Anthony Joshua has recorded a video online to make clear that he is not prepared to step aside and let Tyson Fury fight Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua refuted the reports that he had agreed a £15 million ($20million, 18million euros) deal to step aside from his world heavyweight title re-match with Oleksandr Usyk.
"You know what's mad about all these interviews I see? I see certain interviews that quote what I said," Joshua said in the video.
"But I think to myself, 'I ain't done no interviews. Where did this person get this information from?'
"I'm hearing people saying, 'AJ accepts 15 million pounds to step aside.' I ain't signed no contract; I ain't seen no contract.
"So, as it stands, stop listening to the bulls**t until it comes from me. I'm the man in control of my destiny, I'm the man that handles my business.
It was reported in December 2021 that Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk would renew hostilities after an “opportunity” for an undisputed title fight with Tyson Fury vanished.
WBC heavyweight champion Fury was ordered by the governing body to begin negotiations for a fight against Dillian Whyte, who has been officially named as his mandatory challenger.
Joshua triggered his option for a rematch shortly after losing the IBF, WBA and WBO titles to Usyk.
But Usyk's team believed Joshua "could consider stepping aside", leaving the Ukrainian to decide every major title in the division with Fury.
Lennox Lewis once accepted a $4million step-aside payment from a Mike Tyson fight in 1996, Lewis was on the comeback trail following his shock KO defeat to Oliver McCall, which cost him his WBC heavyweight title.
