Late on Saturday night, shortly after securing a decisive victory in his latest return to the ring, Tyson Fury took a moment to delve into a topic that has become all too familiar. He had just demonstrated his superior skills against Arslanbek Makhmudov, a formidable yet somewhat limited Russian heavyweight, over 12 dominant rounds. However, Fury’s primary focus was on Anthony Joshua and the lingering question of whether the two British boxers would finally square off against one another.
Inside the opulent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Fury expressed his confusion: “It’s been ten years in the making, and despite all this time, there’s still uncertainty about when or if this fight will occur. I really don’t know. I hope it happens, but you can’t force someone to do something they don’t want to.”
Joshua was present at ringside, recording Fury’s commanding performance on his phone. Yet, when the match concluded, he refrained from addressing the long-anticipated bout that has been repeatedly hyped, postponed, and canceled more times than can be recalled. Fury had called him out during a live Netflix broadcast, but Joshua merely stared back without responding. When given a microphone, Joshua’s comments were drowned out by a technical issue that prevented the audience from hearing him.
Even after moving to a different area for an interview with a functional microphone, Joshua hesitated to engage with the topic. It is understandable, given that he is still recovering from a tragic car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the loss of two close friends just four months ago.
Joshua attempted to address Fury directly, stating, “I’ve been pursuing you for the last decade. You tell me what you want, and I’ll meet you in the ring when I’m ready. I’m in charge here; you work for me. I’m the landlord.” He added, “Contracts are being prepared, and it’s likely you’ll see us in the ring next.” When asked if he needed a preliminary fight before facing Fury, he retorted, “Good question. That fight could be a warmup, considering what I saw tonight.”
Fury, who had not heard Joshua’s comments, continued to express his frustration. “I didn’t mention Anthony Joshua leading up to the fight, nor have I since his accident,” he remarked. “I’ve respected him and given him space. Tonight, I called for the fight, but he didn’t respond. In my view, he didn’t seem interested. He looked stunned.”
Both Fury and Joshua have faced considerable challenges in their boxing careers. Fury endured a tumultuous journey while facing Deontay Wilder three times, achieving two wins and one draw, and narrowly losing two fights to Oleksandr Usyk before his recent retirement. In contrast, Joshua appeared to be a shadow of his former self when he lost to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. He returned to the ring last December for a bizarre match against former YouTuber Jake Paul, where he managed to defeat Paul despite a lackluster performance.
Fury dismissed the notion that Joshua should first fight a legitimate boxer before stepping into the ring with him. “That’s just another excuse. He just knocked someone out. I’ve just won, too. Let’s make this happen. We’re both in our mid-30s. What’s the delay? This fight should have happened years ago; it remains the biggest matchup in boxing. There isn’t a venue we couldn’t fill.” When asked if discussions for a two-fight deal with Joshua were underway, Fury replied, “Let’s focus on one fight first. That’s all we need.”
He also shrugged off speculation about facing the winner of the upcoming WBO title fight between Fabio Wardley and Dubois. “What do I have to prove against those inexperienced fighters?” Fury questioned. “I want to fight Anthony Joshua, a fellow British boxing icon, same age as me. Let’s make it happen.”
Fury expressed surprise that Joshua did not enter the ring that night. “Yes, I was genuinely surprised. He was brought here for a reason—to face off and finalize the fight. I signed months ago. He had his chance to accept and shake hands. Let’s get this done. But he was evasive and didn’t provide any clear answers.”
Fury also dismissed the idea of splitting a substantial pay-per-view revenue evenly. “I’m not concerned about that nonsense,” he stated. “I have more money than anyone here could spend. He’ll get his share, and I’ll get mine. If he earns £600 million and I just £50, that’s on him. It’s beyond that now.”
Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager, expressed confidence, stating, “I believe the fight will definitely happen this year.” However, Fury appeared skeptical. When asked if Joshua required more time to heal and possibly a preparatory fight, Fury replied, “He’s faced his challenges, and so have we all. I’ve had my own struggles, including attempts on my life. We’ve all been through something. But in this sport, you’re either a boxer or you’re not. Taking interim fights in heavyweight boxing can be dangerous.”
Fury continued, “If it’s not Anthony Joshua next, I’m not interested in boxing anymore. I’ll indulge myself until I reach 35 stone. I’m done. It’s either him or nothing for me. I have no interest in up-and-coming fighters or those trying to prove something. Rankings and titles don’t matter to me anymore. My focus is solely on AJ. That’s the fight that defines British boxing.”
