Tyson Fury Believes a Joshua Fight is About More Than Titles –
The much-discussed heavyweight two-fight series between unified IBF/WBA/WBO champion Anthony Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) and WBC World belt holder Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) is still under negotiations. Fans and pundits have their fingers crossed a deal is made and announced, and announced soon. If the fights come off, it will be one of the bigger sporting events in 2021 and the biggest boxing event in years.
Fury believes 100 percent that he’s the king of the division. Known across boxing circles as “The Gypsy Kings, the 32-year-old is not shy about expressing this opinion to anyone within shouting distance.
WHO’S THE MAN?
During a sit-down interview on the Behind The Gloves podcast, Fury was asked if he lost to Joshua, would it mean that “AJ” is the best heavyweight in his era. In his estimation, Joshua must do more to claim that mantle.
“No, because he hasn’t beat anybody, yet. To be the best of our era, Klitschko he’s beat. But he has to beat me, and he also has to beat Deontay Wilder.
When I win this fight, I am the best of this era, bar and none. I beat everyone in it: Klitschko, Wilder, and Joshua. Three top champions in my era and I beat them all.
But for him, he’s got to beat Wilder still to be able to be the best, because he’s not. He ain’t going to beat me, and I don’t think he beats Wilder either”.
Having no respect for Wilder as a man, Fury acknowledges his ability and talent. He feels the ex-WBC World Heavyweight champ decapitates every other heavyweight out there, including Joshua.
RELATED: Eddie Hearn: “Wilder Does Not Beat Anthony Joshua And Andy Ruiz”
THEY SHOULD THANK ME
Fury then gave a take that described a heavyweight boxing version of six degrees of separation. The undefeated big man from Manchester, England believes that Joshua owes him a debt of gratitude for his success.
“I know I’ve helped him as a superstar. He only got his career because of me. Because I took Klitschko’s career off him, had them all, and I had my problems, and vacated them, and made it possible for them to become world champions.
A lot of these guys would have never become world champions if it wasn’t for me.”
For the record, Fury did vacate the WBA and WBO World Heavyweight titles. However, the IBF stripped him because of a failure to fight then-mandatory contender Vyacheslav Glazkov. But he has a point about the domino effect that took place in the division following his struggles outside the ring. Joshua indirectly benefited as a result.
Charles Martin defeated Glazkov to win the vacant IBF title in January 2016. In his next bout, Martin lost the title to Joshua in April of that year. We all know the success Joshua has attained since.
Fury views a match with Joshua as more than just the opportunity to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion. For him, this is about cementing his greatness.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
