Why has Anthony Joshua never fought Tyson Fury? Could they clash in the future?
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury might finally go head-to-head in a potential Battle of Britain clash in 2025.
The heavyweight rivals seemed destined to finally face off in recent years before it was twice scuppered to leave fans in the cold.
The pair first signed contracts to meet in August 2021 for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles in Saudi Arabia.
But a court of arbitration ruled that Fury had to battle Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout instead.
The Gypsy King KO’d Wilder but Joshua was forced to face his mandatory Oleksandr Usyk and was dethroned as a result.
In 2022, despite losing the rematch with the Ukrainian, AJ was invited back to the table for a December matchup with Fury.
The pair agreed financial terms, but talks collapsed at contract stages and Fury went onto beat Derek Chisora instead.
The WBC champion began ultimately fruitless negotiations to face Joshua’s conqueror Usyk in an undisputed world title showdown.
But with Saudi Arabia uniting Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, we could finally get Joshua taking on Fury, and it might be for all the belts.
Here is what we know…
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Fury vs Joshua: Latest
Saudi Arabia’s head of boxing, Turki Alalshikh, confirmed he is determined to make this fight finally happen.
Of course, there are two huge bouts that could decide whether or not Fury and AJ face each other.
First, Joshua takes on Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title before Usyk and Fury have their rematch.
Should both Brits win, they would meet in potentially the biggest fight in heavyweight history.
However, as long as one of the duo win, the bout should still go ahead.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Alalshikh said: “For the business, of course, it will be a huge fight if Joshua wins.
“His third time [winning] a world title and [after] the result of Usyk vs Fury it will be a huge fight.
“But you don’t know about the future. Imagine Tyson after the fight with Usyk wants to retire.
“I will give him the offer, but if he refuses, what can I do?
“If Usyk wins, still I want to see Fury vs Joshua if they accept.
“I will not try to do the third fight [between Usyk and Joshua] before having Fury vs Joshua.
“But I want to see Fury vs Joshua and the world wants to see Fury vs Joshua.”
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Fury vs Joshua: What has been said?
After a big comeback from Joshua in which he’s beaten Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou, he finally has a chance to become a three-time world champion against Dubois.
And while he hasn’t ruled out fighting Fury, he’s insisted he can’t wait around forever for the Gypsy King.
“It’s a fight that’s been brewing for a long time.
“I can’t wait until I’m 50 to fight Fury because I’d have had so many wars, I can’t sit around and wait, I’ve got to continue to fight.
“Let’s just get the fight on while we’re fresh – how many wars do I have to have before I get to Fury? Let’s go.”
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Fury vs Joshua: Professional records
Fury is no longer unbeaten after Usyk ended that run via split decision in May 2024.
That leaves his record at 34-1-1.
Before Usyk, the dramatic draw with Wilder in December 2018 was the only blip on record.
Joshua has now had 31 fights, but his copy book has blemished by three defeats to Andy Ruiz Jr and then Usyk twice.
He has still claimed 25 victories by the way of knockout, with five coming inside the first round.
Fury vs Joshua: Weight, height and reach
Fury’s weight has tumbled since his comeback to the ring – coming in at 262lbs [118.8kg] against Usyk, which was 15lbs lighter than for his fight against Ngannou.
The 36-year-old, who fights from an orthodox stance, is 6ft 9in (206cm) and has a reach of 85in (216 cm).
Joshua weighed in at 252.4lbs [114.4kg], which was just a pound heavier than when he fought Wallin.
The 34-year-old also stands at an imposing 6ft 6 (198cm) and has a reach of 82in (208cm).
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Fury vs Joshua: Net-worths
At the start of 2024, Fury was estimated to be worth £40 million by Forbes.
However, he’s since banked £116 million for fighting Usyk.
As for Joshua, he’s earned over £200 million from boxing alone.
On top of this, he’s earned £100 million from a new fight contract with DAZN.