Tyson Fury has welcomed Anthony Joshua back to training, insisting an All-British megafight is possible next.
A year after his retirement, Fury will return to boxing on April 11th against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
But after his return fight next month, Fury hopes to move straight into his long-awaited showdown with Joshua.
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Tyson Fury playfully tickles Arslanbek Makhmudov in their showdown ahead of their highly anticipated fight in April
He predicts that’s what Joshua wants too.
“Of course, if we need a fight, let’s get it done. Let’s get Mahmudov out and then we move forward,” Fury told Sky Sports from a training camp in Thailand.
“(I am) always the same. Anyone can understand.”
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Sky Sports boxing reporter Andy Scott brings you all the latest information on Tyson Fury’s return to action against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in December that claimed the lives of a close friend and two of his team members. However, he himself has recovered from his injury and is back in the boxing gym.
“It’s good to have him back in training camp. He’s obviously had a bit of a tough time lately, so I’m just going to give him space and let him do whatever he wants to do,” Fury said.
However, Joshua appears to be in serious training, practicing alongside unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who has defeated both Fury and AJ twice.
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Rico Verhoeven is set to fight Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC heavyweight title, and relive the time in 2015 when Verhoeven sparred with Tyson Fury in the run-up to his victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
Fury warned Joshua: “It doesn’t help him. It doesn’t help him at all. I hit Usyk in the head, and I’m going to hit AJ in the head too.”
“I hope he’s in the corner too,” Fury added of Usyk. “I’m going to put Lennox (Lewis) in the corner! Let’s do it.
“I told Lennox Lewis at the press conference that if he’s in town, please come to the corner.”
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Tyson Fury says he won’t use a trainer for his return fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov
Joshua is the fight Fury wants more than the winner of the WBO world title fight between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois on May 9 in Manchester.
“Everything is optional because nothing is promised. For me it’s the biggest fight in world boxing and the biggest fight in the world of boxing is me versus AJ,” Fury explained.
“Today, even after all these years, this is the biggest fight and the biggest fight in boxing.”
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Fabio Wardley says he wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury after defeating Daniel Dubois
While Joshua is his preferred opponent, a trilogy fight with Usyk or a title fight with the winner of Wardley vs. Dubois would also be intriguing.
“Then (the AJ fight), for me, it’s going to be me vs. Usyk or the two of them (Wardley and Dubois),” Fury said.
“Being a three-time world champion is pretty good and has the right ring to it. But if I had a chance to be a five-time world champion or knock out AJ, I would take that chance and knock him out.”
“Because with all the belts I’ve won, and I have, it’s always great and great to be world champion, but it’s not the be-all and end-all.
“I think the fans are more interested in me and Joshua on the street than another world title.”
