Joshua has Fury in sights as a fall-back
ANTHONY JOSHUA is holding the doors to Wembley Stadium ajar for Tyson Fury as his preferred fall-back opponent for a megafight next spring.
As Joshua launched the big sell for the Wembley defence of his world heavyweight titles against Alexander Povetkin this September, he invited Fury to accelerate his comeback in case a deal with rival champion Deontay Wilder still cannot be reached for April 13.
Joshua versus Fury, a battle between the giants who defeated the legendary Wladimir Klischko, would easily reach the 100,000 capacity to which Wembley will expand for boxing in April.
‘I think Tyson can be ready by then if he wants,’ said Joshua. ‘It would be huge.’
There has been talk of Joshua’s old London rival Dillian Whyte replacing Wilder if he beats Joseph Parker in a non-title bout this Friday. But Joshua said: ‘I would be willing to fight Tyson but I would not be very willing to fight Dillian again. Tyson keeps calling me out and it is up to him whether he would be back to fight fitness.’
Fury, still only 29, has emerged from controversy to resume a career interrupted by depression and a drugs suspension following his world title victory over Klitschko in Germany two and a half years ago. He took off seven stones for an easy comeback victory over the comparatively small Sefer Seferi last month and will be in the ring again next month against Francesco Pianeta on the Carl Frampton undercard at Belfast’s Windsor Park.
Joshua said: ‘He still needs to lose another couple of stones. If I was his manager I would also want him to rack up another two or three fights quickly.’
That is Fury’s intention and the possibility of a multi-million pound purse for climbing back into the limelight should reinforce his resolve. Wilder, the WBC champion, is still the main attraction for a fight which would anoint the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis.
But after months of talks, the negotiations are becalmed between Joshua’s offer of $15million for a Wembley fight and Wilder’s demand of a 50-50 split from a spectacular which could gross up to $100m.
Joshua remains hopeful, saying: ‘The deal is still on the table, not dead. I think Wilder will come to terms. Not least because he believes he can beat me here and in a rematch in America, which would make him a global superstar.’
Joshua v Povetkin is live on Sky Sports Box Office on Saturday, September 22.