Tyson Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) says he remains fully ready for a showdown with Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs), and believes AJ’s close work with Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) only gives the “Gypsy King” more motivation.
The long-discussed Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight picked up fresh momentum this week after Fury made it clear he still wants the all-British heavyweight clash, while taking a verbal shot at Joshua’s current connection to Oleksandr Usyk. Fury is scheduled to face hard-hitting heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) on April 11 in London, but he is already looking ahead to what could still be one of boxing’s biggest events.
That matters because Fury-Joshua has become one of the sport’s great unfinished blockbusters. For years, it was the fight that seemed inevitable in the heavyweight division, yet delays, losses, and title shakeups kept it from happening. In the American market, it still carries major appeal because it would finally settle a long-running debate over which former British standard-bearer has more left at the elite level.
Fury said his first job is to get past Makhmudov, but made it clear that Joshua remains firmly on his radar. He also mocked the idea that having Usyk in Joshua’s corner would make any difference, adding that he would happily bring Lennox Lewis into his own corner if needed. In classic Fury fashion, he framed the matchup as one in which Joshua would still have no answer for him.
The fight would carry real consequences for the division. A Fury win would restore some of the aura he lost after the Usyk setbacks and put him back in position for another massive payday or even renewed title relevance. A Joshua win, though, would dramatically reshape the heavyweight picture and give him the signature victory that has eluded him since his second reign ended.
Joshua is currently training in the same gym as Usyk under Igor Golub, with his return tentatively targeted for July. That subplot adds intrigue, but the bigger question is whether both men can keep winning long enough to finally get this rivalry into the ring. For now, all eyes shift to London on April 11, where Fury has to handle business before the heavyweight division can dream bigger.
