Frank Warren Says AJ Talking Rubbish
In the sport of boxing, fighters are often forced to perform the dual functions of being a premiere athlete and elite salesman. Along with preparing themselves mentally and physically for the rigors of the ring, they are also required to sell the whole production in dazzling fashion.
Well, it now seems that Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions is accusing Anthony “AJ” Joshua (23-1, 21 KO’s) of utilizing the underhanded tactics of a lemon-hustling used car salesman. This is because, in the veteran UK promoter’s opinion, AJ is consciously trying to mislead the boxing public.
WHOLE LOT OF EMPTY PROMISES
Warren took the time to chime in on Joshua only because he felt that AJ was stepping out of place in relation to his fighter Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (29-0-1, 20 KO’s). In a recent interview with Sky Sports, the recently restored unified heavyweight champion voiced the idea that he might throw a potential Wilder v Fury trilogy a curve-ball.
WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KO’s) and Fury are scheduled to stage their highly anticipated rematch on February 22. And its public knowledge that they are under contract for a third fight if they so choose too. Nevertheless, in very cavalier fashion, AJ stated that he might try to intervene by scheduling a fight with the victor. To that notion, Warren is confident that Joshua spewed the disingenuous big talk simply because he could.
“But to talk now all glib about a ‘curve-ball offer’ is rubbish. It’s more difficult now to do a heavyweight unification fight than ever before. Wilder and Tyson are tied into two fights, Joshua has his mandatories. Joshua knows full well he’s talking nonsense. Is he trying to con the public?
He’s certainly playing dumb. Joshua will say anything at this stage. Why did he say he’d go spar with Tyson? He never had any intention of doing that either. These fights can be made. Wilder and Tyson don’t just talk about the big fights, they actually make them. Tyson will fight wherever he gets the most money.” ~Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotion
MONEY TALKS REAL LOUD
In the end however, this is “prize” fighting. Therefore, often times the person offering the most money gets their way. Following this line of thinking, while Frank Warren remains skeptical of Joshua’s intentions, he and his charge Fury remain open to being swayed by a truck full of cash money!
“Tyson Fury, Wilder, Joshua – they all have their 2020 mapped out. Joshua has two mandatories or he vacates a title. Tyson and Wilder fight on 22 February and the loser has the right to invoke a trilogy fight. That’s in their contracts.
Can things change? Of course, but it’ll be expensive to do that. And I mean really expensive. Whatever this fight makes, Joshua will have to match it to get the loser to step aside. That will be millions upon millions of pounds.” ~Frank Warren, Queensberry Promotions
Although this back-and-forth smack talking is fun to watch, Wilder and Fury still have to fight, and Joshua still has to choose a mandatory challenger to defend against. After those two orders of business have been satisfied, it’ll be fun to see what materializes with this top tier heavyweight threesome.
By: Bakari Simpson
