Anthony Joshua said he would be ready to fight world champion Tyson Fury this year after he was issued a public challenge on Monday to fight a “Battle of Britain” for the WBC heavyweight title.
Joshua, 32, suffered a second straight loss to WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champion Oleksandr Usyk in a title rematch in Saudi Arabia last month and has said he wants to return to the ring before the end of the year.
Fury announced last April that he was fulfilling a promise to his wife to retire but has subsequently said he will fight again, and his promoter Frank Warren told British radio station TalkSport that he plans to send Joshua a contract for a November bout to be held in the U.K. on Tuesday.
“I think you’ve all heard that I am going to be fighting soon within the next few months,” Fury said in a video posted to Twitter.
“Anthony Joshua, I know you’ve just lost a fight to Usyk and you’re bout-less at the moment, and I’d like to give you an opportunity to fight me for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world and the lineal championship in the next few months.
“You’re coming off a 12-round fight, so you’re match fit, you’re ready. I’m giving you a few months’ notice,” he added.
Usyk has publicly stated his intention to fight Fury in his next bout, but said last week that he will not fight again this year.
“If you’re [Joshua] interested I’ll send you the date over and we can rumble,” Fury added.
“A Battle of Britain for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world. Let me know if you’re interested, if not I will select another opponent.”
Joshua said he would be ready for a bout with Fury in December.
“I don’t do online discussions just for clout,” Joshua wrote on Instagram. “So if you’re really about it, shout @258mgt [Joshua’s management company.] I’ll be ready in December.”
Warren said his team have spoken to Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, adding that the decision to take the bought is in Joshua’s hands.
“We’re sending a written offer across today to them,” Warren told TalkSport. “My son George spoke with Eddie Hearn yesterday.
“It’s us who have made the approach to give AJ a great opportunity to get himself back into the top level against the world champion Tyson.
“He’s willing to make that voluntary defence, so we’ll send the offer across today and then they’ll have to look at it and decide whether they wanna grab this with both hands.”
Source: www.espn.com