Anthony Crolla Urges Joshua and Fury to Clash in the UK, Suggests Two Ideal Stadiums for the Epic Showdown

ANTHONY CROLLA believes that if Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua do finally fight this year, it has to happen in the UK and not Saudi Arabia.

The former lightweight world champion insists a fight of that magnitude for the country should take place in either or the Stadium.

Anthony Crolla finally reached the mountain top back in 2016Credit: PA:Press Association Tyson Fury has announced his return to boxing and will fight again in AprilCredit: PA Joshua’s future in the sport is uncertain after the deaths of his two close friends in a tragic car crashCredit: PA

Speaking to SunSport, Crolla explained why the domestic showdown between two of the UK’s all-time great heavyweights should be bigger than Saudi money.

“Please be here, please be here! Please be at Old Trafford or please be at Tottenham or some other outdoor stadium.

“You’re thinking it would it be a shame to see it go over to Saudi? Being honest, yeah, it would. Let’s be honest, it would.

“I’ve been over there lucky enough to work a few shows over there. The production is unbelievable, but that fight should be happening in the UK.”

Fury has announced he will come out of his latest retirement on 11 April on . The bout is widely expected to be in Manchester.

Russian Makhmudov, 36, has won 21 of his 23 fights and beat another Brit in last October.

While Fury’s comeback may be a smaller affair, Crolla agrees that The Gypsy King could well headline Old Trafford before he really calls it a day.

“Yeah, it’s great for Manchester. I think it looks likely the Co-Op [Arena], doesn’t it?

“He could do Old Trafford, it would be great. But I think in April it’ll probably be the Co-Op. But I think with Old Trafford, the right opponent, you absolutely could do.”

Two-time champion Fury has retired several times in his career – five times if we’re counting.

He said: “Listen, I think no one actually believed he was retired, did they? It’s good to see him back. I think the opponent, it’s the right opponent for a comeback fight.

“He ticks a few boxes that he’s well known to UK fight fans after his win over Dave Allen. So yeah, you know, it’s hard, but it’s one you expect Tyson to come through.

“But there’s still questions out there, you know. There’s no denying the Wilder fights certainly took a bit out of Tyson and did the Usyk fights as well. We’ll see.”

So why did Fury retire again?

Crolla said: “I don’t know. I always remember Shane [Fury] saying Tyson’s the master of bulls**** and sometimes I don’t think they know what they’re doing – they don’t know what he’s going to do.

Fury with his brothers Tommy (left) and Shane (right)Credit: Instagram @tommyfury

“I think it was the least surprising news that Tyson had come out of retirement.”

Now that he is back in boxing, thoughts naturally turn to the idea of finally facing Joshua.

in a tragic car crash while in Nigeria and Crolla insists if he did walk away from the sport and not fight Fury, no one could possibly blame him.

“Obviously there’s always going to be a demand there for him and Tyson. It’d be great to see it, but at the minute I think AJ just needs time to grieve and just worry about that, you know what I mean?

“I think if AJ never boxes again, you couldn’t blame him and he’s had an unbelievable impact on British boxing, one of the very biggest.

Crolla, a huge draw in Manchester himself during his fighting days, currently has a stable of around nine fighters that he trains, one of which made their pro debut last weekend on Josh Kelly’s card in Newcastle – Kieran McDonald.