Anthony Joshua has dismissed WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury as a massive and intimidating threat to him.
Both heavyweight boxers have agreed financial terms on a two-fight deal, with the first, highly-anticipated, bout due to take place next year.
Joshua won back his heavyweight titles with a rematch defeat of Andy Ruiz Jr last December. Fury recorded a knockout win against Deontay Wilder to maintain his unbeaten streak. But Joshua does not view the Gypsy King as a ‘massive threat’.
“Being world champion, with all those knockouts, you do feel kind of unstoppable,” Joahua told GQ Middle East.
“But realistically, in boxing terms, I’m way ahead of where I should be. I’m working at such a quick pace. I shouldn’t even be in a position where I’m mentioned in Tyson Fury’s era.
“He’s five or six years ahead of me in terms of turning professional. In fact, when he was turning pro, I was just putting on my gloves for the first time.”
Joshua added: “Tyson needs educating. All us athletes do.
“We often didn’t go far in school, so a lot of our comments and actions aren’t great. But let’s talk about him as a boxer.
“I don’t find him intimidating and I haven’t seen him do anything in the ring where I think, ‘this guy is going to be a massive threat’.
“He’s talented and he’s awkward, and that’s often enough to get you quite far in life.”
