JOSHUA FIRES A WARNING TO WISHFUL FURY
ANTHONY JOSHUA has warned Tyson Fury to be “careful what he wishes for”.
The WBA, IBF and WBO champion insists he is ready to face Fury later this year in a potential £250million clash for the title of undisputed heavyweight king.
Before that, both Brits must win their next fights.
Joshua, 30, defends his belts against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20.
While 31-year-old Fury, below, must put his WBC crown on the line against Deontay Wilder in a second rematch, which is pencilled in for Las Vegas on July 18.
Joshua said:
“The fight can happen when Tyson Fury gets past his third match with Deontay Wilder and when I get past my next match with Kubrat Pulev.
“If Fury wants that fight to happen, he’ll make it happen.
“We’re keen, we always like to put on big events and cater for the boxing community, so that’s something that we’ll take really seriously.
“But he has to be careful what he wishes for because the young gunners are coming up and we will definitely take that Tyson Fury challenge with both hands.”
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said last week he has held talks with Fury’s
US promoter Bob Arum about a December clash. But both Arum and Fury’s UK promoter Frank Warren denied any discussions have taken place.
It would be the biggest fight in British boxing history if the two secure a deal and put all four of their world heavyweight titles on the line.
Fury taunted Joshua this month claiming he was only holding on to his belts temporarily.
‘The Gypsy King’ beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to win the WBA, IBF and WBO titles. He was stripped of the IBF belt while preparing for a rematch with Klitschko.
Fury then relinquished the other two belts in the midst of his battle with UK Anti-Doping and cocaine and alcohol addictions.
He returned to the ring in 2018 and faced Wilder after just two comeback bouts.
Fury picked himself off the canvas twice in their first meeting which was judged a draw before a devastating display in their rematch last month when he stopped the American in the seventh round.
However, Joshua said: “He’s had two good fights in his career, against Klitschko and Wilder and he’s managed to win them both so he’s on a high right now. Congratulations to him on his last performance.”