Fury Calls on Joshua to Prioritize Their Highly Anticipated Fight

Tyson Fury is pushing Anthony Joshua to focus on their long-awaited showdown, rather than considering a potential bout against Deontay Wilder. Fury and Joshua, both former world champions, have been engaged in a heated rivalry for years but have yet to face each other in the ring. Fury believes their blockbuster fight cannot be delayed any further, emphasizing the importance of scheduling it as soon as possible to avoid any potential setbacks. He expressed his thoughts on Joshua, saying, "I don't think he needs another tune-up fight. We should make this happen now, in case something unexpected occurs in the meantime." Fury noted that the fight between them has been put off numerous times over the past decade, with each instance resulting in one of them having another bout, only to have the planned fight derailed by injuries or other issues. Following Joshua's December match against Jake Paul and Fury's upcoming comeback bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov, Fury urged Joshua to commit to their fight, saying, "You've had your warm-up fight, and I'm having mine now. I've been out of the ring for 16 months, so let's make it happen. Let's get in the ring and settle this." Fury also dismissed the idea of Joshua facing Wilder, stating, "Forget about Wilder; the man is a shadow of his former self. Let me get through Saturday night, and we'll make our fight happen this year. I couldn't be more straightforward than that. Forget everyone else." He acknowledged the unpredictability of heavyweight boxing, where any fight can be challenging and a loss can be devastating. Fury also mentioned that he is unsure if Joshua will attend his fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, saying, "If he comes, that's great. If not, I understand. Everyone does what they must for themselves, especially in business." Fury's primary focus remains on his upcoming bout, after which he hopes to finalize a fight with Joshua, stating, "I want our fight to happen next, and I'm sure AJ feels the same way. For now, though, I need to take care of Arslanbek, and then we'll figure everything else out afterwards."