Tyson Fury is unlikely to meet Anthony Joshua in the ring after mapping out his heavyweight fight plan for 2023.
The 'Gypsy King' had a successful 2022, dismantling British foes Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora to remain on course for a undisputed title clash with Oleksandr Usyk which will likely take place in March. Fury called out Usyk after electing to halt his early retirement from the sport, and an announcement is expected shortly.
Fury's stablemate Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce are then expected to target a shot at Fury, while a fourth fight with Deontay Wilder could also be on the cards if he wins his WBC title eliminator with Andy Ruiz Jr. And the champion's promoter Frank Warren has hinted a fight with Joshua could be in doubt with Fury annoyed at the collapse of their planned December meeting.
“He never had a trainer, so how was he ever going to do the fight?” Warren told SecondsOut when discussing the collapsed clash between Fury and Joshua. “He never had a trainer. He obviously is hunting for a trainer. He may have found one, I have no idea. I really don’t care to be honest. We got our plan for next year.
“The obvious question is he (Joshua) going to figure in it (Fury's plans). That I can’t really see him figuring [in our plans]. Tyson’s [busy] in his next couple of fights, that’s for sure. Tyson’s a bit p***ed off what went on in the time we wasted. So, we are where we are with that. But if [Joshua] wants to fight Joe Joyce or Daniel Dubois we’ll do those in a heartbeat.”
Joshua was offered a shot at the WBC title by Fury after his second consecutive defeat to Usyk in August. Negotiations looked to be positive after 'AJ' accepted the clash, but ultimately the contracts were never signed with Joshua missing his rival's imposed deadline.
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Instead Fury fought and defeated Chisora in December while Joshua elected to part ways with his trainer Robert Garcia, and focus on a return which is expected in spring this year. Joshua is also planning a three-fight year, with the likes of Whyte and Wilder also expected to be in the running to be the former two-time champion's opponent.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has unveiled a plan of his fighter's own for the year which will see him first take on an unnamed top 15 opponent. “A smart plan is he wants to return against a top 15 guy in a credible fight and return in the summer against probably Dillian Whyte and then move forward against Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury in a mega-fight in the ultimate 2023," he told the DAZN Boxing Show. “To me, the key here is to see him box three times this year."
