Anthony Joshua reveals he got Klitschko to pass on apology to Usyk
Anthony Joshua reveals he said SORRY to Oleksandr Usyk for his post-fight meltdown in Saudi Arabia – which saw him throw the Ukrainian’s belts out of the ring and deliver a bizarre rant – after telling old rival Wladimir Klitschko to pass on an apology
- The British fighter was defeated for a second time by Oleksandr Usyk last year
- Anthony Joshua marred occasion by launching into a bizarre tirade post-fight
- Revealed he had told Wladimir Klitschko to apologise to Usyk for him
Anthony Joshua has apologised for his actions in the aftermath of his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk which saw him throw the Ukrainian’s belts out of the ring and launch into a bizarre tirade.
Usyk defeated Joshua in their rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last August on a split decision after he had beaten him by unanimous decision a year prior at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With his place at the top seemingly hanging by a thread after a third defeat in his career, Joshua appeared to experience something of a meltdown.
Speaking ahead of his return to the ring against Jermaine Franklin in April, Joshua told the BBC that he apologised for his actions before offering something of an explanation for the way he acted.
‘Listen, I’m not perfect, it was not the right thing to have done. I didn’t speak to Usyk. I spoke to Wladimir (Klitschko) and I said, “give Usyk a pat on the shoulder and I apologise”.
Anthony Joshua has revealed he apologised to Oleksandr Usyk – via a former ring foe
‘But it was just raw, uncut and… It may not make sense to a lot of people but it made a lot of sense to me and it was just how much it means to a degree. I thought I’d feel like that at the end of my career when it’s all said and done and I’d be like, “Wow! What a rollercoaster. I made it through the trenches.”
‘I feel getting so close to fighting for the undisputed title and getting that fight with [Tyson] Fury that people want so much. I was like “yeah, I’m nearly there” and then bosh when I didn’t hear my name.
‘Then there were certain things in the ring that were said – not excuses – and one of them was “you’re big and strong, you’re strong”.
The heavyweight launched into a bizarre tirade after his rematch defeat at the hands of Usyk
Joshua revealed that a number of triggering incidents in the ring post-fight contributed to his meltdown
‘Remember a lot of athletes from the African-Caribbean community are told they’re strong and I feel like it’s quite degrading, because you don’t get mentioned in terms of talent or technique.
‘When he said I’m big and strong the alarm bells went off. There were loads of things that were triggering me at the time, but it was just raw and uncut emotion.’
Joshua’s comments come amid a crucial period in the fighter’s career. Off the back of two defeats to Usyk, he knows that he must put in a winning performance against Franklin to get back on track.
The heavyweight has a new trainer in Derrick James, while he will prepare for the fight living in Texas.
He said that this is the ‘most serious’ he has been in the build up to any bout in his career thus far.
Joshua (right) has partnered with Derrick James (left) ahead of his comeback fight with Jermaine Franklin
‘Locked in. It’s a serious opponent, I respect all my opponents,’ Joshua said. ‘He’s coming to fight. That will make me keep my feet on the ground.
‘Throughout my career this is probably the most serious time I’ve taken it. Everything I’ve been through, positive, negative I’m using it to fuel this camp.
‘I’m a serious person I’m not there for anything else,’ Joshua added. ‘I’m there to put my head down and get ready for a fight.
‘With Derrick here, he’s got some tricks up his sleeve for sure and we’re looking forward to April.’
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