Tyson Fury: It will be a 'travesty' if I don't fight Anthony Joshua before I retire

WBC heavyweight champion faces Derek Chisora for a third time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 3

Tyson Fury celebrates with his belts after beating Dillian Whyte by sixth-round stoppage. AP

Tyson Fury celebrates his knockout win over Dillian Whyte to retain his WBC heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, April 23, 2022 as referee Mark Lyson supports Whyte on the ropes. Reuters

Tyson Fury celebrates with his wife Paris, right, and trainer SugarHill Steward. AP

Tyson Fury knocks down Dillian Whyte during their WBC heavyweight title fight. AP

Tyson Fury celebrates after knocking down Dillian Whyte during their WBC heavyweight title fight. PA

Dillian Whyte is surrounded by his team after his defeat to Tyson Fury at Wembley Stadium. PA

Tyson Fury throws a jab at Dillian Whyte. AP

Tyson Fury lands a right cross on Dillian Whyte during their WBC world heavyweight title fight. Getty

Tyson Fury lands a body punch on Dillian Whyte during the WBC world heavyweight title fight. Getty

Dillian Whyte lands a reaching cross on Tyson Fury during their WBC world heavyweight title fight. Getty

Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte exchange punches during their WBC world heavyweight title fight. Getty

Tyson Fury during his ring walk ahead of his WBC heavyweight title fight against Dillian Whyte. PA

Fireworks are set off during Tyson Fury's ring walk for his WBC heavyweight title boxing fight against Dillian Whyte. AP

Tyson Fury sits on a throne during his ring walk to face Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium. Getty

Tyson Fury pumps his arms to the crowd during his ring walk to fight Dillian Whyte. Getty

Tyson Fury soaks up the cheers from the crowd during his ring walk ahead of his fight against Dillian Whyte. Reuters

Tyson Fury says a showdown with Anthony Joshua is "the fight that people want to see", adding it would be a “travesty” if the pair do not meet in the ring before either retires.

WBC heavyweight champion Fury has walked back his decision to retire from boxing on several occasions and is in training to face Derek Chisora for a third time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 3.

Englishman Fury challenged his great domestic rival Joshua almost immediately following the latter's points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in September. Joshua accepted, saying he would be recovered and ready to face Fury in December.

However, negotiations over what would have undoubtedly been the biggest fight in British heavyweight history broke down, with both camps blaming the other.

Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Fury, 34, said he did not want to bow out of boxing for good having not faced Joshua – himself a two-time heavyweight champion.

“I don’t think I can retire today. I need the Joshua fight. We have been trying to make that fight for years," he said.

“It’s the fight that people want to see. It’s the fight that I want to see as a boxing fan.”

Fury boasts an unbeaten professional record of 32 wins and one draw while Joshua, 33, has suffered three defeats in his 27 pro fights, including back-to-back losses to Usyk. He first lost his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles to the Ukrainian in London in September 2021 and failed to regain them in August as Usyk took a split decision in Saudi Arabia.

Fury, whose last ring appearance saw him KO another domestic rival, Dillian Whyte, indicated he is likely to struggle to call time on his career given the constant prospect of new challenges, starting with a projected unification showdown with Usyk early next year.

A new generation of British rivals, headed by Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois, are also beginning to stake their claims for a shot at the reigning WBC champion.

“For the last four or five years, there has been this three-headed monster: me, [Deontay] Wilder, Joshua,” Fury continued.

“Joshua and Wilder have been slain, and I’m the last one standing. All of a sudden, you’ve got some new people coming up now – Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois, Usyk’s gate-crashed the party.

“Now there’s a load of new blood that wasn’t there five years ago and it’s like, ‘can you beat this person?’

“But I think it would be an absolute dying travesty if me and Joshua didn’t fight in this era.”