Despite boxing delivering in a big way in 2024, one fight fans still seek is an all-British heavyweight battle between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Though the two former champions have come close, sent contracts and even fought the same men, a match-up remains just a step too far from current plans. Many feel it’s getting closer, but it’s no secret that so is retirement.

With Fury having just lost out on the undisputed heavyweight championship to the man who twice-beat ‘AJ’, Oleksandr Usyk, he now begins to prepare for a rematch. Joshua is enjoying a resurgence that will see him fight in September at Wembley Stadium in the hopes of building on a four-fight win streak.

Derek Chisora, a friend of both and three-time opponent of Fury’s, believes fans want to see ‘The Gypsy King’ swerve the Usyk rematch for the Joshua fight instead. He told Title Sports Network it’s a contest he believes Fury loses inside the distance.

“Tyson versus AJ now, should be. AJ [wins by] knockout. He’s fighting different now. He’s a different animal now.”

Joshua’s recent run of form has, intriguingly, included two former Fury foes. He stopped Otto Wallin in five and Francis Ngannou in two. Both men took Fury the distance.

The Londoner also has a secret weapon in Ben Davison, the trainer who oversaw Fury’s return to the sport. Fans know both fighters are vulnerable, largely thanks to Usyk, which makes the fight perhaps more appealing than ever. Whether or not it happens before one or both call it a day remains to be seen.

In his last four fights, Anthony Joshua has had three different trainers; nevertheless, in his most recent match against Otto Wallin, he may have had the finest one yet.

After stopping Wallin on his stool in the fifth round, Joshua showed the boxing world that he had returned to his most formidable and powerful form.

The main event of the Day of Reckoning card was Joshua’s triumph over the Swedish southpaw who, in 2019, famously put Tyson Fury through a 12-round grind. Joshua is now primed for a great 2024.

Should Fury emerge victorious from his uncontested bout with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on February 17, that would be one possible fight.

Ben Davison, who trained ‘AJ’ for his most recent bout and supported Fury during the Wallin battle in Las Vegas, is a common trainer for the two British heavyweights.

When asked if he would prepare Joshua for a potential matchup with Fury in an interview with ProBoxingFans, Davison declined to comment.

“It’s a hypothetical conversational isn’t it, ’cause we’re a million miles away from that happening. At the minute it’s not even on the radar, it’s not even something to think about ’cause it’s a million miles away.”

Davison went on to explain why he hasn’t given that possible challenge any thought yet.

“AJ has other tasks ahead of him and there are two fights with Fury and Usyk, so that’s the focus right now.”

Joshua has now committed to take on Francis Ngannou, a fellow former Fury opponent.

Jarrell Miller has still got plenty to say about Anthony Joshua in the run-up to them appearing on the same card together on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.

Miller is one boxer who has managed to get under ‘AJ’s skin more than most. There were heated verbal altercations and even some pushing at the weigh-in for their ill-fated fight at Madison Square Garden in New York back in 2019.

Due to Miller then failing drugs tests in the weeks leading up to it, the fight never happened, but that hasn’t stopped ‘Big Baby’ from constantly firing shots at the two-time world champion.

Although he recently claimed that Joshua ‘called to apologise’ after the first press conference to announce the huge card in Saudi where the Brit faces Otto Wallin and Miller comes up against Daniel Dubois, he has continued to lay into him.

During an interview with Boxing News, Miller explained why he doesn’t see Joshua as a true champion, but feels that Tyson Fury is.

“AJ’s a punk bitch. Eddie Hearn has been protecting him long enough. It’s about time he came back to America. He came to America, Andy Ruiz – I call him Taco Bell, not racist because I’m half Mexican – whooped his ass and he has not been back since.

“At least give me a chance to knock you out in America at some point. You can’t be a true champion if you come to America, get your ass whooped and never come back. Tyson came to America, conquered and left. He’s a real world champion.”

Joshua will be hoping to prove MIiller wrong as, should he get past Wallin, he will have eyes on Deontay Wilder who could well be the man he needs to beat to become the mandatory challenger for the WBC belt.

That will be held by one of Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk once they have settled their differences in their undisputed fight on February 17.

Whether or not he and Miller will ever come to blows given how their first proposed fight fell apart is unknown. For now, Miller has plenty on his hands with Dubois.

Will the much-anticipated clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk save the heavyweight division? 2023 has been eventful for the boxing realm in totality. However, the heavyweight class, coveted to lead the sport has fallen aback compared to the rest of the sects. There is a popular understanding that the A-listers of this class hesitate to clash with each other, a fear that such a clash could push them off the notoriety they have amassed.

What once was a dream is now a reality. When Francis Ngannou came to France after toiling hard in Cameroon, he wanted to excel in the square circle. Fast forward to some time later, after punching his way to the top in the UFC, he returned to knocking down giants in the boxing ring. Ever since he rocked Tyson Fury on October 28, he has ensured his name is taken in the same breath as other star heavyweights. However, it seems ‘The Predator’ has become fixated on ‘The Gypsy King’ and is missing the larger picture. Is he wrong to stake his career to chase a rematch with Fury while Anthony Joshua is itching to have a go with him?

Therefore, the reports of Fury vs. Ngannou’s PPV clash selling only 67,000 PPVs didn’t come as a surprise to some. Yet, the lineup of bigshots hungry to have the flesh of Ngannou is long.

Maybe a little of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, or even Derek Chisora

Amid Ngannou’s deep-seated desire for a rematch, Eddie Hearn is pushing Anthony Joshua as Ngannou’s next opponent. The British promoter told the BBC, “As we start to plan AJ’s next six to 12 months, we just want to know if that is an option.”

Joshua has no fight lined up and is currently training with Derrick James. Unlike Fury, who remains focused on Usyk. Joshua has carved out a name for himself as the top heavyweight, and his skills are second to none. However, Ngannou is not ready to fight Joshua, at least not this year.

As Ngannou told TMZ, “First of all, it’s too soon. Secondly, my focus, as boxing is concerned, is a rematch with Tyson. That’s the most important thing for me right now. Everything else for boxing comes after.”

Likewise, the rumors of Ngannou closing a deal with Deontay Wilder for two fights have also gained traction. Derek Chisora didn’t shy away from throwing his name in the mix when he called out Ngannou. Hence, Ngannou can have his pick from among the three in a blockbuster PPV and not endure the anguish of waiting for a Tyson Fury rematch.

The time is also running out for Ngannou as he waits for Fury. While some have forgotten that he is under a contract with the PFL, combat fans remember his controversial exit from the UFC and his back-and-forth with Dana White. Can he actually afford to wait?

The PFL contract and his MMA obligations

Ngannou’s contract with the PFL affords him the liberty to realize his boxing dream. However, he has to, at some point, return to the fold of MMA. Most probably, that will be the first half of next year.

The heavyweight fighter can’t juggle between two boxing and MMA camps in a few months. He needs to recover and adjust accordingly. The more he waits for Fury, the more he cuts his dream run short. Ngannou must also remember that he is not getting younger.