Anthony Joshua turned down a direct challenge from rival Tyson Fury following Saturday night’s bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Fury had earlier secured a dominant victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in a largely one-sided contest that struggled to excite the crowd.
With Joshua watching from ringside, Fury used the moment to call out his long-time rival, urging him to step into the ring.
“Next I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for; I want you AJ, Anthony Joshua
“Let’s give the fight fans what they want, a battle of Britain. I challenge you AJ to fight me, The Gypsy King, next. Say yes or no now.”
Joshua declined to enter the ring, prompting jeers from sections of the crowd, before responding to Fury’s call-out.
“Tyson… you’re a clout chaser. Tyson I’ve never had no problem getting in the ring with you, I punched you out when we were kids, and after seeing you in the ring tonight I’d punch you up again.”
“With all due respect tonight is your night and you I’ll sit across the ring from you in due time. You ain’t gonna tell me what to do. I’ve been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you’re ready you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions. I’m the boss, you work for me. I’m the landlord remember that, you work for me.”
Despite the heated exchange, Joshua maintained that he remains willing to face Fury but insisted that proper negotiations must be concluded first.
“There are negotiations that you go through. I have been at this table with him many times. In my heart, I’d fight Fury tomorrow, especially after watching that. There is not a problem fighting him.
“I am not here to get clout. I am here to fight. The contract will be sent over, we will go through the nitty gritty, and you will probably see us in the ring next, more than likely – but I am not here to get in the ring, shouting in someone’s face. If you look at my track record, I have never done that. I came to watch the fight, I saw what I saw, and I know what I need to do.”
Addressing the possibility of an interim fight, Joshua noted that he is still managing personal matters following a recent incident.
“Good question. There is both options. We’ll see. I was in a serious incident maybe four months ago. I need to really check out what is going on with my return to the ring. But I’m here, keeping my eye on the game. I am not ducking anyone, there is just things in my life I need to tend to.
“I am sorting some things out. My brothers, their parents, the brotherhood of taking care of things. That is the priority right now.”
The much-anticipated clash between the two British heavyweights has been discussed for over a decade but continues to elude boxing fans.