Anthony Joshua rates chances of Tyson Fury fight happening next

Anthony Joshua believes it is ‘more than likely’ that he will fight Tyson Fury next.

Fury ended his 16-month retirement and returned to the ring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night to beat Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov via unanimous decision.

After his comeback victory, Fury directly called out Joshua who was sat ringside but refused to step in the ring to go head-to-head.

‘Next I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for, I want you, Anthony Joshua, let’s give the fight fans what they want,’ Fury said.

‘I challenge you Anthony Joshua to fight me, the Gypsy King, next. Do you accept my challenge?’

Joshua, who remained in his seat, replied: ‘Tyson I never had no problem getting in the ring with you.

‘I punched you up when we were kids and after watching you tonight, I’ll punch you up again.

‘With all due respect, tonight is your night and you know I’ll sit across that ring from you in due time.

‘You ain’t gonna 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, I’m the boss, I’m the landlord, remember that, you work for me.’

Speaking to Netflix after their ringside exchange, Joshua added: ‘I’m going to be completely honest, there’s a negotiation you go through, I’ve sat at this table with him many times.

‘In my heart, I’ll fight Tyson Fury tomorrow, especially after watching that, there’s no problem with me fighting, this is what I do, but I’m not going to sit here and say, ‘I’m fighting’, I’m not here to get clout.

‘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.

‘I’m not here to start getting in the ring next and shouting in someone’s face, look at my track record, I’ve never done that, I’m not here for clout, I wanted to watch the fight, I saw what I saw and I know what I’ve got to do when I get him in the ring.’

‘He’s the one that retired, I’ve been in the game and never retired, I’ve been standing strong for the last 13 years, it’s on him isn’t it, he disappears and comes back, I’m standing strong, I’m not here to chase fame or chase hype, I’m a real person, I’ll fight whoever is in front of me, whether it’s him or the next person, it doesn’t matter to me, I’m always in big fights, that’s just my style, that’s why I said to him he works for me.’

Asked if he will have a warm-up fight before Fury, Joshua replied: ‘Good question, both options, that looks like it could be a warm-up fight after what I saw tonight but we’ll see.

‘I was in a serious incident four months ago so I need to check out what’s going on with my return to the ring.

‘I’m here, I’m keeping my eye in the game, there’s real stuff in my life, I’m not ducking anyone, I know what my job is, I know what I need to do, but there’s real stuff happening in my life that I also need to attend to, and once I’m 100 per cent, I’ll be ready, 100 per cent, this is what I do, I run the game, everyone knows I run the game, I’m serious fighter, I’m very strong as well and I think when I hit Fury I’ll hurt him bad.

‘If he’s serious, you’ll see him in the ring, I’m a very serious person, you’ll see me in the ring 100 per cent, whether it’s against him or not, the ball will be in his court.

‘I’ve been here a million times, once my name and signature is on the dotted line then there’s a fight, at the minute there’s nothing on the dotted line, neither is his, if I’m honest with you there’s no fight right now. I’ve been here three or four times now with Wilder and Fury, this is boring to me, I’ve been here loads of times.

‘I like his fighting style, I think he’s good but I don’t think he will be able to cope with me.’

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