‘I’mma dash these belts because you gotta learn to respect me as a person’
Anthony Joshua has suggested that he could throw away the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles if he regains them from Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch.
The Briton will face off against Usyk for a second time on August 20 in Saudi Arabia, with the Ukrainian dethroning Joshua last year in their first bout.
While many people suggested that ‘AJ’ was too passive in the pair’s first fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the 32-year-old believes that he ‘never got that respect’.
Speaking to JD Sports, Joshua was told his fans will be hoping to see more of the fighter that people feared in the past, to which he replied: “But I feel like I never got that respect. Let’s keep it 100, let me be real with you.”
Anthony Joshua: "I feel like I never got that respect [as someone people feared]. When I came into this division, it was whack. I thought, 'I'm gonna come in and take on everyone'… I feel like I'm not getting looked at as someone who is a dominant heavyweight." [@JDSports]
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) July 26, 2022
‘I can only beat what’s in front of me’
Joshua is a two-time unified heavyweight world champion, and has beaten the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr, Joseph Parker and Dillian Whyte during his career.
Despite this, the Brit believes that he isn’t being looked at as someone who is a dominant heavyweight in the division.
When asked whether he thought people used to assume he would always KO his opponents, he answered: “Nah, that’s wrong. When I came into this division, it was whack.
“I thought, ‘Alright, you know what? I’m gonna come in this game and take on everyone and anyone.’ It doesn’t matter who, I can only beat what’s in front of me, but I’ve gotta make sure that they’re top.
“Maybe it’s because I’m British that none of these lot are respecting my thing. I said, ‘Alright, you know what? I’m gonna bring the heavyweight division to Great Britain, I’mma show people we are solid.’
“Because I think people think we drink tea and eat biscuits and sit with the Queen. I feel like I’m not getting looked at as someone who is a dominant heavyweight in the division.”
AJ threatens to ‘dash’ the belts
The 32-year-old also suggested that he could throw away the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles if he is victorious against Usyk in their rematch next month.
“This big Anthony Joshua goes and wins, becomes three-time, I’mma dash these belts,” he added. Because you’ve gotta learn to respect me as a person. Quote that.
“I’m tired, I don’t want to be respected because of the belts I hold. I wanna be respected because of the man you see.”
The venue for Joshua vs Uysk 2 has yet to be announced, but it’s expected the fight will be held at the Jeddah Super Dome.
Related links:
- Tyson Fury insists he will ‘sign a contract today’ to fight Anthony Joshua if one condition is met
- Anthony Joshua says he will be a “boxing legend” if he wins Usyk rematch
- Anthony Joshua latest athlete to fall to Saudi sportswashing machine
