Anthony Joshua has vowed to do everything in his power to meet Tyson Fury in the ring.
The world heavyweight champion is set to face WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25.
That bout only materialised after a proposed superfight between Joshua and Fury in August was scuppered when a United States arbitrator ordered Fury to take on Deontay Wilder for a third time.
The news dealt a bitter blow to British fight fans hoping to see the two pugilists who between them own all versions of the heavyweight championship.
Joshua, however, remains optimistic a unification of the division can still occur, should he overcome Usyk and Fury triumph against Wilder.
“We were meant to have fought by now and here we are talking about it,’ Joshua told the Daily Mail.
“But it will happen. I know what people are saying about boxing politics, but I’ll promise before the end of my career I will have done everything in my power to fight Tyson Fury."
Fury, 31, pointed to Floyd Mayweather's 2015 bout against Manny Pacquiao as proof that good things come to those who wait.
That fight - the highest grossing boxing match of all time - took six years to make, but Joshua sounded upbeat that a meeting with Fury would take place on UK shores.
“Me and Fury is streets, two warriors, two fighters who have come from the amateur system in the UK, and have taken the world by storm," he said. "We’ll get it on in Britain.
“Don’t worry about age, boxing politics, don’t worry about the American dollar. This is a British UK fight which can happen at Wembley, Tottenham, the O2, York Hall.
“I look at it less as a mega-fight for the world and more from the point of view that we are guys who first met in Finchley ABC. It is a grassroots fight.”
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Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder during their rematch in Las Vegas in February 2020. -
Tyson Fury celebrates defeating Deontay Wilder to win the WBC World Heavyweight Championship at the Garden Arena in Las Vegas. -
Tyson Fury celebrates with the belts after winning the fight. -
Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder in the fifth round. -
Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder. -
Tyson Fury celebrates after knocking down Deontay Wilder. -
Tyson Fury watches Deontay Wilder hit the canvas. -
Tyson Fury knocks down Deontay Wilder. -
Tyson Fury in action against Deontay Wilder. -
Tyson Fury at the end of the first round. -
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder in the first round. -
Deontay Wilder enters the ring. -
Tyson Fury arrives in the arena. -
Tyson Fury makes his entrance. -
Former Heavyweight Champions Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield. -
Former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis in the ring. -
Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson before the fight. -
NFL player Patrick Mahomes attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena. -
Boxing Hall of Fame member Mike Tyson attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena. -
Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Lane Johnson attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena. -
Former NFL player Chad Ochocinco Johnson. -
Boxing Hall of Fame member Thomas Hearns attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena. -
NBA Hall of Fame member Magic Johnson attends the WBC heavyweight title bout between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at MGM Grand Garden Arena. -
Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis and head coach John Gruden.
