TYSON FURY admitted he is “not convinced by any means” that he will ever face Anthony Joshua – despite the pair agreeing a two-fight deal for 2021.
Britain’s heavyweight champions verbally agreed to a double header next year, but both have to win their next fights, with AJ facing Kubrat Pulev and Fury rematching Deontay Wilder.
Tyson Fury admits he is ‘not convinced’ he will ever fight Anthony Joshua
Joshua and Fury have agreed to a two-fight deal in 2021Credit: Reuters
Should they win, it sets up a historic undisputed title decider with a 50/50 split between the duo with the winner then taking the lions share 60 per cent cut in the second fight.
But WBC champion Fury, 31, is not confident the too good to be true deal with 30-year-old rival Joshua can ever materialise.
He told iFL TV: “If it’s supposed to happen, and I’m not convinced it is, by any means of the imagination.
“I never have been convinced, never. Never, ever, ever have I been convinced that I will fight Anthony Joshua, I have never been convinced.”
Even after Joshua’s mandatory title defence against Pulev, 39, ex-cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk is next in line for the WBO belt.
And Fury, who is mandated to face Dillian Whyte, 32, by February next year, admits all it takes is one shot from 34-year-old Wilder to demolish the Battle of Britain.
But, if WBA, IBF and WBO champ Joshua and the Gypsy King can deal with all possible obstacles only then will Fury be persuaded.
He said: “How can I be convinced? If he’s got to fight Pulev and if he’s got to fight Usyk, how can I be convinced he’s going to get through those fights without losing?
“How can I be even confident I’m going to smash Wilder? Wilder can be absolutely blitz me in one round, good night Vienna. That would put a hell of a wedgie in the door. This is why I hate talking about fights that don’t exist yet.
“Can I honestly say 100 per cent this fight is going to happen? I can’t. But providing we both get through our next two fights, then I know it’s going to happen.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk