Conor McGregor has hit out at the "ridiculous" criticism Anthony Joshua has faced for delivering an X-rated speech following his defeat by Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua was beaten by Usyk in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night as he failed in his mission to win back the three heavyweight world titles he lost to the Ukrainian last September. The Brit then slammed down two of Usyk's belts before angrily leaving the ring only to return and grab the mic.
Joshua addressed the crowd and his opponent and spoke about a number of issues ranging from his upbringing to the war in Ukraine. "I am giving you my story,” he said. “I was going to jail. I got bailed and started training my arse off, because if I got sentenced then I would not have been able to fight.
"I could have done better, but it showed the hard work he must have put in to beat me. Please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world. I’m not a 12-round fighter. I am a new breed of heavyweight, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston – they say ‘he doesn’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano,’ because I am 18 stone, I am heavy.
"It is hard work. This guy here is a phenomenal talent. We are going to cheer for him." Many questioned whether Joshua should have been allowed to speak after suffering his third career defeat, by McGregor took a different view.
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He said: "You are all going on ridiculous over this. That is a great speech right there. Fair play to him; he made it yet he is still in there keeping that cog going. If they wanted the mic they could’ve tried get it back. Then he gives me a shout out. Great fight, thank you!"
It is not clear what shoutout McGregor is referring to but some fans were quick to compare Joshua's attitude to that of the former two-weight UFC champion. The Irishman remains sidelined after breaking his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier last summer.
