Anthony joshua sends half-hearted message to tyson fury amid fight rumours

BRITISH HEAVYWEIGHT ANTHONY JOSHUA WILL RETURN TO THE RING THIS WEEKEND AGAINST JERMAINE FRANKLIN, BUT AS ALWAYS BEEN HEAVILY LINKED WITH A FIGHT AGAINST LONG-TERM RIVAL TYSON FURY 19:34, 28

Mar 2023Updated 19:34, 28 Mar 2023 Anthony Joshua has remained coy on Tyson Fury's recent undisputed fight collapse against Oleksandr Usyk. The 'Gypsy King' looked set to do

battle with the Ukrainian champion for the undisputed titles to crown the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. But in devastating fashion, the fight collapsed at the final

hurdle with Usyk walking away from the negotiating table after being left frustrated by the WBC champion's public demands. Joshua has had his share of heartche from fight collapses

including missing out twice on the opportunity to face Fury, including last year after he failed to meet the champion's public deadlines. However he has managed to step in the ring with

Usyk twice who beat him on both occasions and took his unified crown away. READ MORE: Anthony Joshua claims Tyson Fury "needs him" after collapse of undisputed fightREAD MORE:

Anthony Joshua sends "f*** everyone" message to critics before comeback fight However the British star has refused to be drawn into the row insisting focus must first remain on his

upcoming bout against American contender Jermaine Franklin at the O2 arena on Saturday night. "Not really I hope he is alright, that is all really I don't really have much to say

right now," Joshua told reporters when asked about the fight collapse. "I know we are doing the media but I am in fight mode and I am just focused on my stuff. I am just happy that

Eddie Hearn has got the blame for something that doesn't involve him. Eddie always gets the blame and I do so I'm just happy he isn't getting the blame. Being a champion is

not easy at all. "Look at Usyk now he hasn't even got a fight date. I was the last guy he fought and I'm fighting on Saturday. He is a champion, he should have been out twice

by now. Being a champion should mean you are busy and you are out fighting and active, but it is a f***ing headache. I blame both of them." _DO YOU THINK ANTHONY JOSHUA AND TYSON FURY

SHOULD FIGHT NEXT? LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW_ It remains unclear what could be next for both Fury and Usyk, particularly for the 'Gypsy King' who now faces an

uncertain future with no mandatory opponent selected. Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has even suggested that negotiations could be revived for the former two-time champion to finally

step in the ring with Fury. Article continues below And he has even suggested that contracts could begin to be exchanged next week if Joshua progresses beyond Franklin without any upset. “I

have had talks this week with George Warren and fundamentally the original contract is still in place and we all know that the timing is perfect now, as it happens because of the

circumstances with Usyk," Hearn told Daily Mail. "This is the very last chance for this huge fight to happen. I expect to be exchanging pilot contracts with Queensberry soon. Maybe

as early as next week. AJ knows there’s a big opportunity. At last. So much at stake now, but he also has his total focus on Franklin.”