Anthony Joshua proven spot on by Oleksandr Usyk as Tyson Fury feelings come to light
Anthony Joshua was ringside when Oleksandr Usyk overcame Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world
Anthony Joshua correctly predicted Oleksandr Usyk would overcome Tyson Fury - and now he wants to fight both, according to Eddie Hearn. The former unified world champion had the best seat in Saudi Arabia when Usyk dealt Fury the first boxing loss of his career by recording a split-decision victory.
The British Olympic gold medallist has a history with both fighters having lost twice to Usyk and seen many potential fights with the Gypsy King collapse in the dying stages. Nearly two weeks since the titanic clash in the Middle East, Hearn revealed Joshua correctly predicted the Ukrainian to emerge victorious against Fury.
Usyk was handed the victory by the judges, with scorecards of 115-112 and 114-113 in his favour, while one judge deemed Fury to be the victor with a score of 114-113. Interestingly, Joshua backed the Ukrainian to overcome the Morecambe fighter on points, long before the first bell was rung.
Related articles
“I don’t think he’s that deep,” Hearn said on the True Geordie podcast when asked what Joshua's feelings towards Usyk and Fury are now. “I think probably deep down, he’s thinking: ‘Well, I lost, especially in the second fight, a close points decision’.
“By the way, honestly, AJ was 50% of the fighter he is now. You saw in the press conference, his reaction in the ring, he weren’t himself, I don’t think he was in a great place.
“Now he’s firing on every single cylinder that exists, so he’s watching that fight thinking ‘I’d love another crack at Usyk’. He’s thinking, ‘I’d love another fight with Fury', but he did say to me before that fight, ‘Usyk would win on points’ and he was right, in a great fight.”
Hearn also admitted that he still wants to see Joshua fight Fury in the near future. He added: “I’ve always liked the style match-up of AJ against Fury. With Fury going down against Ngannou. Let’s be honest, Usyk is not a big puncher.
“He really only had AJ in trouble in the 12th round, because AJ was knackered and he hit him with everything. I just know that if AJ hits Fury on the chin, it’s over. But Fury is a brilliant fighter."
Fury has enacted his rematch clause to take on Usyk on December 21 in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Joshua’s next fight looks set to be against the winner of Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic, who will be going to battle in Riyadh as part of the Queensbury vs Matchroom 5 vs 5 card.
However, Hearn also believes there may be a possibility of new life being breathed into a clash with Deontay Wilder if the big-swinging American puts on an impressive performance against Zhilei Zhang.
"From a roadmap point of view, [it's] the Hrgovic vs Dubois fight, which is another brilliant heavyweight match-up," Hearn said. "The likely scenario is that the winner of that fight will fight AJ for the world heavyweight title in September.
"But, if Deontay Wilder knocks out Zhilei Zhang and His Excellency, (Turki Alalshikh) says 'That fight is back'. Don't forget, that fight was signed, we were supposed to announce that fight in the ring, on December 23. If he looks sensational against Zhang, the whole world will be calling for Wilder vs Joshua again and we can do that at Wembley."