Anthony Joshua is ready to fight Tyson Fury in December after being called out by his fellow Brit.
Fury had hoped to face Oleksandr Usyk to crown the first undisputed heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999, but the Ukrainian revealed over the weekend that he will not be ready until next year. Fury appears determined to fight again in 2022, however, and turned his attention to Joshua.
The rivals were set to meet in Saudi Arabia last summer before the deal was quashed when Fury was ordered to instead face Deontay Wilder for a third time. Since then, Fury has made two defences of his world title while Joshua has lost back-to-back fights against Usyk.
But taking to social media on Monday night, Joshua accepted a fight with Fury - if terms can be agreed. "Yea calm. I don’t do the online discussions just for clout, so if you really about it shout 258 Management. I’ll be ready in December," he said.
Fury had earlier posted across his accounts: "I think you've all heard I'm going to be fighting soon, in the next few months. I think before I announce an opponent, I need to do this just in case. Anthony Joshua, i know you've just lost a fight to Usyk and you're boutless at the moment.
"I'd like to give you an opportunity to fight me for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world and the lineal championship in the next few months. You're coming off a 12-round fight so you're match fit, you're ready. I'm giving you a few months' notice. If you're interested, I'll send you a date over and we can rumble. A battle of Britain for the WBC championship of the world; if you're not interested, let me know and I'll select another opponent."
Fury later claimed to have a venue and date locked in when he tweeted: "Yo Anthony Joshua. What you saying big G let’s give the fanz what they want as Usyk is b****ing ??? I got the date and venue who will rule Britannia?" before posting a picture of himself sitting on a throne with the caption: "Me sat waiting on Anthony Joshua to take the Battle of Britain."
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Despite his defeat by Usyk last month, Joshua has already pencilled in a return for December with promoter Eddie Hearn planning a bout against a top-15 ranked opponent. Joshua then planned to target a stadium fight next year with Wilder and Dillian Whyte among the potential opponents.
One potential barrier to a deal with Fury would be the pair's television deals. Joshua recently signed an agreement with DAZN while Fury's fights have been shown on BT Sport since he made his return from his drink-and-drugs fuelled depression in 2018.
