Anthony Joshua expects the super fight with fellow British, Tyson Fury to take place this year.
Appearing on tonight’s The Jonathan Ross Show, AJ says of the much-anticipated fight with Tyson Fury: “I’ve signed my side of the deal. We’ve sent him [Tyson] a good offer, one I’m sure he won’t refuse. He wants the fight, no doubt about it. So do I and more than me and him, the whole public want it.
“I put my crystal ball out there and I say it’s going to happen this year 100%.”
Asked by Jonathan if Tyson would get his four belts if he won the fight, Anthony laughs: “Unfortunately he’s not going to win…”
Of whether they have met or are friends away from the ring, Anthony says: “Yeah I have [met Tyson]. I don’t even know what we are. I’ve seen him face-to-face and people on video and social media are different than face-to-face.”
Put to him by Jonathan that in defence of Tyson, he is a very good boxer and that the fight is going to be a challenge, Anthony jokes: “Who, Mike Tyson?”
Speaking of Tyson opening up about his mental health struggles on Jonathan’s show last series, Anthony adds: “It’s tough, for someone to go through that mental pressure and pull themselves back up. A lot of people are suffering in this world. We put on a brave face don’t we? He’s put it out to the world ‘this is what I’ve gone through, if I’m a boxer, heavyweight champion of the world hard man, if I can go through it…’ it gives people hope. I respect it. 100% you have to respect it.”
Discussing trash talk, Anthony says: “The best to ever do it is Muhammad Ali. Facts. The best to ever do it. I think, like you know, when you study the game, you can take so much from him… It’s just saying I’m better than this guy and these are the reasons.”
Fellow guest Alan Carr notes: “I met Muhammad Ali. My dad was manager of Nuneaton Borough football club. For some reason he came to the ground, he came in the dressing room and he was the sweetest.”
Anthony says: “He’s a special, special, special man.”
Put to Anthony why he doesn’t really respond to trash talk he says: “I’m busy, busy promoting boxing, I’m here with you tonight. I spend a lot of time in the gym, with my family working. I feel like I do enough promoting of boxing… I’m representing my mother, my father, my community, the boxing youth…people have got kids… my trash talk can become a bit real. I don’t want to get too personal, that’s what it is.”
Returning to whether the fight will happen this year he says: “I’m pretty sure it’ll be this year. End of July, early August. Where? That’s what’s the delay, because of this pandemic. We want to have people coming to the venue. It’s just finding the right location. For me, Wembley would be ideal.”
Later in the show, Jonathan plays a message from Tyson Fury for Anthony, leaving his fellow guests and us waiting to see his reaction.
THE JONATHAN ROSS SHOW, SATURDAY 17TH APRIL, 9.35PM ON ITV and ITV Hub
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