Former two-time world heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, has declared he will walk away from boxing if he does not face fellow British rival and former unified champion, Anthony Joshua next.
Fury made his return to the ring with a unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, showing sharpness and shaking off ring rust after a 16-month hiatus.
Having already expressed his desire earlier in the week to fight Joshua next, Fury reiterated his stance in emphatic fashion while directly calling out his long-time rival.
Joshua, however, stopped short of committing to the showdown and declined to enter the ring for a face-off with Fury, who insisted the clash is the only bout he is interested in.
“Let’s get the fight on. Here’s the thing. If it ain’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m not interested in boxing,” Fury told his post-fight news conference.
“I’ll eat a thousand Easter eggs go up to 35 stone. I’m out. I’m not interested. It’s either him or I’m gone again.
“I’m not interested in up-and-comers, someone trying to prove a point over me, I don’t care. I don’t care about rankings. I don’t care about belts. I only care now about AJ. That’s the defining fight for British boxing.”
A showdown between the two former two-time heavyweight champions has been discussed for nearly a decade, with several near-misses along the way.
Talks previously broke down despite both camps coming close to agreeing terms for a potential 2021 undisputed title clash.
Promoter Frank Warren has stated that Fury has already signed his side of the deal, while manager Spencer Brown remains confident the fight will eventually happen, insisting it will “100% happen this year.”
However, no official confirmation has been made regarding a venue, with Wembley Stadium in London and Croke Park in Dublin among the locations being considered.
Despite Joshua’s reluctance to publicly confirm the bout, Netflix has already suggested on social media that the fight could take place this autumn.
Joshua, meanwhile, remained composed during Fury’s post-fight callout, staying seated rather than engaging in a staredown.
“I’m going to be completely honest, there’s a negotiation that you go through. I’ve sat at this table with him many times,” Joshua said on Netflix.
“In my heart, I’ll fight Tyson Fury tomorrow, especially after watching [this fight]. I’m not going to sit here and say: ‘Yeah, I’ll fight him.’ I’m not here to get clout. I’m here to fight. Contracts will be sent over. We’ll go through the nitty gritty and you’ll probably see us in the ring next, more than likely.”
Joshua also hinted at the possibility of a tune-up fight in the meantime, noting that he needs time to reflect on his future after being involved in a car crash in Nigeria in December that tragically claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
“I was just in a serious incident maybe four months ago,” Joshua said. “So, I need to really check out what’s going on with my return to the ring. But I’m here. I’m keeping my eye in the game. There’s real stuff happening in my life. I’m not ducking no one.
“I know what my job is. I know what I’m here to do, but there’s just real stuff happening in my life that I also got to attend to.”
