World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Tyson Fury reacted publicly for the first time last night about tAnthony Joshua losing his three heavyweight world title belts on Saturday night to Oleksandr Usyk and advised his British rival to “swing away” and “get stuck in the way he knows best” in the rematch, expected to take place in March 2022 with his nemesis from Ukraine.
Fury added that he was “wounded” that Joshua had lost his IBF, WBA and WBO belts and “had wanted him to win”, with the two British fighters having been on a collision course for the richest fight in British boxing history, valued at £200 million, until a US judge ruled in arbitration that Fury had a contractual obligation to fight Wilder for a third time. Fury defends the WBC crown against Alabaman Wilder a week on Saturday in Las Vegas, having taken the belt last February in Sin City, following a controversial draw in 2018. Since the seventh
round stoppage victory for Fury last year, which the undefeated Briton dominated, neither man has fought.
Fury added last night, asked about Joshua’s performance, and a potential future fight, that “all my focus must be on Deontay Wilder – he’s a more dangerous fighter than Joshua and he’s more dangerous than Usyk”, and vowed to “smash him [Wilder] to bits”.
“Did I watch the fight on Saturday night – yes – was I wounded for Joshua – yes – but my advice is what I do. Just go in there and do your best and if you don’t win, you were beaten by the better man. There’s no rocket science to boxing, data and stuff doesn’t help, all that bullshit. It’s two men fighting each other, and if it’s not going your way, then change up the plan and find a way. My only advice to Joshua is get stuck in the best way he knows. Swing away.”
Fury added: “But, in truth, it’s none of my concern where the belts are. I don’t care about anyone else. No one else is on my radar. I’m fighting the most dangerous heavyweight on the planet. We can talk – as we always do – on the Sunday morning after the fight with Wilder and we’ll see where we are. The promoters will do their job, and I will do mine.”
“But I never underestimate anybody,” he added. “Make no mistake this will be the make or break moment in Deontay Wilder’s life. He is a 3-1 underdog, everyone expects him to lose. You cannot write him off – he is at his most dangerous now.”