Promoter Bob Arum has downplayed Anthony Joshua’s intent to feature on Tyson Fury’s undercard in December, suggesting that Joshua lacks significant recognition among American boxing fans. Arum attributes this interest to be a “Brit thing,” reasoning that while UK fans might be excited about Joshua’s potential inclusion, his prominence is not the same in the U.S. This is due to his limited exposure in the country, with many remembering him solely for his upset loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in New York City in 2019.
For American fans, Joshua is primarily recognized as the one who succumbed to Ruiz and suffered two defeats against Oleksandr Usyk. The idea of having Joshua on the undercard doesn’t seem to carry the weight that one might expect, equating him with other British heavyweights like Dereck Chisora or Dillian Whyte in terms of U.S. market appeal. Even the once-popular Deontay Wilder has seen his recognition wane due to inactivity post his loss to Fury in 2021.
Frank Warren weighed in on the topic, expressing his exasperation with the recurring discussions about Joshua’s undercard proposition. He highlighted that Joshua was offered the primary event slot against Fury twice, but the fights didn’t materialize. Warren seems perplexed by Joshua’s eagerness to be on the undercard, viewing it as a sign of diminished confidence following his losses.
Another layer to this discourse is Joshua’s recent choice to spend four days in isolation, which he believes might rejuvenate him mentally. However, skeptics like Warren argue that such an exercise is futile, believing that Joshua's in-ring traumas will not be mitigated by brief isolation stints.
Arum concludes that while Joshua’s name might resonate in the UK, his single U.S. outing, which ended in a loss, did not establish him as a significant figure in American boxing circles. This perspective underlines the significant divide between the UK and U.S. markets in terms of fighter recognition and appeal.
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