‘If he could sell out stadiums, he would have’: Anthony Joshua goads Tyson Fury ahead of heavyweight showdown

‘Fury has never had the ability to attract those large numbers, not until he fights me’

Anthony Joshua has goaded heavyweight rival Tyson Fury by claiming that the ‘Gypsy King’ will never sell 90,000 tickets unless the pair meet in a blockbuster undisputed title fight next year. 

Joshua, who has drawn huge crowds at Wembley Stadium, defends his WBO, WBA and IBF belts this month against Kubrat Pulev in his first fight in almost year. 

If he’s successful, a two-fight deal has reportedly been agreed for Joshua to face Fury in 2021, which would be the biggest fight in British boxing history. 

READ MORE: 1,000 fans permitted to attend Joshua vs Pulev

“Tyson Fury is a talented, talented guy and he deserves all the praise he is getting right now but it is interesting when you talk about his popularity,” Joshua told The Sun.

Anthony Joshua fights Kubrat Pulev this month (AFP via Getty Images)

"Because if Fury could have sold out 90,000-capacity stadiums, then he would have done.

"But he never has had the ability to attract those large numbers, not until he fights me. I have had those sort of crowds against Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin at Wembley.

“I will fight Fury because in 50 years' time, people will remember your character and I always want to be remembered as a risk-taker.”