Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have spent ten years acting like two teenagers who won’t admit they fancy each other. After Fury recently battered Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we all thought the wedding was finally on.
The Gypsy King did his usual bit of theatre. He leaned over the ropes and beckoned Joshua into the ring like a siren calling a sailor to his doom. Joshua, ever the master of the long game, stayed exactly where he was. It was a classic power struggle. Fury wanted a viral moment, but Joshua decided that standing still was a much better career move.
The Netflix Drama and the Money Grab
We now live in the Netflix age, where boxing matches are basically just adverts for reality TV. Just hours after the fight, the second season of the Fury family show dropped on the streaming giant. By linking his gloves to 325 million subscribers, Fury has ensured he stays in the spotlight.
Of course, the big question is why Fury keeps coming back. This was his fifth time returning from retirement. At this point, I am starting to suspect his bank balance is looking a bit thinner than his waistline used to be. You have to wonder if he actually wants to fight or if he just really likes the sound of a cash register. Is it a legendary comeback, or is it just a massive money grab before the knees finally give out?
Excuses, Contracts, and Car Crashes
The blame game is currently at an Olympic level. Team Fury says they signed the contract, while Team Joshua apparently forgot where they put their pen. Fury claims AJ simply does not want the smoke, while Joshua reminds everyone that he has had a rough few months. A tragic car accident in December changed everything for him, and he is understandably not in a hurry to jump into the ring with a giant who talks as much as he punches.
There is also the issue of rust. Joshua has spent the last year and a half fighting YouTuber Jake Paul, which is about as useful for heavyweight training as playing a game of Wii Sports. Fury, meanwhile, proved he can still go twelve rounds without falling over.
Better Late Than Never?
The perfect time for this fight was 2019, or maybe 2021. Now, both men are past their best. We are heading toward a Mayweather versus Pacquiao situation, where the fight happens so late that everyone is just relieved nobody breaks a hip.
There are whispers about holding the fight at Croke Park in Dublin. It seems a bit odd to take the biggest English rivalry in history to Ireland, but money talks louder than geography. If it doesn’t happen soon, we might have to settle for watching them argue on a podcast in twenty years.
Fury says it is either AJ next or he is gone for good. We have heard that four times before, so take it with a very large pinch of salt.
Will these two actually fight, or are we destined to watch them tweet at each other until they qualify for a free bus pass?
Related topics: Boxing
