Blow to Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury hopes as Frank Warren issues dour assessment of fight

Former world champion "well down the list" of potential opponents for Gypsy King, who this weekend faces Francis Ngannou

An all-British showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is ­further away than ever, according to promoter Frank Warren.

The two boxers have come close to agreeing terms in the past, with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn last week saying a clash between the pair was a must fight if both won their proposed bouts against Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk.

But Warren argued Joshua was well down the list for fighters on Fury’s wish list.

Fury goes up against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh tomorrow night and a deal has been agreed for him to face Usyk on December 23 back in Saudi Arabia.

Talks are ongoing about a Joshua-Wilder showdown in early 2024, paving the way for a possible meeting between Fury and Joshua later in the year.

Fury has this week downplayed that suggestion, though, claiming Joshua is “out in the cold” and no longer “relevant” to him, a sentiment echoed by his promoter.

“Hearn said winning [against Joshua] would be Tyson’s legacy but Joshua has only won two of his last five fights,” said Warren.

“He’s well down the list of mandatory challengers. He was offered the fight twice in 12 months and didn’t take it. That says a lot.”

Hearn had suggested last week that Joshua and Fury would pocket £100million each for an all-British super fight.

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