Joshua produced a devastating ninth-round stoppage of Kubrat Pulev to start the second defence of his reign as world heavyweight champion in style and seemingly take a step towards a blockbuster showdown with WBC champion Fury.

But the 31-year-old strangely called for ‘less talk, more action’ and instead asked the crowd who they want to see him fight when pressed on whether a heavyweight showdown with Fury is next on the agenda.

Anthony Joshua was criticised by fans for refusing to name Tyson Fury as his next opponent

Fury said Joshua ‘s*** himself live on television’ and emphatically confirmed he wants the fight

Fury immediately too to Twitter to insist ‘He just s*** himself live on television’ after dodging the question of the fight, while other fans similarly critical of the Watford-born boxer.

‘Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua buzzing for Tyson Fury after that? Joshua didn’t even want to say Fury’s name in the interview, deals in the morning.. Eddie, no diff to the outcome, your boys getting jabbed about the ring, he took 4-5 rounds to get rid of a 39 year old’, said @DavG_86.

‘It’s not always that I agree with but a*** fell out soon as name got mentioned! The biggest fight in British boxing history and you don’t want to talk about it?’, added @JoshhDunn91.

The 31-year-old produced a ninth-round knock-out of Kubrat Pulev to defend his world title

The British heavyweights hold all four belts and their anticipated fight appeared to edge closer

‘You won’t fight the gypsy king, could see the fear in your eyes when his name was mentioned #youbigdosser’, said @jamiephillbusby.

Carl Froch joined fans in wondering why AJ wouldn’t confirm Fury as his next challenge and insisted the mammoth British showdown is the only fight fans will accept next.

‘I think the only guy out there for him now is the Tyson Fury fight,’ Froch told Sky Sports, ‘it’s kind of the only fight that the crowd are going to accept and it’s the fight that the people want.

Carl Froch joined fans in questioning why Joshua seemed to refuse to answer the question

‘It’s almost like ancient Rome in the Colosseum, when the crowd have spoken. The fans that follow Anthony Joshua, they want to see the Tyson Fury fight.

‘He’s got Oleksandr Usyk for the WBO mandatory, that’s an option. There’s still question marks. Is Tyson Fury in his head, on his mind?’

‘Eddie Hearn said there, ‘Tomorrow morning we’re on the phone. We’re making that fight. Let’s see if it happens, but that really is the fight that we need to see now,’ Froch added.