Anthony Joshua faced boos from the crowd after declining to confirm a match against Tyson Fury. Fury effortlessly defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov in a lackluster bout on Saturday night. Despite Fury’s public call-out for a showdown with Joshua, the latter chose not to commit and may opt for an interim fight before potentially squaring off against Fury later this year.
In response to Fury’s challenge, Joshua dismissed the notion, labeling Fury as a “clout chaser.” Joshua emphasized that while he is open to the fight, there are standard negotiation procedures to follow. Addressing the possibility of a warm-up fight first, Joshua indicated that he is dealing with personal matters that need attention before returning to the ring.
The highly anticipated clash between the two British boxers has been repeatedly postponed over the years. An agreement was in place in 2021, only for Fury to face Deontay Wilder instead due to a court ruling, while Joshua suffered a defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. Despite the ongoing saga, fans eagerly await the eventual meeting between Joshua and Fury.
Fury’s return to the ring was confirmed with a scheduled warm-up fight ahead of the anticipated showdown with Joshua. However, Joshua’s plans were disrupted by a tragic car accident in Nigeria following his victory over Jake Paul, delaying his comeback.