Anthony Joshuas reply as Tyson Fury calls him out | Boxing News

Tyson Fury cruised to victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in his first battle since December 2024 then had a tense exchange with the ringside Anthony Joshua – difficult him to a Battle of Britain megafight this summer time. Fury gained by unanimous determination in a one-sided contest against Russian Makhmudov, with the judges scoring it 120-108, 120-108, 119-109 in the Gypsy King’s favour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Fury called Joshua into the ring after the battle but AJ declined the invite. The pair merely shook arms as Joshua said: “It’s your night, it’s your night.” There had been rumours earlier in day that a battle between the 2 can be announced if Fury gained on his comeback to the ring. And during Fury’s battle, Joshua told Netflix “I’ve got my eyes on the prize, it’s been a long time coming, we’ll be in the deep end soon. The plan is right hand left hook, right hand left hook until something lands and then boom.”

And inside the ring after profitable, Fury stared Joshua down and said: “Thank you everyone for coming out tonight. I really appreciate every single one of you guys. 16 months out and we fill up Tottenham again. But like I said, let me get Arslanbek Makhmudov out the way and we’ll talk next. Next I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for. I want you, AJ. Anthony Joshua.”

As the group roared, Fury added: “Let’s give the fight fans what they want. Here’s my challenge. I challenge you Anthony Joshua, to fight me, Tyson Fury, the Gypsy King, NEXT! Do you accept my challenge? Let him say yes or no now. Come on you big s***house, are you going to fight or not?”

Joshua sat down staring at his countryman throughout and was then called into the ring but he opted to stay in his seat instead. When handed a microphone, he replied: “Tyson you’re a clout chaser. I’ve never had no problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you up when we were kids. And after watching you here tonight, I’ll punch you up again.

“With all due respect, tonight is your evening and you realize I’ll sit across that ring from you in due time. You ain’t going to inform me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you are prepared, you come and see me and inform me your phrases and circumstances and I’ll have you ever in the ring when I’m prepared. I’m the boss. You work for me. I’m the owner, bear in mind that, you’re employed for me.”

Fury then replied: “The ball’s in your court. Let’s give the battle followers what they need. Do not run from me this time. 10 years in the making, let’s f***ing dance! You’re next dosser and you are getting knocked spark out. Believe that.”

Joshua then stepped into the ring to talk to Netflix but refused to confirm the fight will happen next. He added: “I’m going to be utterly trustworthy. There’s a negotiation that you go through. I’ve unhappy at this desk with him many occasions.

“In my heart, I’ll fight Tyson Fury tomorrow. Especially after watching that. There’s no problem with me fighting. This is what I do. I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘Yeah I’ll fight him!’ I’m not here to get clout, I’m here to fight. Contracts will be sent over, we’ll go through the nitty gritty and you’ll probably see us in the ring next, more than likely.

“I’m not right here to get in the ring and start shouting in somebody’s face, if you look at my monitor file, I’ve never finished that. I’m not right here for clout, I needed to watch the battle, I noticed what I noticed and I do know what I’ve received to do when I get him in the ring.”

Boxing fans have waited a long, long time for the two Brits – Fury now 37 and Joshua 36 – to happen. AJ added: “Look, he is the one that retired, I’ve been in the sport, I’ve never retired, I’ve been standing strong the last 13 years, it is on him. He disappears, comes back, disappears, comes back. I’m standing strong.

“I’m not here to chase fame or chase hype, I’m a real person and I’ll fight anybody in front of me, whether it’s him or the next person. It don’t matter to me. I make the big fights. It’s just my style. I make the big fights. He works for me.”

Asked if he needs a warm-up battle before he faces Fury, Joshua replied: “Good question. That could be a warm-up fight after what I saw tonight! We’ll see. I was just in a serious incident, maybe four months ago, so I need to check out what’s going on with my return to the ring.

“I’m right here, preserving my eye in the sport. There’s real stuff taking place in my life, I’m not ducking no-one. I do know what my job is. There’s real stuff that I also have to have a tendency to. Once I’m 100 per cent I’ll be prepared. This is what I do. I run the sport. Everyone is aware of I run the sport. It’s what I do, I’m a severe fighter and I’m very strong. When I hit Fury, I’ll damage him dangerous.”

Joshua was in a car crash in December that killed two of his friends – his personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength coach, Sina Ghami – and added: “I’ve to [do what’s right for me]. I’m sorting some issues out. My brothers with their dad and mom. The brotherhood are taking care of issues, I’ve to put that first, it is my precedence.

“Tyson Fury, if he’s serious, you’ll see him in the ring and you’ll see me in the ring. I’m a serious person. Whether it’s against him or not… the ball will be in his court.

“I’ve been right here a million occasions. Once my title and signature is on the dotted line, it is a battle. At the minute there’s nothing on the dotted line. Neither is his. If I’m going to be trustworthy with you, there’s no battle proper now.

“Until that first bell goes there’s no fight. I’ve been here three or four times with [Deontay] Wilder and Fury. This is boring to me. For the guys at home it’s exciting. For me, I’ve been here loads of times. It’s no problem.

“I like his preventing fashion, I feel he is good, but I do not suppose he’ll give you the option to cope with me. Off tonight, I do know it will be a lot of arduous work for him. But I do not need to discuss an excessive amount of.”