Tyson Fury explains respect for Anthony Joshua and suggests they could face back-to-back fights next year

Both have fights lined up for next month

Anthony Joshua will defend his belts in London (Action Images via Reuters)

Tyson Fury has explained the admiration and respect he has developed for Anthony Joshua, while also predicting the pair could meet in back-to-back world heavyweight title unification bouts in 2021.

Both Fury and Joshua have agreed separate fights for December, which will see them return to the ring and ensure their focus is solely on that task rather than potential upcoming meetings - though a possible future fight has already been verbally agreed.

Before Fury and Joshua’s fights, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr are set to meet in a heavyweight fight in November in Los Angeles.

And unbeaten Fury admitted he was impressed with the way Joshua shrugged off his shock defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr in June to rebound with a win in Saudi Arabia six months later.

Fury told Talksport: "He handled it like a man, he took it in his stride and that was it - he didn't make a million excuses.

READ MORE: Tyson says Joshua must “learn more” and Wilder must “get his head out of his butt”

"I would hope that I could conduct myself like that if that happened to me. He just said, 'fair play, I was beaten by the better man on the night', and that was class."

Fury warned a lucrative meeting between the pair is far from certain with Joshua set to face former title challenger Kubrat Pulev, while Fury is expected to confirm a bout against German Agit Kabayel.

Fury added: "We've both got to get through our upcoming fights and heavyweight boxing is not a given, anything can happen at this level.

"These guys like Pulev have been waiting for a title shot for the last five years so it's going to be a tough fight (for Joshua).

"Provided we both come through our next fights then I would like to think that this fight will finally get made, when we're both at the peak of our careers and we're both world heavyweight champions - and I'd like to think it could happen twice next year."

PA

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