26 June 2024 , 19:00
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Anthony Joshua has admitted he is delighted to have deprived Tyson Fury of the chance to become undisputed heavyweight world champion.
Fury was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk last month as he suffered his first career defeat as the Ukrainian was crowned the best heavyweight on the planet. The rivals will meet again four days before Christmas but only three belts will be on the line after Usyk jumped before he was pushed by giving up his IBF belt.
That title will now be on the line when Joshua takes on Daniel Dubois at Wembley on September 21 after the latter was upgraded from his interim status following his win over Filip Hrgovic earlier this month. Should Fury beat Usyk on December 21, he will likely have another chance to become undisputed champion against the winner of Joshua's meeting with Dubois.
But Joshua said: "I'm glad Fury isn't the undisputed champion. I just think he's an idiot. If it was someone else I might think it was a shame [that all four belts won't be on the line]. I've always said he's an idiot, he's very disrespectful. Not in a way I care about but I just feel like he thinks by stepping on other people that makes him feel better.
"I'm not in competition with anyone. I'm in my own lane but he has to step on people to make himself feel good and that's not good. The way he disrespected Usyk, calling him rabbit this and middleweight that. it's not good for the sport. If I respect you and you respect me we can lift this sport up and people think we are two of the most elite fighters in the world. But Fury will step on you and make you look like a guy who's just walked out and a pub and he's not on your level. Then he goes and gets spanked, he deserves it."
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Joshua will attempt to become a three-time heavyweight world champion when he takes on Dubois at the national stadium. Joshua has rebuilt his career with four successive victories since losing back-to-back fights with Usyk. Dubois had been the IBF’s mandatory challenger and it was announced on Wednesday that he will go up against fellow Briton Joshua after Usyk confirmed he was giving up the crown.
"Anthony and Daniel, listen. I know the IBF title is important to you. It is my present to you on September 21," Usyk said in a video posted on social media on Tuesday. Usyk became the first heavyweight to hold the IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC belts when he defeated Fury in Riyadh.