AJ Refuses to Commit to Fury Showdown After Being Called Out

Anthony Joshua has stated that he will 'probably' face Tyson Fury in his next bout, but he has refused to commit to the highly anticipated fight after being called out by his rival. Following Fury's victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Gypsy King immediately challenged Joshua to a fight, but the latter remained non-committal. Joshua, who was in attendance at the event, replied that he has never had a problem fighting Fury and that he will face him when the time is right. He emphasized that he will not be told what to do and that he is the one in charge. Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, also declined to engage in negotiations in the ring, instead preferring to discuss the fight through official contract negotiations. The potential bout between Joshua and Fury, two of the greatest heavyweights of their generation, has been in the works for years but has yet to materialize. In 2021, the two fighters had agreed to fight for the undisputed heavyweight champion title, but the bout was cancelled after Deontay Wilder exercised a rematch clause. Joshua has stated that he is not interested in engaging in a war of words with Fury and that he will only commit to the fight once the contracts have been signed. The fighter has been dealing with personal issues, including a serious car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of his friends, and he has stated that his focus is on his return to the ring and his personal life. Fury, on the other hand, has been guiding an industry-changing venture into boxing and has been teasing an announcement about the biggest fight in the history of England. The fight between Joshua and Fury is expected to be one of the biggest bouts in boxing history, but it remains to be seen when and if it will take place.