Joshua and Fury clash after ringside showdown
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua reignited talk of a long-awaited heavyweight clash on Saturday night, trading insults in a tense post-fight exchange that quickly became the main story at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Moments after securing a unanimous decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Fury grabbed a microphone and called out Joshua directly in front of the crowd.
“I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me next. Do you accept?” Fury said, before branding his rival a “s***house.”
Joshua, who had been watching from ringside alongside promoter Eddie Hearn, fired back immediately.
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“I punched you up when we were kids and I’ll punch you up again,” he said. “You aren’t going to tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for 10 years.
“I’m the boss, you work for me. I’m the landlord. You work for me.”
The confrontation loud, personal and long overdue shifted attention away from the fight itself and onto the possibility that Britain’s two biggest heavyweights could finally meet in the ring.
Build-up and ringside presence
Joshua and Hearn had been seated close to the action throughout the night as Fury controlled Makhmudov across 12 rounds.
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Speculation had already been building before the fight. Speaking during the Netflix broadcast, Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh hinted that a major announcement could be on the way.
“Today we have a big surprise. I hope we announce the biggest fight in the history of England,” he said, while also suggesting Wembley Stadium as a potential venue.
Joshua focused on next move
Earlier in the evening, Joshua told Netflix’s Anna Woolhouse that his focus remained firmly on securing a major fight.
“Fans have come out to see the British boxers. It’s been a really good undercard. Boxing is thriving in the UK,” he said.
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“I’ve got my eyes on the prize, 100%. You know what I’m here for. It’s been a long time coming. Tyson Fury has been out for a long time and he’s back now. I’ll be in the deep end really soon.”
When asked about a potential fight with Fury, Joshua added: “The plan is right hand, left hook, right hand, left hook until something connects. I am a very powerful guy and very hungry.”
Footage shared by Netflix Sports also showed Joshua recording parts of Fury’s performance on his phone, prompting a light-hearted comment from commentator David Haye that he could rewatch it in high definition later.
What happens next
Despite the exchange in the ring, Joshua said afterward that no contract had been signed, leaving uncertainty over whether the bout will materialize next.
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Still, with both fighters now publicly calling each other out, and promoters openly discussing venues, momentum behind a potential showdown appears stronger than it has been in years.
Sources: Netflix broadcast, Netflix Sports
