TYSON is the name that Anthony Joshua cannot get away from.
Yet this time, it is not just the hot topic of a unification fight with Tyson Fury.
World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua says he would not fight Mike Tyson but is desperate to take on Tyson FuryCredit: Lawrence Lustig
Mike Tyson is too great a name to take on, according to Anthony Joshua, who says he would be booed if he beat himCredit: PA:Press Association
Now, incredibly, he is responding to questions about fighting a man whose boxing he has admired his entire life.
Mike Tyson has got the boxing world talking again with promises of a comeback.
But when you ask the man currently in possession of three of the four major world title belts if he would fight Iron Mike, there is no bluster, no trash talk from AJ — just respect.
Asked if he would step in the ring with the 53-year-old, he smiles and says: “With all due respect I wouldn’t.
“Even if I fought Iron Mike and beat him, I think I’d be the only one cheering. People would boo. He is a legend. He is the greatest boxer of the modern era.
“There are only two recognised champions the world knows of, Ali and Mike Tyson — the most recognised faces in the world when it comes to boxing.”
Respect is a key word in an all-encompassing Sun interview with the British superstar and heavyweight champion.
Mike Tyson is the embodiment of the killing machine, he hits the pads for 15 seconds and the whole world goes crazy… would you be shocked if Beckham came back? You would. But for boxers it’s all they know.
Anthony Joshua
His respect for Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko, his sport and even the man he is destined to meet, Fury.
Many boxing fans have labelled American Tyson crazy to talk of a return.
But AJ, 30, added: “I see it like this — how old is David Beckham, 44, 45?
“If you see him in ten years kicking a ball, doing 100 kick ups, a round-the-world and hitting the crossbar and then an overhead volley into the top corner, people would love it.
“But because Mike Tyson is the embodiment of like, the killing machine, he hits the pads for 15 seconds and the whole world goes crazy, it is normal.
“It is what Tyson knows. But for him to fight… would you be shocked if Beckham came back? You would. But for boxers it’s all they know.”
AJ revealed yesterday in his exclusive Sun interview about idolising Tyson as a young man and that watching his videos and shadow boxing in the garden is all the focus he needs.
That incredible self-motivation has taken him to the top and he is the one now idolised by young boxers.
Tyson Fury tops the wishlist of opponents for fellow Brit Anthony JoshuaCredit: PA:Press Association
Anthony Joshua’s fight against Pulev was due to be at Tottenham’s new stadium on June 20 but has been KO’d by coronavirusCredit: PA:Press Association
His shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019 has not changed him, it seems.
He continued: “It’s an intrinsic motivation and that’s one thing that I’ve got personally.
“I don’t really need to be told, ‘Wake up at nine o’clock’, I’m already awake.
“It’s just one of those things, I don’t know, if you told me to do something, I’m just the character that’ll make sure it’s done to its best capabilities.
“That’s what my mum said to me, ‘You need boxing back’. I’m an active boy.
“Always been that kid. Out in the morning. Just an active person.”
As a heavyweight fighter in a ring with fearsome competitors, he knew a loss could come, even with 22 previous professional wins, 21 of those by knockout.
That it came against the Mexican fighter with a love for Snickers and a frame that showed it, is not something AJ dwells upon.
AJ on life after boxing
I AM a normal person that happens to box so what I always said to myself is I’m never gonna make boxing all of who I am.
So even though it’s a very significant part of my life, when boxing departs one day, I’m not going to crumble with it and I’m gonna be relevant.
I always have plans to develop myself as a businessman. Over the next eight years I’m gonna make a transition, not only as a boxer, but a well respected individual, well respected businessman and also someone who’s like a philanthropist where you’re talking about giving back, about different causes.
I will have my point where I’ll stand for more than just boxing because at the minute, nobody really cares if I do give back to certain communities. All they wanna know is when am I knocking out Tyson Fury, so I understand that.
I have to start thinking of making these last years of transition as well as staying on the top of my game.
He avenged that defeat with a smart points victory in their December rematch and now with a record of 23 wins in 24 fights, the WBA, IBF and WBO title holder is looking forward, not back.
For Joshua, looking forward is pushing to be the undisputed champion and he made no secret of his desire to fight WBC king Fury.
Deontay Wilder, who has a contracted third fight with Fury after the Brit’s stunning win in February avenged their 2018 draw, is also an option for the Watford hero.
That is assuming he beats Kubrat Pulev in the next mandatory challenge, not that Joshua would take that victory for granted.
He said: “Who would I prefer? It would be the current champ, Tyson Fury, every day of the week. It used to be Wilder and now it is Fury.”
And no trash talk here, either, just respect as he added: “And I don’t want to be in that position where I am talking down Tyson Fury.
“He is a great person and he has done great things in boxing but until the day we fight that is where it ends and I don’t have anything else to say about him.
I’m ticking over. It’s my lifestyle. That’s what I did when I was 18. Instead of going to college, I went to the school of boxing.
Anthony Joshua
“I really want the belt and that is where I stand with Tyson Fury.”
Joshua’s fight against Pulev was due to be at Tottenham’s state of the art new stadium on June 20.
That was KO’d by the coronavirus pandemic and talks are underway for getting that fight on as soon as possible — even if it’s in front of a small audience at another venue.
That would be odd for a man who has become a superstar, fills arenas and specialises in getting fans off their feet, as he did in beating the likes of Klitschko, Alex Povetkin, Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam.
All ring fans hope the Fury superfight follows Pulev and AJ knows what that would mean to the boxing-loving British public.
He said: “In terms of boxing coming back, if I was to fight it would probably be November, December.
AJ on Klitschko
WHO I look up to is Wladimir Klitschko. But it’s difficult because when I got into boxing I understood the market.
English isn’t his language, his name isn’t western, it’s not simple and easily recognised like Anthony Joshua.
He tried. The thing is they found marketing him was difficult.
But if he spoke good English and his name was easier to pronounce, from a promotional point of view he would have been one of the biggest the world had ever seen.
So I am going to try and take his formula because outside of the ring he is well respected.
So Mike Tyson wants to make a comeback. They’ve called in Klitschko to work alongside Mike — they could have called anyone but called him in because he is a well-respected heavyweight and knows how the business works.
That’s one way I would like to be remembered and that is the guy I look up to right now.
Mike Tyson is the finest fighter of the modern generation, says Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“But if not, the big fight next year with me and Tyson — it’ll be like a big announcement after all the issues that the country’s faced, with the undisputed champion of the world.”
Joshua knows getting fights on now, especially with the difficulties that are presented with staging huge bouts, is not the No 1 priority.
And yesterday in his first Sun interview he spoke of his praise for NHS workers and his support for our Who Cares Wins awards, backing the country’s unsung heroes.
On the potential Pulev fight later this year, he added: “In boxing there’s no all year round TV rights. It’s just if a fight comes up they speak with Sky, BT, other broadcasters and they have to promote the fight just for that date.
“So I’m not too sure how financially they’re going to hire a venue, ring, stage and lights, doctors. And it’s such an international sport where you need a Spanish referee, a German doctor, and you don’t know how those countries are based around coronavirus at the minute.”
After giving a fascinating insight into his life as a dad and a sportsman in lockdown yesterday, Joshua is not bored… yet.
AJ on sport being back
I AM excited to watch sport again, yeah. In terms of football I didn’t grow up supporting a team — but what I do tend to do rather than just watch the Premier League is that I pick out players.
So I like Cristiano Ronaldo. I pick out attributes and what I like about that player individually. In terms of a team I support it would be Watford because it’s where I grew up.
I met Troy Deeney in a barber’s shop when I was younger, he used to give me so much advice.
He has his opinions.
He is good. What he went through. He did stuff on my estate in Watford, too.
I didn’t really like cricket. I like football.
I play a lot of football and do motocross.
I don’t want to blow my own trumpet but I play where the team needs me. I am a team player.
He said: “I’m ticking over. It’s my lifestyle. That’s what I did when I was 18. Instead of going to college, I went to the school of boxing. I learnt how to fight.
“Just hit the bags, skip and it’s the first time in my whole boxing career where I’ve been left alone.
“Normally I’ve got someone in my ear, telling me what to do, how to do it, and I’ve actually really enjoyed being in that gym on my own. It’s been a blessing.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
