Anthony Joshua issued blunt two-word response to Tyson Fury’s step-aside offer

Joshua considered stepping aside from his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk to allow Fury to fight him, but talks of the deal broke down and Fury will now face Dillian Whyte

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Oleksandr Usyk returns Anthony Joshua’s belts following fight

Anthony Joshua said there was “no way” he would allow Tyson Fury to take a warm-up fight before facing Oleksandr Usyk when the two teams discussed a step-aside deal.

Joshua and Fury’s teams were in conversations for ‘AJ’ to step-aside from his rematch with Usyk to allow Fury an undisputed clash with the WBC champion.

But talks broke down meaning Joshua will go back to his original plan of rematching Usyk whilst Fury will fight Dillian Whyte in April.

Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn revealed that Fury changed the deal as he wanted a warm-up fight before facing Usyk, pushing a fight with Joshua back until December.

Hearn didn’t trust Fury to fight three times in the year and Joshua said there was “no way” they would step-aside on those terms.

“All those conversations were instigated by Tyson Fury’s team. We were prepared to listen and try make it happen,” he told iFL TV.

“If it made AJ get a shot at the winner of that fight and it’s financially a good deal, we’ll consider it. The deal was very simple, Fury vs Usyk. Winner fights Joshua.

“One of the problems was that do we trust him to fight March 26, June and December? Warm-up, Usyk, Joshua? No way.”

“The deal that we discussed first of all was no longer the deal, because Tyson Fury wouldn’t fight Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua said ‘no way, no way.'”

Fury mocked Joshua’s team for losing $90million as the step-aside deal collapsed, but Hearn claimed ‘The Gypsy King’ lost even more money.

Joshua, who lost his titles to Usyk last September, will aim to become a three-time heavyweight champion when rematches the Ukrainian later this year.

Can Anthony Joshua win back his heavyweight titles against Oleksandr Usyk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below

The Brit has pondered working with a new trainer for the rematch, but backed himself to avenge his loss without the help of a coach.

Hearn said May is a realistic date for the fight but they will work around the booking of Fury’s WBC title defence against Whyte.

“I always said four people would have to agree to a plan. Unfortunately, the plan changed and others wouldn’t agree to it,” he continued.

“I spoke to Alex Krassyuk, he’s ready to go. I think May is realistic for the fight. We don’t want to go too close to the Fury fight, but I think it will be quite close if it’s April 23.

“If that’s in London, do we go in London as well? I don’t know, we’ll have to see. That fight’s easy, not in the ring but we could announce that fight tomorrow.”