ANTHONY JOSHUA has not ruled out a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk as he prepares to return to the ring this weekend.
The Brit, 33, suffered two successive losses to the Ukrainian between September 2021 and August 2022 as he was outboxed by the former undisputed cruiserweight champion.
On Saturday, he will step into the ring for the first time since that second loss to Usyk in Saudi Arabia when he faces American Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena.
Joshua is hoping an impressive victory can open up the door to bouts with the likes of Dillian Whyte, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
But he is also refusing to rule out a third fight with Usyk as he looks to avenge those back-to-back losses.
Speaking to Boxing King Media about his most recent defeats, he said: “Yeah, I let many people down, so I deserve the stick I get as well.
READ MORE ON ANTHONY JOSHUA
“I always have high expectations from myself, but against Usyk, I was in with a really good operator, and I would definitely relish the opportunity to fight him again.”
Joshua will attempt to turn his recent fortunes around in London this weekend off the back of three defeats in five fights.
Yet despite his recent results, he insists a mouthwatering all-British dust-up with Fury is still very much on the table.
The Gypsy King’s negotiations for an undisputed clash with Usyk broke down earlier this month.
Most read in Boxing
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST SPORTS BETTING APPS IN THE UK
And AJ claims the disappointment surrounding that fight not taking place mean Fury needs to deliver an opponent of the calibre of himself.
Joshua said: “There’s no better time to get Fury in the ring than now because he needs me to redeem himself from this circus, this letdown.
“He needs me so there’s no better time than for him to call my name out and I’m someone that will take on any challenge.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
