Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have been linked with a huge all-British clash for years. With Fury on the cusp of his world title fight with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night in Riyadh, shown live on TNT Sports Box Office, there is speculation that the Briton could finally move onto a fight against Joshua in 2025. Fury, his promoters and Eddie Hearn all have had their say in the recent past.
The two fighters have circled one another for a decade, but will Tyson Fury finally fight Anthony Joshua?
Fury fights Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, live on TNT Sports Box Office, and whether he wins or loses, most British fight fans will hope that before Joshua and Fury step away from the sport, they will finally settle their rivalry.
The two almost fought a few years ago, before they were sidetracked, in part, by Usyk.
In 2021 it seemed set that the two Britons would meet in the ring for an undisputed clash in their next fights, but ultimately, Fury was forced to honour an obligation to take on Deontay Wilder in his trilogy rematch, which he duly won.
While he retained his WBC crown, Joshua found himself teed up to defend his three belts against Usyk, who was getting used to the heavyweight division after moving up from cruiserweight.
Ultimately, the Ukrainian would win both of his two fights against Joshua to set up an undisputed clash with Fury, which he won in May. That leads us to now, with several options ahead for Fury.
- 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?
Fury: ‘It would be a travesty if we didn’t fight’
Speaking to TNT Sports, Fury said earlier in the year that it would be a huge disappointment if he and Joshua did not meet.
“At the end of the day, it would be a travesty if we didn’t fight,” Fury said.
“No matter if he [Joshua] loses 20 more fights. If he doesn’t win another fight and has 10 years away from the game, it doesn’t matter, we have to fight.”
Arum – Joshua is ‘the one fight’
For Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum, he thinks Fury still has Joshua on his mind, particularly if he wins the three belts on Saturday.
“The one fight that [Fury] is looking to if he beats Usyk is Joshua … that fight has been talked about for as long as I can remember,” reported BoxingScene.
He added that Turki Alalshikh would look to deliver the clash at Wembley, rather than in Riyadh.
“I think Turki would look for that fight to happen with his participation in Wembley,” Arum added, as well as saying a Joshua fight could come “instead of” an Usyk trilogy.
Warren – Fury and Usyk will fight trilogy
For Fury’s other promoter, Frank Warren, he believes Usyk is the next opponent come what may.
That means that any Fury v Joshua clash would not be feasible at least until the second half of 2025, but if Usyk retains all belts on Saturday, it is far from impossible he may choose to retire, which would clear the way for the British extravaganza.
“It’s contracted, and whatever happens,” Warren told Boxing News. “That will be the case if Tyson wins, providing nobody retires.”
Hearn – Joshua wants Fury or Dubois next
Joshua’s latest fight was a defeat to Daniel Dubois in September, losing out on the chance to become a three-time world champion.
It had been hoped by many that a win against Dubois would give Joshua and Fury the chance to bring all four belts back for another undisputed clash, but that now seems unlikely.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, thinks that Joshua wants either Dubois or Fury next, and has no interest in any other fighter.
“It’s weird saying it after a knockout defeat but AJ is actually in a really good position,” Hearn told BBC Sport.
“We’re going to fight Dubois or Fury next. That’s it. No other interest or warm-up.”
