John Fury says boxing fans are WRONG to turn against Anthony Joshua

John Fury has urged fans to get behind Anthony Joshua following public perception shifting on the heavyweight after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. 

Joshua will step back into the ring for the first time since his loss to Usyk on April 1st when he battles Jermaine Franklin at London’s O2 Arena. 

Tickets for the fight have failed to capture the fans attention and thousands of seats are yet to be filled for the event, despite Joshua selling out the 20,000-capacity venue on numerous occasions in the past. 

It would suggest there is lack of interest in Joshua right now, but the father of Tyson Fury has sent a message to fans to back the former heavyweight champion as he begins his fight back to the top. 

‘Listen, AJ’s a great kid, fans shouldn’t be turning against him and if they’re, then it’s wrong’. Fury told The Express.

The public perception of Anthony Joshua seems to have turned following his last two defeats 

John Fury has urged fans to get behind Joshua and that there’s more to come from the boxer 

‘AJ has given the public some great nights and they should support the man. 

Let me tell you this, the best is yet to come from AJ, so the fans should get behind him and let’s get him back to winning ways again and make the super fight once Tyson is done with the Ukrainian rabbit.  

It’s the biggest fight in boxing, absolutely. It’s bigger than Usyk. Joshua and Tyson is still a great fight. So, I urge fans, get behind the man don’t kick him when he’s down.’ 

Joshua vs Fury remains the fight that boxing fans want to see, but there is no sign of the parties agreeing to a match at present. Fury believes that Joshua should have saved his comeback fight for a bigger name, stating that his opponent isn’t well known enough in the UK. 

Joshua returns to the ring on April 1 when he’ll face Jermaine Franklin at London’s O2 Arena 

Adding: ‘If his name was Anthony Fury, he’d be selling them out, wouldn’t he? But unfortunately, his name is Anthony Joshua and it’s a s*** fight.

I’m only being honest. You know, who knows Jermaine Franklin over here? He’s a good fighter but he’s got no name and it’s a D-level fight.’ 

Joshua apologised earlier this year for his actions in the aftermath of his defeat to Usyak last August. 

The 33-year-old launched into a bizarre tirade after his rematch in Saudi Arabia, with Joshua’s place at the top seemingly hanging by a thread after a third defeat in his career. 

However, the heavyweight has since drafted in a new trainer in Derrick James, as he looks to get his career back on track by defeating Franklin in next month’s crucial clash.  

Meanwhile, a date for Tyson Fury’s showdown with Usyak has yet to be confirmed, but reports suggest that all signs point to an April 29 meeting between the pair at Wembley Stadium, after the Ukrainian agreed to Fury’s 70/30 split offer.