Tyson Fury: Joshua is Fighting a Bum, Eddie Hearn at it Again

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Anthony Joshua will make the first defence of his IBF world heavyweight title against undefeated American Dominic Breazeale at The O2 on June 25.

Joshua dismissed Charles Martin in two rounds at The O2 earlier this month to win the IBF belt with his 16th straight knockout victory since turning professional in the wake of Olympic glory at London 2012.

Breazeale has secured 15 of his 17 wins inside the distance but was knocked down by Amir Mansour in his last fight in January before climbing off the canvas to force a stoppage.

The 30-year-old said in a recent interview he was "extremely excited" by the prospect of facing Joshua and wanted to return to the UK to "finish what I didn't in 2012".

Breazeale, who previously played quarter-back for the University of Colorado, was the No 1 ranked amateur in the US ahead of the London Olympics but crashed out in the preliminary round after losing 19-8 to Russian Magomed Omarov.

Joshua's domestic rival, WBA/IBO/WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18KOs) took to the social networks and trashed the selection of Breazeale as opponent. Fury has claimed Joshua and Hearn have been cherry picking opponents who have little to no chance of victory. 

“Let’s not give Anthony Joshua a hard time over his opponent, just remember he has only had 16 fights, and still learning,” Fury stated on the social networks.

“[By the way] I was only f***ing joking with you guys, AJ fighting a total bum city. Eddie Hearn at it again joke, imagine if I was gonna fight Brazile (Breazeale) lol."

Fury is back on July 9th, when he faces Wladimir Klitschko in a contracted rematch at the Manchester Arena in Manchester. Fury shocked the sport when he boxed his way to a twelve round unanimous decision win over Klitschko last November in Germany.