Fury v Joshua: Tyson Fury claims to have ‘sent contract’ to Anthony Joshua over September fight

Anthony Joshua gained a points win over American Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena in London in April

WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says he wants to fight fellow Briton Anthony Joshua at Wembley in September and has sent him a contract.

Fury, 34, has not fought since stopping Derek Chisora in the 10th round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December.

A fight with Oleksandr Usyk, the IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA champion, was expected to happen in 2023 but fell through.

“A few days ago I sent a draft contract to Anthony Joshua for a fight in September at Wembley,” Fury wrote.

In a post on Instagram, Briton Fury added: “It’s a fight everyone wants to see, including myself.

“Come on AJ let’s give the world what they want to see. This time I’m not going to make a million videos and keep putting pressure on. The ball is now on your side.”

A fight between Fury and two-time world champion Joshua, 33, has long been talked about, but never materialised.

Fury set a deadline in September, which was not met, and said at the time: “It’s officially over for Joshua. He is now out in the cold with the wolfpack.

“Forget about it. Always knew you didn’t have the minerals to fight the ‘Gypsy King’.”

Unbeaten Fury fought Chisora instead and afterwards faced-off with Usyk, who had been ringside, with a bout between the two lined up for Wembley on 29 April.

However, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said in March that fight was off – and he “did not think” it would happen in the near future.

Usyk, also unbeaten with 20 wins from 20 fights, had agreed a 70/30 purse split in Fury’s favour with terms for a rematch the only outstanding issue.

Joshua has twice lost to the 36-year-old Usyk, but then said Fury could “redeem himself from the circus” by agreeing to fight him.

“There’s no better time to get Fury in the ring than now because he needs me to redeem himself from this circus, this let-down,” said Joshua.

“He needs me so there’s no better time than for him to call my name out and I’m someone that will take on any challenge.”

Fury has 33 wins and one draw from 34 bouts, while Joshua – who beat American Jermaine Franklin on points in London in April – has 25 wins and three defeats in his 28-fight professional career after winning Olympic gold as an amateur in 2012.