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Antony joshua and Oleksandr Usyk

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Simon Jordan says a bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has “no meaning” following the former’s second straight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury’s unanimous decision defeat in Riyadh meant he joined long-time rival Joshua in having two loss to unified heavyweight world champion, Usyk.

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn called for a showdown between the British pair, despite both men coming off defeats, with Joshua suffering a bruising fifth round stoppage loss to IBF heavyweight world champion, Daniel Dubois in September.

However, talkSPORT pundit, Jordan says the long-awaited bout has lost its shine.

Asked if he wants to see the clash, the former Crystal Palace owner said: “Not particularly.

“The battle of the losers, in terms of they’ve both come off the back of defeats.

“They no longer have the prestige they once had before.

“I like my boxing with jeopardy and with meaning, not with bragging rights and finances.

“There’s nothing on the end of it, besides everybody making sure that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua get a big payday and someone gets the bragging rights.

“Joshua has just been cleaned out by Daniel Dubois, lost twice to Usyk.

“Fury has been beaten twice by Usyk

READ MORE:Oleksandr Usyk picks winner of Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury after going 24 rounds with them

“He’s not had a meaningful fight. He chose to go down the path he went down.

“He decided to fight [Francis] Ngannou, he decided to fight Derek Chisora.

“Neither one of those fights prepared him for Usyk, he’s reaped the whirlwind of it.

“I understand why people want to see it and I get it and I suspect if it was on I’ll probably watch it, but am I clamouring to watch Fury vs Joshua in a fight that has no meaning behind it, besides bragging rights?

“What’s it for? These two guys are no longer at the pinnacle of boxing.”

All three judges scored the bout 116-112 in favour of Usyk, who retained his WBA ’super’, WBC and WBO titles, scores ‘The Gypsy King’ labelled as a “Christmas gift.”

The 36-year-old remained coy over whether he would continue fighting after suffering a second consecutive professional loss.

Oleksandr Usyk has had his say on a possible super-fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua – and his answer is surprising.

The Ukrainian defeated Fury for the second time on Saturday night in a masterful display at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

In May, the judges were split on who they thought won the inaugural encounter.

Two judges scored the fight in Usyk’s favour by margins of 115-112 and 114-113, while the third judge had it for Fury 114-113.

In the ninth round, Usyk caught Fury on unsteady legs with a heavy flurry and scored a standing eight count.

There was no such dramatic moment in their second fight, although Usyk was in greater control this time.

Particularly towards the back end of the fight where his stamina and mental fortitude really began to show.

In the end, Usyk got his hand raised via unanimous decision with all three judges in agreement over the scoring (116-112, 116-112, 116-112).

READ MORE:How heavyweight division is shaping up – and fights we want to see

It spelt an end to his rivalry with Fury, who is now on a collision course to face British rival Joshua in a long-awaited domestic dust-up.

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh told reporters after the fight that he wants to make the Usyk vs Daniel Dubois rematch if ‘Triple D’ can beat Joseph Parker on February 22.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has Fury vs Joshua at the top of his boxing wishlist as well.

Usyk has now spent 24 rounds in the ring with the heavyweight titans and has beaten both men twice.

Asked who he thinks will win if they end up squaring off next, Usyk told Boxing King Media: “Maybe it is Anthony Joshua.”

Pressed on whether AJ could get it done inside the distance, he replied: “I don’t know, maybe it is points. I don’t know.”

Usyk’s prediction may come as a surprise to many fans considering he has freely admitted Fury was his toughest opponent to date.

Unlike Fury, Usyk was able to deal with Joshua convincingly – even if the second fight was somehow declared a split decision.

Joshua was recently knocked out by Dubois in September.

Several members of the boxing fraternity believe the Watford powerhouse no longer has the punch resistance to hang with the upper echelons of the glamour division.

Yet Usyk is backing him against the weight classes’ consensus number two.

 

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