Unpacking the Fury-Joshua Rivalry: A Fight Still Waiting to Happen

The long-standing rivalry between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has been a quintessential example of anticipation-turned-frustration. Despite the clock being turned back, the hopes of an all-British showdown have been fuelled and fizzled in a matter of hours. The scene was set for a potential fight announcement, with boxing power-broker Turki Alalshikh promising a 'big surprise' ahead of Fury's comeback victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov. However, Joshua refused to play along, and the two fighters have been here before. The stand-off resumed, with both fighters believing they are the face of British boxing. Joshua dubbed Fury a 'clout-chaser' and insisted he remained the 'boss', while Fury demanded a 'yes or no' answer. The fight remains reliant on the fine print of a contract, with both fighters wanting it on their terms. Fury utilised his main event spotlight to incite a narrative that might point to him as a chief influence in pushing for the bout, but Joshua swatted away suggestions that anything had been signed. The pair had looked on course to fight in 2021, but a judge ruled that Deontay Wilder was entitled to a trilogy clash against Fury. Both have since underlined their desire to fight each other, but nothing has come to fruition. Fury questioned what the 'hold up' was to a fight with Joshua, but one answer is the extended period of recovery and healing Joshua deserves following a car crash in Nigeria. Joshua is right to dictate the timing of his activity, and Fury must know that. The tragedy occurred just days after Joshua defeated YouTube star Jake Paul in Miami, and Joshua's potential need for a warm-up fight is another factor. Fury's performance against Makhmudov was dominant but unimpressive, and it is unclear how much was learned about Fury on Saturday. Wilder's name has re-entered the fold as another potential opponent for Joshua, but the Bronze Bomber is 40 years old and a shadow of his former self. The question remains - does anybody still care about a Fury-Joshua fight? The answer is yes, as the boxing world still cares, and the fight could break viewership records. However, the reality that neither fighter is what they once were paints a difficult-to-project fight.