Anthony Joshua has hit back at long-time rival Tyson Fury, calling him a “clout chaser” after Fury publicly challenged him to a fight following his victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
Fury, fresh from a dominant win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, used his post-fight moment in the ring to call out Joshua in front of the crowd, urging him to agree immediately to 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 was watching from ringside, declined to enter the ring and later responded sharply, accusing Fury of seeking publicity rather than a genuine agreement.
“Tyson… you’re a clout chaser. Tyson I’ve never had no problem getting in the ring with you, I punched you out when we were kids, and after seeing you in the ring tonight I’d punch you up again, Joshua said.
“With all due respect tonight is your night and you 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 not a 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 is both 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 is just things in my life I need to tend to,” he said
“I am sorting some things out. My brothers, their parents, the brotherhood of taking care of things. That is the priority right now,” he concluded.
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