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 has refused to commit to the highly anticipated fight after being called out by his rival. Joshua was in attendance to watch Fury defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and after the fight, Fury challenged him to a showdown, 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 10 years and will not be told what to do. 'I'm the boss, you work for me,' Joshua said, adding that he wants to agree to the fight through official contract negotiations rather than in the middle of a packed stadium. Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, also refused to get into the ring, and instead, Joshua clarified his stance in an interview with Netflix, saying that he wants to fight Fury, but will not be rushed into an agreement. A bout between Joshua and Fury has been mooted for years, but has never come to fruition, with their previous attempt at a fight in 2021 being scuppered when Deontay Wilder exercised a rematch clause. Joshua has been dealing with personal issues, including a serious car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of his friends, and says that his focus is on his return to the ring and his personal life. 'I'm not here to get clout, I'm here to fight,' Joshua said, adding that he will fight Fury when the time is right, but will not be pressured into an agreement.