Wetin dey happen for boxing world? Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua still dey yarn about fight wey dem don promise us for years. After Fury win Arslanbek Makhmudov for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, everybody think say na time for the big fight. But na still talk, no action.
Fury, wey dem dey call Gypsy King, win Makhmudov by points. Na him first fight since 2024 when Oleksandr Usyk beat am. For ring, Fury call Joshua to come inside. Joshua wey dey sit down for front row, just dey look. No movement. Na so the whole thing just dey like before.
Fury talk say, “He didn’t want the smoke.” Him talk say if na him, him for jump inside ring. But Joshua no gree play along. Him talk say Fury na “clout-chaser” and say na him be the boss wey go decide when fight go happen.
Big man for boxing, Turki Alalshikh from Saudi Arabia, dey talk as if fight don almost set. Even Netflix wey broadcast the fight, announce say fight go happen for autumn for UK. But Fury promoter Frank Warren quick deny am. So who we go believe?
Fury talk say him team don sign contract, but Joshua own no sign. Joshua talk say nothing don sign. Na blame game full ground. For more than ten years, this fight never happen. People don tire to wait.
Both men don pass their peak time. Fury na 37 years, Joshua na 36. But still, if dem fight, na big money go dey. Dem fit sell out stadium like Wembley or even Croke Park for Dublin wey get 80,000 capacity.
Fury talk say him get three-fight deal for this year, but him no want any fight except Joshua. “If it isn’t AJ next, I’m not interested in boxing again,” Fury yarn. “It’s either him or I’m gone.” Strong talk.
But Joshua get reasons why him no dey rush. For December, car accident happen for Nigeria wey kill two of him close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Joshua talk say him dey recover from that trauma. Him talk say, “I was in a serious incident maybe four months ago.”
Fury show sympathy for Joshua situation. Him talk about mental health and say everybody get their own problems. “We’ve all had problems – that’s life,” Fury talk. But him still dey push for the fight.
Another thing: Joshua last fight na against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Fury just fight Makhmudov as warm-up. Some people talk say Joshua need similar warm-up fight before facing Fury. But who him go fight? Deontay Wilder name dey come up, but Wilder na 40 years now and no be like before.
Fury performance against Makhmudov no too impress Joshua. Makhmudov start strong but tire quick. Fury control the fight with jab and win by decision. Judges score 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109. Dominant win, but no knockout.
Trainer SugarHill Steward dey shout for corner say make Fury finish the fight, but Fury no fit stop Makhmudov. Joshua watch everything from ringside, even dey film with him phone. But when time reach for drama, him no show.
Promoter Eddie Hearn no gree enter ring too. Dem don see this kind theater before. Dem no want part in am until contract sign finish. Joshua talk say, “I’ll stand across that ring from you in due time. You ain’t going to tell me what to do.”
Fury ask, “What’s the hold-up?” One answer na Joshua recovery from accident. Another na say Joshua no fight elite boxer for 18 months. Fury just get 12 rounds against Makhmudov to build from.
Young boxers like Moses Itauma dey come up, and Conor Benn dey make noise for welterweight. But nobody fit draw crowd like Fury and Joshua. Anywhere dem fight, people go watch.
Boxing don see this kind long wait before. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fight happen after many years, and fight break records but no meet expectations. People fear say Fury-Joshua fit go same way.
Fury return to boxing tie with Netflix series “At Home with the Furys” season two. Boxing get mainstream attention wey e no get since 1990s. Makhmudov fight fit be one of most-watched fights for UK in years.
But Fury-Joshua go be bigger. The wait dey long. The perfect time don pass—maybe 2019 or 2021. But people still dey wait. The question remain: will this generation see the fight before both men retire?
Fury talk say him dey ready. Joshua talk say him dey ready but on him own terms. Negotiation dey continue. Fans dey wait. The clock dey tick. British boxing history dey wait for this chapter. But for now, na still talk.
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