Saudi boxing boss to tempt Fury for Joshua clash
Saudi Arabian boxing boss Turki Alalshikh is set to tempt Tyson Fury out of retirement with a lucrative offer for a blockbuster clash with Anthony Joshua, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.
Despite Fury’s announcement that he was hanging up his gloves following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December, Alalshikh, a key figure in organising major fights in the Middle East, believes the ‘Gypsy King’ could be lured back into the ring with the right financial package.
The potential super-fight, which has been years in the making but never materialised, would finally settle what many consider to be the greatest rivalry in modern British heavyweight boxing history.
Joshua has expressed interest in facing Fury, acknowledging the commercial appeal of such a showdown. “I feel like it’s the best fight. A fight against Fury will be commercially favourable and against a great man. So, I think it makes sense,” Joshua told mirror.co.uk.
However, when pressed further about the possibility, the British-Nigerian boxer remained cautious, stating, “I think it’s probably best to ask Eddie Hearn,” suggesting the final decision would depend on negotiations handled by his promoter.
Matchroom CEO Hearn recently confirmed Joshua’s interest in facing Fury despite the latter’s retirement announcement in January.
“We want to fight Tyson Fury but he’s retired at the moment. I hope he watched tonight and the hairs on his arms stood up a little bit. We could do something really special. Respect to him, if he doesn’t come back then good luck but if he could, there would be a lot of happy people,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
While Fury’s promoter Frank Warren insists that his fighter is “happily retired,” Top Rank COO Brad Jacobs shares Hearn’s belief that a Joshua fight could tempt Fury back into the ring.
“Nobody is in Tyson’s head, only himself, of course. I think an Anthony Joshua fight gets him out of retirement, if it’s the right situation and he feels right about it,” Jacobs told Sky Sports last week.
“I believe there is the potential for it. What happens, nobody knows. Tyson has done shocking things before, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he did it again,” Jacobs added.
Joshua, who suffered a knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium last year, is reportedly eager to get back into the heavyweight title picture, with Hearn suggesting a rematch with IBF champion Dubois as an alternative option.
The likelihood of a Fury-Joshua fight happening depends on several factors, including negotiations, financial incentives, and Fury’s willingness to return to the ring. But with Alalshikh’s influence and deep pockets, coupled with the overwhelming demand from fans, the dream matchup between the two British heavyweights remains a distinct possibility.
Joshua’s career has experienced significant highs and lows, including losses to Usyk, Andy Ruiz Jr., and most recently Dubois. A fight against Fury, regardless of the outcome, would undoubtedly be the biggest in British boxing history and a defining moment for both fighters’ legacies.
