An all-British heavyweight battle between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua continues to elude fans, but there’s a general feeling that it’s edging a little closer.

The long rivalry between the pair has so far been limited to trash talk, but it would be a stain on this generation’s heavyweight division should it stay that way.

Contracts have been sent, venues booked, bluffs called, but a fight is yet to materialise. This time last year Tyson Fury would have been a heavy favourite to win if it did, but after logging a below-par performance against Francis Ngannou and then suffering his first loss against Oleksandr Usyk this month, some feel confident to back ‘AJ’ now.

That includes Johnny Nelson, who told Seconds Out that recent form makes the prediction for him.

“Well, you’ve got to measure it. You’ve got to measure how Tyson did and how Joshua did [with the] last couple of opponents.

My measuring stick tilts in favour of Anthony Joshua. Even though he got beat up by Usyk twice, not as bad as [Fury.] Then you look at Fury against Ngannou, he prepped bad but he still beat him. And then you look at Anthony Joshua [against Ngannou.] So it tilts Anthony Joshua’s way.”

Fury and ‘AJ’ now have Kevin Johnson, Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, Otto Wallin, Francis Ngannou and Oleksandr Usyk in common.

Most recently, Joshua dispatched of Wallin inside five rounds whereas Fury went the distance and got badly cut on the way. Fury was knocked down by Ngannou before earning a split decision on the cards, but ‘AJ’ got rid of the MMA man in devastating fashion inside five minutes.

The Usyk bouts deserve more studying, but Fury’s success in the middle rounds may be the best spell had by an opponent of the Ukrainian in some time. He was hurt badly in round nine which may boost Joshua’s confidence. The Watford man wasn’t knocked down, though flurries from the Ukrainian in their first fight certainly had him on the ropes.

Fans know that the only answer is to make the fight, but it won’t be taking place this year. Joshua is out again in September at Wembley Stadium with an opponent yet to be announced, likely the winner of Filip Hrgovic versus Daniel Dubois this weekend.