Anthony Joshua says ‘people are starting to see’ what goes on behind the scenes in negotiations with Tyson Fury after his fight with Oleksandr Usyk fell through.
Fury and Usyk were scheduled to meet on 29 April at Wembley to crown the heavyweight division’s first undisputed champion in 23 years only for the fight to collapse in spectacular fashion.
Promoters Frank Warren and Alexander Krassyuk confirmed on Wednesday night the fight is now definitely off despite late efforts to salvage a deal. Contractual terms for a rematch are thought to be what led to the collapse.
Joshua is no stranger to strained negotiations with Fury. The two agreed what would have been their own historic undisputed fight in 2021 only for Deontay Wilder’s successful legal bid to force a trilogy fight with ‘The Gypsy King’ to scupper those plans.
Joshua then fought and lost to Usyk twice before being offered a shot at Fury’s WBC title last year. Despite accepting a 60-40 split in the champion’s favour, the fight never happened with Fury going onto fight Derek Chisora for a third time.
Joshua is now preparing to take on Jermaine Franklin on 1 August and having negotiated two fights with Usyk with no issues in recent years, has reacted to news of boxing’s biggest fight falling by the wayside.
‘I’ll be real with you. That Fury situation, as much as I love to entertain that gossip, I have been there twice,’ Joshua said.
‘People don’t remember that. I was suppose to fight him before I fought Usyk the first time and he pulled out due to his legal battle with (Deontay) Wilder, the arbitration.
‘That was all up in the air, all done online. Then we had the one for this December. Yeah, look that fight, will it get made? I don’t know.
‘Look at the s**t that they are going through now with this Usyk stuff. It is just crazy.
‘Well, it is actually good that people are starting to see – for someone that don’t publicise everything – what actually goes on in negotiations.
‘It is good that people can actually see the s**t that people have got to put up with just to make a fight.
‘Me and Usyk had two successful fights done you know, so it is just crazy.’
MORE : Deontay Wilder ready to step in and fight Oleksandr Usyk if Tyson Fury showdown cannot be rescued
MORE : Boxing’s heavyweight division a laughing stock after latest Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk drama
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