Exclusive: Why would Anthony Joshua leave the best platform in the UK?
- Joe Hewlett
- 25 September 2021
"We’ve got the best platform in the UK, why would he want to go anywhere else?"
Adam Smith is confident of retaining the services of Anthony Joshua.
The unified heavyweight king has one fight remaining on his contract with Sky and his showdown against Usyk is the last of his fight deal with Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland.
Fans will be able to watch the fight through Sky Sports pay-per-view while DAZN have the rights for more than 170 territories, including America.
Joshua signed a life-long deal with Matchroom Boxing and with Eddie Hearn contracted to DAZN for the next five years, there are question marks as to which platform Joshua will fight on next.
Sky are beginning a new era themselves with promoter Ben Shalom, Boxxer and international fights from Top Rank, including Josh Taylor's all-British bout against Jack Catterall in December.
While Hearn remained coy on Joshua's future, Smith - Head of Boxing for Sky - believes AJ is a 'loyal individual' and expects Britain's most lucrative fighter to stay put.
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘 🙌
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) September 25, 2021
Here's how to watch the huge heavyweight title fight between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, in over 170 countries LIVE on DAZN 👇
"Absolutely. I think it just shows one thing - Anthony Joshua is a loyal individual. Rob McCracken has been there all the way through when Andy Ruiz beat him he didn't get rid of him he just added to the team," Smith told Planet Sport.
"With AJ and us, we have worked so well together - we were here for his pro debut against Emanuele Leo back in October 2013 - every step of the way with AJ and we've got the best platform in the UK, why would he want to go anywhere else? I'm very confident we can come to some sort of arrangement.
"It's well documented that Eddie has gone to DAZN but we've worked extraordinarily professionally this week and this is what it is we're in the AJ business and we're all working together to make sure it's a fantastic night.
"Then we go into our new era next week which is really exciting with Ben [Shalom], Boxxer and a whole new world. We start on October 2 at Wembley with Chris Eubank, David Avanesyan and Ebonie Jone. Then Newcastle with the tournament shows and Top Rank flooding in.
"We've gone our separate ways Matchroom and us but I think it's brilliant how professional we've been on both sides this week and how we're all working in unison for the good of Anthony Joshua.
"Obviously, there's talks and negotiations still to have - but I do believe, I'm very confident that Anthony will still be with us because I think he's a very loyal individual," Smith added.
