Anthony Joshua has responded today and rubbished any claims that he has agreed to step aside to allow WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, fight Oleksandr Usyk in a massive undisputed showdown. Oleksandr Usyk currently holds the WBA, WBO & IBF world titles. Usyk won them in emphatic style from Anthony Joshua in September 2021.
Anthony Joshua has exercised his rightful rematch clause with Oleksandr Usyk. This means contractually, Usyk will have to give Joshua an instant chance to win back his belts that Usyk dethroned him off back in September. Yesterday, The Daily Telegraph reported that Anthony Joshua was close to agreeing to a £15 million deal which would see him step aside from the rematch clause with Usyk and allow Tyson Fury to battle it with the Ukrainian for the undisputed World Heavyweight crown.
Anthony Joshua Comments on Rumours
During a video posted by AJ, he is quoted saying; “I’m hearing people saying AJ accepts £15 million to step aside. I ain’t signed no contract, I ain’t seen no contract. So as it stands, stops listening to the bull***t until it comes from me. I’m the man in control of my destiny, I’m the man that handles my business.”
Could stepping aside be the correct move for Joshua from a business sense?
A massive step aside fee plus a guaranteed fight against the winner will also generate a large purse. If Joshua doesn’t accept the step aside, he risks losing again to Usyk in the rematch. This would give him no chance of the undisputed fight anytime in the near future.
Dillian Whyte would also have to be compensated and guaranteed a shot at the titles at some stage. Dillian is currently in a mandatory position to challenge Tyson Fury for his WBC world title. Hopefully, the uncertainty at the top of the heavyweight division should be resolved sooner rather than later. Finally, fans might get to see the best fight the best.
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
