British boxing heavyweight, Tyson Fury is still basking in the euphoria of his ability to hold his own against fiery American, Deontay Wilder, and says fellow-Brit, Joshua Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua is avoiding the USA pugilist, sports247.ng reports.
After enacting a shock draw with Wilder, despite getting knock twice to the canvas, Fury says he has bragging rights on both Wilder and Joshua, but insists ‘AJ’ is cowardly dodging the American.
Fury pointed out that, long before his fight with Wilder, the American’s team tried to finalise a deal against three-belt unified belt holder, Joshua for the undisputed crown.
He believes Wilder agreed to take a bad deal: a $15m flat fee for easily the biggest fight in the division and one of the biggest in all of boxing, as well agreeing to face Joshua in the United Kingdom.
However, when Joshua and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn declined to finalise the bout, Wilder quickly went after Fury, who had returned from a 31-month layoff in June.
After Fury, now largely rated as ‘the linear champion,’ won an August tune-up fight, he accepted the deal to fight Wilder.
The British boxer went to United States and faced Wilder on Saturday night at Staples Center, where the judges ruled the fight a split draw.
It was, nonetheless, largely anointed as an exciting fight, in which Fury got up from knockdowns in the ninth and 12th rounds.
Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs) has now openly accused Joshua of ducking Wilder, who he believes could have been the one slugging it out together with last weekend.
Fury, who became only the second opponent to push Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) the distance in his 41 fights, said Joshua does not have the guts he has.
Fury also said he believed Wilder’s efforts to make the fight with Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) were legitimate.
The former champ roared: “It’s no secret that Joshua did not want this fight, and he didn’t want it for a reason … because Deontay Wilder is the most fiercest puncher in boxing history, in heavyweight division history.
“I saw that, and I felt it. No wonder AJ didn’t want no part of that right hand. He can’t move like me. He’d have been nailed.
“Wilder came over to the U.K. and showed up (at a previous Joshua fight). He called out Joshua. (Joshua) got offered a lot of money.
“A lot of money. Money that could change countries probably, make broke countries rich, and he turned it down.
“I said to Deontay, ‘I’m sorry what’s happened to you,’ and I said, ‘But you offer me the fight, and I will not turn it down. I promise you.’ I said I’m a fighting man and I’ll step up and represent my country.”
