ANTHONY JOSHUA is confident he can lure Tyson Fury off the beach and the beer for a mega-money showdown anytime he wants.
In June 2020 – when 32-year-old AJ was the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champ – he and the WBC Gypsy King, 33, agreed to a two-fight showdown to decide an undisputed king.
Tyson Fury teased retirement after his brutal knockout of Dillian Whyte
But Anthony Joshua is confident of luring his British rival out of retirement
AJ recently addressed students at the world-renowned Oxford Union
But Fury was forced into a third Deontay Wilder clash – that he won in iconic fashion – but Joshua was dethroned last September by Oleksandr Usyk.
The 2012 Olympic golden boy is expected to get a shot at redemption on July 23 when he and the Ukraine icon rerun their duel.
And AJ says he can then drag Fury out of the retirement he strolled off into after a magnificent uppercut knockout of Dillian Whyte last month.
Speaking at the Oxford Union, Joshua said: “If Fury was in the boxing arena, was to come out of retirement and honour the gentleman’s agreement, there’s a lot of money to be made.
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“First and foremost, I have a pound-for-pound fighter on my list in Usyk, who’s a tough competitor for sure.
“People say I only focus on what’s in front of me, which is a good way to be, but also I want to look at what the bigger picture holds so I can steamroll through, I have to, so I can get to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
“So, for sure, I feel like retirement doesn’t mean that you’ve completely given up and you’re on the beach clicking your phone drinking a bottle of Corona.
“I feel he’s still ticking over and he’ll come back if the right fight is presented to him.”
British boxing is desperate for AJ to get back to winning ways after the bizarre way he conceded his titles at Tottenham Stadium.
The 6ft 6in powerhouse tried to outbox the smaller southpaw technician and former undisputed cruiserweight boss.
The result was a unanimous points decision defeat and the end of his decade-long partnership with team GB mastermind Rob McCracken.
For the rematch, AJ appears to be entrusting unproven assistant coach Angel Fernandez with head-trainer duties and the task of stripping him back to his old KO-artist prime.
He revealed: “The fight with Usyk, in my mind, was going for 12 rounds.
“That was my game plan because I thought I could compete with him as a boxer. And I think he won two more rounds than I did. That’s how he became champion.
“So the goal now is to go back to basics and go for the knockout.
Joshua captivated the Oxford uni students with his speech
And the former unified heavyweight champion even took on a couple of students in chess
“I always feel, when I’m sparring or fighting people, I actually see their spirit get dampened.
“Honestly, when you’re looking at this person directly in their eyes and watching their body, you can read the body and punch after punch this person is slowly fading.
“Now when you’re boxing, the art of boxing is to hit and not get hit. So you’re kind of boxing to stay away. That’s not really my style.
“My style is to be up close and personal and make it difficult for the person. So that’s the game plan.”
Undefeated Fury insists he’s bowed out with landmark wins over Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder on his 32-0-1 record, as the greatest heavyweight of all time. But his few remaining critics suggest his list of scalps lacks depth.
AJ – who has arguably taken on stiffer challenges but suffered losses to Andy Ruiz and Usyk – has vowed to vanquish Fury and Wilder to snatch back the accolade of this generation’s finest giant.
The battle-hardened thinker said: “Now I feel polished and experienced. I’ve lost, I’ve come back, I’ve fought the best of this era yet still want a few people – one that’s retired (Fury), obviously – one in America (Wilder) who doesn’t know what’s happening.
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“So a few more top-tier fighters I want to add to my resume.
“I feel, as a more experienced person with a lot more character, due to the things I’ve been through, I shall follow up gameplans, but also use that spirit that I’ve had. I feel like I’ve added more to my arsenal.”
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