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Anthony Joshua in line for shock world title fight if Tyson Fury snubs £300m grudge match

ANTHONY JOSHUA could end up fighting for a world title if a showdown with Tyson Fury fails to come to fruition.

Fury, 36, seemingly killed off the long-overdue Battle of Britain in January by announcing his fifth retirement from boxing.

Anthony Joshua boxing at Wembley Stadium.

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Anthony Joshua’s hopes of fighting Tyson Fury are seemingly hanging by a threadCredit: REUTERS
Tyson Fury in a red robe and white towel.

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The Gypsy King is retired and has shown no sign of reversing his retirement decisionCredit: PA
Agit Kabayel celebrating a boxing victory with the WBC Interim World Heavyweight Title belt.

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AJ could end up fighting Agit Kabayel for the interim WBC heavyweight titleCredit: GETTY

AJ and his team aren’t giving up hope of the mammoth melee coming to fruition but are willing to move on should Fury remain retired.

And WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has revealed the Watford warrior is in contention to fight Agit Kabayel for the interim heavyweight title.

He told Sky Sports: “We will [support an undisputed heavyweight title fight] and we will assess what is happening, what is the best scenario.

“[Kabayel] has the WBC interim championship that [he] can defend.

“There’s other big fights like Joshua, Wilder or even Fury. So many other possible great fights.

“[Joshua,] he’s highly ranked in the WBC, he’s a legendary champion and we will support him, of course.”

Fury, according to his cousin Andy Lee, is content with his life after boxing, which he can no longer be “f****d with”.

But Joshua is still holding out hope of sharing the ring with his long-time rival later this year.

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Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua boxing stats comparison.

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During a recent interview with iFL TV, he said of the domestic dust-up: “I feel like it’s the best fight [for me].

“People might say [Joseph] Parker, people might say – I don’t know.

‘I think he’ll return’ – Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight update as Saudi boxing chief reveals chat with Gypsy King

“But I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.

“You could say it’s been years in the making.

“But listen, the heavyweight division has been thriving.

“And why I say it’s probably still a great fight is as I said Parker is, for me, a great story of someone that never gives up.

“And the thing is, there is going to be one winner and one loser.

“And there’s going to be bloodshed. And it ain’t gonna be mine.”

Anthony Joshua after a boxing match.

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Anthony Joshua hasn’t fought since losing his Wembley war with Daniel DuboisCredit: GETTY

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