Anthony Joshua loses in bizarre tug-of-war against a LIGER as Brit boxing hero enjoys trip to zoo with football legend

ANTHONY JOSHUA might want to dodge the re-match claws - after losing a tug of war with a LIGER.

The boxer even posed with an "I lost" sign as he reassured the rare hybrid of a lion and tiger that it was the king of the rumble.

AJ was visiting a Dubai zoo, along with Italian football legend Alessandro Del Piero, when he took on his unlikeliest opponent ever.

The Brit, who won all three comeback fights in 2023, must soon start preparing for a bout with UFC icon Francis Ngannou, probably in March.

Many believe that's a strange route to proving he is the top cat of boxing - but it's nothing compared to his latest method of relaxing.

The ex-world heavyweight champion grinned but gritted his teeth as he pulled on a rope - with a huge liger at the other end.

There are thought to be fewer than 100 of the animals in existence, reportedly all in captivity.

It's the offspring of a male lion and female tiger, making it the largest cat in the world.

And when this specimen got its teeth into one end of the rope, it was too strong for the weight and straining hands of Joshua at the other end.

Needless to say, ex-Juventus striker Del Pierro went the same way as AJ when he followed suit in his own tug of war with the liger.

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All in all, it was no surprise when Joshua looked more confident elsewhere at the Fame Park zoo, especially when he bottle-fed a baby lion.

The 34-year-old - a guest of Dr Saif Belhas, the billionaire owner of the invitation-only venue - was also pictured hand-feeding a bear, holding a sloth and draped with a massive python.

But he'll hope setting up a clash with the winner of February's bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury proves less slippery.