Anthony Joshua issues cryptic message to Tyson Fury
Anthony Joshua has delivered a cryptic message to Tyson Fury, posting footage of himself back in training just days after declining a ringside confrontation with his heavyweight rival, reports BritPanorama.
The 2012 Olympic champion uploaded an Instagram carousel on Monday featuring a video of himself working on an exercise bike. The clip panned to reveal a poster of a young Mike Tyson adorning the wall, with the words “I fear no one,” a statement that appears to be directed at Fury.
This post comes after Joshua turned down the chance for a first-ever staredown with Fury at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening. The 36-year-old has maintained he will not be dictated to by his fellow former two-time world champion.
Fury made his return to the ring on Saturday after a 16-month absence, securing a comprehensive points victory over Makhmudov at the north London venue. The judges awarded the contest unanimously in Fury’s favour, with scorecards reading 120-108, 120-108 and 119-109. This marked the Gypsy King’s first appearance since suffering consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk last year.
Following his dominant display against the fifth-ranked contender, Fury seized the microphone and called Joshua into the ring, stating: “Let’s give the fans what they want – the battle of Britain.” Joshua, who was watching from his ringside seat, initially responded with silence before refusing to join his rival in the squared circle. The Watford fighter insisted he would not perform to Fury’s demands after nearly a decade of attempts to finalize the bout.
When Joshua eventually addressed Fury, he branded his rival a “clout chaser” and rejected any suggestion he had avoided the confrontation. Joshua asserted: “I’ve never had a problem getting in the ring with you. I punched you when we were kids. After watching you tonight, I’d do it again. I run the game, you know I run the game. I’m a serious fighter. I’m very strong. When I hit Fury, I’m going to hurt him.”
He also acknowledged the emotional impact of a tragic car accident in Nigeria last December, which claimed the lives of two close friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami. Joshua confirmed, “I’m not ducking anyone. Once I’m 100 per cent, I’ll fight.”
Fury, meanwhile, issued an ultimatum during his post-fight press conference, claiming he has already signed a contract for their potential bout. He expressed frustration, threatening to walk away from the sport permanently if the Joshua showdown fails to materialize: “If it ain’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m not interested in boxing. I’ll eat a 1,000 Easter eggs, go up to 35 stone, I’m out. It’s either him or I’m gone again.”
As both fighters navigate their respective paths, the anticipation for a potential clash between these two British heavyweights intensifies, with the implications for both their legacies hanging in the balance. After all, the boxing world thrives on rivalries, and this one could define a generation.
