Tyson Fury Hands Anthony Joshua Major Boost in Pursuit of Heavyweight Fight
The 'Gypsy King' is set to make a stunning return to the squared-circle next month against Arslanbek Makhmudov, but is still open to facing Joshua in the near future.
Fury's Comeback and Openness to Joshua Clash
Tyson Fury is open to an all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua after his comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov. The 'Gypsy King' announced his retirement from boxing last year, only to perform a drastic U-turn just months later. Fury has spent some time over in Thailand training for his return fight against Makhmudov - scheduled to take place on April 11 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Fury - a former two-time heavyweight world champion - is merely using his clash with the Russian bear-wrestler as a way to get some crucial rounds under his belt ahead of a major showdown with a big name next. It turns out that big name is Joshua. Footage has recently emerged of 'AJ' training again alongside Oleksandr Usyk, just a few months after he was involved in a tragic car crash which claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
Joshua's Pursuit and Fury's Bombshell Announcement
Joshua has not fought since knocking out Jake Paul back in December, and has long called for a domestic dust-up with Fury. Just moments after his recent win over the boxing novice, 'AJ' grabbed the microphone and demanded a clash with the Morecambe brawler. Recent reports of a fight agreement between the pair had been shut down by promoter Eddie Hearn, but the 'Gypsy King' has now dropped a major bombshell and handed his long-time rival a boost.
"Of course, if it's a fight to be made, let's get it done. Let me get Makhmudov out the way, and we're on," he told Sky Sports. "[I've] always been the same. Anyone can get it." He added: "They're all options because nothing's promised. The biggest fight for me in world boxing and the biggest fight in the world of boxing is me versus AJ."
"Even today, even after all these years it's still the biggest fight in boxing, it's still the biggest fight." Fury admits that while Joshua is high up on his list, a trilogy fight with Usyk or a world title fight with either Fabio Wardley or Daniel Dubois are also on his agenda. "After that [AJ fight] for me, it would be me versus Usyk, or the winner of them two [Wardley and Dubois]," Fury explained.
Fury's Focus and Family Drama
"Three-time world champion's pretty good, it's got a good ring to it. But being a five-time world champion or the chance to knock AJ out, I'd take the chance to knock AJ out. Because once you've won all the belts before, which I have - it's always nice to be a world champion, great. But it's not the be all and end all. I think the fans are more interested in me and Joshua in the street rather than another world title."
Nevertheless, Fury is solely focused on his return to the ring next month, but the build-up has not been short of drama after John Fury revealed that he and his son are no longer on talking terms. The heavyweight icon constantly had his father in his corner, until he decided to leave John out of his team before his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
"My relationship with Tyson is destroyed," he said to Playbook Boxing. "Boxing destroyed it completely. I'll say it on camera: I've never taken £10 off him in my life and I never will. I don't want Tyson's money and I don't need Tyson's money. Whatever he's got, good luck to him. But, don't forget who built his story when he was a kid. He didn't build it himself, did he? Me, his father."
