Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua doesn’t need a title | ‘The country would stop to see it,’ says Top Rank’s Todd DuBoef

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fighting without a title on the line would not detract from the scale of the event, says Top Rank’s Todd DuBoef.

Fury and Joshua have a long-running rivalry but the two Britons are yet to box each other. Both have been heavyweight world champions previously, though failed to reclaim titles in 2024.

Oleksandr Usyk repeated his points victory over Fury in their December rematch, while Daniel Dubois knocked out Joshua in a September clash for the IBF championship.

Nevertheless, 2025 could be the year when Fury and Joshua finally box, even without a world championship belt on the line.

Todd DuBoef, president of Top Rank which co-promotes Fury, told Sky Sports: “It’s still two great fighters in the ring. The end.

“I think the brands are so strong,” he continued. “In the UK, the country would stop for an hour to see what happens and I think that’s a wonderful thing.

“They’ve created an incredible fanbase and passion towards who they are. So I always think it lives there.”

But first, DuBoef says, both Fury and Joshua must choose, not just whether they want to box each other, but whether they want to box at all.

“That everyday hard training, that discipline,” he said. “They have to decide if that’s what they want to do.”

DuBoef explained: “I think they both have to decide if they want to fight, let alone each other. I’ve always said for years the two brands and the two fanbases for both of them are so big and so wonderfully connected to them, that fight is always there.

“And I still believe that fight is always there. They’re like peanut butter and jelly, Joshua and Fury, they go together.

“I think it’s always there but they have to dig deep and decide if they want it and not it but if they want to get in the ring. Do they want to go back to training?”

‘I am going to go again’

Joshua has signalled his interest in fighting his British rival. “2025, I am targeting Tyson Fury,” Joshua said on a trip to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

Reflecting on the Dubois fight, he added: “Makes me hungry, makes me want to work harder. Time is of the essence, time is limited, so I just want to put in more work.

“When I look back, I believe I could have done more in 2024. I have another chance in 2025 to do more and I am going to make sure I take every opportunity that comes my way.

“I should have won but I didn’t and I am going to go again.

“My life is up and down so I have to get used to the turbulent times and keep riding the wave.

“I can’t stop now. I have to keep going until I reach my destination.”