Joshua: I Could Beat Fury Twice, Then Circle Back and Reclaim WBO Title

As the year comes to a close, the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is looking forward to a potential full division unification with WBC champion Tyson Fury in 2021.

Joshua was in action earlier this month, when he knocked out mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.

Now his sights are set on finalizing a two-fight deal with Fury.

The only thing in Joshua’s way – is a clash with WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk.

If Usyk refuses to accept a step-aside deal, then Joshua could be forced to vacate the WBO title in order to move forward with a highly lucrative fight against Fury. 

“Will people care if I have to lose a belt to Usyk? Will I have to give one up? I am not too sure yet. I don’t want to, because it is ‘the road to undisputed’. But I know that, when I win, I will go back and fight for that belt anyway — that will be my goal,” Joshua said to The Sun.

“I want to fight Fury, beat him again in the rematch — two difficult hurdles, serious fights — then I will go straight back to try to fight for that title again.”

On the other side of the fence, Fury is dealing with a legal action brought forward by Deontay Wilder.

Back in February, Fury stopped Wilder in seven rounds to capture the WBC title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Soon after, Wilder exercised an immediate rematch clause. The contest was postponed several times, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Eventually, Fury’s handlers took the firm position of Wilder allowing the rematch clause to expire – while Wilder began a legal battle to enforce the rematch clause for the trilogy fight.

“I don’t know what Fury’s situation is with Wilder. My situation is, do I give up the WBO or will Usyk step aside?,” Joshua said.