Tyson Fury issues ultimatum over Anthony Joshua fight
Tyson Fury has issued an ultimatum that he will walk away from boxing permanently and let his weight soar to 35 stone if a showdown with Anthony Joshua fails to materialise, reports BritPanorama.
The Gypsy King made it clear that his future in the sport hinges entirely on securing the long-awaited Battle of Britain clash with his domestic rival. Speaking after his 12-round points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Fury stated, “Here’s the thing. If it ain’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m not interested in boxing. I’ll eat 1,000 Easter eggs, go up to 35 stone, I’m out.”
He further articulated his stance, adding, “I’m not interested in up-and-comers.” Fury’s comments signal a definitive stance on his career path, emphasizing that he is solely focused on fighting Joshua. However, he has left the door open for a third encounter with Oleksandr Usyk if Joshua declines, stating, “If AJ don’t want it, let’s get Usyk in the trilogy. BUT I need some f***ing fair play.”
Fury, now 37 years old, returned from a 16-month hiatus with a decisive points decision over Makhmudov at Tottenham’s £1 billion venue. Joshua, 36, was present at ringside, filming the action but responded to Fury’s call for an official face-off with a middle finger and a cold stare. Joshua is in the process of recuperating from injuries sustained in a car crash in Nigeria last December, where he lost two close acquaintances.
In a recent statement about his return to the ring, Joshua remarked, “We’ll see. I was just in a serious incident, maybe four months ago. There’s real stuff happening in my life. It’s not like I’m ducking no one. I know what my job is, I know what I’m here to do. Once I’m 100 percent, I’ll be ready.”
As the boxing world awaits developments, Fury’s insistence on a fight with Joshua underscores the significance of this potential match-up, not only for the fighters but for British boxing as a whole. Fury’s commitment—to either face Joshua or exit the sport entirely—reveals a confrontational edge that has long characterised his approach to the ring.
