Following Tyson Fury’s recent loss to Oleksandr Usyk, fellow Brit Anthony Joshua has insisted that a long-awaited clash against ‘The Gypsy King’ ‘has to happen’.
For almost the entire time that both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury were at the peak of their powers, British boxing fans continuously called for a clash between the two behemoths.
Back in 2021 seemed the most likely time for them to fight as they both held their share of the four major heavyweight titles but it unfortunately didn’t come to fruition. They both signed their sides of a deal but then Deontay Wilder exercised his rematch clause with Fury.
Although they are now both coming off the back of losses and nearing the ends of their careers, now may be as good a time as any.
Anthony Joshua sets a deadline for Tyson Fury clash
This past December, ‘The Gypsy King’ suffered his second loss in a row to the consensus pound-for-pound number one, Usyk, which had fans concerned that he might hang up the gloves.
Despite that, Joshua believes an all-British clash ‘has to happen’ and has given a deadline for the potential bout.
“I’ve been involved in a whole lot of fights, but this fight has to happen in 2025,” Joshua told Sportboom during a visit to Nigeria this week.
“Of course it has to happen and, hopefully, it does happen. Time is limited. So, I just want to put in more work. Time is of the essence. In 2024, when I look back, I believe I could have done more, and I have another chance in 2025 to do more.
“I’m going to make sure that I take every opportunity that comes my way. I’m going to go again. Ups and downs, they happen. To some people, it’s always up. My life is up and down, so I have to get used to the turbulent times and keep riding the wave,” he continued.
Fellow power puncher, Wilder, also teased that he is looking for a return in 2025 after a disappointing 2024. Fans once salivated at the thought of a fight between Joshua and Wilder but that ship also seems to have sailed.
Is there much fan interest in Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua anymore?
When the two were at the peak of their powers, it was one of the most called-for fights in boxing, no matter the weight class.
Now they are both coming off losses and nearing their career ends, it is fair to say there is far less interest in the potential fight.
With the growing influence of Turki Alalshikh in the boxing world, it is a fight that would likely garner little interest if it was scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia. It is a clash that would undoubtedly need to happen in front of a sold-out Wembley crowd in the UK.
Despite fans having called for Joshua to retire, his recent words affirm that he definitely will not be doing that any time soon.
“I can’t stop now. I have to keep going until I reach my destination.”