Tyson Fury has demanded Anthony Joshua accept his challenge and fight him next.
Fury revealed he has signed for the all-British mega-fight, but AJ has yet to agree to the proposed heavyweight showdown.
“I don’t want to put no deadlines on it,” Fury said. “He either wants to do it or he doesn’t. Now or never.”
Ever since Fury first became world champion in 2015 and Joshua rose through the pros after his 2012 Olympic success, calls for the two to meet have grown. The fight has come close multiple times and looked nearer after Fury beat Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night.
Joshua was seated ringside at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. As soon as the fight ended, Fury addressed him directly, called for the fight and beckoned for a face-off in the ring. Joshua did not confirm the bout and did not step into the ring, though he did not rule out the possibility.
Fury described Joshua’s response as hesitation and expressed frustration. “Openly surprised. He was brought here tonight ringside for a reason, to get in that ring and make a face off and get the fight done. I’ve signed. I signed months ago. I don’t know if he signed,” Fury said.
“He was very evasive and didn’t give no definitive answers,” he added. “I know one thing. He wasn’t saying yes. In my opinion he didn’t want no smoke. He didn’t want it. He didn’t look like he wanted it. He was just shell-shocked. Didn’t know what to say. He came ringside to make a fight. If it was me I’d have jumped in that ring, faced off, let’s get it on. 10 years in the making and still, after all this time, there’s still uncertainty about if this fight’s going to happen next.”
To add to the confusion, broadcaster Netflix posted on social media that Fury-AJ was set for the autumn. Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager, responded: “We don’t know about it.” Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said: “The only one who can confirm that is AJ. It’s one man holding the fight up.”
At his post-fight press conference, Fury issued an ultimatum. “If it isn’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m not interested in boxing. I’ll eat a thousand Easter eggs, go up to 35 stone and I’m out, not interested. It’s either him or I’m gone again. I only care now about AJ. That’s the defining fight for British boxing. It’s either going to happen or it’s not.”