ByKal Sajad. BBC Sport boxing reporter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. One hour ago. Even after all these years, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remain at odds. After Fury’s commanding win over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it momentarily seemed like the time had come for them to align. The Gypsy King draped himself over the ropes and called Joshua over. The rivalry suddenly sprang back to life. Joshua wasn’t entertaining any mind games, however. Fury goaded him to enter the ring; Joshua remained in place. Yet another instance of the subtle power dynamic that has shaped their rivalry. Joshua refused to be rushed, yet Team Fury—and the Saudi organizers—appeared to anticipate a different outcome. Prior to and right after the fight, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh—a key influencer in contemporary boxing—spoke as though the fight announcement was about to drop. Netflix, which aired Saturday night’s comeback event, even promoted the all-British matchup on social media for autumn in the UK, only for Fury’s promoter Frank Warren to swiftly refute it. Fury overpowers Makhmudov and demands a bout with Joshua next.
