Anthony Joshua He said he refused to “entertain the clowns”, responding to criticism from boxing experts as he prepared for the fight. Jermaine Franklin.
Joshua will face American Franklin at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday.Briton trying to get from back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk overtook Joshua in 2021 to win the combined heavyweight titles he had defended in a rematch with Joshua last August, again defeating the 33-year-old by decision. “AJ”‘s defeats have sparked criticism from former boxers who now practice as experts, and Joshua explained his decision to remain largely silent on his comments.
“I just think these people don’t understand me; They’re not on my wavelength, Joshua told reporters on Wednesday, March 29. “I don’t use boxing as a platform to yell, praise, and disrespect my opponents, or act in a particular way to prove that I’m a certain way.
“These people talking about me are calling me to reciprocate, but I don’t have much to say because these people are not on my level. Why do I want to entertain a clown? This is it.
“If someone has something to tell me, they can call me. They have my number, I don’t need to go online and voice my thoughts about my enemies. I prefer to be quiet If I have anything to say about you, you will see me face to face. I’m not going to go online and do it behind the camera.
“And when these people see you at a press conference, they’re like, ‘AJ, how are you, man?’ How does this work?”
Joshua specifically touched on past comments from former world champions Carl Froch And Emir Khan.
“When it was Froch, I texted him directly and was like, ‘Why are you talking about me? Message me.’ Why was he on the internet when that scumbag was with Khan and his wife? Message me if you have something to say.
“I find this odd because where I come from, my past is not about the pursuit of influence; It’s about results.”
Joshua’s feud with 29-year-old Franklin is his first non-world title game since 2015, when he stopped Dillian Whyte.
Meanwhile, Franklin’s most recent fight came against Whyte in November. American suffers controversial decision defeat by WhyteMany fans and experts feel that Franklin has done enough to win.
Before that match, which marked Franklin’s debut in the United Kingdom, professionally undefeated.
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