Tyson Fury will face Anthony Joshua this year, coach Spencer Brown has told Sky Sports.
Brown is also the promoter of Fury’s return fight against Arslanbek Mahmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
With his victory over Mahmudov, Fury can set up a long-awaited showdown with Joshua.
“Let’s go. Boxing is in a very special place right now,” Brown told Sky Sports. “It would be just amazing. It would be the boxing World Cup final for me anyway.
“We’ve wanted it for a long time. Now’s the time. If he (AJ) warms up, it’ll be in two months, but we’re going to see it this year.”
“I think so.”
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Dillian Whyte previews Tyson Fury’s return fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday
Fury and Joshua have come close to fighting before in what will be one of the biggest fights on the planet. But it hasn’t been made yet.
If Joshua plays a tune-up match first, the wait could be even longer. Joshua, who defeated YouTuber Jake Paul in a December match, is recovering from a car accident that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends.
“I don’t think AJ necessarily needs to be next to what he’s been through and what he’s seen,” Brown said.
“I think he has two decisions to make: go out there and play a warm-up match. He has to choose the right opponent.
“Either AJ does that or he says, ‘I’m going to finish my warm-up fights and go into camp, I’m going to do the best I can and I’m going to beat Tyson Fury,’ and then we move forward. We all move forward.”
“(Fury’s thoughts:) ‘Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be there. No problem.’ No problem.”
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Tyson Fury looks ahead to fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov this weekend and reacts to rumors that a big showdown with Anthony Joshua has been agreed
Brown added, “But can we wait and wait and wait? There are times when we all know we’re ready and we’re ready. We’ve got the starter. Let’s have the main course and be done with it.”
“That’s up to him. He’s warming up with Jake Paul. This is a different kind of warm-up for Tyson. This is a potential banana skin.”
He will hope that Mahmudov does not derail their plans. “This is a very tough fight. A guy who can punch, a guy who can knock you out, and he’s proven that. He’s got a great amateur record, he’s strong, he wrestles, he wrestles bears,” Brown said.
“This is his World Cup, this is his world title, this is where he will come back and change his life.”
Will AJ join the fight against Mahmudov?
Promoter Spencer Brown has invited Joshua to attend an event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
“One million percent. We invited him and he’ll probably be there and I would have thought so too. I think AJ will be there, I think Usyk will be there,” Brown said.
