Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua doesn’t need a title | ‘The country would stop to see that,’ says Todd DuBoef | from Top Rank Boxing News
A non-title fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would not detract from the magnitude of the event, says Top Rank’s Todd DuBoef.
Fury and Joshua have a long-standing rivalry, but the two Britons are new to boxing. Both were previously world heavyweight champions, although they failed to regain the titles in 2024.
Oleksandr Usyk repeated his points victory over Fury in the December rematch, while Daniel Dubois knocked out Joshua in the September IBF title clash.
Even so, 2025 could be the year Fury and Joshua finally box, even without the world championship belts.
Said Todd DuBoef, president of Top Rank, which co-promotes Fury Sky Sports: “There are still two great fighters in the ring. The end.
“I think brands are so strong,” he continued. “In the UK, the country would stop for an hour to see what’s going on and I think that’s a wonderful thing.
“They’ve created an incredible fan base and passion for what they are. So I always think that’s there.”
But first, DuBoef says, both Fury and Joshua have to choose, not just whether they want to box each other, but whether they want to box at all.
That daily hard training, that discipline, he said. “They have to decide if that’s what they want to do.”
DuBoef explained, “I think they both have to decide if they want to fight, let alone fight each other. I’ve always said over the years that two brands and two fan bases for both of them are so big and so wonderfully connected to them, that fight is always there.
“I still believe the fight is always there. They’re like peanut butter and jelly, Joshua and Fury, they go together.
“I think it’s always there, but they have to dig deep and decide if they want this, not that, but do they want to get in the ring. Do they want to go back to training?”
‘I’ll go again’
Joshua has signaled his interest in fighting his British rival. “In 2025, I’m targeting Tyson Fury,” Joshua said on a trip to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
Referring to the Dubois fight, he added, “It makes me hungry, it makes me want to work harder. Time is of the essence, time is limited, so I just want to put in more work.
“When I look back, I believe I could have done more in 2024. I have one more chance in 2025 to do more and I will make sure I take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.
“I should have won, but I didn’t and I will go again.
“My life goes up and down so I have to get used to the turbulent times and keep riding the wave.
“I can’t stop now. I have to keep going until I reach my destination.”
