Anthony Joshua explains Tyson Fury challenge refusal: ‘I’m not here to chase fame’

Over the weekend, Tyson Fury completed his successful comeback when he defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov in London. Shortly after defeating Makhmudov, Tyson Fury openly challenged Anthony Joshua to a fight.

Joshua was seated calmly in the crowd watching the fight, reacted gracefully to Fury’s loudmouthed challenge, and gracefully refused it. “I want to give you the fight that everyone has been waiting for. I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let’s give the boxing fans what they want, the ‘Battle of Britain’. I want to fight you next. Do you accept my challenge? You’re a big wimp. Do you want to fight or not? This time there is no escape; after 10 years in the making, let’s dance!” Fury yelled.

However, unlike many other arrogant athletes in the sport, Joshua remained seated and refused to come face-to-face with Fury. The duo instead exchanged words from opposite sides of the ropes, with Netflix and Turki Alalshikh suggesting a fight agreement for this summer.

Joshua later clarified that he wouldn’t engage in any promotional stunts, as he wished to avoid overshadowing Fury, who was enjoying his comeback victory against Arslanbek Makhmudov (H/T talkSPORT).

“It’s on him. It’s been hard to get it done in the past. Look, he’s the one that retired. I’ve been in the game, never retired. I’ve been standing strong for the last 13 years. It’s on him. He disappears, come back, disappears. I’m not here to chase fame, or chase hype,” Joshua said.

“I’m a real person and fight whoever is in front of me, whether it’s him or the next person. It don’t matter to me,” Joshua continued. Further when asked if he was actually planning to fight Fury next, “The Watford Warrior” said, “We’ll see. I was just in a serious incident just four months ago and I need to see what’s going on with my return to the ring. I’m here and keeping my eye on the game. There’s real stuff happening in my life.”

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