TYSON GETS PUNCHY
Fury sure he’s the big hitter
TYSON FURY has ramped up the war of words with Anthony Joshua ahead of their two superfights by claiming: “I hit harder.”
The two champions have verbally agreed to fight twice for the undisputed world heavyweight title in 2021 and Fury has told his rival he is the KO king.
Joshua has the better knockout rate but the unbeaten WBC champion destroyed the bigpunching Deontay Wilder and says he would have more stoppages if he had turned pro later.
“How many knockouts has Joshua got?” said the Gypsy King. “How many fights has he had? Maybe he’s got 20 knockouts out of 22 wins or something.
“I’ve got 21 knockouts on my record but I turned pro at 19 as a child. I was boxing men. He never turned pro until his mid20s when he was a full-set man.
“I was learning as a young kid, as a youngster coming through. If I had turned pro at 25 or 26, I would have knocked out all the people that went the distance with me.
“The actual facts of the matter are, I’ve never been a standstill-man and land big shots because I’m a slick boxer, but I’ve just knocked out the heaviest puncher in boxing history.
“Andy Ruiz is not a big puncher but he knocked out Anthony Joshua, so I would say I am a harder puncher.
“There are people who have sparred the both of us and they
■ say it too, puncher.”
Fury, 31, claims he will also beat Joshua, 30, because he is more skilful.
“It’s not about who can punch hardest, it’s about the skill that goes behind it,” he added.
“I’m still unbeaten in a 12year professional career and 31 so (below)
I am
abigger fights. He got beat and I’m still the only one who is undefeated in the boxing game at this level.”
The first fight could generate £200m and Frank Warren says the two contests could make the pair the highest-paid athletes in 2021.
Fury was 11th in Forbes’ list of the world’s best-paid sports
In association with stars and his co-promoter Warren says they could eclipse tennis’ Roger Federer, who was the world’s top earner in 2020.
He said: “Tyson Fury entered the Forbes list this year and if the fight happens, him and Anthony Joshua will be probably numbers one and two in the Forbes list next year.”