By George Mills, courtesy of The Daily Star
ANTHONY JOSHUA is arguably the most wanted man in combat sports – and the list of people calling him out seems to grow by the day.
With pay-per-view king Floyd Mayweather hanging up the gloves following his mega-money showdown with UFC superstar Conor McGregor, boxing’s throne appears destined for Joshua.
But the 27-year-old claimed he would be open to a crossover fight of his own, after being repeatedly challenged by rivals from the MMA world.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Online about rumours he would appear on the Mayweather vs McGregor undercard, Joshua said: “It was a bit of light-hearted banter.
“But I’ll still smash up those UFC fighters if I wanted. You can’t talk to me like that.”
“I’ll give them a slap,” he chuckled menacingly.
Current UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic and former champ Junior Dos Santos are just two of the names to have thrown their hat in the ring for a prospective battle with Joshua.
Last year, Joshua spent time with Dos Santos during a training camp in Rio de Janeiro – but the IBF, WBA and IBO unified champ claimed he would still batter the Brazilian if the calling came.
“I’m a fighter, you don’t just call people out recklessly,” he continued.
“I”m not a UFC fighter – I can’t put you in a submission – but I know how to throw my legs, I know how to use my elbows and I know how to punch people.
“That’s my only disadvantage, the submissions.
“But I’ll throw it down, for sure.”
2023-10-19 11:44:06
