Anthony Joshua referred to as out Tyson Fury and confirmed he could be preventing once more this summer time as he marked his return to the ring with a unanimous choice victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night time. 

The previous two-time world heavyweight champion appeared understandably nervy however largely dominated proceedings towards a troublesome Franklin in what marked his first outing since shedding his rematch to Oleksandr Usyk final August.

It marked the start of what has been deemed a brand new chapter for Joshua as he seeks to re-establish himself again among the many world’s title-holding heavyweights.

He wasted no time after the ultimate bell in reiterating his curiosity in an all-British showdown towards Tyson Fury.

“I attempt to present for the followers, I do know who the followers need – who do the followers need? They stated Fury, yeah? The ball is in his courtroom,” Joshua stated on the DAZN broadcast.

“I might be 100 per cent honoured to compete for the WBC Championship of the world.

“I stand right here and say that proudly, that might be an honour.

“Wherever you’re, if you’re listening, you already know my administration, you already know my promoter, we have had dialogue earlier than so let’s proceed this and hopefully we are able to get this accomplished sooner somewhat than later. We do not get any youthful.

“I can not wait to get again to Texas, develop and push on as a result of there is a larger combat, you understand how one combat leads onto one other, I can not wait to get the subsequent large combat.”

Questions proceed to loom over the heavyweight division as a complete in mild of talks over a potential undisputed conflict between Fury and Usyk breaking down. Whereas Joe Joyce has emerged as a possible opponent for Fury, Usyk is seemingly heading in the direction of a gathering with obligatory WBA challenger Daniel Dubois.

Other than Fury, Joshua has additionally been linked to a different combat towards previous rival Dillian Whyte, who was in attendance to look at the Olympic champion in London on Saturday night time, in addition to Deontay Wilder, who was notably bumped as much as No 1 within the WBA rankings over the weekend.