Tyson Fury was dealt his first loss by Oleksandr Usyk and will have the chance to avenge it later this year.
The Ukrainian has become undisputed at heavyweight by taking belts from Anthony Joshua, defending them in a rematch, and then adding the final title with that win over Fury.
Speaking to IFL TV, Joshua criticised Fury for his attitude leading up to the first fight.
“I said Usyk will win. I said that from 2023. I do think Fury’s a good fighter, but there’s levels. A cruiserweight nearly knocked Fury out. You’ve got to learn from these situations. I don’t think he underestimated him, but what he was saying about middleweights, it just goes to show you should never downplay a fighter.
You should give them the credit they deserve so you don’t go in there thinking you’re gonna bully someone and the next thing you know the tables turn in a fight. Fury maybe should give him the respect he deserves next time and he might put on a better performance.”
‘The Gypsy King’ has kept the same energy since, comparing Usyk to ‘a local amateur’ and saying he lost the fight because it was ‘too easy’ and he got distracted.
‘AJ’ doesn’t buy it, and said there’s ‘no way’ Fury wins the rematch.
“Me personally what I think, nah. No way. It’s not that I didn’t see enough. I think Fury’s good, he had some good moments, I just don’t think he can do it. It’s not that I don’t rate him, I just don’t think that he’s better than Usyk.”
Joshua returns to the ring on September 21 against Daniel Dubois. The Usyk-Fury rematch follows on December 21.
