ANTHONY JOSHUA has threatened to “crush” the heavyweight belts if he defeats Oleksandr Usyk.
The British superstar rematches Usyk on August 20 in Saudi Arabia after his first defeat in September last year.
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Having surrendered the titles twice before, a win over Usyk making AJ a rare three-time world champion.
But the 2012 Olympic gold medalist hinted he would cut ties and demand more respect if he overcomes the Ukrainian.
Joshua told JD Sports: “I feel like I’m not seen as being a dominant heavyweight in the division.
“This great Anthony Joshua is going and winning, getting three times, I’m going to beat these belts.
‘Because you have to learn to respect me as a person. Quote that. I’m tired, I don’t want to be respected because of the leashes I’m wearing.
“I want to be respected because of the man you see.”
Joshua, 32, avenged the first loss of his career, against Andy Ruiz Jr, 32, in 2019.
But he reformed his style and then became a box and mover as opposed to the ruthless puncher who first won him the crown.
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Though AJ feels he never got the credit he deserved when he ripped through the blue corduroy division.
He said: “When I got into this division, it was a blow.
“I thought, ‘Okay, you know what? I’ll get into this game and compete against everyone and everyone.’
“It doesn’t matter who, I can only beat what’s in front of me, but I have to make sure they are the best.
“Maybe it’s because I’m British that none of these people respect my thing.
“I said, ‘Okay, you know what? I’m going to bring the heavyweight division to Britain, I’m going to show people that we’re solid.’
“Because I think people think we drink tea and eat cookies and sit with the queen.”
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