Anthony Joshua moved one step closer to a fight with Tyson Fury as the Unified world heavyweight champion dispatched Kubrat Pulev to retain his belts.

Walked to the ring by East London rapper Potter Payper Watford-born, Joshua treated the 1,000 fans granted access to Wembley to a crushing display forcing Pulev to the canvas twice in the 3rd round then dishing out a flurry of uppercuts and the knockout blow in the 9th.

Joshua said: “I started this game in 2013, gathered the belts. 

“Whoever has the belts I want to compete with. If that is Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury.”

Fury never one to be quiet took to social media to say: “There you go everyone. Anthony Joshua got asked if he wanted the fight and he went round the bushes. 

“I want the fight. I want the fight next. I will knock him out inside three rounds. I can’t wait to knock him out.”

Joshua vs Fury seems an inevitability now and hopefully it will be worth the long awaited hype.