Anthony Joshua has said he will “probably” fight Tyson Fury next, but has refused to accept his rival’s immediate demands for a long-awaited British heavyweight showdown later this year.
Joshua was ringside watching Fury defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, and when the decision was announced, the Gypsy King immediately challenged him to a fight.
“Next time I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for,” Fury said to the cheers of the London fans.
“AJ, Anthony Joshua, I want you. Let’s give the fight fans what they want, the Battle of Britain. Next, I challenge Anthony Joshua to fight me, the Gypsy King. Do you accept my challenge?”
Saudi Arabian Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alarusik stood next to Fury and begged Joshua to accept, but he remained stone-faced and stared at Fury from his seat.
“I had no problem getting in the ring with you,” he replied. “I hit you when I was a kid, and after seeing you tonight, I’ll hit you again.”
“With all due respect, tonight is your night and you know that I will be arriving on the other side of the ring in due course.
“You’re not going to tell me what to do. I’ve been following you for the past 10 years. When you’re ready, come see me and tell me your terms. When you’re ready, I’ll put you in the ring.”
“I’m the boss and you work for me. I’m the landlord. Remember that. You work for me.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov. Video provided by Netflix and The Ring. Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov is currently available to watch worldwide exclusively on Netflix.
No agreement reached regarding the Battle of Britain
Alarusik, who has led an industry-changing boxing operation, has long hinted at an announcement.
He said he wanted to see “the biggest fight in England’s history” and, after Fury’s victory, stood next to Fury’s promoter Frank Warren in the ring and said: “The time has come.”
However, like his fighter, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn refused to enter the ring, leaving thousands of fans disappointed.
In an interview with Netflix minutes later, Joshua made his position clear, explaining that he wanted to agree to the fight through formal contract negotiations, rather than in the middle of a packed soccer stadium.
He said: “In my mind, I’m going to fight Tyson Fury tomorrow, especially after watching that fight. I have no problem fighting, but I’m not here to get clout, I’m here to fight.”
“The contract will be sent out, we’ll get down to the nitty-gritty and you’ll probably see us in the ring next, very likely.
“I’m not here to get in the ring and start screaming in somebody’s face. If you look at my track record, I’ve never done that.
“I’m not here looking for influence. I saw what I saw and I know what I have to do when I put him in the ring.”
Fury yelled at Joshua from the ring after his win (Photo: Chris Dean/Boxer)
A match between Joshua and Fury, two of the greatest heavyweights of their generation and two of the greatest British heavyweights of all time, has been discussed for years but never materialized.
The British star agreed to fight for the title of undisputed heavyweight champion in 2021, but Deontay Wilder exercised his rematch clause and a third bout between him and Fury will take place instead.
“I’ve been here a million times,” Joshua added.
“I’m not here to chase influence. If my name and signature are on the dotted line, it’s a fight. There’s nothing on the dotted line at this point.
“To be honest, there is no contention at the moment until our names are signed.
“There’s no fight until the first bell rings. I’ve been here three or four times with Wilder and Fury. This is boring for me.”
AJ criticizes Fury’s regular retirements
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Fury has teased Joshua on social media in the past.
Saturday’s fight was Fury’s fifth return since announcing his retirement, but when asked why the fight was not agreed to, Joshua blamed his rival’s approach.
“He is the one who retired, but I have played the game and have never retired. I have stood strong for the past 13 years.
“That’s on him. He goes away and comes back. I’m standing strong. I’m not here to chase fame or hype. I’m going to fight whoever’s in front of me, whether it’s him or the next guy, it doesn’t matter to me.
“I always have big fights. That’s my style. I fight big fights. So I told him he would work for me.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Anthony Joshua had previously called for a fight with Fury, who defeated Jake Paul. (Video provided by Netflix and MVP.)
Joshua himself has only fought once since losing to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, and that was against YouTube star Jake Paul last December.
Shortly after winning that match, he was involved in a serious car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the tragic deaths of his friends Sheena Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Joshua continues to deal with the aftermath of the incident and said that remains his focus before deciding on his next fight.
“I just had a serious accident four months ago, so I have to see what’s going on with my return to the ring.
“I’m here and I keep my eyes on the game. Real things are happening in my life. I’m not fooling anyone. I know what my job is and what I have to do.
“There are real things going on in my life that I have to deal with as well. Once I’m 100 percent, I’ll be ready. I run the game. Everybody knows I run the game. I’m a big dog.”
He added: “I’m sorting out some things with my brothers and their parents. The Brotherhood is working on things at the moment. That has to come first. That’s my priority right now.”
“Tyson Fury, if he’s serious, you’ll see him in the ring, I’m a serious guy too, you’ll see me in the ring. The ball will be in his court.
A view from ringside: chaos and decline
Joshua was ringside watching Fury’s fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Sky Sports’ John Dennen at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
First chaos, then deflation. Everything seemed set for a battle that would take at least a decade.
Fury has returned to boxing after announcing his retirement early last year, while Joshua continues to train with unified undefeated heavyweight world champion Usyk, who has won both fights.
An all-British heavyweight mega-fight was also being tracked earlier in the night. An announcement seemed imminent. The audience, press, and everyone in attendance wanted to see Fury and AJ finally face off and say, yes, this fight is indeed on.
Instead, the sound from Joshua’s microphone could not reach the stadium, leading to an awkward wait.
Joshua wouldn’t say no to Fury. But he didn’t say yes right away, refusing to step through the ropes to give us the face we all wanted to see.
A megafight between Fury and AJ should happen eventually. But on Saturday night, Anthony Joshua wasn’t going to announce it on Fury’s terms. And there’s still an endless wait for what should be the inevitable.
Watch Alicia Baumgardner vs Bo Mi Le Shin live on Sky Sports in the early morning hours of Saturday 18th April. Not watching Sky? Stream boxing and more without a contract
