Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua believes Tyson Fury will still make a return to the world of boxing, however, only when a huge fight is presented to him.
Joshua is on course to lock horns against Oleksandr Usyk in their title rematch on August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Joshua was outboxed by the Ukrainian boxer in London last September, relinquishing the WBA Super, IBF, IBO, and WBO titles simultaneously at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
With the focus for Joshua now on clinching the belts for the third time in his career, the British boxer reckons that Fury will only return to the ring if a fight with huge financial backing comes around the corner.
“I feel retirement doesn’t mean you have completely given up and you are on the beach clicking your toes and drinking a bottle of Corona.
“I feel he is still ticking over, and he will come back if the right fight is presented to him.”
“If Fury will come out and honor the gentleman’s agreement there is a lot of money to be made. I know that money could help a lot of people as well,”.
Fury has enjoyed memorable wins in his recent fights, including a win over Dillian Whyte in front of a record-breaking crowd at the Wembley Stadium. He stopped the Brixton fighter in six rounds in front of a crowd of 94,000 fans in attendance.
PUNCH Sports Extra reported in July that Fury has also said that he will return to fight Joshua for free as long as his conditions are met.
“The fight has got to be for free,” Fury said in an Instagram post.
“Free-to-air on television and all tickets go for free. No money is to be made off of this British, historic fight if it happens.” But Joshua is not convinced that Fury has retired or that he wants a fight without money. “If Fury would honor the boxers’ agreement and come out of retirement because ultimately, going back to boxing, what is at my core? It’s about the money,” Joshua said.
