WBC world heavyweight champion and trainer say they are ‘100 per cent serious’ about helping British rival ahead of must-win fight
Tyson Fury and his trainer Sugar Hill Steward have offered their services to Anthony Joshua to help him defeat Oleksandr Usyk in his rematch with the Ukrainian, expected to take place in March or April in the UK next year.
Joshua lost the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles in a unanimous points defeat to Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25, while Fury retained his WBC belt by stopping Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas two weeks later.
Steward said of the decision to help Fury’s rival: “We are 100 per cent serious about helping Joshua in camp. We want him to defeat Usyk, for a start, because we want to see Fury against Joshua, and so do all the fans of boxing in the world.
“It is not a ruse or a joke, we would happily help Joshua because he is capable of beating Usyk in the rematch, and this is nothing new. In the old days, all boxers travelled to different gyms for assistance. This is a sport, and we have to think of it as a sport.”
Steward, nephew of the late great Manny Steward, from Detroit, added: “Never forget that when heavyweight boxing is strong, the whole of boxing is strong. The biggest fight in the sport is Fury versus Joshua, and we all know what that would do for the sport with the two of them fighting for the undisputed crown. It couldn’t be bigger.”
Fury himself has also stated on social media that he would help Joshua in camp, with the deposed champion welcoming his rival if he could “do it for free”.
Indeed, Joshua will look to expand his training team with camps in America for “new teaching” with different trainers having indicated last week that there will be no split from long-term trainer Rob McCracken. Joshua went on a US sojourn to different gyms in the wake of his loss to Usyk.
Joshua told IFL TV this week after his visit to the USA. “I need to go and get some new teachings – Robert Garcia trained 13, 14 world champions; Virgil Hunter trained Andre Ward, a phenomenal fighter. Eddy Reynoso, [his fighter] Canelo is obviously a phenomenal fighter. I watched him spar 12 rounds, asked certain questions. Ronnie Shields, another African American coach who has worked with the greats.”
But Joshua will continue to be based in Britain, ruling out a permanent switch to America. “Listen, I don’t need anyone that’s going to make me,” said the 32-year-old. “I got myself to the championship. This is my 12th championship fight [the rematch with Usyk in early 2022]. I just need to keep on learning. But the next time I’m out there it’s war. I have one thing in my mind: war, take his soul. Take him to places he has never been before.”