Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua can only fight each other now, says former world champion George Groves

Tyson Fury: The best and only option left for both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is to fight each other now, says former world champion George Groves; Currently Fury remains retired and promoter Frank Warren said: “Whether he’s going to come back or not, I have no idea. That will be his choice”

If Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are to fight on, they should box each other, says former world champion George Groves.

Joshua has not boxed since September of last year when his bid to become a three-time heavyweight world titlist ended in a crushing fifth-round knockout loss to IBF belt-holder Daniel Dubois.

Last year Fury lost two points decisions to unbeaten and still unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and announced his retirement in January.

Dillian Whyte, cleared to return to boxing after a failed drug test, has opted to box Moses Itauma on August 16, rather than pursue a once mooted rematch with AJ. That leaves Joshua without a clear option for his next fight.

As far as former world champion and boxing expert George Groves is concerned, there is only one choice Fury and Joshua should make.

READ MORE : Anthony Joshua: Before Retirement Eddie Hearn Reveals 3-Opponent

“Just save it now, fight each other with no more mileage on the clock, no more risks. Stuff goes wrong in camp or even on fight night. Both have been beat. Fury hasn’t won well for a long time. Just box each other.”

The British heavyweights have been long-time rivals and Groves believes their grudge match will finally happen.

“There must be a number that makes it worthwhile for both guys. Maybe they’re just waiting for that number,” he said. “You don’t need to announce that fight now if it’s not happening till October.

“That fight will be nailed on. He’s had surgery, Joshua, and Fury’s out running. I’m pretty sure they’ll box in September, October, rematch next year.”

But that would require Fury to come out of retirement. There has been no confirmation of that and his promoter Frank Warren said that decision still remains in the balance.

“Whether he’s going to come back or not, I have no idea. That will be his choice. He trains hard, he’s in the gym all the time. That’s something he feels he needs to do, it helps him with his bipolar,” Warren told Sky Sports. “At the moment he’s in a real good place.

“He’s enjoying the fruits of his labours, the hard work that he’s put in over the years. He’s made a lot of money, he doesn’t need to do it for money. If he does do it, it’s because he’s a true fighting man and that’s what he needs to do. But he’ll make that decision.

“He’s got other things happening in his life. But if he wants to do it, he’ll do it.”

Keep Reading

Anthony Joshua: Before Retirement Eddie Hearn Reveals 3-Opponent Shortlist For Anthony Joshua’s Next Fight

Anthony Joshua: Eddie Hearn has revealed a three-man shortlist for Anthony Joshua’s comeback fight – and a showdown with long-time rival Tyson Fury is not on the agenda.

Anthony Joshua was last seen in the ring in a fifth-round KO loss to compatriot Daniel Dubois as a devastating right-hand saw ‘AJ’ taken out in brutal fashion. ‘Dynamite’ Dubois floored the former two-time world heavyweight champion four times in their meeting at Wembley Stadium last September whilst adding a fourth loss to AJ’s record.

Ever since that setback, Joshua has been on the sidelines being treated for an injury to his elbow that required surgery and prevented a summer comeback. However, although those plans had to be scrapped, Hearn still expects to see his top fighter back in action before the end of 2025

The Matchroom boss has previously admitted that he doesn’t expect Joshua to fight beyond the end of 2026, indicating that the Watford-born man could have just three bouts left in his career.

Boxing fans around the world have waited for years to see Joshua and Fury finally settle the score. Despite rumours that 2025 might finally be the year when the pair step into the ring, ‘The Gypsy King’ is seemingly not under consideration as AJ’s next foe – not least because he insists that he is still retired from the sport.

With Dubois set to tangle with Oleksandr Usyk on the 19th of July, both reigning heavyweight champions are out of the question, too. When asked about who was in the mix to face Joshua before the end of this year, Hearn explained:

In response to the suggestion by the interviewer that Zhilei Zhang could be a potential suitor, Hearn responded, saying, “It’s not a fight we’ve thought about. He just got beat, but I don’t see a problem with that fight.”

Dillian Whyte, who faces Slovakian-British fighter Moses Itauma on the 16th of August, previously fought AJ some ten years ago, a bout which saw Whyte lose via TKO at the O2 Arena in London. That booking would seem to rule ‘The Body Snatcher’ out of a 2025 rematch with Joshua, although if he was to emerge from that fight relatively unscathed, Joshua vs Whyte 2 might still take place.

American heavyweight Jared Anderson is very much a contender for the slot, having bounced back from his loss to Martin Bakole with a unanimous decision victory over Marios Kollias earlier this year.

Deontay Wilder is scheduled to face Tyrrell Anthony Herndon at the end of June, a year on from his TKO loss to Zhang. Joshua and Wilder have been lined up to fight on many occasions, but the fight has always fallen apart just when it looked like becoming a reality. If it is ever going to happen, it needs to do so soon.

None of the above fights will see Joshua achieve his goal of becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion. However, a strong performance would either put him in prime position for a shot at Usyk or Dubois or prove the ideal set up for the two bouts with Fury that Hearn is keen to put together in 2026.

About Anthony Joshua