Boxing
Fury solely focused on Makhmudov banana-skins over Joshua fight
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A long-awaited super-bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua appears closer than ever - but a couple of hurdles remain for the dream matchup to come to fruition.Â
First, two-time heavyweight champion Fury needs to shake the rust off and get past a tough Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Then, Joshua has to win his next fight too, with promoter Eddie Hearn insistent the former unified star will be taking a warm-up bout before any test, as yet to be announced.
Lastly, both fighters would have to agree terms - but for Fury at least, 'The Gypsy King' does not want to get too far ahead of himself, even if his next foe seems disinterested.
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The Briton understands what the sturdy Makhmudov - frequently focused on his phone rather than his opponent amid Thursday's final press conference - brings to the table.
The sole thing on his mind, he insists, is the bruising heavyweight based in Canada and what he may offer, rather than the what-may-be of a dance with Joshua later this year.
"I don't want to be mentioning anybody's name-dropping when I've got a dangerous heavyweight in front of me here," Fury said. "All those other dossers can wait their turn."
"Many have looked over the furst hurdle to a bigger name and been chinned. Anthony Joshua has done that. But we're not going to go there because that's what I don't do.
"I just focus on the one man here. Come Sunday, you can ask me all the questions you want about any other heavyweight in the world. But give this man his respect."
Fury's invocation is not without merit, with the former rhapsodising about Joshua's failure to bypass the overlooked Daniel Dubois in their IBF title fight back in 2024.
"All the boxing brains said 'AJ' was going to knock him out inside three rounds and fight [me] next," he noted. "I said he was going to chin him, and that's what happened."
Nevertheless, by the close of this latest tete-a-tete, Fury's sights are firmly back on Makhmudov - and at last, the great lion of a foe responds with a bear-hug lift for the ages.
Whatever unfolds on Saturday night, it is unlikely that Joshua will be fully removed from his rival's mind. For now however, he can keep his eyes on the immediate prizes.
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The WBO world heavyweight title is on the line for Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois on May 9, only on DAZN PPV. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23), with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
