TYSON FURY has urged Anthony Joshua to “step up to the plate” and fight him instead of rematching Dillian Whyte.
Joshua is ready to return to the ring next year after a period out following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
And promoter Eddie Hearn has lined AJ up with a summer stadium headliner with Whyte next year.
Joshua even said he would even prefer a derby against his London rival than a long anticipated grudge match with the Gypsy King.
But Fury told iFL TV: “Why isn’t this lad stepping up to the plate and taking on the challenge?
“What does he wanna fight Dillian Whyte for? He’s already beat Dillian Whyte.
“Fight me. Come to the party, bring your teacakes and your underpants. It’s only a fight, you’ve already lost before.”
After Joshua’s rematch loss to Usyk in Saudi Arabia, Fury offered him a shock shot at his WBC belt.
But when talks collapsed, he instead faced Derek Chisora, 38, in a trilogy bout at Tottenham’s stadium, winning in round ten.
Fury, 34, is now in talks with Usyk, 35, for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed bout.
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Meanwhile Joshua, 33, looks set to return in the spring before setting up a rematch with Whyte, 34, who he lost to in amateurs but beat as a pro.
And Fury has cast doubt on ever fighting AJ as he vowed to knock out Usyk instead.
He said: “I can guarantee you that you will not see it, 100 per cent.
“Like Carl Froch vs Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton vs Junior Witter, it’s 100% not happening.
“I’m gonna knock out the guy who just beat him twice. What are they gonna say about me then?”
