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Tyson Fury offers to skip warm-up fight and take on Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury is preparing to return to boxing and is targeting a lucrative bout with Anthony Joshua. PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is prepared to forego a warm-up fight and challenge Anthony Joshua for the WBA Super and IBF titles immediately.

Due to injuries and suspensions, Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) has not fought since outclassing Wladimir Klitschko for three world titles in November 2015 but took to social media to thrown down the gauntlet to Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs).

Fury said: "As a sporting challenge, I lay down the challenge for Anthony Joshua to fight me in my first fight back for two-and-a-half years.

"I'm the best heavyweight on the planet. Come prove I'm not. The ball is in your court -- don't let your fans down champ. Let's rock you big bum.

"I'm that good I don't need warm-ups. I can come off the couch and beat up on Anthony Joshua.

"Don't run your big a--- in the bush. Let's fight this summer."

Joshua, 28, is currently in talks over a unification bout against New Zealand's WBO world champion Joseph Parker.