Tony Bellew reveals why Fury-Joshua is not too late

Tony Bellew says time has not run out for Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua to finally meet.

Fury and Joshua have been linked with a fight for a decade, but the blockbuster all-British showdown is yet to materialise.

The pair were expected to finally clash this year, but Fury appeared to end those hopes when he retired in January after suffering a second straight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December

Bellew, who also retired after defeat to Usyk in 2018, insists there is still a window for the former heavyweight world champions to settle their rivalry.

“I don’t think time ever runs out for fighters of their magnitude,” the 42-year-old told Sky Sports.

“It didn’t run out for Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, so it’s not going to run out for Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury.

“We need to see it.

“It won’t sit right with both fighters in 10, 15 years’ time.

“I hope we do see it but both of them are going to go down as British boxing legends either way.”

 

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Rumours were swirling that ‘The Gypsy King’ would make a U-turn on his retirement decision, but the 36-year-old appeared to rule this out.

Fury was pictured on holiday with wife Paris over the weekend in Monaco and maintained that he would remain retired.

“Been around the world and back again,” he said in a video posted on Instagram.

“Here we are, this is what retirement looks like for the ‘Gypsy King.’ Not too shabby.

“I’m in no rush at all to come back to boxing.

“Get me face punched in, for what?

“What will I return for? I ask that question.

“So here we are.

“I’m retired, and I’m staying retired.”

Joshua, who has not fought since a fifth round stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in September, and underwent surgery on his elbow, which was a success according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.

Hearn is plotting Joshua’s return for later this year and remains hopeful that Fury will return for a bout with ‘AJ’.