Joshua Blasts Fury After Unification Fight Thrown Into Doubt

[Reuters] – Anthony Joshua has called British rival Tyson Fury a
“fraud” and said he is “letting boxing down” after their world
heavyweight unification title fight was thrown into doubt this
week.

Joshua (24-1) beat Kubrat Pulev in December to retain his IBF,
WBO and WBA titles and was set to face Fury — who holds the WBC
belt — on Aug. 14 in Saudi Arabia.

But Fury, who won the WBC title from Deontay Wilder in a rematch
in February 2020, was ordered by an American arbitrator on Monday
to fight Wilder again before Sept. 15.

Joshua questioned why Fury had announced they would fight when
arbitration proceedings were still going on.

“Tyson Fury the world now sees you for the fraud you are. You’ve
let boxing down. You lied to the fans and led them on,” Joshua
tweeted.

“Bring me any championship fighter who can handle their business
correctly.”

Fury (30-0-1) responded by saying Joshua’s team knew arbitration
was going on and the matter was “out of my hands”. He also
challenged Joshua to a bare-knuckle fight.

British media reported that Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is
considering alternative plans for the fighter, including a bout
with Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk — the mandatory challenger for the
WBO belt.

[Reuters] – Anthony Joshua has called British rival Tyson Fury a
“fraud” and said he is “letting boxing down” after their world
heavyweight unification title fight was thrown into doubt this
week.

Joshua (24-1) beat Kubrat Pulev in December to retain his IBF,
WBO and WBA titles and was set to face Fury — who holds the WBC
belt — on Aug. 14 in Saudi Arabia.

But Fury, who won the WBC title from Deontay Wilder in a rematch
in February 2020, was ordered by an American arbitrator on Monday
to fight Wilder again before Sept. 15.

Joshua questioned why Fury had announced they would fight when
arbitration proceedings were still going on.

“Tyson Fury the world now sees you for the fraud you are. You’ve
let boxing down. You lied to the fans and led them on,” Joshua
tweeted.

“Bring me any championship fighter who can handle their business
correctly.”

Fury (30-0-1) responded by saying Joshua’s team knew arbitration
was going on and the matter was “out of my hands”. He also
challenged Joshua to a bare-knuckle fight.

British media reported that Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is
considering alternative plans for the fighter, including a bout
with Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk — the mandatory challenger for the
WBO belt.