Tyson Fury retirement fears dismissed as Tony Bellew insists long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua 'is coming' as 'everyone wants to see it'

Former WBC world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew cannot see see Tyson Fury retiring before a fight with long-time rival Anthony Joshua.

There has been speculation that the Gypsy King may hang up his gloves after suffering back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

In a thrilling contest where neither man refused to give an inch, it was Usyk who finished the stronger, just as he did seven months ago, to pick up a repeat victory.

Usyk became undisputed champion by just a single point in May as he earned a split decision win, but this time it was more clear-cut as all three judges scored the bout 116-112 in his favour.

Later, at the post-fight press conference, Fury was asked about his future in the sport and cryptically replied: ‘You might see me fight again, you might not’. 

While Usyk has cemented his place as the king of the division, there are still question marks over who is the king of Britain.

Tony Bellew cannot see that happening before a fight with Anthony Joshua takes place

A fight between Joshua and Fury has been touted for years and Bellew sees it happening 

Fans have clamored for a showdown between Joshua and Fury for many years and Bellew thinks it’s bound to happen.

‘I don’t think that ship will ever sail,’ he told Express Sport. ‘You’re telling me you couldn’t stick 100,000 in Wembley to watch those two fight? I think you’d get 50,000 just at the press conference. It’s coming, it is on. It’s on the charts and it’s on the board.

‘Everyone wants to see it. The sad part is that it will be when both are just slightly past their sell-by date, by the looks of it. It looks like it’s going to be [Floyd] Mayweather and [Manny] Pacquiao all over again. It’s been held back and held back.

It looks like it’s going to be [Floyd] Mayweather and [Manny] Pacquiao all over again. It’s been held back and held back.

‘You have to remember, the only person who has signed up to these fights and hasn’t pulled out is Anthony Joshua. He signed to fight Fury, he signed to fight [Deontay] Wilder, he’s fought Usyk twice, he’s fought [Wladimir] Klitschko.

‘All these people, he signed to fight and they pulled out on him. He signed to fight Tyson Fury and Fury had to pull out because of the arbitration from Wilder. He signed to fight Wilder and Wilder pulled out because of the mess he was in with Fury.

‘It is what it is. It’s a mess, really, but 100 per cent that fight will happen one day. It’s huge. It’s a massive blockbuster event and it will probably go down as the biggest domestic boxing match ever.’