Anthony Joshua believes Tyson Fury negotiations will be a ‘nightmare’ after watching Oleksandr Usyk fight collapse

Anthony Joshua is not looking forward to restarting talks for a potential fight with Tyson Fury any time soon.

The rival British heavyweights have twice previously failed to stage a showdown together in the past two years, and it has been suggested that they could try again in 2023.

Joshua and Fury signed contracts to meet in August 2021 for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles in Saudi Arabia.

However, Deontay Wilder’s legal arbitration victory scuppered the bout and forced Fury into a trilogy contest with him instead.

The Gypsy King KO’d Wilder, but Joshua had to face his mandatory Oleksandr Usyk and was dethroned as a result.

In 2022, after AJ lost his rematch to Usyk, he accepted a call-out from Fury to fight in December.

The pair agreed financial terms, but talks collapsed at contract stages.

Fury fought Derek Chisora instead and then began negotiations to face Joshua’s conqueror Usyk in an undisputed world title showdown.

However, this too has proved fruitless with no fight being made.

Assessing these failed talks, Joshua said: “I tell you what, if he is doing a 70/30 split for an undisputed heavyweight world title fight, to an already undisputed cruiserweight and unified heavyweight champion, imagine what he is going to try to offer me.

“It’s just a nightmare.

“But when that fight happens – God willing it does – then my management and promotional team will be in my corner, they will back me, they know what I bring to the table.

“They would negotiate fiercely to make sure I get a lion’s share of what’s on the table.”