Top Rank's Todd Duboff says a Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight without a title on the line won't detract from the size of the event.
There is a long-standing rivalry between Fury and Joshua, but the two Brits have yet to face each other. Both are former heavyweight world champions, although they failed to regain the titles in 2024.
Oleksandr Usyk repeated his points win over Fury in their December rematch, while Daniel Dubois knocked out Joshua in their September IBF championship bout.
However, 2025 could be the year that Fury and Joshua finally get to box, even without a world championship belt on the line.
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said Todd Duboff, president of Top Rank, which co-promotes Fury Sky Sports: “There are still two great fighters in the ring. The End.
“I think brands are very powerful,” he continued. “In the UK, the country stops for an hour to see what happens, and I think that's a wonderful thing.
“They've created an amazing fan base and passion for who they are. So I always think that's there.”
But first, Duboff says, both Fury and Joshua must choose not just whether they want to box each other, but whether they want to box at all.
“This hard daily training and this discipline,” he said. “They have to decide if this is what they want to do.”
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Joshua shared an emotional speech after his defeat to Daniel Dubois, saying he has “a lot to offer” in the future.
“I think they both have to decide if they want to fight, let alone each other,” DuBoef explained. “I've always said for years that the two brands and the fan bases for both are so big and so great connected to them, that fight is always there.
“And I still think the fight is always there. They're like peanut butter and jelly, Joshua and Fury, they go together.”
“I think that's always there but they have to dig deep and decide whether they want it or not, but if they want to get in the ring. Do they want to get back into training?”
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“I will go again”
Joshua has indicated his interest in fighting his British rival. “In 2025, I am targeting Tyson Fury,” Joshua said during a trip to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
Reflecting on the Dubois match, he added: “It makes me hungry, makes me want to work harder. Time is of the essence, time is limited, so I just want to put in more work.”
“When I look back, I think I could have done more in 2024. I have another opportunity in 2025 to do more and I will make sure I take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.
“I should have won but I didn't, and I will come back again.
“My life has ups and downs so I have to get used to the turbulent times and keep riding the wave.
“I can't stop now. I have to keep going until I reach my destination.”