Tyson Fury has lifted the lid on why his long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua failed to materialise immediately after his comeback victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov. The Gypsy King insists that the fight was signed and ready to go, but Joshua backed out at the last moment.
Fury's Victory and Joshua's Ringside Presence
The former two-time heavyweight champion ended a year-long retirement last month by outpointing Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov in front of more than 60,000 fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Watching closely from ringside was Anthony Joshua, eager to assess his rival's form. Immediately after the win, Fury called out Joshua and demanded a face-off in the ring. However, to the disappointment of fans, Joshua declined and remained seated before leaving the venue.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
According to Fury, the original plan was for the two British heavyweights to meet next. But after Fury's dominant performance, Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn allegedly changed course. Speaking to FurociTV, Fury explained: 'I saw him on the ring walk. I think he was on a scouting mission. Him and Eddie Hearn to see if I had fallen completely far. If I had fought like a nugget and got knocked all over the place, they would have been jumping up and down for a fight. But because I beat a world-ranked contender, they weren't so keen. All of a sudden, they need another fight now in between, which was not the plan before that. The fight was signed. Turki wanted us to have a proper face-off, and he bottled it. It is the biggest moment. The world watching, millions watching live on Netflix. He choked. He did not say three words. After ten years of simmering, we are finally both signed and he has nothing to say.'
Joshua's Warm-Up Fight and the Path Forward
Joshua is now scheduled to face Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25 as a warm-up bout before the eventual showdown with Fury. Fury believes this was not part of the original agreement and suggests Joshua needed extra preparation after being knocked out by Daniel Dubois and struggling against Jake Paul.
Fury's Legacy and the Stakes
Fury downplayed the significance of a win over Joshua, stating it would do nothing for his legacy. 'Everyone expects me to beat him anyway. I am an odds-on favourite. Heavily. The world expects me to beat this guy. So me beating him does not do anything. But if ever he could beat me, he changes the way people think of him. So the clout chaser is him,' Fury added.
The all-British heavyweight clash has been simmering for over a decade, with both men now in the twilight of their careers. Despite the delay, demand for the fight remains massive, with bragging rights and national pride on the line.
