By Tim Parsons-
Tyson Fury has accused world heavyweight world champion,Anthony Joshua of hot air after the world heavyweight champion offered himself for sparring in the build up to Fury’s boxing date with Deontay Wilder next month, but failed to follow through.
Fury faces Wilder for the second time in his career in Las Vegas on February 22. Joshua on the other hand is back as champion after regaining his four world heavyweight titles by beating Andy Ruiz Jr in their rematch in December.
‘They offered hot air as usual,’ Fury told Seconds Out. ‘I accepted, they haven’t turned up, take what you want from it, that’s it. ‘Joshua’s nothing like Wilder but I’d like to bring him over and give him a good hiding anyway. ‘But they’re not going to come, let’s face it.
‘They’re not going to come over and get beat up in sparring. ‘It was just a stupid offer at a stupid time – wasn’t thinking, I accepted straight away, me being me, and that was it. ‘I don’t read into it too much, he ain’t coming, simple as. He ain’t got the bollocks to turn up and spar, end of.’
COWARD
‘I thought it was a hit and run, s***house style, coward. ‘Every time he stood still Andy rocked him to his boots. But it was what it was. ‘He got the decision, fair play. On to the next one.’
In response to a question on whether Joshua is in the same category as himself and Wilder, Fury replied:
‘’Definitely not. He already got knocked out. He’s out of it, way out of it, he needs to prove himself again. ‘And I don’t mean proving it by hit-and-running from a little fat guy all over the ring.
Promoter Frank Warren had in principle objected to the idea of both fighters sparring, pointing out that fans wanted to see them in a real fight in the ring. Eddie Hearns on the other hand warned that Fury was risking the huge wound stitched up from his last fight being opened up if Joshua was to attack him hard in sparring.
However Fury seems not to have been worried about it and is now doing the job of ridiculing Joshua for not making good on his offer.
Anthony Joshua’s Matchroom representatives were contacted for comment and have promised to respond in due course.