‘AJ is AJ’: SugarHill Steward’s verdict on potential Fury vs Joshua fight

On April 11, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tyson Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) returned to professional boxing with a unanimous decision win against Arslanbek Makhmudov (21-3, 19 KOs). Once Fury settled into the fight, it was plain sailing for “The Gypsy King.” In the ring after the fight, Fury called out Anthony Joshua, and Fury’s trainer, SugarHill Steward, spoke after the fight about how he still feels AJ is a dangerous fight.

Tyson Fury calls out Anthony Joshua

After Fury’s win, plenty was said by Fury, while Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) remained unmoved at ringside. It all started when Turki Alalshikh said: “It is the time. Frank (Warren, Fury’s promoter), Eddie Hearn (Anthony Joshua’s promoter), it is the time. Come on over here Eddie.”

While Hearn smiled at the events, Joshua looked visibly annoyed. 

“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for,” Fury said. “I want you (pointing at Joshua) AJ, Anthony Joshua (who just nodded his head and put his hand to his heart with a slight smile). Let’s give the fight fans what they want. The Battle of Britain. 

“And here’s my challenge: I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, “The Gypsy King” next.

Joshua continued to look on with a steely gaze, when Fury barked: “Do you accept my challenge?.”

AJ gave Fury the middle finger and said: “Tyson, you’re a clout chaser.”

“Tyson, I’ve never had no problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you out when we were kids. And after watching you tonight,  I’ll punch you up again. With all due respect, tonight is your night, and you know I’ll sit across that ring from you in due time. 

“You ain’t going to tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me. And you tell me your terms and conditions.

“And I’ll have you in the ring when I’m ready. I’m the boss. You work for me. I’m the landlord. Remember that. I’m the landlord. You work for me,” added Joshua.

“The ball’s in your court,” Fury shouted at Joshua. “Let’s give the fight fans what they want. Do not run from me this time. Ten years in the making. Let’s f—ing dance.”

SugarHill Steward says AJ is ‘a great fighter’

When asked if he still feels Anthony Joshua is a dangerous fight for Tyson Fury, Steward said: “Yeah, of course. That’s AJ. I mean, if he wasn’t a dangerous AJ, why would Tyson want the fight? He wants the best fights.

“Their fight has been in the making for years, and it hasn’t happened yet. No matter what, AJ is AJ; he’s always that prime, that big fighter that’s just always dangerous. He’s always going to be able to put himself in a position to win.

“He’s a former Olympian and everything. World champion, unified everything. You can’t say anything less about him. He’s only talking about AJ because it’s a good fight. He’s a great fighter. He ain’t talking about fighting nobody else that doesn’t have the resume and the name, just the same as him. He wants to fight the best.”

Will we finally get Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua? Or is this just another false dawn between these two heavyweight fighters?