ANTHONY JOSHUA has urged Tyson Fury to seize the opportunity to fight him next year ‘with both hands’ as he announced he is investing his own money to help save grassroots boxing.
The WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight champion is hoping for a unification clash against WBC king Fury in 2021 — if coronavirus allows.
His promoter Eddie Hearn is optimistic the British blockbuster can be made next year but Joshua was more cautious yesterday as he spoke about potentially having to drop one of his titles to get the fight on.
‘In terms of obstacles, I hope there aren’t any. The belts do make it special but I feel like the prize from the public is for me to fight Tyson Fury.’
Joshua could be called upon to face his WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk or vacate the belt in order to bring forward the showdown with Fury, with a date ‘maybe in June’.
He added: ‘I’m looking optimistic, as if it will (be made in 2021). I haven’t got anything in front of me. If Fury wants to fight, he will step up to the plate. We’ve done business with so many champions, there’s no difference with him. He should take this opportunity with both hands.’
Joshua has given substantial financial backing to the amateur national boxing federations of England, Wales and Scotland as he helps the fight to save the sport at its grassroots. The money will be distributed directly to clubs in most need of support through the national federations.
The 31-year-old, whose amateur career began at Finchley ABC, returned yesterday after boxing was overlooked by the government in last month’s £300million bailout for sport, and added: ‘I am in the grassroots gym which made me and it’s struggling.
‘There are so many things I want to attach my name to but there are only so many I can do. As boxing is something close to me, I feel it is natural for me and I want to raise awareness. There was £300m given to sport and in grassroots sport, £3,000 makes a difference.
‘Without support we will lose community hubs and potentially the stars of tomorrow.’
