Tyson Fury: Anthony Joshua Is Useless

Saturday sees Anthony Joshua take on IBF world heavyweight champion Charles Martin at London's O2 Arena in his first attempt at bringing a world title back to Watford with him.

Former Olympic gold medallist Joshua has wowed the British boxing public so far with a perfect 15-0 record with all of those victories coming by way of knockout.

At 26-years-old and having only turned professional in late 2013, Joshua's career is in its embryonic stages. However, his early promise and his prominence in the heavyweight scene was enough to prompt Martin to call Joshua out following his odd TKO victory over tough Ukranian Vyacheslav Glazkov in January—with Martin winning by default following a knee injury suffered by Glazkov just three rounds into the fight. The champion calling out a contender is an odd move to say the least.

The callout occurred not long after Joshua's December victory over long-term rival Dillian Whyte. With bad blood between the pair stemming from their amateur days—where Whyte emerged the victor—both men managed to sell out the O2 Arena with inconceivable ease. Just 13 fights into his pro career, Joshua had earned over £3million for this fight alone. In the end, Joshua beat a game Whyte in the seventh stanza with a crushing KO blow to retain his WBC International and Commonwealth heavyweight titles, winning the vacant British heavyweight title to go with it.

Is Martin chasing a quick payday? No matter what his intentions are, Joshua gladly accepted the challenge to fight for Martin's IBF world title, though many pundits see the Brit's harboured hopes of world championship glory to be a tad hasty. Joshua can't be blamed for this, though: Saturday night's title shot is emblematic of a shallow heavyweight division thirsty for breakthrough stars with too many reputable world titles to its credit.

Tyson Fury is one of those aforementioned doubters and was particularly biting in his disbelief of the young Brit's world championship credentials. Speaking to Sky Sports Fury said: "Joshua can't box. He doesn't have a jab. His movement is terrible and he's wide open with no idea how to defend himself.

"His footwork is hopeless. The only time he's been hit hard in his professional career, that shot by Dillian Whyte in his last fight, it would have been all over if he had been in there with a big heavyweight who knew how to finish.

"Whyte had been inactive for three years, if he can do that after being out of the ring for three years then what will Martin do? This game is not all about body-building. It's about knowing how to box. He's getting knocked out."

In a back-handed compliment, Fury claims he wants Joshua to win on Saturday night. But, only because he knows it will be a fight that, in his opinion, is as winnable as it is big-money. Fury continues: "When it comes to world championship level, you have to set up the opening for the big punch with your jab. Then you have to be perfectly balanced to land the KO. How's he going to do that with no jab and his feet all over the place?

"Martin's not the greatest but he's a big southpaw, which makes him awkward to fight, with a heavy punch, which makes him dangerous. He moves well and he's calm, balanced and patient in the ring. Joshua needs a miracle. I genuinely hope he gets it. Because then he and I can both make a lot of money by boxing each other in a massive championship unification fight at Wembley Stadium. And that would be an easy fight for me. He really is useless."

Joshua remains resolutely unmoved by Fury's words. Speaking to BBC 5 Live, Anthony said: "This is the same guy who was singing my praises when I sparred him when I was a complete novice. I just worry about what my coaches and the people supporting me are saying. If I was to spend my time listening to Fury, I'd be going round in a circle.

"If I was to give Fury some advice, it would be he should start reading or start educating himself, because one minute it's one thing and then next minute it's another with him."

Last week saw both Martin and Joshua go face to face with one another for the first time in Sky Sports' "The Gloves Are Off" series—a British budget rip-off of HBO's "Face Off" with Max Kellerman.

Both men exuded different kinds of confidence. Like Fury, Martin appears to think Joshua has bit off more he can chew so early in his career. Joshua, meanwhile has an unerring confidence which envisages Martin becoming his latest knockout victim.

Britain's other prominent voice within heavyweight boxing—David Haye—is at odds with Fury's views and is backing Joshua to become a world champion on Saturday night, though he holds a similar thought process with the Gypsy King by wanting to fight Joshua should he emerge victorious. Talking to his fans on Periscope, Haye said: "This is where we find out if Anthony Joshua is the goods or not. I believe he is, I believe he has the physical tools to get this fight won and get it won in style.

"For me, this is his first true test. He had a domestic test in his last fight with Dillian Whyte and he passed with flying colours. This is his first world test—he's fighting a guy who's coming in with a world championship belt but I believe he will pass with flying colours.

"Joshua's superior heart, skill and determination shone through [against Whyte] so congratulations to him. He'll need a lot more of that mentality to win this IBF title. When you get two young, undefeated fighters getting in the ring to trade blows, you get fireworks. Obviously I'm going to want to fight the winner. I'm a former world champion myself and I want to get back there."

We will see whose words carry more weight on Saturday night when Joshua bids to become the world heavyweight champion.