Fury lost his undisputed heavyweight world title battle against Usyk, and just three belts will be on the line in the rematch.

Anthony Joshua has confessed that he is glad to have denied Tyson Fury the opportunity to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion.

Anthony Joshua will take on Daniel Dubois in September.

Fury was defeated by Oleksandr Usyk last month, his first career loss, when the Ukrainian was voted the world’s top heavyweight. The adversaries will face again four days before Christmas, but only three belts will be on the line, since Usyk jumped before being pressured into giving up his IBF belt.

That title will now be on the line when Joshua faces Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on September 21, after the latter was promoted from interim status following his victory over Filip Hrgovic earlier this month. If Fury defeats Usyk on December 21, he would most likely have another opportunity to become undisputed champion against the winner of Joshua’s fight with Dubois.

But Joshua said: “I’m glad Fury isn’t the undisputed champion. I just think he’s an idiot. If it was someone else I might think it was a shame [that all four belts won’t be on the line]. I’ve always said he’s an idiot, he’s very disrespectful. Not in a way I care about but I just feel like he thinks by stepping on other people that makes him feel better.

“I’m not in competition with anyone. I’m in my own lane but he has to step on people to make himself feel good and that’s not good. The way he disrespected Usyk, calling him rabbit this and middleweight that. it’s not good for the sport. If I respect you and you respect me we can lift this sport up and people think we are two of the most elite fighters in the world. But Fury will step on you and make you look like a guy who’s just walked out and a pub and he’s not on your level. Then he goes and gets spanked, he deserves it.”

Joshua will look to become a three-time heavyweight world champion when he faces Dubois at the national stadium. Joshua has rebuilt his career with four consecutive victories after losing back-to-back fights to Usyk.

Dubois had been the IBF’s obligatory challenger, and it was revealed on Wednesday that he would face fellow Briton Joshua after Usyk stated he was relinquishing the title.

Anthony and Daniel, please listen. I understand the IBF championship is significant to you. “It’s my gift to you on September 21,” Usyk said in a video broadcast on social media Tuesday. Usyk became the first heavyweight to hold the IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC belts after defeating Fury in Riyadh.