Tyson Fury has claimed he has an "effect" on Anthony Joshua after the British star confronted a group of students who heckled him over a heavyweight meeting.
In a video first uncovered by The Sun, 'AJ' was pictured confronting a group of students from the University of Loughborough after they reportedly heckled him regarding a fight with Fury. Joshua is heard saying: "Remember you’re running your mouth because when I start cracking your glass jaws, none of you will like it. Watch your mouths because you don’t know who you’re talking to sometimes."
Fury has mocked Joshua after the footage emerged, tweeting: "I have this effect on the best of them." Joshua is training alongside new head trainer Angel Fernandez at the university ahead of his second meeting with Oleksandr Usyk, which has been earmarked for July 23.
Joshua was allegedly agitated by the students' remarks and a witness later revealed to The Sun: "I don’t think they expected him to retaliate and I don’t think they’ll be doing something like that again. But why would you target one of the toughest guys on the planet?"
The former two-time heavyweight champion was set to finally settle his rivalry with Fury last year, but with the contract signed Fury was forced to pursue a third meeting with Deontay Wilder. Fury has since announced his plans to retire from the ring, leaving any meeting with Joshua firmly in doubt.
Despite Fury insisting he has fought for the last time, Joshua has called on his rival to honour their gentleman's agreement and share the ring with him. "If Fury would honour the boxer's agreement and come out of retirement because ultimately what is at my core it is about the money," Joshua said during a Q&A with the Oxford Union. "If Fury will come out and honour the gentleman's agreement there is a lot of money to be made.
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"I feel retirement doesn't mean you have completely given up and you are on the beach clicking your toes and drinking a bottle of Corona. I feel he is still ticking over and I think he will come back if the right fight is presented to him."
Fury recently defeated Dillian Whyte to retain his WBC title and will not be pressured into any decision over whether to vacate his belt. Prominent members of Fury's camp have suggested that the Morecambe inhabitant would be willing to step in the ring if it is Joshua who has his hand raised following his sequel with Usyk this summer.
Queensberry Promotions chief Frank Warren has backed Fury to defeat Joshua or Usyk and become undisputed champion if he elects to return. "I mean, obviously I'm biased but I think he's the best heavyweight in the world by far," Warren told SecondsOut when assessing Fury's future. "I'd like to see him fight Joshua just to prove egotistically why I feel he's the better fighter and I also feel you know if he fights Usyk, again he will show that."
