Anthony Joshua has called out Tyson Fury after his victory over Jake Paul, with boxing legend Lennox Lewis revealing on Netflix that the British heavyweights’ fight has ‘been signed’
British boxing legend Lennox Lewis has dropped a major hint that a showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is already locked in. The former three-time world champion was on Netflix commentary duties for Joshua’s clash with YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Paul managed to survive six rounds before Joshua delivered a devastating right hook. The blow brought the contest to an abrupt end, with the American later discovered to have sustained a double jaw fracture, wrapping up what many fight fans dismissed as nothing more than a cash grab.
Joshua wasted little time in calling out the sport’s elite names following his victory. He specifically targeted long-time rival and ex-heavyweight king Fury as his preferred next opponent.
He said: “If Tyson is as serious as he thinks he is, if he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves, and come and fight in the ring, take a challenge.
“Step in the ring with me next if you’re a real bad boy, don’t give all that talking, AJ this, AJ that, let’s see you in the ring and talk with your fists.”
In responding to Joshua’s challenge, Lewis may have inadvertently revealed the bout is much closer to being finalised than previously believed. He said: “It’s the fight we are waiting for.
“Both are talking about it, the fight has been signed, so that is what we are waiting for next. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, one of the biggest fights in British history, it is going to happen.”
Despite years of war of words between the duo, a mega-money showdown has still failed to materialise. Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, disclosed that his star fighter is plotting a return in the coming months, with his sights set on a clash with Fury next summer.
Yet just weeks following his second defeat to Usyk, ‘The Gypsy King’ sent shockwaves through the boxing community by declaring his retirement. Nevertheless, in recent months, Fury has hinted at a potential comeback by sharing multiple training footage clips across social media.
With speculation continuing to swirl around a Joshua versus Fury bout, former world champion Khan has weighed in on who would emerge victorious. “That would be a fantastic fight,” he said via Betway.
“Two British heavyweights, even though they don’t have a title now, I think it is a fight that the fans want to see. It would be the dream.
“Styles make fights. A boxer vs a puncher – the contrast draws attention, and it would be a fantastic fight.
“Anthony Joshua has the six-pack, the big arms and everything – whereas you look at Tyson Fury and you’d think it is a mismatch for Joshua, but that would be an incredible fight and a 50/50 fight.
“Tyson Fury’s a beast; he is unpredictable, and you never underestimate him. One thing about Tyson Fury is that he can pull it out of the bag.
“When he needs to perform and put on a good show, he always does it. That is why people love to watch him, and that is why he puts bums on seats.
“That’s why he has been paid so well from the Riyadh Season by Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia because he takes risky fights and has done so well. Tyson thrives under pressure, puts on a show. That’s why people watch him.”