News coming from Anthony Joshua’s camp is suggesting that the former boxing champion is considering the possibility of stepping aside in order to allow Tyson Fury to fight Oleksandr Usyk. Fury who knocked out Deontay Wilder to retain his WBC belt in October is pushing to unify the division with a fight against Usyk who won a bout against Joshua in September 2021.
Following Fury’s victory over Wilder and Usyk’s defeat of Joshua, it seems many boxing lovers are more interested in seeing a Fury vs Usyk fight, but a rematch clause activated by Joshua in the hopes for a shot at reclaiming his WBA, IBF and WBO titles from Usyk stands in the way of that match up.
However, negotiations between Joshua and Usyk’s team are ongoing so as to have the former consider allowing an Usyk vs Fury world heavyweight champion in 2022, according to ExpressUK.
Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn confirmed in an interview that there are talks going on with and revealed that a minimum of £40 million will be required to allow the bout take place.
“We’ve had their team reach out to us. Seven figures? A million? If you want to get him not to fight Oleksandr Usyk you have to times that by 40…”
“I’ll deal with it and when I feel there’s an opportunity for Anthony and 258 [Management] we’ll sit down with them and present it to them but I won’t do that until it’s the right opportunity.”
“If there’s a route and an offer and it makes sense then we’ll see but right now, it’s just conversations between the camps.”
AJ’s promoter also confirmed that nothing is formal yet, but conversations that are going on and that Joshua is yet to talk about the possibility of him stepping aside.
“At the moment there is communication between the two teams to say is it something… and the answer is AJ has not been spoken to about this yet,” Hearn said.
Talking to Sky Sports, Usyk’s promoter, Alexander Krassyuk confirmed that there are talks going on with AJ’s camp and he would have a change of heart if the money is right in respect for the division.
“The talks on AJ’s step aside have been around since Fury KO’d Wilder.
“I heard that Joshua could consider stepping aside if the money is right as he feels respect to the division and is willing to let the undisputed heavyweight championship happen.”
Tyson Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, however, insists that “Everybody wants to see the undisputed fight between Tyson and Usyk.
“That’s between two undefeated fighters with all four of the belts.
“Tyson Fury — the bigger man — against the guy who took Anthony Joshua to school. That is the massive fight.”
The Nigerian-born British boxer, Anthony Joshua suffered his second career loss against Ukrainian Olympics medalist, Oleksandr Usyk at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium where he lost his WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
The 32-year-old sought revenge and instantly triggered an immediate rematch clause with the Ukrainian set to take place in 2022.
