After previously announcing his retirement following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, in December 2024, The Gypsy King’s promoter Frank Warren has since confirmed Fury is looking to get back in the ring next year, and AJ, 36, thinks the former heavyweight champion is only putting the gloves back on to fight him.
Speaking to German outlet Sport1 about whether he thought he would fight Fury, Joshua said: “Yes, I think it will happen. Why not? What else will he do? He has to fight me.”
When the outlet added they believed The Gypsy King was only returning to the ring to face him, AJ simply replied: “Exactly.”
Joshua has been out of action for 13 months recovering from an elbow surgery after he sustained an injury in his fight with Daniel Dubois, 28, in September 2024, and his promoter Eddie Hearn has said there is a “50-50” chance AJ may return to the ring before the end of the year on the undercard of one of Matchroom Boxing’s upcoming shows.
Speaking with Ring Magazine, the promoter, said: “I think it’s probably 50-50 that he will fight again this year.
“Sometimes I mention these things and it goes crazy but when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense from a boxing point of view [for AJ to box on an undercard and not be the star of the show]. Not so much for a money or commercial point of view.
“But every time Joshua fights it’s a massive occasion, out in a big stadium somewhere. But if he goes on an undercard somewhere, it gives him the chance to get in the flow again and it would be very beneficial to his career.
“All we’re trying to do is get ourselves geared up for probably the last roll of the dice in his career and he’s got to be ready.”
Hearn had also said Joshua would use his next few fights to prepare for a potential Fury bout.
The promoter told Sky Sports: “The thing that AJ wants more than anything, is to fight Tyson Fury. “That is the biggest fight in the sport ... I'm hopeful.
“The only thing that is close to that level [for Joshua] is to win the world heavyweight championship again, which is a big motivation for him.”
