Anthony Joshua rejected Tyson Fury's £15m step-aside offer because he 'does not trust him'

dailystar.co.uk:

Anthony Joshua declined the offer of £15m to step aside and let Tyson Fury fight Oleksandr Usyk because he doesn't trust the Gypsy King.That's the view of AJ's promoter Eddie Hearn with Joshua having lost his heavyweight titles to Ukrainian Usyk last September.

Joshua is now keen to contest a rematch this spring in an attempt to win them back however Fury was keen to have a crack at Usyk first in an epic undisputed bout with all the belts up for grabs.The Mancunian reportedly offered Joshua a hefty sum but the Watford local turned it down as he and promoter Hearn “do not trust” him.Along with Fury’s demand for a warm-up bout next month, further delaying AJ’s potential shot at the undisputed crown, brought any prospect of a step-aside to a halt.Hearn, who also represents WBC mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte, said: “We don’t trust Fury to turn up to one fight, let alone agree to two, three or four.“AJ did not want to step aside and when Fury asked for a March fight he really did not want to step aside.“We had to trust Fury to have a fight in March, then Usyk in June, AJ in December, then Dillian.“I had to tell AJ that and he could not trust him.”Fury insisted the Joshua rejected his offer because he requested the fee be increased to £20m.Do you think Joshua made the right choice? Let us know in the comments section.Whyte is now to face Fury for the WBC Heavyweight title in April with Joshua and Usyk’s rematch to follow.But Hearn, who continues to be wary of Fury, added: “Just based on his track record, I won’t be surprised if Tyson pulls out.“Tyson would not fight Usyk without a warm-up fight."He’s just fought Deontay Wilder, what does he need a warm-up for?”Fury then blasted Hearn as a ‘clown’ over claims he was unsure.