Tyson Fury has stressed his wish to book a seismic heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua as soon as possible, saying: “Next year, the fight has to happen.”
WBC title-holder Fury and compatriot Joshua, who retained his WBA, WBO, and IBF belts with a ninth-round stoppage of Kubrat Pulev at the weekend, hold all four of the major heavyweight straps between them.
Talk of an all-British unification bout to determine the undisputed champion in the weight class has escalated in recent weeks, with Fury calling out Joshua moments after his rival’s win over Pulev.
“[Joshua is] a great fighter, Olympic gold medallist, two-time heavyweight champion just like me, he’s won all the best, he’s a great, great athlete. Of course [I have respect for Joshua].”
Fury also addressed his wish to be removed from the six-person shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
The 32-year-old instructed his lawyers to write to the broadcaster demanding his name be taken off a list that includes Lewis Hamilton, Hollie Doyle, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stuart Broad and Jordan Henderson.
“I’ve asked to be taken off a list,” Fury told the Jonathan Ross show, to be broadcast on Saturday night on ITV. “They’ve not listened. I’ve even sent them a legal letter to be taken off. They’re still not listening.
“They’re trying to take away my rights as a person. My name shouldn’t be on there if I don’t want it on there. It’s a free country. They are doing something that I do not wish to participate in.
“The reason is, I don’t want an award from someone to say I’m a sports personality. I know what I am and who I am and I know what I’ve achieved, I know what I’ve come back from.
“I don’t need a glass trophy. I’m the people’s champion. I don’t need this glamorous trophy to say who I am and what I’ve done.”
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