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British boxing legend Ricky Hatton believes he knows what it will take for Tyson Fury to leave retirement and get in the ring with Anthony Joshua.

The much-anticipated British heavyweight showdown was being discussed until Fury announced his retirement from the sport in January following consecutive defeats to heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Since then, the Gypsy King has given no indication that he plans to reverse his decision, but fellow Mancunian Hatton, a close friend of Fury’s, has shared his thoughts on the situation.

The former light welterweight world champion believes that for the “right money”, Tyson would “jump” at the chance to share the ring with his fellow countryman.

 

READ: “Offered the Fight 10 or 20 Times”: Allegations Fly as Floyd Mayweather Hits Back at Jake Paul’s Alleged Lies

He told Sky Sports: “Tyson’s retired before. It just so happens they were trying to make the Joshua fight. They were trying to make it for 10 years, and it looks like they’re still not going to make it now Tyson’s retired.

“But I would take that retirement with a pinch of salt, knowing Tyson. If he gets offered the right money, the right purse for the AJ fight, knowing Tyson as I do, I think he’d jump at it.”

Hatton recommended that Fury take the Joshua fight, asserting that missing the opportunity could lead to the 36-year-old having regrets down the line.

“I think Tyson will kick himself if he’s sat on his sofa 10 years down the line and thinks to himself: ‘I wonder what would have happened if I’d have fought AJ?’ He’s in a position to do something about it now rather than be cursing himself for the rest of his life.”

Fury’s decision to retire left boxing fans around the world disappointed as the former world heavyweight champion announced his decision on social media.

Hatton, who was in Fury’s corner for his 2018 fight against Deontay Wilder, acknowledged that while Joshua might tempt Fury out of retirement, he believes the Gypsy King has accomplished enough and would like to see him hang up his gloves for good.

“If he does, that’s the last one I’d like him to have. Because you don’t like to see your mates get hurt.”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s professional boxing records (as of 16/03/25)
Tyson Fury Anthony Joshua
Fights 37 32
Wins 34 28
Losses 2 4
Draws 1 0

He continued: “I’d like to see him retire. I think he’s done enough. I would like to see the AJ fight, but I think he’s done enough. Let’s have it right, a few years ago, when he was 26st, we never thought he’d fight again. He nearly wasn’t here for all the problems that he had. So for him to do what he’s done, he’s done us all proud, and I’d like to see him retire now.”

Hatton also reflected: “His fights against Usyk were, I think, a lot closer than AJ’s fights with Usyk. Daniel Dubois obviously got beat by Usyk and there was a bit of controversy in that one. I think Usyk won both the fights against Tyson, but I can see why other people thought Tyson might have won them. Because they were that close. Tyson, he’s still got plenty in the tank as far as I’m concerned. He’s pushed Usyk furthest out of anyone else.Tyson Fury after losing

“Look what he’s done and what he’s achieved. He’s had that trilogy with Deontay Wilder, which was an absolutely sensational three-fight battle. He’s come back when no one thought he could and became heavyweight champion of the world. He’s got nothing left to prove.”

Fury is no stranger to retirement U-turns (this marks the fifth time he has announced his departure from the ring), so Hatton’s optimism about a showdown with Joshua may keep fans’ hopes alive for a while longer.

ANTHONY Joshua’s illustrious career is winding to a close and with that, the aftereffects from his damaging fifth-round stoppage defeat by Daniel Dubois last September continue.

Dubois, eight years his junior, produced a career-best display as a record 96,000 sell-out crowd watched him headline the Riyadh Season: Wembley Edition card and flourish in the underdog role with aplomb.

 

Having won the interim title with an eighth-round stoppage win over then-unbeaten 17-0 Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic three months prior, two-division undisputed titlist Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) relinquished the IBF strap later that month as a “present” so Joshua-Dubois was for the full version.
Ring Magazine

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Dubois was upgraded, their all-British showdown set and the younger man made that first world title defence one he’ll never forget, scoring four knockdowns in five rounds to prompt another inquest into a baffling Joshua performance given his steady rebuild in the 18 months leading up to that night.

 

An immediate rematch with revised contractual terms was welcomed by Dubois and his promoter, Queensberry chief Frank Warren. Hearn and team Joshua walked back their eagerness to settle the score as time wore on, aware their two-time unified champion would’ve needed to recuperate fully while Dubois wanted to stay active.

 

Six months on, the update is an uncomfortable one.

 

Talking to BoxingScene on the eve of their latest show, headlined by Ammo Williams vs. Patrice Volny, Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn shared an unexpected injury update when assessing the 35-year-old’s next fight options.

 

“He’s pretty relaxed, but I’ll be honest, I think the only fights that really get his juices flowing are Dubois and Tyson Fury. Doesn’t mean he won’t fight someone else, but he’s beaten Joseph Parker already, Agit Kabayel’s on a great run but if you’re AJ, can you get yourself up for that? I don’t know.”

 

Usyk has this week been ordered to make a mandatory defence against interim champion Parker, who scored a second-round stoppage win over late-replacement Martin Bakole after Dubois’ fight week virus forced him to withdraw 48 hours before their proposed IBF world title clash in Riyadh last month.

 

Kabayel (26-0, 18 KOs) won the WBC interim title earlier that night, climbing off the canvas to stop Zhilei Zhang with a sixth-round body shot knockout.

 

Hearn said Joshua “won’t be able to punch again or train properly for eight-to-ten weeks” after sustaining an unspecified injury, before insisting a long-awaited clash against Tyson Fury was the most likely scenario while naming him and Dubois as the two “that light the fire” within his fighter to resurface again.

 

If the 2012 Olympic champion is unable to punch or train properly as a result of said injury, he’ll subsequently need a longer training camp on his return, meaning any mooted comeback is unlikely until August or later.

 

Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) again announced his retirement from the sport after a second decision defeat by Usyk during their Riyadh rematch on December 22, though many believe it’s inevitable the Morecambe man will return once more.

Oleksandr Usyk is better placed than anyone to judge the skills of both Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua.

The Ukrainian has beaten every man he has faced in the professional ring. A former undisputed cruiserweight turned undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk beat Joshua in back to back fights in 2021 and 2022.

He then beat Dubois via KO in August of 2023, his first title defence in the division, after being down for several minutes from a shot that was ruled to be low.

The Ukrainian has beaten every man he has faced in the professional ring. A former undisputed cruiserweight turned undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk beat Joshua in back to back fights in 2021 and 2022.

The Ukrainian has beaten every man he has faced in the professional ring. A former undisputed cruiserweight turned undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk beat Joshua in back to back fights in 2021 and 2022.

Oleksandr Usyk Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If Daniel Dubois Is Better Than Anthony Joshua

READ: WBO Orders Oleksandr Usyk to Fight Joseph Parker, But There’s A Catch

Joshua has since fought Dubois for the IBF title and ended up coming unstuck and knocked out inside five rounds after putting in what many thought was a below par performance.

Speaking to TNT Sports before he faced Dubois, Usyk was asked outright who is the better boxer of the two Brits.

“Anthony Joshua is Olympic champion, two-time world champion. Daniel is a young boy, yeah? But Anthony is the best boxer.”

He elaborated on his point in a seperate interview.

“You cannot compare the two guys. These are completely different types of athletes. The only thing that is in common is that they both are boxers.”

Neither Joshua nor Dubois has fought since their clash. A rematch was on the cards but fell by the way side due to ‘niggling injuries on ‘AJ’s part. Dubois was instead scheduled to take on Joseph Parker in February but fell ill so withdrew.

Dubois has since been targeting an undisputed rematch with Usykbut the Ukrainian has now been ordered to fight WBO mandatory Parker instead.

Anthony Joshua finds himself at a pivotal moment in his career.

Once the dominant force in the heavyweight division, the former two-time world champion is now facing the possibility of another career-defining loss. If he is defeated in his next fight, the calls for his retirement will grow even louder. Many fans and pundits argue that he should bow out gracefully before his legacy takes any further damage. But is it really time for Joshua to hang up his gloves?

Lessons from the Past: The Risk of Becoming Another Chisora There is a growing concern among boxing fans that Joshua could follow the path of fighters like Dereck Chisora, who have continued to battle long past their prime. Chisora, once a top-tier contender, has become known for taking punishment rather than dishing it out. His slowed speech and declining reflexes serve as a cautionary tale. Fans who once cheered for AJ now fear that he, too, could become a shadow of himself, fighting just for the sake of paydays rather than meaningful victories.

British Boxing Legend Tells Anthony Joshua To Retire Before Serious Health  Damage Is Done - Seconds Out

READ: Anthony Joshua given hope after new Oleksandr Usyk fight ruling

Joshua’s style relies on athleticism and explosiveness, and if those attributes start to fade, he could struggle to remain competitive at the elite level. Taking unnecessary damage in the ring could have lasting consequences, both physically and mentally. If Joshua is unable to defeat top-tier opponents convincingly, should he risk further damage just to prolong his career?

Promoter Eddie Hearn remains hopeful that Tyson Fury will be lured back into the ring for a pair of ‘Battle of Britain’ clashes with Joshua. However, Fury’s recent stance on retirement and his focus on fighting Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title suggest that a match with Joshua is unlikely in the near future. The unpredictability of Fury means that anything is possible, but waiting for a fight that may never happen could be detrimental to Joshua’s career. Even if the fight were to materialize, Joshua’s current form raises questions about his chances. Would he be competitive against a skilled and elusive fighter like Fury? Or would this be another brutal defeat that tarnishes his once-feared reputation?

If Joshua loses his next fight, retirement is one of the two most realistic options. The other is a complete reinvention of his approach to boxing. At 34 years old, he could attempt a late-career resurgence by changing trainers, adopting a new fighting style, or taking on lower-tier opponents to rebuild his confidence. Fighters like Wladimir Klitschko and George Foreman have managed to reinvent themselves and achieve success in the latter stages of their careers. However, Joshua has already switched trainers multiple times, and each transition has led to mixed results. If his latest coaching setup doesn’t bring the results he hopes for, another rebuild might seem futile. Additionally, the heavyweight division is as competitive as ever, with rising stars like Jared Anderson and established champions like Usyk and Fury standing in his way. Joshua must weigh his options carefully. A legacy built on Olympic glory, world championships, and sold-out arenas is at stake. If he can no longer perform at the highest level, stepping away with dignity might be the best decision. But if he believes he still has something left in the tank, then he must prove it in the ring-before it’s too late.

Anthony Joshua could be handed a shot at Daniel Dubois’ world title after Oleksandr Usyk and Joseph Parker were ordered to begin negotiations for a mandatory heavyweight clash.

The WBO has revealed that the two teams have 30 days to reach terms following Parker’s win over Martin Bakole last month. In a publicly released notice, the WBO said: “Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations between the subject matters fighters to discharge the WBO mandatory championship obligation in the Heavyweight Division.

“By virtue of this order, the WBO Interim Championship shall be terminated expeditiously in compliance with our institutional policy of only one world champion per weight class. The parties have 30 days to reach terms. Failure to do so will result in this Committee ordering purse bid proceedings in accordance with WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.”

Anthony Joshua

READ: ‘Firing on all cylinders’ Anthony Joshua could take Daniel Dubois rematch but….

Usyk’s last fight came back in December when he defeated long-time rival Tyson Fury via unanimous decision in Riyadh. As for Parker – the WBO interim title-holder – the Kiwi star now seemingly looks set to challenge for the Ukrainian’s title next as he looks to become a world champion once again.

Usyk recently set out his retirement plan and revealed he wants two more fights before calling it a day. In an interview with Sky Sports, Usyk – an undisputed champion at both heavyweight and cruiserweight – said: “I will fight who will win, Joseph Parker, Daniel Dubois, no problem. I think two years, one and a half [left in boxing]. I feel great myself. I feel I have two fights to prepare [for], not more. Just two.”

However, those plans were potentially scuppered after Dubois pulled out of his clash with Parker due to illness. Despite the Brit pulling out, Usyk is still targeting a rematch with ‘Triple D.’ That said, Dubois may have to wait a little while longer but news will come as a boost to Joshua as it could set him up with a rematch with Dubois. ‘AJ’ hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by ‘Triple D’ back in September at Wembley Stadium. The two stars were due to face off right away earlier this year, but Joshua wasn’t deemed fit enough to compete.

Joshua has been tipped to fight Fury this year, despite the latter’s retirement announcement. However, ‘AJ’ was handed a real blow after boxing trainer Andy Lee, who is also Fury’s cousin, revealed the former world champion has no interest in returning. Asked if he is in touch with the ‘Gypsy King’, Lee told iFL TV: “[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.”

Eddie Hearn has said “there’s quite a few things happening” regarding the return of Anthony Joshua.

The former heavyweight champion, who suffered a devastating defeat in September to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, was hopeful of a quick turnaround into a rematch with IBF champion Dubois, but suffered an injury – believed to be to his arm – and could not start training camp again quickly enough to make a projected February 22 date for the return.

“Daniel Dubois, I think, will fight AJ this summer, if we want. And AJ wants to fight [Tyson] Fury,” said Hearn.

Joshua Hearn

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“We know right now [since Fury retired] that’s not an option. But I just want to throw a few other names into the mix and say, because we’re in March and he’ll probably fight in July, or something like that. So I just want to get the flavor. The flavor in Saudi [where Joshua was in attendance for Joseph Parker-Martin Bakole as part of the DAZN broadcast team] was, ‘I want Fury. If I can’t get Fury, I’d like Dubois.’”

Hearn then said: “And I think everyone’s dangerous. So why not fight for the world heavyweight title?

“’You could fight [Agit] Kabayel, you could fight [Zhilei] Zhang, you could fight Bakole, you could fight Parker.’ Parker’s as dangerous as Dubois, in my opinion. And he’s got no world heavyweight title. So we’ll have a conversation, and we’re going to start making some decisions.”

Asked about the February 22 date, Hearn said Joshua would not have been able to have had a long enough camp.

“And then you don’t do anything for a month, and then it [the injury] is playing up. That’s why, despite people thinking that he ducked February 22nd, there’s absolutely no way he could ever be anywhere near ready for February 22nd,” said Hearn.

Asked about Joshua’s fitness now, Hearn said his client “was firing on all cylinders”.

Tyson Fury shocked the boxing world when he announced his latest retirement in January.

‘The Gypsy King’ was last in action in December when he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, in a rematch of their May encounter which Usyk won by split decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion.

While Fury may have suffered back-to-back defeats, it did look like it would finally set up a long-awaited showdown with British rival Anthony Joshua, with no more obstacles in the way to stop the bout.

Tyson Fury Anthony Joshua

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Joshua’s last bout saw him come up short in his bid to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, losing to Daniel Dubois by fifth round knockout at Wembley Stadium in September.

The plans to see Fury vs. Joshua went up in smoke though when Fury made his retirement announcement, posting a video on his social media.

“Hi everybody. I’m going to make this short and sweet. I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it, and I’m going to end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side. Get up.”

Two months on, Fury has returned to social media with a cryptic message, posting a video of himself walking out at Manchester United’s Old Trafford with the caption: “Did you miss me?”

The rumours surrounding Fury and Joshua have ramped up in the past week, with streaming powerhouse Netflix reportedly interested in staging the fight between the two British stars.

For now, ‘The Gypsy King’ does remain retired, and Joshua has since been linked to another shock match-up which could take place this summer.

Anthony Joshua burst on to the heavyweight scene in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in 2014.

AJ is one of British boxing’s most iconic figures in the modern era, having achieved it all as an Olympic gold medallist and a two-time heavyweight world champion.

Joshua went on a superb winning streak after turning over as a professional following his success at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Anthony Joshua starts Wembley bill with first-round stoppage win | Boxing  News | Sky Sports

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He won his first five fights in short stoppages, and was developing a fearsome reputation as a ferocious puncher.

The biggest opportunity of his career came on the undercard of Carl Froch and George Groves’ famous 2014 rematch.

It broke records as 80,000 packed into Wembley Stadium for the event, with Joshua getting a unique chance to impress on the undercard.

And he did more than impress against journeyman Matt Legg who leapt at the opportunity to take on the sport’s latest rising star.

But it was a devastating barrage of blows that saw his name on the tip of the watching fans tongues.

He first teed off with two shots that were largely blocked by Legg’s covered card.

Although a crunching uppercut found the mark crashing into the skull of the helpless Legg.

It sent him crumpling to the former Olympian’s feet as he fell flat on his back, the latest victim of the crazy power.

The referee waved off the contest with Legg clearly out of his depth, making it the fastest KO of the champion’s career to this date.

It took him just one minute and 56 seconds to halt the contest, and it is no wonder he developed into a real fan favourite globally.

Legg described how the fight came about, being paid £8,000 for the clash with the future king.

He said: “My manager called up and said ‘Anthony Joshua’s team have offered the AJ fight, at Wembley Stadium on the Carl Froch-George Groves rematch. I went ‘100 per cent I’ll take it.’

“I would have done it for free. If they’d have said ‘the thing is you’ve got to do it for nothing’, I’d have went ‘alright’.

“Because it was an opportunity to fight on a massive show. At the time it was the biggest show in Britain, so I said ‘yeah I’ll do it’.

“I think I had about six or seven weeks to train for it. Eight grand, but the bloke before me got four.

“Eight grand but I got some sponsorship money so altogether about 11.”

Joshua continued on his KO streak becoming one of the sport’s biggest stars in the process.

He first won his world title in his 15th consecutive KO, before unifying the division in a famous clash with Wladimir Klitschko.

It was the famous uppercut that sent Klitschko into oblivion in that famous night at the same venue three years later.

Joshua’s KO rampage was eventually halted after 20 fights by Joseph Parker, and he has since faced adversity.

He has lost to Andy Ruiz Jr, Oleksandr Usyk and most recently was brutally knocked out by Daniel Dubois.

But he remains one of the most notorious profiles in the sport, and has a few years left to embark on his heavyweight journey before retirement.

The 35-year-old is still eyeing famous nights and a shot at becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion.

THE long-overdue Battle of Britain between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could end up on Netflix, if The Gypsy King comes out of retirement.

Fury seemingly put the final nail in the coffin of the domestic dust-up in January when he announced his fifth retirement, which came on the back of consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Saud boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh, however, is expected to dangle a gargantuan purse in front of the Wythenshawe warrior to coax him out of retirement.

Netflix 'aggressively' targeting huge fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony  Joshua after Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson success | The Sun

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And if he’s successful, Netflix will make a play to land the broadcast rights for the mammoth melee.

That’s according to Sports Illustrated, who claim the streaming platform is “aggressively moving into boxing’s big event space” and is eager to land Fury vs Joshua.

Netflix dipped their toes into the boxing world last November for Mike Tyson’s controversial comeback fight against Jake Paul.

Tyson Fury Issues Stark Warning to Anthony Joshua About Heavyweight Rival:  "Stay Away" – RingSide24

And they’ve landed the rights for the eagerly anticipated trilogy fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano on July 11.

Netflix could part-fund Alalshikh’s financial proposal to Fury in order to land the biggest fight in the history of British boxing.

It will likely take a jaw-dropping figure to convince Fury to lace up his gloves again.

The former WBC heavyweight champion is seemingly content with his latest retirement, with Andy Lee recently saying of his recent chats with his cousin: “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.”

AJ, however, refusing to give up hope of settling his decade-long score with Fury, telling IFL TV: “I feel like it’s the best fight [for me].

“People might say [Joseph] 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 bloodshed. And it ain’t gonna be mine.”

Anthony Joshua is now slated for a summer ring return.

Joshua was last in action in September when he was stopped inside five rounds by IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium.

All signs then pointed towards ‘AJ’ taking on Tyson Fury in a huge all-British clash after Fury had come up short in his two battles with heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.

Anthony Joshua In Talks For Huge Summer Fight Against Unexpected Opponent: “Let’s Roll The Dice”

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Those plans were dashed in January when Fury abruptly announced his retirement, leaving Joshua with no clear next opponent.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has now revealed to IFL TV that initial talks are underway for Joshua’s next bout, making the surprise claim that they are speaking about a rematch with Dubois, despite it seeming like ‘DDD’ was all set for an undisputed showdown with Usyk.

“We’re talking to Queensberry about the potential of Dubois-AJ this summer, the rematch. They’re planning Dubois’ next move as well.

“Some brief conversations with His Excellency about AJ against Wilder, the Parker fight could have potential. At this stage why would you roll the dice against Parker for the interim would title when you could roll the dice against Dubois for the full world title?

“I don’t think there’s any difference in those fights really in terms of the toughness of them. I’d go for Dubois every day of the week. If we can’t get Fury, my advice is to fight Dubois for the world title. I think he [AJ] should do it and I think he will beat Dubois.”

As of January, Joshua is ranked number 7 with the IBF. Dubois does not yet have a mandatory challenger. He was set to defend his IBF title against Parker last month but pulled out of the contest on fight week due to a viral infection and replaced by Martin Bakole, with Parker winning that fight by second round knockout.

Dubois has made it clear that he wants a rematch against Usyk with all four heavyweight belts on the line. The Ukrainian is also pushing for the fight, as is Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh.

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