Tyson Fury WILL still fight Anthony Joshua and they’ll even be friends after, says ex-world champ in shock prediction

GEORGE GROVES has tipped Tyson Fury to come out of retirement to fight Anthony Joshua - before becoming shock friends.

Fury appears ready to walk away from a mega-money showdown with AJ after announcing his latest hanging up of the gloves.

But Groves - who retired in 2018 as a former super-middleweight world champion - joins fans alike in not buying into Fury's latest claim.

In fact, he believes it is all part of a negotiation and mental warfare ploy.

Groves, 36, told SunSport: "I mean there probably is a significant part of him that thinks, 'Oh I want to retire.'

"And he might be speaking it into existence. He might get a true feel of what it's like to retire but I don't think he wants to retire.

"And boxing moves on so quick, I don't think he's the sort of fella that could walk away if there's a big fight on the table.

"I reckon it's a negotiation tactic, maybe it's a mind game thing with Anthony Joshua."

Groves lost one of Britain's most bitter of grudge matches against Carl Froch in 2013 - with the controversial stoppage setting up a big rematch.

Froch won again in 2014 in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium - but nowadays the two are broadcast partners and even tour together.

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Groves also had a feud with James DeGale that dated back to their schoolboy days.

DeGale lost in both the amateurs and pro ranks to Groves - and their hatred for each other only got worse.

But even they made amends in retirement, with DeGale joining Groves' podcast as a shock guest.

And Groves reckons even Joshua, 35, and Fury, 36, will one day kiss and make up after they eventually settle it in the ring.

He said: "I don't think there's that intense rivalry that me and DeGale had where it was too much and we ended up spiting ourselves.

"I don't think that's the case with these two. I don't even think there is that much animosity there.

"For a while they both hated Deontay Wilder, didn't they? Joshua hated Wilder then Fury hated Wilder, I just think it was easy for the British icon to hate the American.

"But against each other, especially at this time when the fight's only really just been talked about in the past few years, when you're longer in the tooth, start getting softer and start having kids life's too short for these sort of intense rivalries.

"I bet you, if they do box they'll be cuddling each other after."

Groves says it is impossible to compare Fury and Joshua's records until they put it all on the line against each other.

He said: "I think they should settle it with a fight. I think we will, I think it happens."