Anthony Joshua refuses to rule out standing aside from Oleksandr Usyk rematch

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Anthony Joshua has refused to rule out standing aside of the Oleksandr Usyk rematch in order to allow Tyson Fury to get a shot at being undisputed.

AJ lost his belts after a comprehensive Usyk victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in September. The expectation has been that he will rematch the Ukrainian in the spring.

However, Joshua has now suggested that he’d be open to listening to offers from Fury’s camp for him to stand aside and allow him to fight Usyk to unify the heavyweight division.

During an interview with iFL TV, AJ said: “In terms of stepping aside, I don’t know if that goes in line with what a morally stand for… but I want to be known as one of the smartest businessmen as well.”

“I want to make the smart decisions and if the money is right we would have to look at it but respect has more value than money.”

Could Anthony Joshua stand aside from the Oleksandr Usyk rematch?

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“Will I take the step-aside money? If its a smart business move… will it affect my reputation and respect?”

“Will I still get to fight the best fighters? Those are the three things I have to consider.”

Joshua’s reputation has already taken a considerable hit. Ducking out of the Usyk rematch may well be the final nail in the coffin.

He ought to be DESPERATE to get his belts back and prove his critics wrong. He shouldn’t even be entertaining the idea of standing aside, no matter how much money is offered to him.

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