Anthony Joshua admits outburst after Oleksandr Usyk defeat was down to 'ego and pride', says he could beat Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua has discussed his emotional outburst following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight title rematch last year.

Joshua failed to recapture the unified heavyweight titles as he lost to Usyk by split decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in August 2022.

The 34-year-old appeared furious after the defeat, bizarrely picking up two of Usyk’s belts and dropping them out of the ring. He then gave an impassioned speech, before breaking down in tears during the post-fight press conference.

Joshua reflected on the incident during an interview with Louis Theroux on the BBC.

"That was an ego and pride thing coming out," he said. "I brought this heavyweight division back - that was in me. Right or wrong…"

Theroux then interrupted to say "probably wrong", clearly annoying Joshua as he responded: "You asked me a question and I'm answering it."

He continued: "So I threw [the belts] because that's what I felt like. I grabbed the mic, I addressed the crowd. Could I have done it better? Of course I could have.

"I had finished a 12-round fight. I felt frustrated and annoyed. I knew I was out of the title race.

"The questions started. 'What is he like, where's his head at?' All this 'can he be three-time champion of the world?' People create this narrative and put pressure on me. It's too much.

"Gone are the days where it was for the fun. When you're just doing it for the passion, you're a prospect."

Joshua bounced back from his defeat against Usyk, overcoming Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision in April, before securing a seventh-round knockout win over Robert Helenius in August.

But Joshua continued to suggest to Theroux that he found the pressure around his career almost too much to bear.

"This is all I know, this is what I dedicate my life to,” he said. "Do I want to get myself to the championship? I would love to. Am I going to be smart in how I get there? Yes.

“Do I know more about boxing than I used to? 100 per cent. Am I still trying to improve as a boxer? Yes.

"From where I began, to going on to achieving, it's never enough. All this 'can he be three-time champion of the world?' It's too much. Maybe I should stop if I can't deal with it."

Joshua has been linked with a future fight against MMA-star-turned-boxer Francis Ngannou, but the British star reiterated he still had a desire to take on WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who is set to take on Usyk himself early next year.

Asked if he thinks he could beat Fury, Joshua said: "Yeah. It's a challenge - but one I'll be up for."

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