BOXING fans hailed Anthony Joshua as a “straight up gentleman” after meeting with Tyson Fury’s dad John.
Joshua bumped into John on the week of his fight with Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
Mark Robinson Matchroom BoxingAnthony Joshua meeting Tyson Fury’s dad John in Riyadh[/caption]
Mark Robinson Matchroom BoxingThe two met ahead of AJ’s fight with Francis Ngannou[/caption]
John’s son Roman features on the undercard paving the way for AJ to run into his great rival’s old man.
And after the two shared a warm embrace and hug fans had nothing but praise for Joshua.
One said: “Honestly how you can hate on AJ?”
Another added: “Joshua is THE Champion. Great bloke and a straight up gentleman don’t get many like that in boxing these days.”
One commented: “True respect.”
Joshua, 34, and Fury, 35, have spent years feuding but are yet to commence their Battle of Britain.
Although respect has always been shown between AJ and John – something the Gypsy King ribbed his old man for.
Fury told iFL TV: “He keeps blowing my dad off like, ‘Oh, I think John Fury’s a legend, he’s a top bloke.’
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“Whatever you’ve got going on with him, I don’t like it sever ties with the old p****. Man’s a p****, s***house.
“All of a sudden he’s my dad’s best friend, ‘Oh, I want to go out for a drink with John Fury,’ he said.
“I was like what the f***! Why doesn’t he want to go for a drink with me? Because I would punch him in the mouth.”
John said in the same interview: “I’d be privileged to go out for a drink with AJ. I’m my own man, I say what I want to say.
“This is a sport, we’re in a boxing game, AJ is a nice kid.”
Fury is set to fight Oleksandr Usyk, 37, in Riyadh on May 18 after he pulled out of the February 17 date due to a cut sustained in sparring.
Meanwhile, Joshua faces Ngannou, 37, after the MMA star dropped Fury on his boxing debut in October despite losing a controversial decision.
AFPJoshua facing off with Ngannou[/caption]