Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could go head-to-head later this year (Image: Netflix)
Tyson Fury cruised to victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in his first fight since December 2024 then had a tense exchange with the ringside Anthony Joshua – challenging him to a Battle of Britain megafight this summer. Fury won by unanimous decision 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 fight but AJ declined the invite. The pair simply shook hands as Joshua said: “It’s your night, it’s your night.” There were rumours earlier in day that a fight between the two would be announced if Fury won on his comeback to the ring. And during Fury’s fight, 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 winning, 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 crowd 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 remain 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 night and you know I’ll sit across that ring from you in due time. You ain’t going to tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions and I’ll have you in the ring when I’m ready. I’m the boss. You work for me. I’m the landlord, remember that, you work for me.”
Fury then replied: “The ball’s in your court. Let’s give the fight fans what they want. Do not run from me this time. 10 years in the making, let’s f***ing dance! You’re next dosser and you’re getting knocked spark out. Believe that.”
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury shake hands post-fight (Image: Netflix)
Anthony Joshua watched Tyson Fury’s win ringside (Image: Netflix)
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 completely honest. There’s a negotiation that you go through. I’ve sad at this table with him many times.
“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 here to get in the ring and start shouting in someone’s face, if you look at my track record, I’ve never done that. I’m not here for clout, I wanted to watch the fight, I saw what I saw and I know what I’ve got 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’s the one that retired, I’ve been in the game, I’ve never retired, I’ve been standing strong the last 13 years, it’s 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 wants a warm-up fight 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 here, keeping my eye in the game. There’s real stuff happening in my life, I’m not ducking no-one. I know what my job is. There’s real stuff that I also have to tend to. Once I’m 100 per cent I’ll be ready. This is what I do. I run the game. Everyone knows I run the game. It’s what I do, I’m a serious fighter and I’m very strong. When I hit Fury, I’ll hurt him bad.”
Anthony Joshua’s intense stare as Tyson Fury called him out (Image: Netflix)
Anthony Joshua points at Tyson Fury as the pair trade words (Image: Getty)
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 have to [do what’s right for me]. I’m sorting some things out. My brothers with their parents. The brotherhood are taking care of things, I have to put that first, it’s my priority.
“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 here a million times. Once my name and signature is on the dotted line, it’s a fight. At the minute there’s nothing on the dotted line. Neither is his. If I’m going to be honest with you, there’s no fight right 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 fighting style, I think he’s good, but I don’t think he’ll be able to cope with me. Off tonight, I know it would be a lot of hard work for him. But I don’t want to talk too much.”