Anthony Joshua didn’t need much time or comment to issue his first public remarks on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 boxing headliner.
Oleksandr Usyk put his rivalry with Tyson Fury to an apparent close after defeating Fury by unanimous decision in their rematch on Saturday. In a 12-round affair, Usyk outpointed Fury in one of heavyweight boxing’s all-time great fights with high-octane action from beginning to end.
Usyk moves to 2-0 over Fury after Saturday and has cemented himself as the top heavyweight in boxing. He’ll likely face the Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker winner for his next fight, although all options are on the table.
Joshua, who lost twice to Usyk in the ring, wouldn’t mind getting a third chance against Usyk down the line if the opportunity presented itself. But, he’s looking to bounce back in his to-be-determined return from a brutal TKO loss.
After watching Usyk outpoint Fury for the second time in less than a year, Joshua showed class to his former rival in a post-fight social media message.
Anthony Joshua shares classy message after Oleksandr Usyk’s win
Joshua reacted to Usyk’s rematch victory in a one-word statement on his Instagram story.
“Respect,” Joshua posted along with the Ukraine flag emoji.
As of this writing, Usyk nor Fury have responded to Joshua’s post-fight remarks. After falling to Usyk, Fury could potentially face Joshua in an all-UK boxing clash in 2025.
But Fury isn’t keen on the idea of facing Joshua, despite the big payday a fight would likely accumulate for both fighters. Fury ruled out retirement following the second Usyk loss, opening the door to a potential showdown with Joshua.
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Anthony Joshua linked to possible Tyson Fury fight for boxing comeback
Joshua lost to Dubois by fifth-round knockout in their IBF heavyweight title fight in September. Dubois will face Joseph Parker in his next title defense in February, and the winner could potentially welcome Joshua back to the ring.
Dubois also confronted Usyk in the ring after the Fury rematch, calling for a run-back for the Ukrainian powerhouse’s next fight. Usyk finished Dubois by ninth-round knockout last year before his two clashes with Fury.
Before the loss to Dubois, Joshua was on a four-fight winning streak and seemed rejuvenated after consecutive losses to Usyk. He knocked out former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March after recent wins over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin.
As of this writing, the timeline for Joshua’s return to boxing is uncertain. But when he does, expect him to be paired up with another big name as he looks to eventually return to challenging for a world title.