John Fury has claimed that Anthony Joshua has failed to recover from his historic showdown with Wladimir Klitschko where he rallied from the canvas to secure victory.
'AJ' fell to a shock defeat against Oleksandr Usyk earlier this year to lose his heavyweight titles in devastating fashion.
Many have since questioned his approach to the fight and his heavyweight credentials after falling to the second defeat of his career.
The famous father Fury Sr believes Klitschko emptied Joshua's "tank" at heavyweight in their 2017 duel, pointing out his negative body language after being conquered by Usyk.
“He’s never been the same since [victory over Klitschko]," Fury Sr told talkSPORT. "I think Klitschko emptied his tank in such a way that it terrified him.
“It’s done his head in mentally and he never wants to go back there again. You’ve seen it in his body language in the corner after going 12 rounds with Usyk. I’ve never seen nothing like it.”
Joshua rallied from going down to the canvas himself in a brutal battle at Wembley, ending the fight in the eleventh round with a double-knockdown by using his trademark uppercut.
The Briton then endured huge success after his victory against the Ukrainian beating Alexander Povetkin, Joseph Parker and Carlos Takam in three consecutive defences of his unified titles.
However shortly after Joshua was subject to a shock defeat against underdog Andy Ruiz which he later reversed in a mega-money rematch last year.
Joshua defended his titles against Kubrat Pulev before being comprehensively outboxed by Usyk earlier this year which has left him frozen out of title scene once again.
Although the 32-year-old faces an immediate redemption after activating another rematch clause so that he challenge his conqueror for a second time.
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He has been subject to a step-aside offer from Fury Sr's heavyweight champion son Tyson who is keen to face Usyk for all the marbles next year.
This now appears unlikely as he has now been ordered to face WBC mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte with negotiations set to get underway.
Despite the emphatic nature of his loss in September, Fury Sr has backed the British star to turn the tables and successfully execute his revenge plan.
"It's business boxing and I do believe AJ wants to fight Usyk, that's why he asked for £40 million. I'd ask for £70 million, so good luck AJ," he told iFL TV.
"But I do believe AJ wants to avenge his loss and he can bounce back, he's proved it. In AJ's case now it's not about the money, it's more of a pride thing with him.
"I don't blame the lad, I've had a lot of good nights with him. He's a brilliant athlete, let's not kick a man whilst he's down because he's better than that."
