Anthony Joshua ‘100 per cent down’ to risk facing Oleksandr Usyk before Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury
ANTHONY JOSHUA insisted he is “100 per cent” willing to risk fighting Oleksandr Usyk before Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury.
Joshua, 29, will defend his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against Mexican-American Andy Ruiz Jr, 29, on June 1 at New York’s famous Madison Square Garden.
Jarrell Miller, 30, was the initial opponent following snubbed offers by Wilder, 33, and Fury, 30, - but after a trio of failed drug tests a replacement for Big Baby was found.
While ex-undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk, 32, makes his heavyweight debut against Carlos Takam on May 25 - and the Ukrainian could be called as AJ’s WBO mandatory if he wins.
Speaking to Watford's unified champion insisted he will not swerve Usyk in an attempt to hold out for super-fights with WBC king Wilder or Gypsy King Fury.
Joshua said: “100 per cent, I’d be down for that. I never thought of vacating a belt.
“That’s all political stuff. I wouldn’t vacate, and I’d definitely fight Usyk. Good luck to him.
"He’d a good addition to the heavyweight crop for sure. Very talented.
“That’s a good name. For instance, if he was in the heavyweight division, and he wasn’t making his debut, if it wasn’t [Luis] Ortiz, he would have been in conversation with Usyk.
“DAZN wants good fights on their platform as well. Broadcasters need solid fights as well. They want someone like Usyk.
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“They would push for the Usyk fight. They would rustle up all the finances they can to get that type of fight. The broadcasters want the lucrative fights.”
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently criticised Wilder after it was revealed The Bronze Bomber could face Luis Ortiz and Adam Kownacki after his next fight against Dominic Breazeale on May 18.
Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn slammed the WBC champ claiming the AJ unification now gets pushed back to 2021.
