AJ: I’LL PROVE I’M THE TRUE WORLD CHAMP

ANTHONY JOSHUA has rubbished Tyson Fury’s claims that he is the true heavyweight champion of the world.

Fury claims he is No.1 as lineal champion and last holder of the Ring magazine belt, going back to his 2015 success over Wladimir Klitschko.

Joshua dismissed Fury and says he is the real king of the heavyweights because he holds four of the five main titles – the WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO. And he says he is willing to prove that in the ring if Fury ever wants to face him.

“When I was joining the heavyweight ranks, nobody told me about being lineal champion,” said the unbeaten Joshua.

“I knew about the WBC, IBO, IBF, WBA and WBO and I’ve got my hands on four of them. So why has lineal popped up out of the woodwork?

“But if I’ve got to get my hands on that too and that’s the belt the world’s interested in, Fury can step in if he’s serious.

“That’s where I’m coming from, I want to fight the champions. I’m the one leading the pack, I’ve been doing that since I made my debut.”

Joshua’s goal is to unify the titles and says he still hopes to face Deontay Wilder at Wembley on April 13 despite the impasse in talks.

“He’s saying I won’t fight him but, as I’ve said, I’m willing to fight Deontay Wilder on April 13 in London, so I don’t know what more I have to do to get that message across,” he told ESPN.