Fury wants to face Joshua after comeback fight

Tyson Fury says he wants to face long-term rival Anthony Joshua after his heavyweight comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday.

The 37-year-old faces the Russian at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his first outing for 16 months, having returned from his fifth retirement.

While an all-British super-fight against Joshua has eluded the sport for a generation, there is renewed hope the pair could finally meet in 2026.

"If it happens, great, if it doesn't happen, also great," Fury told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I've got Arslanbek Makhmudov to think of on Saturday night, but all going well [Joshua is] the fight I want next."

Joshua, 36, last fought in December, stopping Jake Paul in the sixth round of a sanctioned professional contest.

A bout with Fury was reportedly in the works following that victory, but plans were halted after Joshua was involved in a car crash in Nigeria late last year which claimed the lives of two of his close friends.

With Joshua expected to be ringside in north London on Saturday, promoter Eddie Hearn has suggested the Watford-born fighter is nearing a return to training.

Despite both men being into the twilight of their careers, Fury remains unfazed by Joshua's recent activity.

"I know he just had his fight with Jake Paul, whatever... a fight's a fight really," Fury said. "So yeah, I'll be ready for that straight away after this."

Fury and Joshua are both two-time world champions and have led the way for British boxing on the global stage for the best part of a decade.

But although a fight between them would still carry significant commercial weight, for many purists it will come far too late.

'Chisora v Wilder was sad to watch'

Image caption,

Deontay Wilder (right) beat Derek Chisora on a split decision

Despite the talk of Joshua, Fury faces a decent test in Makhmudov, who has 19 knockouts within the first three rounds and is considered one of the world's most avoided heavyweights.

"I need a dangerous person to get my juices flowing," Fury said. "I've got a stone-cold killer in this man who could put me out in one shot.

"That means I have to be on my form to deal with this guy. At any given time in my career, I would deal with him the same as I'm going to on Saturday night."

Fury has not fought in Britain since stopping Derek Chisora in December 2022. A recent training stint in Thailand sparked a renewed passion for the sport, but the 'Gypsy King' said he "missed this game".

The Morecambe fighter has been out of the ring since losing consecutive bouts to world champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury's return comes just a week after two of his trilogy rivals - Deontay Wilder and Chisora - fought in London, with the American victorious.

However, Fury was scathing about the performance of two men he previously dominated.

Fury described the pair as "finished," suggesting that if he showed even a fraction of that decline, he would have no business being in the ring.

"I've never seen two men slide as much as these two," Fury added.

"They look like a couple of club fighters from a white-collar match in a local leisure centre. It was sad for me to watch."