Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua still at odds after Makhmudov win

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remain stuck in the same impasse that has defined their rivalry for more than a decade, even after Fury dispatched Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11. Fury insisted his team signed a contract for an all-British heavyweight clash while Joshua has yet to put pen to paper, per the BBC's Mike Costello. Backstage, Fury said Joshua "didn't want the smoke" and questioned why the former two-time champion refused to enter the ring when called out.

Joshua stayed ringside during the callout, deflecting pressure by referencing a December car accident that killed two close friends. "I was in a serious incident maybe four months ago," he told viewers, according to the BBC report. Fury had leaned over the ropes and beckoned Joshua towards him, but the power struggle played out as it has before — with neither man willing to follow the other's script.

What happens if Fury-Joshua talks collapse again

Fury went further in his ultimatum. "If it isn't AJ next, I'm not interested in boxing again. It's either him or I'm gone," he said. The Gypsy King claimed he has a three-fight deal for 2026 but wants only one opponent. Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh had spoken before and after the Makhmudov fight as if a contract signing was imminent, though Netflix prematurely announced the bout on social media before Frank Warren walked it back.

Joshua may opt for an interim fight before committing to Fury. The two-time champion has faced only YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the past 18 months, while Fury just completed 12 rounds against a dangerous puncher. A lower-stakes contest could let Joshua find rhythm without the spotlight that comes with a Fury build-up, though Fury dismissed that path by noting "you can get chinned by anyone."

Croke Park in Dublin has emerged as a possible venue if the fight materialises, with its 80,000-plus capacity appealing to promoters. The streaming platform behind Fury's return — Netflix — will soon release viewing figures that could show the Makhmudov bout drew one of the biggest UK boxing audiences in years. Fury's comeback landed hours before season two of At Home with the Furys dropped on the service.

Source: bbc.com