Tyson Fury calls on Anthony Joshua to 'forget' Deontay Wilder and take British mega fight next - 'Let's do it, let's dance'

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Tyson Fury, who is set to face Arslanbek Makhmudov in a comeback bout on Saturday, has called on Anthony Joshua to fight him next. Joshua's last bout was a victory against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, and he was called out by Deontay Wilder on Saturday after the American's victory over Derek Chisora. Fury and Joshua have long been rivals, but have never fought.

No Filter flashback: Fury v Chisora III

Video credit: TNT Sports

Tyson Fury has called on Anthony Joshua to ”forget” Deontay Wilder - and fight him ”as soon as possible”.

Fury, who faces Arslanbek Makhmudov in a comeback bout on Saturday, has a long-running rivalry with Joshua, despite the British heavyweights never meeting in the ring.

While the 'Gypsy King' insisted he is taking the Makhmudov bout seriously, he urged Joshua not to take an interim fight.

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"That fight was supposed to happen so many times over the last 10 years, but then someone has had one more fight in between, and someone has got knocked out or injured," Fury told reporters.

"I think we should get this fight on as soon as possible, in case something happens in between.

"The problem is, in heavyweight boxing, anything can go wrong, there are no easy fights. And if you get knocked upside down, it's finished, it's done.

"I want the fight next, and I am sure that AJ feels the same."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Joshua, whose last bout was a victory against YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul, was ringside on Saturday to watch Deontay Wilder beat Derek Chisora at The O2.

After the fight, Wilder called out Joshua for what would be another eagerly-anticipated match-up.

But Fury said: "You had the warm-up fight in December, and I'm having one here now. I've been out of the ring longer than he has, 16 months out of the ring. Let's do it, let's dance.

"Forget Wilder, the man's a shell of himself - it's sad to see. Forget anybody else. Let me get through Saturday night, and we'll do the fight this year. I can't say fairer than that. Forget everybody else."

When asked if Joshua would be in attendance for his encounter with Makhmudov, Fury said: "If the man comes, fair play. If he doesn't, I understand. It is what it is. Everyone in life does what they have to for them.

"They don't do it for other people, they do it for themselves, especially in business. If he comes, he comes. If doesn't, he doesn't. No skin off my nose who turns up.

"I want the fight next, and I'm sure that AJ will feel the same. But most of all, I've got Arslanbek to deal with, and then we'll sort all that out afterwards. Ifs, buts and maybes, who knows?"

All UFC events can be re-watched on the streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK, HBO Max.

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