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Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury told super-fight is just 'money grab'

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are set to clash later this year after they each emerged unscathed from their warm-up fights last weekend

[Tyson Fury is set to take on Anthony Joshua]

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Tyson Fury is set to take on Anthony Joshua(Image: Tyson Fury/Instagram)

Carl Froch believes Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are simply fighting for the money.

Fury and Joshua set up their all-British showdown last weekend with victories over Mariusz Wach and Kristrian Prenga respectively. The fight has been a decade in the making but only earlier this year did the Brits sign to fight each other. But no date or venue has been announced, despite it being contracted to be held in the UK.

Should it be held at Wembley, organisers have insisted it is held at a time which suits a US audience, meaning the first bell could ring at 4am. But Froch as insisted it should not come down to what suits fans across the Atlantic. "Why are we accommodating American television for a British super-fight?" he said to Betpack.

"Ive got reservations about whether its even a super-fight now anyway, because there are no world titles at stake, theyve both been beaten and theyre both past their best. It is a fight Im going to watch and, like Eddie Hearn said, when these two come together you get interested and excited to a degree. But come on, Im not that excited. If those two didnt fight, I wouldnt care less. Six or seven years ago, it was probably the biggest fight in British boxing history. Now theyre both past their best and its a money grab.

"Its probably third or fourth on the list of the biggest British fights. I also wouldnt hold Sadiq Khan responsible if it doesnt happen, because logistically, with Transport for London, the police and British Transport Police, theyve all got to look at nearly 80,000 fans leaving the stadium at four in the morning and ask where theyre all going to go. Its a potential f***ing nightmare, isnt it?"

Froch also doubts whether Joshua or Fury deserve a place in the boxing Hall of Fame, despite being two-time heavyweight world champions. "At the time, AJ fought most of the people who were mandatory for his belts," he said. "He beat Wladimir Klitschko and fought the likes of Alexander Povetkin, so he has got names on his record. But he never fought Deontay Wilder, and he never fought Luis Ortiz when Ortiz was a dangerous name.

"Then you look at the way he lost to Usyk, the way he got badly knocked out by Daniel Dubois and the defeat to Andy Ruiz, who hasnt got many other significant wins on his record. Unfortunately, Joshuas record eliminates him from being in the Hall of Fame. Its not me simply saying he doesnt deserve it or he isnt good enough. Just look down the record. There are too many negatives, and I think that will eliminate him from being selected for the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

"Eddie Hearn once said Joshua should be in the Hall of Fame because of what hes done for boxing. I disagree. The International Boxing Hall of Fame should be based on results, who you beat and who beat you. Yes, Joshua is a two-time heavyweight champion, but hes also been flattened a few times. You have to be realistic. I dont think he gets in.

"Tyson Fury hasnt got enough names on his record either. His biggest wins are Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder, and he has now lost twice to Usyk. Where are all the other significant wins on Tyson Furys career that put green ticks in all the boxes? There arent any. So unfortunately, they wont be joining the Cobra anytime soon, or Roberto Durn, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones Jr, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather and the other names in the upper echelons of boxing."

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