Anthony Joshua slams ‘b******t sources’ and denies stepping aside for Fury to face Usyk
- Seb Sternik
- 25 January 2022
Two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has dismissed reports which say he has agreed a £15million deal to step aside from his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
The 32-year-old has questioned the validity of reports which suggest the Brit would be willing to waive his rematch with Usyk in order for the Ukrainian to fight Tyson Fury in an undisputed heavyweight bout.
In a video posted on social media by talkSPORT's boxing editor Michael Benson, Joshua said: "You know what's mad about all these interviews I see? I see certain interviews that quote what I said and I think to myself, 'I haven't done no interviews'.
"I'm hearing people saying: 'AJ accepts £15million to step aside'. I ain't signed no contract; I ain't seen no contract.
"So as it stands, stop listening to the b******t until it comes from me. I'm the man in control of my own destiny, I'm the man that handles my business."
The former world champion lost his belts to Usyk following a points defeat last September.
Not long after Joshua's defeat in London, Fury lit up Las Vegas as he knocked out Deontay Wilder in a heavyweight classic.
Anthony Joshua fires back at reports that he is "close to accepting" a £15million step-aside deal to enable Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk…
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) January 24, 2022
[🎥 @AnthonyJoshua] pic.twitter.com/46nmJ1ddfQ
Fury's promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren have reportedly been pushing for Dillian Whyte - the mandatory challenger to the WBC belt - to agree terms to step aside, while also speaking to Joshua's team.
"I'm a smart individual and I make calculated decisions every step of the way," Joshua continued.
"Don't listen to the b******t from other sources. If I tell you something then you know it's real."
