Tyson Fury has reignited the long-standing ‘Battle of Britain’ rivalry by officially challenging Anthony Joshua to a heavyweight showdown immediately following a successful comeback victory.
According to Sky Sports, Fury secured a unanimous decision over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before grabbing a microphone to demand a “yes or no” answer from Joshua, who was watching from ringside.
“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for,” Fury roared to cheers from the fans in London.
“I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let’s give the fight fans what they want – the Battle of Britain. I challenge you Anthony Joshua to fight me, the Gypsy King, next. Do you accept my challenge?”
While Fury claimed he has already signed for the bout and warned that it is “now or never,” Joshua remained notably measured and refused to confirm a commitment in the ring, later describing Fury to Netflix Sports as a “clout chaser” and asserting his own position by stating, “I’m the landlord. You work for me”.
“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.
“I’m the boss, you work for me. I’m the landlord. Remember that. You work for me,” Joshua replied.
Also Read: Anthony Joshua wants to defeat Tyson Fury in 2025
The potential mega-fight, which could be worth an estimated £150 million according to BusinessDay, comes as both fighters look to rebuild their storied careers.
Reports from The Mirror indicate that despite years of stalled negotiations, there is renewed momentum for a clash as early as November 2026, with Dublin’s Croke Park or London’s Wembley Stadium mentioned as possible venues.
BBC Sport reports that Fury has threatened to retire permanently if the Joshua fight does not materialize, while Joshua is still navigating his return to the ring following a tragic car accident in Nigeria in late 2025 that claimed the lives of two close associates.
Negotiations for the fight remain fluid, with Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, noting that while the two heavyweights are closer than ever to an agreement, Joshua may still consider a “warm-up” bout before diving into the massive British showdown.
Despite the ringside tension and verbal barbs, Flashscore reports that Saudi official Turki Al-Sheikh has also been active in pushing for the matchup, calling it “the biggest fight in the history of England” and hinting that major announcements could be forthcoming through Netflix later this year.
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