IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (23-1-0, 21 KOs) is very complimentary of WBC champion Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) for being a strong mental health issue.
At the same time, Joshua believes he would have suffered public lightning if he had made the same comments as Fury did couple days ago.
Fury is no stranger to controversy, and there have been several times when he has raised controversy by the nature of his comments.
“The day he and I are going to fight is the only time I really have to talk about Tyson Fury, and I don’t want to put myself in the position where I’m going to have to take it out on him.” Joshua said.
“He says things about me all the time, there is so much back and forth, but Tyson Fury is only relevant the day me and him sign a contract to fight. I really want the belt he holds and that is where I stand. But all the ‘jumping on him like the little fat boy did’ stuff, that is all irrelevant.
“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. Tyson has done so well with this. And that is what I am happy to talk about,” Joshua added.
Fury ended Deontay Wilder’s reign as WBC heavyweight champion with a stunning upset victory in February, in Las Vegas.
The ‘Gypsy King’ will have a trilogy fight with Wilder later this year before targeting his fellow Joshua in next year.
“Tyson did so much under the circumstances. And that’s what makes me the most proud when I talk about Tyson Fury.” Joshua said.
“He is a very good person and he has done some very good things for boxing. But until the day when we are going to fight, I will stop there and I will not say anything else about from him. I really want to take the belt that he holds and that’s where I am!” the Briton added.