British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua has hit back at Tyson Fury, calling him a “Clout chaser” after the heavyweight publicly challenged him to a fight following his victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
Following a dominant win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Fury used his post-fight moment in the ring to call out Joshua in front of the crowd, urging him to fight him in the long-awaited ‘Battle of Britain.’
“Next, I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for; I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua,” Fury said. “Let’s give the fight fans what they want.”
Joshua, who watched Fury from the crowd, declined to enter the ring and later responded sharply, accusing Fury of seeking publicity rather than a genuine agreement.
Joshua, who watched Fury from the crowd, declined to enter the ring and later responded sharply, accusing Fury of seeking publicity rather than a genuine agreement.
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“With all due respect, tonight is your night, and I’ll sit across the ring from you in due time. You ain’t gonna tell me what to do.
I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions. I’m the boss, you work for me. I’m the landlord, remember that, you work for me,” he added.
He added that while he is open to the bout, any agreement must go through formal negotiations rather than public pressure tactics.
Joshua said he would fight Fury “tomorrow” if terms are settled, but stressed that contracts and proper discussions must come first.
“There are negotiations that you go through. I have been at this table with him many times. In my heart, I’d fight Fury tomorrow, especially after watching that. There is no problem fighting him,” he said.
“I am not here to get clout. I am here to fight. The contract will be sent over, we will go through the nitty gritty, and you will probably see us in the ring next, more than likely – but I am not here to get in the ring, shouting in someone’s face.
“If you look at my track record, I have never done that. I came to watch the fight, I saw what I saw, and I know what I need to do,” he added.
The former heavyweight champion also revealed that personal matters and recovery from a serious incident four months ago are currently affecting his return timeline.
“Good question. There are two options. We’ll see. I was in a serious incident, maybe four months ago. I need to really check out what is going on with my return to the ring.
“But I’m here, keeping my eye on the game. I am not ducking anyone, there are just things in my life I need to tend to,” he said
“I am sorting some things out. My brothers, their parents, and the brotherhood of taking care of things. That is the priority right now,” he concluded.
