AJ Refuses to Commit to Fury Showdown After Being Called Out

Anthony Joshua has stated that he will likely face Tyson Fury in his next bout, but he refused to commit to the highly anticipated fight after Fury's immediate challenge following his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov. Joshua was present at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and watched Fury's win, after which Fury called him out, saying 'I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let's give the fight fans what they want - the Battle of Britain.' However, Joshua remained non-committal, stating that he has been chasing Fury for the past decade and will not be told what to do. 'I'm the boss, you work for me,' Joshua said. 'I'm the landlord. Remember that. You work for me.' Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, also declined to engage in discussions about the potential fight in the ring, instead preferring to negotiate through official channels. In an interview, Joshua clarified that he is willing to fight Fury but wants to agree to the bout through contract negotiations rather than in the heat of the moment. 'In my heart, I'll fight Tyson Fury tomorrow,' Joshua said. 'It's not a problem with me fighting, but I'm not here to get clout, I'm here to fight.' A potential bout between Joshua and Fury has been discussed for years but has yet to materialize. The two boxers were set to fight in 2021, but the bout was canceled after Deontay Wilder exercised a rematch clause. Joshua has only fought once since losing to Daniel Dubois in 2024 and is currently dealing with the aftermath of a serious car accident in Nigeria. He says his focus is on his personal life and confirming his next fight. 'I'm here and keeping my eye in the game,' Joshua said. 'There's real stuff happening in my life, I'm not ducking anybody. I know what my job is and I know what I have to do.'