Anthony Joshua has praised rival Tyson Fury ‘s work as a mental health advocate but believes he would not be able to get away with saying the same “controversial things” as the Gypsy King.
Fury has spoken openly about his mental health struggles since returning from a 31-month hiatus from the ring in 2018.
The WBC heavyweight champion has battled alcohol, drugs and depression and, speaking to the Sun, Joshua says he has nothing but respect for Fury’s mental health work.
However, AJ believes his rival “gets away with a lot”.
“Undoubtedly the fight I want is Tyson Fury — he is holding something that I want, he’s on my hit list,” Joshua said.
“The day he and I are going to fight is the only time really that I should be talking about Tyson Fury and I don’t really want to be in that position where I am talking him down.
“He says a lot of controversial things, and I know if that was me… I just think he gets away with a lot. But the work he has done around mental health has been very impressive.
“I didn’t understand how much mental health issues had played such a big part in society, and I think that Tyson Fury is such a big guy, a heavyweight champion of the world, and it means that people can look at him and think, well if Tyson Fury can go through this well, I shouldn’t be so scared to talk.
“But all the ‘jumping on him like the little fat boy did’ stuff, that is all irrelevant.
“He is a great person and he has done great things in boxing, but until the day we fight that is where it ends and I don’t have anything else to say about him. I really want the belt he holds and that is where I stand.”
