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 has refused to commit to the highly anticipated fight after being challenged by his rival. Following Fury's victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he immediately called out Joshua, saying "I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let's give the fight fans what they want - the Battle of Britain." However, Joshua remained calm and composed, stating that he has never had a problem getting in the ring with Fury, but will not be told what to do. He said, "You ain't going to tell me what to do. I've been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you're ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions and I'll have you in the ring when I'm ready." Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, also refused to get into the ring, instead opting to negotiate the fight through official contract talks. In an interview, Joshua clarified his stance, saying "In my heart I'll fight Tyson Fury tomorrow, especially after watching that. It's not a problem with me fighting, but I'm not here to get clout, I'm here to fight." A bout between Joshua and Fury has been in the works for years, but has yet to come to fruition. The two boxers were set to fight in 2021, but the bout was cancelled after Deontay Wilder exercised a rematch clause. Joshua has stated that he is not interested in chasing fame or hype, and will only fight when the terms are right. He said, "I'm not here to clout-chase. Once my name and signature is on the dotted line then it's a fight. At the minute there's nothing on the dotted line." The highly anticipated fight between Joshua and Fury is expected to happen eventually, but for now, the wait continues.