By Charles Brun: Tyson Fury says he would never show his face again if he were knocked out the way that Anthony Joshua was against a “little fat guy” that eats “snickers” like Andy Ruiz Jr. last Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York. Lineal heavyweight champion Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs) seems amused and shocked at the same time.
Initially, Fury sent a show of support out to Joshua last Saturday night following his seventh round knockout loss to Ruiz Jr. (33-1, 22 KOs), saying this on Twitter:
“Heavyweight boxing, these things happen, rest up, recover, regroup and come again 👊🏼”
Now four days later, Fury has changed his tune, and said this at @ESPNLosAngeles:
“Can you imagine you’re built like an Adonis… and a little fat guy who’s had every Snickers in the whole of California cooks you there & bombs you all over. What a disgrace… I’d never show my face in public ever again.” – @Tyson_Fury on @Andy_destroyer1 / @anthonyfjoshua.”
It’s an odd flip flop on Fury’s part to go from showing encouragement and support to Joshua moments after the to ripping him for losing to a chubby fighter that eats Snickers in Ruiz Jr. Fury seems like a different person than the one that was giving encouragement to Joshua after his loss.
This month, Fury will be facing Tom Schwarz on June 15 on ESPN+ at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada. The undefeated Schwarz (24-0, 16 KOs) is seen by many boxing fan as below the talent level of Ruiz, and it would be a big shock if Fury loses to this fighter. If Fury suffers a defeat against Schwarz, he could be facing even worse criticism than Joshua is right now. It matters little that Schwarz isn’t fat. He’s not viewed as a talented fighter, especially one that is rated a #2 by the World Boxing Organization.
Fury, 30, may eventually get his chance to see what it’s like to face the burly 6’2″ Ruiz at some point in the future if the two of them keep winning. Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) has triggered his rematch clause in the contract for an immediate rematch with the 29-year-old Ruiz, and the fight is expected to take place in November. Joshua says the contract language has the date and the location of the rematch already written in.
Joshua would like the rematch to take place in the UK, but he’s possibly open to facing Ruiz in New York again. Joshua wasn’t at a disadvantage against Ruiz in terms of the crowd. The majority of the crowd at Madison Square Garden on the night were Joshua fans, who had made the long flight from the UK to come see him fight. In the rematch, it would likely be another huge pro-Joshua crowd in New York. Ruiz’s fans are located on the West Coast of the United State in Southern California.
AJ denies having a panic attack in the dressing room before the fight
“I know there are accusations and worries about what was wrong with me,” said Joshua on his Youtube channel. “I want to tell you this; I’m a soldier and I have to take my ups with my downs.I warmed up really well. I had no panic attack – I’m not that person, you know me. I have to take my loss as a man, no blaming anyone, no blaming anything.”
There’s been quite a bit of talk about Joshua having a panic attack in the dressing room moments before coming out into the ring. Joshua is now denying that. There are also rumors about Joshua being knocked out in sparring the week of the fight. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has already come out to deny this.
