Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has admitted that a potential mega-fight between the “Gypsy King” and Anthony Joshua remains tempting despite Fury’s stated desire for a trilogy bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
Warren told Sky News that while Fury might be motivated by revenge against Usyk, a showdown with Joshua would generate massive interest in Britain.
“For the Brits, Tyson and AJ is the fight that hasn’t happened. Maybe it will, who knows? So that’s got a massive appeal about it,” Warren said.
Fury announced his retirement from boxing at the start of this year after losing two tight decisions in world heavyweight title fights with Ukraine’s Usyk last year. However, the former WBC champion has regularly released footage of himself training in recent weeks, fuelling speculation that a comeback is imminent.
Warren believes that completing the trilogy with Usyk remains attractive to Fury, who feels aggrieved by the judging in their previous encounters.
“But Tyson to get the fight (with Usyk), get revenge (after) what he feels, and I feel certainly in one of the fights, was a fight that he won, that’s again a great, big fight,” the veteran promoter explained.
Despite acknowledging Fury’s hunger for revenge against the Ukrainian, Warren threw a curveball into the heavyweight mix by backing Daniel Dubois to defeat Usyk in their upcoming clash.
“But you know what, Daniel Dubois is going to beat Usyk. So that’s going to throw a bomb in the middle of it all,” he added.
Fury and Joshua held world titles concurrently during their careers but never faced each other during their championship reigns, a fact that still rankles with British boxing fans who have long clamoured for this dream matchup.
While expressing his support for Fury should he decide to return to the ring, Warren advised Joshua against pursuing a rematch with Dubois, who handed the two-time world champion a devastating knockout defeat last September at Wembley Stadium.
“You see, the first fight, he’s getting better and better,” Warren said of Dubois.
“So it’s a tough fight for AJ. I can understand where AJ’s coming from, he’s a fighting man, he’s a two-time world champion, but I hate to say this, this sport is mostly for young men. Except if you’re a promoter.”
Joshua, who has a net worth of €232m according to the Sunday Times Rich List, has seen his earnings soar by €24m from €208m last year despite the setback against Dubois.
The British-Nigerian boxer hasn’t fought since that devastating knockout at Wembley Stadium, having initially intended to pursue an immediate rematch before reportedly suffering minor injuries from the first encounter.
Any potential clash between Fury and Joshua would undoubtedly be one of the most lucrative in British boxing history, with both fighters commanding eight-figure purses for their recent contests.
