by Tyson Fury has praised Anthony Joshua for his brutal early pressure on Francis Ngannou, but has told his long-time rival that it will be a different story if they finally meet in a huge clash in the future.
Ngannou cut down Fury and took all the credit in a stunning performance from the reigning former UFC heavyweight champion on his professional boxing debut back in October, eventually winning a controversial decision on the scorecards.
But Joshua had no such issues against Ngannou on Friday night back in Saudi Arabia, taking him down three times in two rounds in a brutal early stoppage that will live long in the memory.
Such a convincing victory puts the former two-time unified world heavyweight champion in line for a shot at the winner of the rescheduled fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, which takes place on May 18 in Riyadh after suffering a bad cut Fury in sparring. causing them to postpone their planned February bout.
Fury was absent in Riyadh to watch Joshua’s shocking defeat of Ngannou, having previously attended with his wife Paris, father John and brother Tommy Fury to watch another Roman sibling move to 4-0 as a professional with a points win over Czech heavyweight Martin Svarc. .
Speaking to DAZN, the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ was impressed with Joshua’s lethal display while admitting his own struggles against Ngannou, but insisted he will come out on top in a huge all-British championship that has been many years in the making.
“I’m sure Oleksandr Usyk will have something to say about that since he beat him twice,” Fury said.
“In terms of real boxing, it’s me and Usyk fighting for the world heavyweight championship without a doubt. I had the same performance against Ngannou and I almost got it right, I predicted one round.
“He did great tonight, lit it up with a right hand and knocked it out. That’s what a boxer should have done with it, but if he fights next year it will be a different game.”
Fury admitted that any potential fight with Joshua is still a long way off, with he and Usyk having a rematch clause which, barring any injuries, guarantees a second uncontested meeting to follow up hotly on first of all.
That will mean Joshua will have to find another opponent to keep busy before he succeeds, with Fury suggesting his rival should be against Filip Hrgovic for the IBF heavyweight title.
Usyk currently owns that belt – Joshua’s first ever world title against American Charles Martin back in 2016 – but it is set to be vacated by the winner of his first meeting with Fury as the rematch clauses mean they cannot there to fulfill it. mandatory defense against no1 contender Hrgovic, the unbeaten Croatian who is expected to fight someone else for the gold instead.
“Long way to go, great performance from AJ but I’ve got bigger fish to fry,” Fury said.
“If we’re both still available after my two fights with Usyk, let’s go ahead.
“He needs to be active and maybe he can fight Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF belt.”
On his ambitions for a future pair of bouts with Joshua, including one at Wembley, Fury said: “When I’m done with the rabbit, I’ll fight AJ.
“Hopefully we can do one in Saudi Arabia and one at Wembley!”
After demolishing Ngannou, Joshua reiterated his desire to meet the winner of Usyk-Fury.
“I have to talk to him [promoter] Eddie [Hearn]Matchroom Boxing of course, 258 Management, [trainer] Ben Davison and the team. They will create my future, I am only here to fight,” he said.
“I’m going to go back to my cage and lock myself up, then I’ll be released when it’s time to fight again.
“No matter what they want me to do, I’m down for anything.”
When pressed if the first thing he wanted to do was face the winner of Usyk-Fury, he said: “Yes.”
Hearn was delighted with Joshua’s performance against Ngannou, calling him the best heavyweight on the planet and urging Fury to beat Usyk so they can go on together in the fight he gave the biggest fight in the history of boxing.
“I’m so proud of him because he was under a lot of pressure tonight,” Hearn said of Joshua. “People are talking about if he loses to Francis Ngannou, what would happen.
“He rolled the dice because of His Majesty [Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia] said if we win this fight, we will fight the winner Fury against Usyk.
“There was a show here in October, it was called the Battle of the Baddest to decide the baddest man in the world. They shouldn’t have done it in October, they should have done it tonight because you’re looking at the worst man in the world there.
“You’re looking at the biggest heavyweight in the world. No doubt. On this form, there is no man in the world who can beat him in the heavyweight division.
“I told you he’s going to come back and be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. There’s a great fighter down there called Tyson Fury.
“Please meet Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 because I promise you, you will get the greatest fight in the history of the sport when Anthony Joshua takes the undisputed world championship.
“Anthony Joshua has always stayed in the gym, he’s always worked, he’s never taken a shortcut in his whole life. As a fighter, he’s an inspiration to young people. I promise you, he’s not getting beat. He’s on the best heavyweight in the world and that was one of the most devastating knockouts I’ve ever seen.
“People talk about how Tyson Fury did against Ngannou, forget about that. What I said would happen, happened. He went in there, he destroyed Francis Ngannou.
“This man is ferocious, a beast, the best heavyweight in the world, and I can’t wait for him to beat Tyson Fury.”
