Tyson Fury has commended Anthony Joshua for his brutal early knockout of Francis Ngannou, but told his long-time rival that it will be a different story if and when they finally meet in a mammoth future showdown.
Fury was cut and floored by Ngannou in a stunning performance from the former reigning UFC heavyweight champion on his professional boxing debut back in October, eventually winning a contentious decision on the scorecards.
But Joshua had no such issues against Ngannou on Friday night back in Saudi Arabia, putting him down three times in just two rounds in a comprehensive and ruthless early stoppage that will live long in the memory.
Such an emphatic victory puts the former two-time unified world heavyweight champion in line for a shot at the winner of the rescheduled undisputed clash between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, which takes place on May 18 in Riyadh after a bad cut sustained by Fury in sparring caused the postponement of their planned February bout.
Fury was ringside in Riyadh to watch Joshua’s devastating knockout of Ngannou, having earlier been present along with wife Paris, dad John and brother Tommy Fury to watch another sibling Roman move to 4-0 as a professional with a points win over Czech heavyweight Martin Svarc.
Speaking to DAZN, the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ was impressed by Joshua’s lethal display as he admitted his own struggles against Ngannou, but insisted he would come out on top in a huge all-British showdown that is so years in the making.
"I'm sure that Oleksandr Usyk will have something to say about that given he beat him twice," Fury said.
"For the actual real boxing, it’s me and Usyk who fight for the undisputed heavyweight world championship of the world. I had a s**t performance against Ngannou and I almost got it right, I predicted one round.
“He did absolutely fantastic tonight, he lit him up with a right hand and knocked him out. That’s what a boxer should have done with him, but if he fights next year it’ll be a different game."
Fury admitted that any potential fight with Joshua remains some way off, with both he and Usyk containing a rematch clause that, barring any injuries, almost certainly guarantees a second undisputed meeting to follow hot on the heels of the first.
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That will leave Joshua needing to find other opponents to stay busy before getting his shot, with Fury suggesting that his rival should face Filip Hrgovic for the IBF heavyweight title.
That belt - the first world title ever won by Joshua against American Charles Martin back in 2016 - currently belongs to Usyk, but is set to be vacated by the winner of his first meeting with Fury as the rematch clauses mean they will be unable to fulfil a mandatory defence against no1 challenger Hrgovic, the unbeaten Croatian contender who is expected to fight someone else for the gold instead.
"There is quite a long way to go, fantastic performance from AJ but I have bigger fish to fry,” Fury said.
"If we are both still available after my two fights with Usyk, let's get it on.
"He has to keep active and maybe he can fight Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF belt.”
On his ambitions for a pair of future bouts with Joshua, including one at Wembley, Fury added: "Once I'm done with the rabbit, I'll take on AJ.
"Hopefully, we can do one in Saudi Arabia and one at Wembley!"
After demolishing Ngannou, Joshua reiterated his own desire to meet the winner of Usyk-Fury.
“I’ve got to speak to [promoter] Eddie [Hearn], Matchroom Boxing of course, 258 Management, [trainer] Ben Davison and the team. They will shape my future, I’m just here to fight,” he said.
“I’m going to go back to my cage and lock myself away, then I’m going to be let out when it’s time to fight again.
“Whatever they want me to do, I’m down for whatever.”
Pressed if what he wanted to do next was face the Usyk-Fury winner, he said: “Yes it is.”
Hearn was thrilled with Joshua’s display against Ngannou, calling him the best heavyweight on the planet and imploring Fury to beat Usyk so they can finally go head to head in what he called the biggest fight in boxing history.
“I’m so proud of him because there was a huge amount of pressure on him tonight,” Hearn said of Joshua. “People talking about if he were to lose to Francis Ngannou, what would happen.
“He rolled the dice because His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia] said if we win this fight, we will fight the winner of Fury against Usyk.
“There was a show here in October, it was called the Battle of the Baddest to decide the baddest man on the planet. They shouldn’t have done it in October, they should have done it tonight because you are looking at the baddest man on the planet right there.
“You are looking at the number one heavyweight in the world. Unquestionably. On this form, there is no man in the world that can beat him in the heavyweight division.
“I told you he’s going to come back and become the undisputed heavyweight world champion. There’s a brilliant fighter down there called Tyson Fury.
"Please, please beat Oleksandr Usyk on May 18 because I promise you this, you will get the biggest fight in the history of the sport when Anthony Joshua takes the undisputed world championship.
"Anthony Joshua has always stayed in the gym, always worked, never taken a shortcut in his entire life. As a fighter, he’s an inspiration to young people. I promise you, he ain’t getting beat. He’s the best heavyweight in the world and that was one of the most destructive knockouts I’ve ever seen.
"People talk about how Tyson Fury did against Ngannou, forget about that. What I said would happen, happened. He went in there, he destroyed Francis Ngannou.
“This man is a savage, a beast, the best heavyweight in the world, and I cannot wait for him to beat Tyson Fury.”