“Obviously, if it’s a fight that needs to be made, let’s get it done. Let me get Makhmudov out of the way, and we’re on,” Fury told Sky Sports when asked about Joshua.
Fury went on to repeat a claim he has made for years about the commercial appeal of the game.
“The biggest fight for me in world boxing and the biggest fight in the world of boxing is me against AJ,” he said. “Even today, even after all these years, it’s still the biggest fight in boxing, it’s still the biggest fight.”
The timing of those comments stands out. Joshua was back in the gym after a difficult period that included a loss to Daniel Dubois in 2024 and a later personal tragedy that interrupted his activity. Eddie Hearn said last week that while Joshua is back in training, there have been no discussions about an opponent or a date.
“Good to see the guy back in training camp,” Fury said. “Obviously he’s had a little bit of a rough time lately and all that. So I’ll just give him space, and whatever he wants to do, he can do.”
There is also a growing view among fans that Fury’s return at 37 is as much tied to the money attached to a Joshua fight as anything else. The bout, once seen as a meeting of two top heavyweights, is now often described as a nostalgia event built on name value. Fury hasn’t looked consistently at his best since his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, while Joshua’s position has shifted following his 2019 knockout loss to Andy Ruiz Jr., then a late replacement.
Fury’s focus, at least in public, is quickly moving beyond the immediate task before him. Makhmudov is a dangerous heavyweight assignment, but Fury spoke of clearing that fight as a step towards a bigger payday.
The difference between talk and action has defined this game before. A planned undisputed fight in 2021 fell apart when Deontay Wilder exercised his contractual right to face Fury in a third fight, and the division has since moved in different directions.
Fury continues to speak as if the fight still awaits. Joshua’s side has yet to indicate that this is even on the table.
