British boxing delivered a memorable night recently. The nation was captivated by a classic rivalry bout, steeped in history, controversy, and animosity. Spectators filled the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and watched intently as Chris Eubank Jr navigated a challenging weight cut to earn a unanimous decision victory in a potential Fight of the Year contender against Conor Benn.
Now, attention is turning towards another highly anticipated all-British encounter. Tyson Fury has hinted at a return to the sport.
A clash between Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) and Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) has been discussed throughout their careers. For years, British fight fans have debated which fighter should be considered the greatest British heavyweight of this era.
However, with Fury now aged 36 and Joshua 35, and both currently without world titles and having recently suffered defeats, the prospect of this long-awaited `Battle of Britain` seemed increasingly unlikely. Many observers believed hope had faded when `The Gypsy King` announced his retirement earlier this year.
Yet, Fury`s history suggests his `hanging up the gloves` is rarely permanent. Given this is reportedly his fifth time stepping away from the sport, a spark of possibility remained.
That spark has now significantly brightened. Tyson Fury appears to have reversed his decision to retire once again. Posting on Instagram, and filming himself with trainer SugarHill Steward in the gym, Fury strongly hinted at a comeback and a potential bout against `AJ`.
In the video, he stated, “Just in the gym and I happened to bump into somebody that you might know. We are back, you know what is coming.”
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua has been relatively quiet since his knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September, a defeat that prevented him from becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion. It is speculated that Joshua is waiting either for Fury`s decision or for the heavyweight titles to become fragmented.
On X (formerly Twitter), Joshua also commented on the Eubank-Benn fight, saying it `made him proud to be British`. This event may further motivate him towards a similar high-profile domestic showdown with his long-time adversary.
Even without a world title on the line, interest in a Fury vs. Joshua fight remains high in Britain and globally. The significant question is whether Turki Al-Alshikh will invest the considerable funds required to promote and stage this event.
