British heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has said he will only continue his boxing career if his next fight is against fellow Briton Anthony Joshua, declaring he has no interest in any other opponent.

Fury made the statement after returning to action with a unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, marking his comeback after 16 months away from the ring.

Speaking at his post-fight press conference, Fury issued a firm ultimatum about his future in the sport.

“Let’s get the fight on. If it ain’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m not interested in boxing,” Fury said. “I’ll eat a thousand Easter eggs, go up to 35 stone. I’m out. I’m not interested.”

He said titles and rankings no longer matter to him, insisting that only a long-awaited clash with Joshua would motivate him to continue.

“I don’t care about belts. I only care now about AJ. That’s the defining fight for British boxing,” he added.

The Fury–Joshua showdown has been one of boxing’s most anticipated bouts for years, with negotiations previously collapsing in 2021 when the fight was expected to unify the heavyweight division.

Promoter Frank Warren has claimed Fury has already agreed terms, with reports suggesting the bout could take place this year, possibly at venues such as Wembley Stadium or Croke Park, and even linked to a potential Netflix broadcast.

Joshua, however, said negotiations are still ongoing. Speaking after the fight, he expressed willingness to face Fury but stressed that discussions must be concluded properly.

“In my heart, I’ll fight Tyson Fury tomorrow… but I’m not here to get clout. I’m here to fight,” Joshua said.

He added that he is currently managing personal matters and will take time before deciding his next move, but insisted he is not avoiding any opponent.