Anthony Joshua says British rival Tyson Fury looked like a “flat guy” in his recent fight with former mixed martial arts champion Francis Ngannou.
Fury, who will fight to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world early next year, narrowly avoided an upset when he beat the Cameroonian in a split decision in October.
Joshua, who has given up hope of ever getting the chance to fight for all four heavyweight titles himself, was unimpressed with Fury’s performance.
The 34-year-old told the TNT Sports Boxing YouTube channel: “He just looked like a flat guy who just can’t fight. He says bodybuilders can’t fight, but he got beaten up by one.
“I always wanted to get in the ring with him. He talks a lot, calls me a bodybuilder and stuff, but I want to marvel at the African power – he’s a bodybuilder, jumps in and jerks him off for me.”
Joshua, a former holder of the IBF, WBC and WBO titles, had previously targeted unification fights against Fury and Deontay Wilder when he was champion, but neither came to fruition.
Fury, the current WBC champion, will get the opportunity to fight for all four major belts when he takes on Oleksandr Usyk in February.
Joshua returns to the ring against Sweden’s Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia later this month and fears the belts will be separated again before he gets the chance to fight the winner.
He said: “That won’t happen again. I think it’s just reality.
“What will happen is that Usyk and Fury will now be able to fight for the undisputed and once they fight for the undisputed the belts will be split again.
“And I think it would probably take me five to six years to get all the belts and beat all the independent champions. That’ll probably put me at 40-41, so it’s probably not in my time frame.”
:: Watch the full interview on the TNT Sports Boxing YouTube channel. Day of Reckoning, Saturday December 23, will be broadcast live on TNT Sports Box Office and DAZN as part of the Riyadh season. To view, visit www.dayofreckoning.co.uk.
