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Anthony Joshua was not happy about a question he was asked in an interview and even suggested that iFL TV host Kugan Cassius turned the camera off.

Joshua, 35, is a two-time world heavyweight champion but has not fought since he sustained a conclusive knockout defeat against fellow Brit Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.

Dubois is set to take on Oleksandr Usyk at the same venue on July 19 in a bid to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and avenge his 2023 defeat against Usyk.

Anthony Joshua refuses to answer question in fiery interview and tells interviewer to 'turn the camera off'

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And given Joshua’s status in the heavyweight division and the fact he has fought both men, iFL TV host Kugan Cassius asked Joshua about the bout, but his response was far from what he may have expected from the usually composed 35-year-old.

“I’ve got a few thoughts on it, but I feel like I don’t want to talk on it too much because it’s not my fight, it’s their fight – I don’t want to promote their fight,” Joshua said.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Cassius then pushed the Watford boxer on why he didn’t want to discuss the upcoming heavyweight showdown.

“Why you asking me for?” asked an annoyed Joshua. “Turn the camera off and ask me about it.

“You’re asking me about it in front of the bright lights, and put it out in front of the media to promote your channel and their fight. I’m not doing it.”

“It’s not my interest,” he added. “But it will be a good fight, and good luck to both of them.”

Joshua has recently revealed that he will undergo surgery on his elbow later in May, which will likely delay his return to the ring.

“I’m trying to get my body right,” he told DAZN. “I have got to actually have a little surgery on my elbow.”

“A small surgery sometime in May – I’m finalising the details,” he continued. “That will see me out of the gym for maybe six to eight weeks, and then when I’m healed, I will be back.”

Anthony Joshua has revealed he is looking to return to the ring in December, which could shut the door to a clash with Tyson Fury.

AJ hasn’t fought since being brutally beaten by Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last September.

The Briton was carrying injuries shortly after the fight, but was eyeing a showdown with Tyson Fury this year.

JUST IN: Anthony Joshua Is ‘Not A Real Nigerian’ – Efe Ajagba

The ‘Gypsy King’ retired from boxing, and Joshua has yet to pencil in his next opponent.

It emerged this week that he would now have surgery on his elbow, which would rule him out of training for a further eight weeks.

And in a new update, Joshua insisted he plans to return before the end of the year.

“December I will fight again,” he told ESPN Mexico.

“That’s when I want to fight again, I’ll take some time and I will go in December.

“I just want to get my body feeling good and then I’ll fight. It’s a simple job.”

It would see Joshua having had a 14-month lay-off from the ring if he does indeed return in the final month of the year.

And it could spell a significant blow to his chances of fighting Fury in a stadium, with any clash in the UK unlikely to be held in an open-air venue over winter.

As a result, any bout with Fury would now likely be held in 2026 or could be held in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua could look to alternative options in a winter return, having named Martin Bakole, Agit Kabayel and Deontay Wilder as potential options.

Wilder would be a blockbuster clash, but the American must first beat Tyrell Herndon in his comeback fight next month.

For sure the British heavyweight will be inundated with offers, and has even been called out by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

But he admitted he needs to work on his physical conditioning before he is ready to make a comeback.

He continued: “My body has been through the works.

“If I want to be here for the long time I just want to make sure my body is really really good before I get back into the ring.

Sooner than later. I’m still training but I’m just kind of rebuilding.

“To be good is not enough in boxing, if you want to be a world champion you’ve got to be great.

“Throughout the last year or so, especially my last fight I was good but not great.

“To be a champion you gotta be ‘on your s***’ basically and I need to step my game up.”

Efe Ajagba Says London-Born Anthony Joshua Is ‘Not A Real Nigerian’

Anthony Joshua might have spent some of his formative years in a Nigerian boarding school but Efe Ajagba says the two-time world champion should not be considered in the conversation to decide Africa’s No.1 heavyweight.
Ahead of his showdown with DR Congo native Martin Bakole, the 31-year-old Ajagba, who was born in the Delta State of Nigeria, said the fight in Riyadh was to decide who was the best heavyweight from their continent.
Ring Magazine

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However, after 10 rounds at the ANB Arena, judges Pablo Gonzalez and Bob Williams both returned 95-95 scorecards meaning that neither man could claim that title.
And while they can both still argue their case, the Ring put to Ajagba that Joshua might also be in the running.
The 35-year-old, full name Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, is proud of his Nigerian roots, carries a tattoo of the continent on his right shoulder and spent time at the Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State. He has, therefore, been regularly linked with a fight in the country where both his parents were born.
But Ajagba shook his head when Joshua’s name was brought up in the conversation.
“Oh man,” Ajagba said. “I don’t think so. He’s not a real Nigerian.
“He might have just been there and that’s where his parents came from but for me, I’m the original Nigerian, to be honest. Not Joshua, that man has not experienced Nigeria. Almost all of his life has been spent in the UK, that’s why he hasn’t experienced it.”
It is then put to Ajagba, that Joshua has recently been seen training in Nigeria, where the locals cheered as he ran the streets.
“He just goes there for social media content,” Ajagba replies. “It’s ok, it’s all good – but I’m the original Nigerian.
“In Africa, Nigeria is always No.1 when it comes to sport and I’m the original Nigerian. That’s what it’s all about – I’ve got power and I’ve got skills.”
Ajagba, who is The Ring’s No.10-rated heavyweight, had hoped a victory over Bakole would propel him towards his first world title shot. However, the draw in Riyadh has only slowed his progress with an immediate rematch with Bakole now probably.
In the meantime, Ring magazine champion Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the WBO, WBA and WBC titles, will face IBF titlist Daniel Dubois for all the belts at Wembley Stadium on July 19. But Ajagba believes the fight is unfair on Joseph Parker, who had been scheduled to face Dubois on February 22 before the Londoner pulled out through illness during fight week.
Instead, Parker knocked out last-minute stand-in Bakole in the second round of their contest, but is now waiting on news about his next fight while Dubois faces Usyk.
“I was surprised about Usyk-Dubois to be honest,” Ajagba added.
“That was supposed to be a fight for Joseph Parker. It has to be fair and that’s not fair. Dubois got sick before their fight so it doesn’t make sense to me.
“Parker won the replacement fight, he beat Martin Bakole, so now he should have got the opportunity to fight Usyk. Daniel Dubois has fought him before and he lost so why is he getting it again? He has to fight Joseph Parker like they first planned instead of Usyk. That’s a challenge. But it is what it is, this is boxing.”

Anthony Joshua has said that the world of boxing will simply “move on” if a heavily anticipated heavyweight bout with Tyson Fury doesn’t come to pass.

The pair have been at odds throughout their careers, but an actual fight has yet to come to fruition. Unfortunately, the prospects of this dream matchup are looking dimmer by the day, as Fury hung up his gloves in January after consecutive defeats against Oleksandr Usyk.

While fans may rue the missed opportunity to witness what could have been one of the sport’s most electrifying clashes, Joshua is strenuous in his efforts to make it happen.

Tyson Fury confirm he's back in talks with Anthony Joshua for a September  bout

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Speaking to iFL TV about the potential regret over an unrealised fight with Fury, Joshua said that he is “50/50”. reports the Express.

He explained: “No because you can never look back. It is what it is, you know what I mean? I think for me, if you know my mentality, it’s like it is what it is, isn’t it?

“But then at the same time, as a fight fan and as a fighting person, I want to fight all the challengers in my generation. I’ve already signed to fight Fury a few times, and you can never fault me for that.

“Then they had the arbitration with [Deontay] Wilder, then they tried to blacklist me when they had their trilogy. Fury’s called me out and said, ‘He’s got 24 hours to sign a contract.’ I’ve been through it with that guy.

“So from my end, it would be annoying but I 100 per cent have tried.”

Joshua also made two vows in making a fight with Fury materialise, adding: “I’ll do everything I can to make it happen, and I’ll hang around as long as I have to to make it happen.

“That’s on my end, I can’t control what another man is going to do.”

When iFL TV proposed that it would be a “travesty” if the Joshua vs Fury fight didn’t come to fruition, Joshua playfully disagreed, explaining: “I don’t think it would be,” accompanied by a wry smile. He added: “I think people move on quick.

“Just life, Covid happened and everyone’s moved on. I always think… that’s my perspective of life.

“Rest in peace to our Queen but she passed away, the world just moves on. It’s nuts, you know.”

He continued: “I was thinking on a global scale – I think in the pubs and stuff like that it’ll be like, ‘F***ing hell, Fury and Joshua didn’t fight’. But I think on a global scale, I don’t think it matters that much.”

Anthony Joshua is set to undergo surgery on his elbow later this month.

The Watford powerhouse was knocked out by Daniel Dubois last September at Wembley Stadium and hasn’t boxed since.

He has been unable to resume full training since his crushing loss, due to an injury that has left him ‘unable to punch properly’.

READ: Would be monumental: WBC wants Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford super fight

However, AJ insists he is getting the issue sorted shortly.

“When do you want me back, people?” said Joshua when asked when he will return to the ring during an interview with DAZN on Saturday night.

“I’m trying to get my body right. I have got to actually have a little surgery on my elbow.

“A small surgery sometime in May. I’m finalising the details.

“That will see me out of the gym for maybe six to eight weeks, and then when I’m healed, I will be back.”

Providing the surgery goes to plan, Joshua could return to the ring at the back end of this year.

Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn had hoped to get his client out in June or July, but AJ’s injury means that is no longer possible.

When he does eventually return to the ring, the expectation is that it will be against Tyson Fury.

‘The Gypsy King’ hung up his gloves for a fourth time in January following a second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

However, he has since dropped a major hint that he may be about to reverse his retirement once again.

Taking to social media, last week, Fury uploaded a video of him and his long-time trainer SugarHill Steward in the gym together.

“Just in the gym. I just bumped into somebody you might know,” he said before turning the camera to Steward.

He then gave a big indication that he will box again, by saying: “You know what is coming.”

Steward concurred: “You know what time it is.”

This was followed up two days later with a message for Usyk on social media.

“Beat the f***** 2 times the world knows the truth,” he posted.

“Any time, any place. sucher (sic) UK next time 100k people.”

Usyk is currently tied up with a four-belt shoot-out against Daniel Dubois on July 19.

He has expressed an interest in a trilogy bout with Fury, although it may not be possible with the string of mandatory challengers waiting in line to face him.

Fury vs Joshua, meanwhile, is at the top of Turki Alalshikh’s wishlist and remains one of the most-anticipated fights in boxing.

Tyson Fury could be about to reverse his retirement once again.

‘The Gypsy King’ hung up his gloves for a fourth time in January after suffering a second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

He and his handlers have repeatedly insisted that the Brit is stepping away from the sport for good this time.

JUST IN:  “No Problem”: Oleksandr Usyk Agrees To Tyson Fury’s One Demand For Trilogy Fight

However, a recently uploaded video with his long-time trainer SugarHill Steward suggests otherwise.

“Just in the gym. I just bumped into somebody you might know,” he said before turning the camera to Steward.

He then gave the biggest indication he will reverse his retirement yet, by saying: “You know what is coming.”

Steward concurred: “You know what time it is.”

His video conveniently comes on the same day that Usyk and Daniel Dubois began their press tour for their undisputed showdown on July 19.

The pair clashed in the talkSPORT studios at midday over the contentious low blow in their inaugural encounter.

Three hours later, Fury took to social media to steal the show.

Boxing fans will be hoping Fury is hinting at the long-awaited all-British clash with Anthony Joshua.

The heavyweight titans have been locked into negotiations on multiple occasions to no avail.

The closest they came to fighting was in 2020 when both fighters held all four major sanctioning body belts between them.

However, a judge in a US court ruled that Deontay Wilder was owed a third fight with Fury, leading to the AJ bout falling apart days after it had been finalised.

Joshua was then ordered to face Usyk, who snatched his IBF, WBO and WBA belts from him in London, placing the final nail in the coffin.

Since then, they have been in talks a couple of times.

Nothing has gone beyond the preliminary stages.

But they now find themselves at a point in their respective careers where they need each other most.

Fury is riding a two-fight skid at the hands of Usyk, while Joshua is coming off a devastating knockout defeat to Dubois last September.

Both men are out of the world title picture, which is crowded by mandatory challengers, while they are also entering the twilight of their careers.

The appetite might not be the same as it was when the bitter rivals were at their peaks, though it is still undeniably the biggest fight in British boxing.

Anthony Joshua in huge boost to fight for world title he has NEVER won… but why it all depends on Daniel Dubois

ANTHONY JOSHUA could finally get the chance to fight for the WBC title – but it all depends on Daniel Dubois.

Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker face off at a press conference.
Daniel Dubois defends his IBF title against Joseph Parker

Joshua, 35, has twice held the unified WBA, IBF and WBO versions of the belts – but never the iconic green and gold WBC.

The strap is currently held by Oleksandr Usyk, 38, after he took it from Tyson Fury, 36, and then defended it in his pair of points wins last year.

But he had to vacate the IBF title to proceed with his December rematch with Fury – which he won via disputed decision.

Dubois, 27, was meanwhile elevated from interim champion to the full version – knocking out AJ in his first defense in September.

Oleksandr Usyk shaking hands with Daniel Dubois after a boxing match.
Oleksandr Usyk could fight the winner between Dubois vs Parker

He now puts it on the line against Joseph Parker, 33, on Saturday night in Riyadh – with Usyk in line to fight the winner.

That would make it for all four undisputed belts again – so Agit Kabayel and Zhilei Zhang contest for the interim version on the undercard.

Winning that trinket title automatically puts the winner in line to challenge for the full version or be elevated in the event of the champ being stripped.

And WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman is open to Joshua fighting for the WBC interim belt this year against either Zhang, 41, or Kabayel, 32.

Sulaiman told SunSport: “Very possibly Anthony Joshua could fight the winner and then the winner would be the interim champion.

“What we’re trying to do is to give the fans the best fights possible.

“We are administering within our rules that give us plenty of room to be ordering or managing the divisions for the benefit of the industry

“So that is a very doable thing if Anthony Joshua is to fight the winner of Kabayel-Zhang – absolutely it would be an WBC interim title fight.”

Daniel Dubois has been in the ring with both Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, and may be again soon.

The young Brit’s first world title tilt came against Usyk in August of 2023 after the Ukrainian had taken three of the four major belts from Joshua and defended them in a rematch.

Dubois tried to impose himself on the southpaw champion but was largely unsuccessful save for a moment in the fifth round when he would drop Usyk. It was immediately ruled a low blow and Usyk was given ample time to recover before getting back into his rhythm and scoring his first stoppage in three fights. Dubois was put down in both the eighth and ninth before failing to stand for the referee’s count.

Anthony Joshua's world heavyweight championship reign ended by Oleksandr  Usyk's spectacular performance | Boxing News | Sky Sports

While Usyk went on to become undisputed champion with a win over Tyson Fury, Dubois bounced back with wins over Jarrell Miller and Filip Hrgovic, fighting himself into a position to hold the interim IBF belt and subsequently the full title when Usyk vacated it.

His first defence came against Joshua at Wembley Stadium, and the 28-year-old would retain his strap with an assured and destructive performance that saw him drop ‘AJ’ three times before the fifth round stoppage. Joshua did land a few heavy shots of his own in an attempt to turn the tide, one of which Dubois says felt like a ‘bomb going off.’

 

Despite that, in a recent feature with the Ring Magazine ‘DDD’ said Tyson Fury, who he has only sparred, hits harder than Joshua and that Usyk hits harder than Fury. A surprising outcome given ‘AJ’ is known as the knockout puncher between the three.

Anthony Joshua's rematch against Oleksandr Usyk should not be held in Saudi  Arabia, say Amnesty International | The Independent

Dubois puts his belt on the line against Joseph Parker this weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a win all but guaranteeing him a rematch with Usyk for the undisputed championship.

Anthony Joshua has been urged to take a comeback fight against Filip Hrgovic before deciding his next moves.

Joshua is currently at a crossroads in his heavyweight career after being brutally dropped three times and stopped by Daniel Dubois in September.

He was first expected to rematch Dubois but those plans were shelved after it was suggested he would not be ready for the targeted February date.

AJ then instead declared he would like to settle his rivalry with Tyson Fury in 2025, but the ‘Gypsy King’ then decided to announce his retirement from the sport.

Which football team does Anthony Joshua support? | Goal.com Nigeria

The former two-time champion could now face a number of alternative opponents if he chooses to return, with the division’s boogeyman Martin Bakole also issuing a call-out.

But boxing broadcaster Ade Oladipo suggested on the latest episode of talk BOXING, that Hrgovic would be a sensible step for his next outing.

He said: “It is now a case of what do you do? Do you do a rebuild and go down a level and fight them Jermaine Franklin types?

“If he is here for the next two or three years then you do the rebuild, but I think he is only here for 12 months.

“If the fight with Fury doesn’t happen, I honestly think you go Hrgovic vs Dubois or Hrgovic vs Bakole.

“I don’t want to see the Dillian Whyte fight or the Deontay Wilder fight.

“I think you go in with someone who has only lost once in Hrgovic, and then go. It is a gauge of where you are.”

The Only Way Is Through | By Anthony Joshua

talk SPORT host Simon Jordan then questioned the value in Joshua fighting Hrgovic to which Oladipo replied: “Just to see if it is still there.

“To go through training camp and sparring to see if you still have it, it’s one thing saying it and another knowing it.

“I think Hrgovic will look at the Dubois fights and think he can win. I think it’s a closer fight than what people think.

“It’s still someone in the top ten and top 15, but then we can work out from that performance if we want to see a Dubois rematch or a fight with Bakole.”

Joshua has been linked with a clash against Hrgovic in the past, with the pair having both been stopped by Dubois.

It would be a reasonable test to work away any ring rust before challenging Bakole.

Bakole is considered an avoided fighter in the heavyweight division, and is campaigning for a huge clash against Joshua in Africa.

Joshua has surprisingly faced off with Bakole, but could have other priorities including future revenge against Dubois.

Heavyweight contender says he would knock out Anthony Joshua in one round | DAZN News US

‘Dynamite’ currently holds the IBF belt and Joshua could become a three-time heavyweight champion if he does pursue future redemption.

But Oladipo and Jordan have themselves cast doubt on if there is genuine interest from Joshua in pursuing a sequel in 2025.

Jordan said: “It’s his decision, he is the captain of his own ship. He’s said this himself.

“If he wants to fight Daniel Dubois, he will fight Daniel Dubois but I’m questioning that.”

Oladipo added: “If AJ wants to fight Dubois, it should be happening tomorrow, he should be that guy.

Anthony Joshua has shared twelve rounds with Joseph Parker and five with Daniel Dubois, and will be ringside when the two face off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next month.

Joshua beat Parker to unify the heavyweight titles back in 2018. Though the New Zealander lost a unanimous decision, he became the first man to force ‘AJ’ to go the full distance, showing a grit that would continue to serve him as he made his comeback.

Since then, Parker has lost to Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce, but recent wins over big punchers Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang set him up for a shot at the IBF belt, currently held by Dubois.

Dangerous Heavyweight Being Considered For Anthony Joshua's Next Fight Vows  To KO AJ In 1 Round - Seconds Out‘Dynamite’ Dubois was elevated to full champion after beating Filip Hrgovic and made the first defence of his title in emphatic fashion, battering Joshua at Wembley Stadium and stopping him in the fifth.

With both men in fine form, the title clash is an excellent start to 2025 for the sport’s biggest division. Joshua is well-placed to pick a winner, and has announced a prediction challenge with Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh.

“22nd of February. It’s gonna be big. Make sure you tune in. I’m actually gonna come out to Saudi and watch the fight between Joseph Parker and Daniel Dubois. Good luck to both men. Me and His Excellency, we have an agreement. He picks his side, I pick my side and we see who wins.”

‘AJ’ then backed Parker to win the fight and become a two-time world champion. He may well then target a rematch, having made it clear that he is looking to hold a belt once more.

 

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