ANTHONY JOSHUA has spoken out for the first time since Tyson Fury confirmed his retirement.
Fury has teased a comeback to challenge the winner of Saturday night's rematch between AJ and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
But on his 34th birthday, the unbeaten WBC champion said he was walking away for good.
That is despite his promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren hoping Fury would return to face either Joshua, 32, or Usyk, 35.
A win for AJ would regain the WBA, IBF and WBO belts while putting him back on top in the division.
But Joshua insisted he has to beat long-time rival Fury as well to be considered the No1 heavyweight in the world.
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He told Sky Sports: "Unless he's 100 per cent retired, you've got to beat Fury as well.
"This isn't about Fury, with all due respect. That's just my view on that.
"As it stands you're just a winner, you're a winner at the end of the day. There's always another challenge out there.
"Until you retire you're always going to be challenged to prove you're the best in the world.
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"The minute you say you're the best is the minute you should pack up. That's enough on that Tyson Fury situation."
Fury first announced his retirement after knocking out Dillian Whyte, 34, at Wembley in April.
But returning to fight for the heavyweight undisputed title – the first ever in the four-belt era – remained on the cards.
For Joshua, he can only afford to focus on his rematch with Usyk, following defeat last September.
And after almost one year out, he returns ready for redemption.
Joshua said: "The time drags on. Normally you get straight back in there.
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"Inactivity isn't good for anyone but the pros are for all the changes that I've made personally, training camp, training location, having to form a new team, make them work together as well which is important in a training environment and that needed time.
'That needed time so straight after the fight, obviously I focused on recovery but I got straight to business and what you'll see on Saturday is what we've been working on for the last, I would say, 10 months."
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