The long-awaited showdown between British heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury remains on hold after Joshua declined a direct challenge to fight this year, despite maintaining that a clash between the two is eventually inevitable.

The exchange took place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, where Joshua occupied a ringside seat to watch Fury comfortably defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov. Following his victory, Fury wasted no time in calling out his rival, urging Joshua to agree to a "Battle of Britain" for the fans.

"I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, the Gypsy King, next. Do you accept my challenge?" Fury asked, supported by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority.

Joshua, however, remained unmoved by the public pressure. While acknowledging his intent to fight Fury in the future, he insisted the terms would not be dictated to him. Joshua referenced their history as amateur boxers, claiming he had bested Fury in the past and would do so again when the timing is right.

"You ain't going to tell me what to do," Joshua responded. "I've been chasing you for the last 10 years. When you're ready, you come and see me and tell me your terms and conditions, and I'll have you in the ring when I'm ready."

In a pointed remark regarding his status in the sport, Joshua added, "I'm the boss, you work for me. I'm the landlord. Remember that."

The interaction is the latest chapter in a decade-long saga to bring the two fighters together. Efforts to finalise a bout have faced numerous hurdles over the years, most notably in 2021 when an "undisputed" title fight fell through due to Deontay Wilder's successful legal bid for a rematch with Fury.

Fury’s multiple brief retirements have also complicated scheduling, leaving boxing fans waiting for a definitive date for the high-stakes domestic clash.