Tony Bellew has criticised Tyson Fury for failing to seal a fight against fellow world champion Oleksandr Usyk and instead opting for a bout against the recently defeated Anthony Joshua.
Joshua joined Bellew on a long list of fighters beaten by Usyk during the Ukrainian's unbeaten career with successive defeats at the hand of the former cruiserweight. Now, the next move for 'AJ' appears to be a fight against Fury in Cardiff on December 3rd, with a deal close to being confirmed.
However, once the fight between Usyk and Joshua had concluded, it appeared that the next fight on the agenda would be between Fury and Usyk in a unification bout. For this reason, Bellew has suggested that Fury is avoiding Usyk instead seeking a meeting with Joshua who has entered the WBC rankings at sixth in recent days.
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'The Bomber', who was beaten by Usyk in the Ukrainian's last fight as a heavyweight back in 2018, told Talksport Breakfast that he believed Fury 'doesn't fancy it', explaining: “I don’t want to say he doesn’t fancy it against Oleksandr Usyk but let’s be honest, it’s not an easy proposition is it.
“He’s had two opportunities now to face Oleksandr Usyk and he’s knocked them both back. That’s not my opinion, that’s a fact. For someone who is a so-called middleweight, I don’t see what the problem is.
“’You’re a middleweight, you’re a middleweight.’ That’s all I hear! Why not just beat the middleweight up? I would if I were you." He added. “And then you’ve got all the belts, you’ve achieved everything in boxing. You’ve cleaned out a division, you’ve cleaned out an era and can ride off into the sunset."
Fury previously taunted Usyk, who made the successful move up to heavyweight from cruiserweight in 2019, releasing a video on social media earlier this month before he turned his attentions to Joshua : "Usyk, middleweight, you say you want the WBC and it's held by gypsies," Fury said in a video on social media directed at his fellow champion. "It is held by gypsies, it's held by the Gypsy King and it's held tightly, grasped tight and all roads lead to a seven-foot behemoth who will absolutely destroy you, middleweight.
"Middleweight, you will get smashed to bits. You said you wanted to fight me after you beat the bodybuilder [Joshua], called me out on television and now you're being a little b**** p**** boy running, hiding, saying you've got injuries. You ain't got no injuries, you had a sparring contest.
"Get out and fight in December, you let your mouth go, now back it up. Let's see if you can back it up, middleweight. It doesn't matter if it's December or April or August next year, the outcome will be the same; I will obliterate you. I'm a seven-foot, 20-stone behemoth and I will destroy you, middleweight. Find your balls and come see me, b****."
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