‘I don’t duck a challenge,’ says Anthony Joshua as he reveals he signed to fight Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder

9 months ago 93

ANTHONY JOSHUA insists he ducks no challenge – and used signing to fight Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder as evidence to that.

Joshua returns on March 8 in Saudi Arabia against MMA star-turned heavyweight boxer Francis Ngannou.

Anthony Joshua insisted he ducks no challenge[/caption]

But it was due to be Wilder in the other corner only for the American to blow the super-fight by losing to Joseph Parker.

AJ and the American had signed contracts in December to meet in a blockbuster bout in Riyadh.

But before Joshua stopped Otto Wallin, 33, in five rounds, Wilder lost to Parker, 32, causing the bout agreement to become null and void.

AJ told Sky Sports: “We met up, we spoke to lawyers, we signed contracts, all that good stuff.

“It’s a fight that fans want to see. I’m not saying it’s completely written off.

“It’s a fight where everything was signed and sealed. It just needed both of us to deliver. And he didn’t meet his end of the bargain.”

Joshua in the summer of 2021 also signed to face Fury in what at the time would have been for all four heavyweight world titles.

But the Gypsy King was contractually obligated to meet Wilder in a trilogy bout, thus cancelling the Battle of Britain showdown.

And Joshua, 34, said: “You now what it proved to me, I’ve signed to fight Fury, I’ve signed to fight Wilder, I’ve signed to fight a lot of people.

“I just do good business. I’m a good prizefighter, I don’t duck a challenge.

“I’m always up for it. I just feel to myself I’ll always be here and ready to fight any time.”

Fury, 35, was set to fight Oleksandr Usyk, 37, for the undisputed crown of February 17 but a cut sustained in sparring postponed the bout to May 18.

He came into the unification having been floored by Ngannou, 37, in October and deemed fortunate to walk away with a split-decision win.

And after a rematch was snubbed and Wilder, 38, suffered shock defeat, the ex-UFC champion turned his attention to AJ.

And Joshua added: “He had a good outing as well against Tyson Fury who is the current WBC champion.

“So I think it will be good for me to see where I’m at. You should always overestimate people if you want my opinion.

“Never underestimate anyone, always overestimate people and that way you’ll never be surprised.”