Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has dealt a significant blow to Anthony Joshua’s hopes of a blockbuster showdown after admitting he “can’t be f***ed” with boxing, casting further doubt on his potential return to the ring despite recent rankings speculation.
The 36-year-old “Gypsy King,” who announced his retirement in January following his second consecutive defeat to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, appears content with life away from the sport according to his cousin and trainer Andy Lee.
“(It’s) just the odd message here and there and he seems very happy. (He said), ‘Andy I’m not f****d.’ That’s what he said. ‘I couldn’t be f****d with it.’
“He’s very happy. As bad as it sounds, it depends what the figure is for Tyson. It has to motivate him to come out of retirement. He seems very happy,” Lee told iFL TV.
Fury’s latest retirement – at least his fifth during his illustrious career – had initially been taken with a pinch of salt by boxing fans and industry insiders, particularly after The Ring Magazine surprisingly reinstated him at number one in their heavyweight rankings last month despite his announced departure from the sport.
The British fighter’s inclusion in the prestigious rankings, placing him behind only unified champion Usyk but ahead of IBF champion Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker, had fuelled speculation about a potential comeback for a long-awaited £200 million showdown with bitter rival Joshua.
Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has made no secret of his desire to stage the all-British heavyweight clash that has been years in the making.
Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Alalshikh revealed, “I want Tyson (next for Joshua). I spoke with him, but I didn’t talk about boxing. I just check about his health and his family. I think maybe he’ll return. Yes, (I think he will return), I hope so.”
Joshua, who has climbed from seventh to fifth in The Ring’s heavyweight rankings despite not fighting since his knockout defeat to Dubois at Wembley last September, has expressed interest in facing his long-time rival.
“I feel like it’s the best fight (for me),” Joshua told iFL TV.
“People might say Parker, people might say – I don’t know. But I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.”
“You could say it’s been years in the making. But listen, the heavyweight division has been thriving. And why I say it’s probably still a great fight is as I said Parker is, for me, a great story of someone that never gives up. And the thing is, there is going to be one winner and one loser. And there’s going to be blood shed. And it ain’t gonna be mine.”
Joshua’s future remains uncertain after turning down the chance to fight Dubois for a second time, citing fitness concerns. With Dubois now focused on securing a rematch with Usyk after their 2023 clash, Joshua appears to be temporarily out in the cold.
