ANTHONY JOSHUA could be in line for a shock trilogy fight following Tyson Fury’s retirement.
The long overdue Battle of Britain seemingly went up in smoke earlier this month when the Fury announced his FIFTH retirement.
REUTERSAnthony Joshua was seemingly on course to finally fight Tyson Fury later this year[/caption]
REUTERSBut Fury has thrown a spanner into the works of a mega fight by retiring[/caption]
GETTYLong-time rival Dillian Whyte is down to fight AJ next[/caption]
Team Joshua are currently exploring options for the Olympian, although they’re confident Fury can be coaxed out of his latest “retirement”.
But long-time rival Dillian Whyte is more than willing to be the Watford warrior’s next dance partner should the Gypsy King opt not to fight again.
The Brixton Bodysnatcher told Sky Sports: “[Joshua] Sounds perfect for me.
“They don’t need to ask me twice.
“They talk about me as an option, but they haven’t said anything to me, so it’s just negotiation tactics from them.”
Whyte and Joshua have twice shared the ring with on another, with the first of their meetings coming the amateurs.
Whyte won the pair’s encounter back in 2009 via decision, although AJ brutally exacted his revenge six years later with seventh-round KO at the O2 Arena.
The pair, 36 and 35 respectively, were due to renew their rivalry in August 2023.
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But their third encounter fell through when it emerged Whyte had failed a pre-fight drug test.
Joshua is at a career crossroads following a crushing fifth-round KO loss to Daniel Dubois in their Wembley war last September.
And Whyte believes his rival’s best days are well and truly behind him.
He said of AJ: “If he wants to fight, then all they’ve got to do is call me.
“I’m always up for fighting AJ.
“No problem for me. However, personally, I think he’s finished.”
It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the long-awaited domestic dust-up between Joshua and Fury comes to fruition later this year.
GettyAnthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte have fought one another twice[/caption]
Long-time AJ pal and promoter Eddie Hearn told The Daily Mail: “None of us know what Fury will do next.
“But if we are to see the fight in the summer, he would probably have to come out of retirement in the next three or four weeks.
“After that, the summer gets difficult for a fight of this size.
“The future? Hopefully – I think he will be back, but it’s in his hands
“For AJ, we have options to pursue and we are looking at them currently.”
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