Why Tyson Fury Would Choose Joshua Fight Over World Title
Tyson Fury is placing the Anthony Joshua fight above belts at this stage of his career, making it clear that a showdown with his long-time rival holds more appeal than adding to his title count.
Fury returns on April 11 against Arslanbek Makhmudov, but he is already looking beyond that fight and toward Joshua as his preferred next opponent.
While other routes remain open, including a title fight against the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois or a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk, Fury’s comments point in one direction. He is chasing Joshua, not another belt.
“Of course, if it’s a fight to be made, let’s get it done. Let me get Makhmudov out of the way, and we’re on,” Fury said to Sky Sports Boxing.
The shift becomes clearer when he weighs that option against title opportunities. Fury has already held every major belt during his career, and the motivation to repeat that run appears lower than the chance to settle the Joshua rivalry.
“But being a five-time world champion. I’d take the chance to knock AJ out,” Tyson said. That comment goes against the usual priorities in boxing, where fighters typically build toward titles as the central goal. Fury is describing something different.
For Fury, the Joshua fight comes first. He also suggested that the fight still carries the biggest draw in the sport, despite years of delays and missed opportunities to make it earlier.
“The biggest fight for me in world boxing and the biggest fight in the world of boxing is me versus AJ,” Fury said. “Even today, even after all these years, it’s still the biggest fight in boxing.”
Anthony has recently returned to training after a difficult period outside the ring, and Fury acknowledged that while giving him space.
At the same time, he showed little concern about Joshua working with Oleksandr Usyk, dismissing any benefit that might bring ahead of a potential fight.
For Tyson, 37, the path is simple. Handle Makhmudov, then move straight into the fight that has defined the heavyweight division without ever being made. At this point, he sounds less interested in adding another title than in finally getting Joshua in the ring.
Tyson Fury responds after dad John Fury blasts trainer SugarHill Steward
Tyson Fury insists he has no plans to change trainers after his dad John branded SugarHill Steward a ‘gym sweeper’.
Fury is currently preparing for his return to the ring for the first time since December 2024 when he fights Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11.
The 37-year-old suffered defeat in his last fight, which was a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after he initially lost his WBC heavyweight title to the Ukrainian in May 2024.
John Fury was in his son’s corner for that first defeat to Usyk and in an interview this week, the 60-year-old admitted he was furious with Steward’s advice during the heavyweight title clash in Saudi Arabia.
‘If I hadn’t been in that corner, he’d have gone out in the 10th round trying to knock him out – throwing big punches. What kind of nonsense is that? What kind of Kronk-style rubbish is that?’ John Fury told Playbook Boxing.
‘He’s no Emanuel Steward – he’s nothing like him. He’s just a gym sweeper, that’s all he ever was, living off his granddad’s name or whoever it was. He came over here without even £25 for a plane ticket.’
But in an exclusive interview with Metro, Fury was adamant that Steward will remain part of his team, despite the scathing criticism from his father.
‘We’ve known each other for 16 years,’ Fury said when asked about his relationship with Steward.
‘He’s part of the team, always has been and always will be.’
Fury has made a drastic change ahead of his comeback fight against Makhmudov as he has been training in Thailand since the New Year, rather than his own base in Morecambe.
‘Training is going very well, so far so good,’ Fury said.
Tyson Fury does NOT care that Makhmudov wrestles bears 🫨 Ahead of the April 11 fight between Tyson Fury and Arslanbek Makhmudov, we wanted to ask Fury if knowing your opponent has wrestled bears in preparation change anything about how your training camp is approached? Get your seats for the fight at: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/fury-vs-makhmudov-tickets/artist/1605088 #tysonfury#tysonfuryfans#makhmudov#boxing#boxingnews
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Rivalry Explained: Why Were the Duo Never Able to Square Up in the Ring?
While Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will both battle different opponents in Riyadh, fans are disappointed yet again. Talks about fights between the two titans have been brewing for years now.
However, the duo never met in the ring owing to various factors, including disagreements over terms, mandatory challengers, and contractual obligations with different boxing organizations.
Born out of a shared ambition for unification, their rivalry has blossomed into one of the most compelling storylines in modern sports history. They both hold important heavyweight titles and are competing to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. In addition, their rivalry is fueled by national pride, with Joshua representing England and Fury representing Northern Ireland. Let us take a detailed look at what stopped the two rivals from battling it out in the ring.
Why did the Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury fight never materialize?
In 2022, during the intense negotiations between Fury and Joshua for the much-anticipated Battle of Britain heavyweight world title fight, drama unfolded with Fury setting multiple deadlines. Though Joshua initially agreed to a December showdown in Cardiff, he missed Fury’s crucial deadline. This prompted Fury to call off the fight.
After broadcasters BT, DAZN, and ESPN finalized their plans, Fury, however, extended the deadline by two weeks but to no effect. Come 2023, Fury’s relentless determination was evident as he proposed the fight via social media, despite setbacks with Oleksandr Usyk‘s unavailability.
Fury adapted to his plans, offering Joshua a fight in September after Usyk’s discussions stalled. Joshua, however, planned a low-key August return, followed by a high-stakes bout with Deontay Wilder in December.
This led to Fury exploring alternative matchups and expressing interest in facing fighters like Jon Jones due to the money factor. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, who highlighted funds for an all-British Joshua-Fury fight, was not happy with the decision. The boxing world now eagerly anticipates the resolution of this gripping saga.
Why have fans desperately waited for a showdown between the two?
The highly anticipated Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight generated significant excitement due to several key factors. Firstly, it promised the rare unification of heavyweight titles, determining an undisputed champion, a rarity in boxing. Secondly, the clash of Fury’s elusive style with Joshua’s powerful technique created anticipation for the unpredictable match dynamics. Both fighters had a massive global fanbase, enhancing the fight’s international appeal. Their charismatic personalities, verbal sparring, and trash talk intensified the drama.
Additionally, the historical significance of an undisputed heavyweight championship bout elevated the event. A victory for either Fury or Joshua would solidify their legacy as heavyweight greats. These elements made the bout one of the most eagerly anticipated in recent boxing history, captivating audiences worldwide.
Heavyweight champions Fury and Usyk are now slated to battle it out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The parallel negotiations involving Joshua and Wilder heighten the anticipation surrounding this bout. This is most likely the closest we come to seeing the two fighters fighting on the same day, in the ring.
British boxing reporter, Gareth A. Davies, clarified to Boxing Social the details regarding an apparent agreement heavyweight superstars Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua made “behind-the-scenes” regarding a mega fight for later this year.
Fury and Joshua have been linked with one another since before they even turned professional, as word spread throughout boxing‘s industry in Britain that the country and two giant fighters capable of taking the combat world by storm.
While half that proved prescient, with both fighters winning various portions of the heavyweight championships, commanding A-side attention in some of the most meaningful match-ups in the modern era, they have yet to deliver the one fight fans wanted to see them in most — one against each other.
“I said it was ‘Signed’,” Davies told us, “and then I quickly resolved that into agreed behind the scenes which everyone knows they’ve agreed to fight this year.
“It’s an open secret in boxing that those two guys want to fight each other.”
“I clarified the word signed within a minute but people have taken it to mean, I know something they didn’t know. And then it’s a new story.”
He continued: “Stories I’ve written recently … because on The Telegraph, about Frank Warren and Sela, the headline was very strong — Dana White trying to put British promoters into extinction, which, if you read the piece it doesn’t actually say that, it’s challenging their standing in boxing and he’s doing it openly in boxing.
“I think people jump on things very quickly and it spreads like wildfire.”
Boxing Social asked Davies about his relationship with Fury, and being with him in Thailand during his training camp for his upcoming fight April 11 against Arslanbek Makhmudov on Netflix.
“I’ve known [Fury] nearly 20 years … he’s a fascinating character, there’s a relationship there, of sorts, which is a long-standing thing,” he said. “Outside the interview, he seemed on amazing form. It was great to talk about him to his team, and find out he’s sleeping on a boat in the harbor. He’s in the best place mentally I’ve seen him for a very long time.
“He’s admitting he’s getting old in boxing terms … an obsession and an addiction, probably only three fights left — maximum. And against Makhmudov he has to prove he still has it in his legs [against someone] who still does present problems if he’s not on top of his game.”
Davies finished: “If Tyson is anything like as good as he was against [Oleksandr] Usyk I think he should dismantle and stop Makhmudov, or outbox him.”
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Eddie Hearn responds to report that Fight is agreed
Promoter Eddie Hearn has responded to a report that his heavyweight charge, Anthony Joshua, has agreed a deal to face Tyson Fury after years of fans demanding the fight.
This put tentative plans to face Fury on hold as ‘AJ’ recovered both physically and mentally. With a return to camp imminent, those negotiations can resume – however one report has jumped the gun significantly.
This past weekend, talkSPORT’s Gareth A Davies said on air that the fight is ‘agreed’ and will be streamed live on Netflix, despite Joshua and Hearn having a partnership with DAZN.
Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Hearn – who has promoted ‘AJ’ since his pro debut and will do so until he retires after a career-long partnership was signed in 2021 – said there was no truth to the statement.
“Completely untrue. There is absolutely nothing signed with Anthony Joshua to fight Tyson Fury next. There is nothing agreed. There have been conversations – deep conversations prior to the accident – that he was going to fight Jake Paul, then fight in February or March in Saudi Arabia, then fight Tyson Fury. Then obviously the accident happened.
“Since then, there have been no conversations really about that fight, other than in the last few days conversations with Dr. Rakan [Alharthy], Sela, about starting to think about revisiting the plan.”
Fury returns against Arslanbek Makhmudov next month, and has said he is targeting all of ‘AJ’, the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, and a trilogy with Oleksandr Usyk.
Updates will be provided on Joshua’s return to training camp in the coming weeks, with a comeback bout expected for late summer.
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua ‘agreed’ as stunning details revealed
Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua is ‘agreed’, according to a respected journalist, who has revealed the stunning details for the all-British showdown.
Fury is set to resume his legendary career on April 11 when he faces Arslanbek Makhmudov on a card that will be aired on Netflix.
A clash against Joshua had been mooted until he was involved in a fatal car accident that killed two of his close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Lateef ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
But the 36-year-old appears set to carry on his glittering career, having returned to the win column following his defeat to Daniel Dubois by stopping Jake Paul in December.
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn believes Joshua will return in July as he mapped out his next career steps.
Now, Gareth A Davies claims Fury and Joshua have agreed to face each other in what would be a mega-fight.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Davies told Adam Catterall and Spencer Oliver that the fight is ‘signed’ before claiming it is ‘agreed’.
“The Fury-Joshua fight is signed,” he revealed. “Okay, it is signed in the background. I’ve got that on good authority.”
Asked who the fight is signed with, Davies replied: “It’s with the big money people. It’ll be on Netflix.”
‘Big money people’ and Netflix seems to point towards The Ring, Sela and Turki Alalshikh, who are all involved in the ‘Gypsy King’s comeback against Makhmudov.
Davies said: “Agreed. They are moving towards it, but they both want the fight.”
The combat sports reporter later claimed that Joshua is set to return to the ring in ‘June or July’, with the Fury bout to take place either ‘late in the year’ or ‘next year’.
“It’s on the cards and it’s going to happen,” he added.
Fury vs. Joshua has been years in the making. They have been closely associated with each other over the years and it appears the showdown could happen in 2026.
Anthony Joshua rumoured comeback opponent revealed
Joshua uploaded a clip of himself training at his old amateur gym in London, seemingly suggesting he’s on course to return to the ring.
A summer return is on the cards and a potential opponent has emerged.
According to Boxing King Media, Joshua could renew hostilities with former rival Dillian Whyte.
Joshua and Whyte fought in the amateurs, which the latter won. They then fought in the professional ranks, with ‘AJ’ earning a stoppage victory in their 2015 match.
A pro rematch was scheduled until Whyte failed a doping test. He hasn’t fought since his first-round defeat to Moses Itauma last August.
Tyson Fury Speaks Out On The Chances Of The Anthony Joshua Fight Finally Happening
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is a fight the boxing-loving public have long craved.
Both of these fighters have had long spells as world heavyweight champions, but they are yet to face off in the ring despite trading verbal jabs for many years.
Fury’s reign was brought to an end in 2024 when he twice lost to two-time undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, while Joshua was derailed by the same man and later failed to win back his title when he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
“If I can get past Makmuhdov, then the world is my oyster. I need to get back to winning ways, then yeah, all these guys really. If I can get back to what I was in my last few fights in ’24, then yeah, I’ll be able to beat all these guys for sure. I’m not that far away, but listen, it takes time, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time to get sharp and match fit.”
Fury’s first fight in more than 15 months takes place in April when he steps in with Arslanbek Makmudov, who beat Dave Allen last time out but has also lost to the likes of Agit Kabayel. A win there gets him back on track and potentially heading for a world title shot.
Anthony Joshua targeting July return but won’t fight Tyson Fury next following fatal car crash, says Eddie Hearn
Anthony Joshua is targeting a return to the ring in July after surviving a fatal car crash in December but will not yet be fighting Tyson Fury next, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua was involved in a road traffic accident while visiting family in Nigeria over Christmas, which resulted in two of his friends and members of his training team, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, being killed.
Joshua, who was initially hospitalised, had just beaten Jake Paul in a sixth-round knockout victory in Miami.
Fury is currently gearing up to face Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 in what will mark his first fight since losing in a rematch to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.
Hearn told The Sportsman: “[He was] due to fight in March, then fight Tyson Fury. That’s not happening anymore. He won’t be fighting Tyson Fury next.
“We’ve really not had any solid plans to announce what’s next.
“The focus for Anthony Joshua is to get back into training camp. He’s not ready to go back into training camp, physically but it’s getting closer.
“I think there’s nothing more that he wants at the moment than to return to training camp because it’s where he loves to be.
“Really, I think July is the time to return. We are looking at multiple options around the world for that potential return.
“I haven’t spoken that deeply with Anthony yet until he gets back into camp, and hopefully that will be in the next couple of weeks.”
Fury: Joshua’s tragic loss inspired my boxing comeback
Although the two will not fight just yet, Fury said his own return to boxing was inspired by Joshua’s tragic accident in late December.
At the start of 2025, Fury had announced that he would retire from boxing. But he since decided to come back and will fight Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 in London.
Speaking after his return was announced, he said: “Tomorrow might not ever come.
“The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was the tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua. I was on holiday in Thailand with my family for Christmas, just to get away from the rain.
“I hear all that bad news that’s gone on and I thought, you know what, life is very short, very precious and very fragile.
“Anything could happen at any given moment and you should never put things off until tomorrow, or the next year or next week, because tomorrow is not promised to nobody.
“Tomorrow is a mystery, we have to live for today. And me living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I’m going to come back to boxing – because it’s something that I love, I’m passionate about and that I’ve always been in love with.
“There is no tomorrow to put it off to, so that’s why I’m back today for this big fight.”
Joshua: I understand my duty
In January, during Joshua’s only public appearance since the accident, the British boxer alluded to a desire to pursue his boxing goals and cement his legacy to help honour the memory of Ghima and Adoyele.
“My goal is to continue to help them achieve their goals,” Joshua said.
“It’s not just physical strength that will get me through. It’s going to take a lot of strength from a higher power. So I’m definitely going to say my prayers and help them fulfil their dreams for their families – not only me, there’s a whole team of us.
“I’m going to do what’s right by them, I’m going to do what’s right by their family.
“In my corner of the world I know what I’m going to be doing. What can I say? One day my time will come… But the mission must go on. I understand my duty.
“It isn’t about legacy, it’s just doing what’s right and I know I’m going to do what’s right for them. I know what I’ve got to do.”
Even with a new fight on the horizon, it seems like Tyson Fury’s greatest battles remain with the ghosts of past rivalries.
Fury’s former rival Deontay Wilder claimed that he has “proof” that the British boxer cheated in their fights. However, the former ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ finds the allegations funny!
“I have no idea what he was on about. He’s had too many punches to the head, for sure,” Fury told iFL TV‘s Kugan Cassius when asked if Wilder’s threats to expose alleged cheating in their first two fights worried him. “I’m waiting for the documentary to come out.”
Tyson Fury also mocked his former opponent’s slip of tongue, calling “documentary” as “docu-me-mory”. The ‘Bronze Bomber’ has alleged that Fury practiced glove tampering to gain an unfair advantage in their encounters. It’s a narrative the American has stuck with for years. Fury teased that he had “napalm” inside his gloves. Wilder challenged Fury to sue him if he’s lying. It’s not only his trilogy with Wilder that he gets asked about; he’s also frequently questioned about his recent rivalry with Usyk.
‼️ Tyson Fury on whether he’s worried about Deontay Wilder presenting proof of cheating in their fights in Wilder’s documentary 🎥
In another catch-up in which he was accompanied by boxing great Lennox Lewis, he reiterated his old claims. He believed he deserved the wins instead of the back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk. The two met in 2024 and exchanged 24 rounds in fights scheduled in May and December.
“I know in my heart I won those fights, yeah?” Fury said. “When you’re a man and you fight another man, if you lose, you know you lose, and I shake the man’s hand—fair play. Listen, he’s got them; he did win; he’s got his decisions; he won them; fair play. I kissed him on the head and congratulated him—fair play. But he knows, and I know he didn’t beat me. He gets his decisions, fantastic.”
Against that backdrop, Usyk has been struggling to land a matchup while rumors of a fight with a former kickboxing champion continue to float. Flipping the narrative, Fury argued that despite the “so-called losses,” he is making more money through a Netflix event than Usyk, who is still struggling to land a fight.
Tyson Fury feels Deontay Wilder could be going through mental health issues
Tyson Fury feels that Deontay Wilder could be dealing with “mental health issues.” He planned to go for a tit-for-tat response to Wilder’s allegations. But he eventually decided against it.
“Rather than just go back and forth with him and yada yada yada, saying he’s deluded and all that, I’m just going to pray for him, and I’m going to ask God to help him,” Fury said. “I’m going to ask the Father to bring him back to the light cuz this man is a lost, lost soul, and I beg Jesus to turn him, to return him to the kingdom.”
Fury’s confidence in his fair and square wins is backed by many. Yet it’s not clear if the same support will be extended toward the Usyk fight claims.
When they fought for the first time, on May 18, 2024, Fury suffered a ninth-round knockdown before succumbing to a split decision in Usyk’s favor. The second bout, on December 21, was a more decisive affair in which Usyk defeated him on the scorecards of all three judges. Barring a few like Fury’s promoter Frank Warren, hardly anyone retained any doubts over the verdict.
Regardless, boxing fans around the world will be tuning in to watch Fury take on Arslanbek Makhmudov in April. Will the comeback prove to be a masterstroke, or could it put his legacy on the line? Only time will tell.
‘The Gypsy King’ announced his return to the ring in January, a year after he said he was retiring following back-to-back losses to Usyk.
Fury was handed his first career defeat by the Ukrainian WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion in May 2024 and failed to bounce back in their rematch seven months later, losing both on points.
But the 37-year-old is back and ready to take the boxing world by storm once again.
In typical Fury fashion, ‘The Gypsy King’ took centre stage at the kick-off press conference for his fight with Russia’s Makhmudov, and he was asked why he decided to return.
Tyson Fury plans to ‘make boxing great again’
“I came back for one reason only, and that’s to make boxing great again,” Fury said.
“Since I retired for the fifth time over a year ago, boxing for me has gone on a downward slope.
“It’s become quite boring, and boxing has its maximum potential when Tyson Fury is actively fighting.”
Fury then explained how Joshua’s tragic motor accident in Nigeria, which happened only ten days after the British boxer defeated Jake Paul, ultimately prompted his return.
In December, Joshua was hospitalised and sadly lost two of his best friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, when the SUV he was travelling in crashed into a truck outside of Nigerian capital Lagos.
For Fury, that was a sign not to take life for granted, as he described why the awful accident instantly made up his mind about a return.
Why Anthony Joshua was an inspiration to Fury
“The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was a tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua,” Fury added.
“I was on holiday with my family in Thailand for Christmas, just to get away from the rain. I was sick of the rain; it was depressing me.
“Then I heard all the bad news that had gone on, and I thought, ‘Life is very short, precious and fragile.’
“And anything could happen at any given moment, and you should never put things off until tomorrow, or next week, or next year.
“Because tomorrow is not promised to anybody, the Bible says tomorrow is not a gift – tomorrow is not promised.
“Tomorrow is a mystery, so we have to live for today, and me living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I’m going to come back to boxing.
“Because it’s something that I love and I’m passionate about and that I’ve always been in love with.
“And there is no tomorrow to put it off to, so that’s why I’m back today for this big fight.”
Fury’s last win came against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October 2023.
The victory over Ngannou came ten months after Fury stopped Derek Chisora in their London trilogy bout.
Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, promised a rejuvenated Fury at the London press conference and said it’s a matter of when, not if, his man becomes a three-time heavyweight champion.
Frank Warren, founder of Queensberry Promotions, described Fury as a ‘phenomenon’ and the best heavyweight of his generation with ‘so much still to give and prove
Tyson Fury manager lays out three-fight year as he names one of ‘front runners’ for comeback fight
He said he never discussed fighting with Fury, and it was entirely the heavyweight’s decision to make a comeback.
Warren added that he’d love to see Fury face Usyk for the third time, as well as take on the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois.
Fury: I’ll get the decision if I fight Usyk again
Fury, who is training in Thailand for his fight with Makhmudov, is eyeing up a trilogy with Usyk down the line, as he believes he will get his arm raised at the third time of asking.
“I’ve got a lot more to offer, and there’s a lot of big fights out there that I know I can win,” Fury said, speaking to Lennox Lewis on the Netflix broadcast after the press conference.
“I know I can beat this guy, and I know I can beat other heavyweight champions in this division.
“If we get a fight with Usyk again, I know I’ll get the decision this time… I’d like to think I’ll go on for a long time, who knows.”
Fury predicts he will finish Makhmudov via KO in the sixth round, and Usyk will come ‘begging’ for a fight due to the monetary value his name holds.
Makhmudov, who has stopped 19 of his 21 professional wins by knockout, scored a unanimous decision win over Briton Dave Allen in his last fight four months ago.
“I was very happy when I heard the news because for me this is a dream fight,” the 36-year-old said.
“All my life, I have gone for my goal. My parents, my uncle told me when I was 9 years old, ‘You’re gonna be champion of the world.’”
Speaking on his opponent and entering enemy territory once again, Makhmudov added: “He’s a legend, a big name in boxing, but I come here to make my legacy and my story.”
“When I was in Sheffield [fighting Allen], 10,000 arena, the arena was against me, but I said God is with me, it doesn’t matter who’s against me.
“And I was successful. This time it’s the same thing. All the world can be against me, but it’s nothing if God is with me.”
Fury vs Makhmudov concludes a huge few weeks in British boxing, with Moses Itauma and Chisora both booked in big fights beforehand.
Chatham’s 21-year-old heavyweight star Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin in the main event of the Magnificent 7 bill on March 28.
Chisora, meanwhile, contests his 50th professional fight against Deontay Wilder at London’s O2 Arena the following weekend.
