Tyson Fury expresses disinterest in boxing if Anthony Joshua is not the next opponent.
LONDON — Tyson Fury stated that if he does not get the opportunity to fight Anthony Joshua next, he has no desire to continue his boxing career.
Fury celebrated his return to the ring with a unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, demonstrating solid performance and shaking off the ring rust after a 16-month break.
Having expressed earlier in the week his intention to face Joshua next, Fury reiterated his challenge to his British counterpart.
Joshua did not confirm the fight and declined to enter the ring with Fury, who made it clear that his sole focus is on facing Joshua next.
“Let’s get the fight on. Here’s the thing. If it ain’t Anthony Joshua next, I ain’t interested in boxing,” Fury stated during his post-fight press conference.
“I’ll eat a thousand Easter eggs and balloon 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 rising stars, 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 matchup between the two former two-time heavyweight champions has been in discussions for nearly a decade.
However, negotiations have consistently fallen apart, despite nearing a 2021 fight — a contest that would have been for the undisputed title.
Promoter Frank Warren mentioned that Fury had signed and agreed to the fight, while his manager, Spencer Brown, expressed confidence that the fight will “100% happen this year.”
No details were provided regarding the location of the fight, with London’s Wembley Stadium and Croke Park in Dublin suggested as possible venues.
Despite Joshua’s assertion that the fight was not confirmed, Netflix announced on social media that it would occur this autumn.
Joshua did not respond to Fury’s post-fight challenge, instead remaining composed and seated rather than entering the ring.
“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 stated 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 gain attention. I’m here to fight. Contracts will be sent over. We’ll go through the details and you’ll probably see us in the ring next, more than likely.”
Joshua mentioned that a fight in the meantime is a possibility and he will need time to evaluate his next steps following a car accident in Nigeria in December that resulted in the deaths of two of his close friends.
“I was just in a serious incident maybe four months ago,” Joshua remarked. “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 focus on the game. There’s real stuff happening in my life. I’m not avoiding anyone.
“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 need to address.”
