Tyson Fury quipped that he could beat Anthony Joshua with one hand tied behind his back.
Having watched AJ overcome Wladimir Klitchko at Wembley in front of 90,000 fans, Fury wants a piece of the action in an all-British mega-fight, and responded to Joshua calling him out in the ring.
The former world heavyweight champion told Sky Sports: ‘Styles do make fights but I am sure I can beat AJ with one arm tied behind my back.
‘I don’t even need a warm-up if he wants this, I have been out of the ring as long as Klitschko but the difference is, I am not 41, I am 28.
‘AJ did really well to come back but I am not 41 or getting old. He is just a pumped-up weightlifter but [Klitschko] couldn’t land one of those of those hooks on me, at all.
‘But let’s face it, I am the man, the number one in the division.
‘There can only ever be one heavyweight, especially in our part of the world, and it’s me. It definitely isn’t a pumped-up heavyweight, I can tell you that.’
Fury recognises that a fight against Joshua would be hugely lucrative and admits yelling in support of his British rival against Klitschko.
He said: ‘It was an excellent fight, very entertaining and enjoyable and I was screaming for AJ to smash him.
‘I wonder what people would be saying today if Klitschko had done him in the sixth. I was screaming, pulling my hair out – or what little hair I’ve got left – because I was worried it would cost us millions!
‘He showed a lot in that fight. He showed he can get dropped and come back, which is what champions are made of. He showed he can recover from taking big shots.’
Joshua’s victory has propelled him into global stardom and he becomes a figure for the heavyweight division and boxing to build around.
Fury appears to be the next logical choice of opponent in a division with a dearth of superstars and could provide a fascinating tactical match-up, given his evasive style.
‘The Gypsy King’ is adamant that the public want to see him fight Joshua and is already talking up his chances for what would be another fight to capture the world’s attention.
‘It is the only one the world wants to see and I am here, I am the lineal champion, I am still number one in the world and everybody knows that,’ he added.
