Former Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua Rubbishes £15m Pay Off Claim to Step Aside for Fury vs Usyk Fight

• Claims in the United Kingdom's boxing media that former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua accepted money to step aside for a fight are not the truth
• That was according the man himself via an explosive video posted on Twitter a couple of days ago
• Usyk put the paws on Joshua in their fight held last September, taking the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) from him in front of his home fans in London

Anthony Joshua said on Monday he was in control of his destiny, insisting reports he had agreed a £15 million deal to step aside from his world heavyweight title re-match with Oleksandr Usyk were false.

Several stories in the United Kingdom's national press suggested that the British boxer was willing to allow Ukraine's Usyk to fight Tyson Fury in a unification title bout.

As reported on SuperSport Joshua refuted these claims however.

Virat Kohli becomes the punchline of jokes, memes and criticism after DRS outburst

Cricket

He was seen speaking in an online video posted on Undefeated Pod's Twitter account, saying:

"You know what's mad about all these interviews I see? I see certain interviews that quote what I said and I think to myself, 'I haven't done no interviews .I'm hearing people saying: 'AJ accepts £15million to step aside'. I ain't signed no contract; I ain't seen no contract.

"So as it stands, stop listening to the bulls**t until it comes from me. I'm the man in control of my own destiny, I'm the man that handles my business."

Usyk gave a boxing masterclass in recording a unanimous points victory to deprive Joshua of his World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) belts in front of the dethroned champion's home crowd at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September.

By extending his unbeaten professional record, Usyk also delayed the prospects of an all-British unification bout between Joshua and Fury.

Blitzboks gear up for World Rugby Sevens Series in Spain, Justin Geduld makes a welcome return to the squad

Cricket

In October, Fury defeated Deontay Wilder to retain his World Boxing Council belt.

The WBC have since said Fury must face mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte in his next title defence, although boxing history indicates that such objections need not get in the way of a bout with Usyk instead if the financial terms are agreeable to all concerned.

Joshua, who has a rematch clause in his contract with Usyk, added:

"I'm a smart individual and I make calculated decisions every step of the way...If I tell you something then you know it's real.”

Anthony Joshua trains under Mayweather’s watchful eye ahead of rematch with Usyk

Anthony Joshua has been pictured training under the tutelage of multiple boxing champion Floyd Mayweather.

The pair who have been good friends over the years were pictured in a training session in Dubai as Joshua prepares for a rematch for the heavyweight world title belts he lost to Oleksandr Usyk.

The Briton lost all three belts after he suffered a shock defeat at the O2 Arena early last year to Usyk as the judges awarded the bout to the New Zealander on unanimous points.