Tyson Fury targets Anthony Joshua fight following comeback victory
Tyson Fury has targeted a long-awaited domestic showdown with Anthony Joshua in 2026 after launching his latest boxing comeback with a points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London on Saturday.
The 36-year-old heavyweight immediately called out his British rival following the comprehensive win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A clash between the two domestic giants has been negotiated for over a decade without coming to fruition.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has predicted that finally staging the bout would create the richest fight in boxing history, potentially generating purses exceeding £100m for both men.
The Joshua showdown
The pair exchanged words at ringside at the weekend, though no official agreement was reached.
The Gypsy King insists he has already signed a contract for the matchup, but his fellow Briton remains non-committal.
The former Olympic champion has only fought once in the last 19 months, securing a victory over internet personality Jake Paul in December.
His last major competitive appearance ended in a devastating fifth-round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024.
The Watford-born fighter also suffered a personal tragedy in December when a fatal car crash in Nigeria claimed the lives of two close friends.
“Once I’m 100 per cent, I’ll fight.”
That brief statement from Joshua suggests the heavyweight is still taking time away from the sport to process the recent tragedy.
Usyk trilogy or retirement
If negotiations for a domestic blockbuster fail, the Morecambe-based fighter declared that only a third bout with Oleksandr Usyk would prevent him from returning to retirement.
The Ukrainian master currently holds the WBC, WBA, and IBF world titles after handing his British rival the only two defeats of his professional career.
Both previous encounters resulted in points victories for the unified champion following 24 rounds of ferociously competitive action.
Despite the undisputed champion’s clear dominance in their previous meetings, the British challenger continues to dispute those decisions.
However, public appetite for a third instalment appears limited compared to the monumental appeal of an all-British clash.
Fresh faces in the division
Following his victory in north London, the returning heavyweight was adamant he would walk away entirely if neither marquee fight could be secured.
He explicitly dismissed any interest in facing the younger generation of fighters currently rising through the heavyweight ranks.
Despite these claims, a lucrative opportunity could present itself when knockout specialists Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois clash in Manchester on May 9.
The winner of that domestic dust-up will claim the WBO belt, potentially tempting the veteran back into the ring for a chance to become a three-time world champion.
Capturing another world title would significantly increase his bargaining power in any future negotiations with the heavyweight elite.
