschko in 2016. Of late, he is becoming more vocal. seemingly trading his humble reputation for more aggressive rhetoric.
Since then, Tyson Fury has risen to prominence after comprehensively defeating the former WBC heavyweight champion Deontey Wilder , who was a successful reigning champion until the gypsy king came on the scene and eclipsed the American’s formidable reputation last February with a 5th round stoppage.
Joshua’s reputation was punctured after he was roundly defeated by Andy Ruiz Jnr in June 2019, but he returned to avenge the sole loss of his career with a clear landslide victory in December of the same year.
A subsequent defence of his titles with a knockout victory against Kubrat Pulev in December, has done little to convince most boxing fans that he is likely to beat Tyson Fury, who at 6 ft 9 inches tall and over 18 stone, is remarkably agile, technically adept, and industrious in the ring.
Joshua was easily the most dominant heavyweight in the UK, until Tyson Fury rose to prominence after comprehensively defeating the former WBC heavyweight champion Deontey Wilder ,with an emphatic 7th round defeat last February.
Fury ended Wilder’s successful reign as WBC champion, making nonsense of the American’s formidable reputation, establishing himself as the new man to beat in the division.
Joshua’s team are currently in talks with Fury’s team to stage the eagerly anticipated clash this summer, and are considering staging the fight abroad, in light of ongoing coronavirus restrictions in the UK.
The londoner is meant to fight Oleksandr Usyk first to defend his Wbo belt, but his handlers have been working to swerve that fight in order to make the big fight happen. There are plans for heavyweight prospect and Olympic silver medallist, Joe Joyce go face Usyk instead.
WBC Champ: Tyson Fury Image: essential sports.com
Some criticism has been levied against Joshua for his plans to skip Usyk, despite a vow to take on all mandatories and fight the best.
However, Joshua’s team are apprehensive of the huge financial risk a potential defeat to Usyk could if the big fight against Fury is aborted if the talented Ukranian pulls off an upset.