Anthony Joshua admits hopes for ‘big’ fight with Tyson Fury in 2025 – ‘It has to happen this year’
All eyes are on Tyson Fury’s next move after last month’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. ‘The Gypsy King’ has insisted there is more to come despite his second career defeat, and Anthony Joshua has now set his sights on a clash with Fury later this year. Joshua insisted he and his team “can definitely make this fight happen”, revealing how he has got back on track after taking a break from boxing.
Anthony Joshua has revealed his desire to fight Tyson Fury in 2025, admitting “it has to happen this year”.
Fury is recovering from his second bout against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia last month, which ended in a unanimous decision victory for the Ukrainian.
Joshua, meanwhile, last fought against Daniel Dubois in September, losing by KO at Wembley with the IBF heavyweight title on the line.
There has been incessant talk since about the prospect of a clash between Fury and Joshua, and the latter has now added more fuel to the fire.
“It’s a fight that I want to see,” Joshua said at The Ring Magazine Awards. “I’m a fan of boxing so I want to get that fight underway.
“When I’m in the gym everyone’s asking me, and the reason why I decided to do some interesting stuff is because I ain’t got many years ahead of me. I’ve had more years behind me.
“So what I want to do is leave the game with a bang and make an impact, be outlandish, great character, have fun with it while we’re doing it and go for the big fights, and Tyson Fury is one of them.
“Every time I see people they say ‘When are you fighting Fury?’. We’re talking about the Irish community, the English community, the Nigerian community, everyone’s asking me the same question.
“As a fighter, it’s up to me to deliver, and that’s why I’m saying it has to happen this year. Especially with His Excellency, Turki [Alalshikh], DAZN, Eddie [Hearn], Matchroom, and 258 behind me, we can definitely make this fight happen.”
- What is Fury’s boxing record? Has Usyk ever lost? Who is pound-for-pound best?
- What could Fury do next after second Usyk bout? Trilogy? AJ super fight? Retire?
Asked if discussions have taken place regarding the potential fight, Joshua added: “These conversations start the ball rolling if I’m honest with you. If we’re not talking about Tyson Fury it’s not happening.
“Turki did an interview recently and he said it’s a fight he wants to see, so we’re talking about it and I’m sure it’ll happen.”
Having taken some time away from the sport, Joshua insisted he is ready to return and compete.
“After my last fight I took some time out,” he said. “I let my body heal, which I’m still working on now, and I declined some business opportunities so I could focus on the sport.
“That takes off mental pressure not just physical stuff, so I let my body heal physically and then the mental aspect I’ve declined some things that are draining mentally.
“Then I went away, family which is always good, and we’re back again ready for a big 2025.”
‘Big things happening soon’ – Eubank Jr on Benn fight
Elsewhere, Chris Eubank Jr offered his thoughts on his proposed fight with Conor Benn, which remains among the most anticipated bouts in UK boxing.
“That fight will happen,” Eubank Jr said. “We are in negotiations and they are going very well. I think we’re in the last few things we’ve got to smooth out and then the fight will get made, announced. So big things are happening very soon.”
The fight was originally scheduled to take place in October 2022 before it was postponed after Benn tested positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
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