Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua still miles apart on mega-fight

Tyson Fury says he has signed a contract to face Anthony Joshua and will retire if the fight does not happen next, but Joshua is not playing along with the ultimatum.

After Fury beat Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 11 April, the Gypsy King leaned over the ropes and waved Joshua toward him. Joshua stayed ringside. Fury later told reporters he wanted Joshua in the ring to build hype. "He didn't want the smoke," Fury said, as the BBC reported. "Ten years in the making and still there's uncertainty if it's going to happen next."

Joshua cites December tragedy amid fight pressure

Joshua reminded viewers that a car crash in December killed two of his close friends, which shifted the emotional stakes around his return. "I was in a serious incident maybe four months ago," he said, per the BBC. The timing leaves Joshua ring-rusty — his only bout in the past 18 months came against Jake Paul — while Fury just completed 12 rounds against a live puncher. Some observers argue Joshua should take a warm-up before stepping into the circus that comes with a Fury clash.

Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi promoter who has bankrolled heavyweight boxing's biggest cards, spoke before and after Saturday's fight as if the announcement was a formality. Netflix, which broadcast Fury's comeback, even posted that the all-British showdown would happen in autumn before promoter Frank Warren walked it back. Fury insisted he has a three-fight deal for the year but only wants one opponent. "If it isn't AJ next, I'm not interested in boxing again," he said.

The fight has been in development since 2016 with no contract ever finalised. The sport already lived through the cautionary tale of Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao, which broke records when it finally landed but disappointed on every other level. Croke Park, with room for 80,000, has emerged as a leading venue if the parties can bridge the gap this time.

Source: bbc.com