Anthony Joshua Refuses to Commit to Tyson Fury Fight After Public Call-Out

Anthony Joshua has stated that he will 'probably' face Tyson Fury in his next bout, but he has refused to accept Fury's immediate demands for a highly anticipated British heavyweight showdown later this year. Joshua was in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening to watch Fury defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov. Following the decision, Fury issued a challenge to Joshua, saying 'Next, I want to give you the fight you've all been waiting for... I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let's give the fight fans what they want - the Battle of Britain.' However, Joshua remained unimpressed and unwilling to commit to the fight on Fury's terms. 'I've never had a problem getting in the ring with you,' Joshua replied. 'With all due respect, tonight is your night and you know I'll be across that ring from you in due time. 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 engage in negotiations in the middle of the stadium, instead preferring to discuss the fight through official contract negotiations. In an interview, Joshua clarified his stance, stating '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. Contracts will be sent over. We'll go through the nitty-gritty and you'll probably see us in the ring next, more than likely.' A bout between Joshua and Fury has been discussed for years but has yet to materialize. The two fighters were set to face each other in 2021 for the undisputed heavyweight champion title, but Deontay Wilder exercised a rematch clause, leading to a third bout between him and Fury instead. Joshua has stated that he is not interested in 'clout-chasing' and will only commit to the fight once the contracts are signed. 'I've been here a million times,' Joshua added. '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.' Fury's approach to the negotiations has been criticized by Joshua, who believes that his rival's frequent retirements and comebacks have hindered the progress of the fight. 'He's the one that retired, I've been in the game and never retired,' Joshua said. 'It's on him. He disappears and comes back. I'm standing strong. I'm not here to chase fame or hype. I'll fight whoever is in front of me, whether it's him or the next person, it don't matter to me.' Joshua has only fought once since losing to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, and has been dealing with the aftermath of a serious car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. He has stated that his focus is on his personal life and his return to the ring, and will not be rushed into committing to the fight with Fury. 'I was just in a serious incident four months ago, so I need to check out what's going on with my return to the ring,' Joshua said. 'I'm here and keeping my eye in the game. 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. There's also real stuff going on in my life that I have to tend to. Once I'm 100 per cent, I'll be ready.'