Tyson Fury has demanded that Anthony Joshua accept his challenge and fight him next.
Fury revealed that he has signed for the all-British mega-fight, but that AJ, his great rival, is yet to agree to their heavyweight showdown.
“I don’t want to put no deadlines on it,” Fury declared. “He either wants to do it or he doesn’t.
“Now or never.”
Ever since Fury first became a world champion, back in 2015, and Anthony Joshua rocketed through the professional ranks after his Olympic triumph at London 2012, the clamour to see the two finally square off has only grown.
Over the years that fight has come close to being made and it seemed on the brink of confirmation after Fury won his comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night.
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Tyson Fury grabbed the mic and bellowed a challenge for Anthony Joshua to fight him next, but failed to get a clear answer from his rival.
Joshua was seated ringside at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and as soon as the fight was over, Fury addressed him directly, called on the fight and beckoned for Joshua to face off in the ring.
Joshua did not confirm that the fight with Fury was on and did not face off with his rival, though didn’t rule out it could still take place.
Fury however characterised that as hesitation and voiced his frustration. “Openly surprised. He was brought here tonight ringside for a reason, to get in that ring and make a face off and get the fight done. I’ve signed. I signed months ago. I don’t know if he signed,” Fury said.
“He was very evasive and didn’t give no definitive answers,” he continued. “I know one thing. He wasn’t saying yes.
“In my opinion he didn’t want no smoke. He didn’t want it. He didn’t look like he wanted it. He was just shell-shocked. Didn’t know what to say, He came ringside to make a fight. If it was me I’d have jumped in that ring, faced off, let’s get it on.
“10 years in the making and still, after all this time, there’s still uncertainty about if this fight’s going to happen next.”
Tyson Fury celebrates at the end of his fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov
To add to the confusion broadcaster Netflix posted on social media that Fury-AJ was set for the autumn.
Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager, said: “We don’t know about it.”
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said: “The only one who can confirm that is AJ.
“It’s one man holding the fight up.”
With his frustration mounting at his post-fight press conference, Fury went as far to claim: “If it isn’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m not interested in boxing.
“I’ll eat a thousand Easter eggs go up to 35 stone and I’m out, not interested. It’s either him or I’m gone again.
“I only care now about AJ. That’s the defining fight for British boxing. It’s either going to happen or it’s not.”
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