Saying, “For what? What would I return for?” Tyson Fury may have, by and large, sealed the fate of his much-talked-about return from retirement. And perhaps the much-anticipated clash with Anthony Joshua. The all-British showdown was one mouthwatering matchup fans had eagerly been waiting for. However, with Fury’s latest statement, it seems that dream bout might now be off the table.

The former unified heavyweight champion has been licking his wounds since his fifth-round KO loss to Daniel Dubois. A fight with Tyson Fury could have been the perfect opportunity to elevate his stock. So, what’s next for AJ? Is this the end of the road for a fighter desperately trying to steer his beleaguered career back on track after his latest setback? Not likely. Thanks to Turki Alalshikh, the Olympic gold medalist may yet have something to cheer about.

Anthony Joshua: The comeback trail may not be closed just yet

Based on the information they received, ‘NoSmokeBoxing‘ has updated negotiations are reportedly underway between Anthony Joshua and Riyadh Season for a potential three-fight deal. Fans might recall that, earlier this year, Canelo Alvarez inked a similar four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh and his team.

For the record, the deal requiring Joshua to fight in Saudi Arabia still appears to be in the negotiation stage. What’s especially intriguing is that two of the three fights might possibly be against none other than Tyson Fury. The third bout might feature a rematch with Dillian Whyte or even a showdown with Jared Anderson, who’s been seeking redemption since his loss to Martin Bakole last year.

The news has already sparked a frenzy among fans, prompting a wave of speculation. Some even floated Jake Paul‘s name! While that seems far-fetched, if the reports hold true, this deal could provide the much-needed boost for Joshua, who still harbors dreams of becoming a three-time world champion.

But then one is immediately reminded of what Tyson Fury said on his Instagram video.

But that still leaves the Fury question and other possible paths

Vacationing with his wife, the former world champion, who, like Joshua, suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, addressed the swirling comeback rumors head-on. “I hear a lot of talk about ‘The Gypsy King’ returning to boxing, and I ask this question of this one: for what? What would I return for? More boxing belts? I’ve won 22 of them,” Fury said.

Clearly content with his accomplishments, the Mancunian continued, “I’ve been around the world and back again, and here we are. This is what retirement looks like for the Gypsy King—not too shabby. I’m in no rush at all to come back to boxing and get my face punched in. For what? What would I return for? I ask that question. So here we are. I am retired, and I am staying retired.”

If Fury stands firm on his retirement, what are the remaining options for Joshua? A rematch with Daniel Dubois, now the IBF champion and preparing for a rematch with Usyk, sounds like a good alternative. Clearing the air with Dubois could go a long way in helping Joshua restore his credibility. Other viable options include interim titleholder Agit Kabayel or a rematch with the resurgent Joseph Parker.

Given what Fury has said, do you still see a Joshua vs. Fury clash on the horizon? Or has that dream officially slipped away?