Tuesday 1 December 2015 17:20, UK
Anthony Joshua insists if he stepped in with Tyson Fury right now, he would leave the ring a heavyweight world champion.
Fury (25-0-KO18) wowed the boxing world on Saturday night when he relieved Wladimir Klitschko of the WBA, WBO and IBF world titles in Dusseldorf and has already been called out by former WBA champion David Haye and current WBC holder Deontay Wilder since.
Joshua (14-0-KO14) has now officially added his name to the mix ahead of facing his bitter London rival Dillian Whyte live on Sky Sports Box Office on December 12.
Every time I'm pulling up at a petrol station or checking social media, everyone's asking me when I'm going to fight Tyson Fury.
The Olympic champion told Sky Sports: "Every time I'm pulling up at a petrol station or checking social media, everyone's asking me when I'm going to fight Tyson Fury. Before he became champion. People want it to happen and it will happen at some stage.
"December 12 is my focus. I've got to get that win. I believe I can beat anyone so, yeah, I can beat Tyson Fury. The good thing is I've got people who want me to progress. My coach believes in me.
"If the opportunity presented itself, we'd take the fight. It's only a fight at the end of the day - heavyweight champion or not. It's a square ring, one opponent and my job is to beat him, so of course I'm going in there with the same mentality."
While Joshua, 26, is confident he has what it takes to get the better of Fury, he credited the enigmatic Mancunian for his achievement in Germany.
Joshua said: "I watched it of course and that's something we haven't achieved in 10 years. He's heavyweight champion of the world, something that I'm destined to do myself. Credit to him.
"My gut instinct told me Klitschko because it's been routine for the last 10 years. I wasn't going to go against the house. Round six I thought Klitschko would do it but it came to the late rounds and I credited Fury for pulling it off.
"It's changed the division. The division is lit up. I just have to follow suit and wait for my chance so I can come through and dominate at some stage.
"At the same time, he's entertaining. He's got that Jerry Maguire story with Mick Hennessy and he's brought boxing back to Great Britain. You've got young guns like myself and Dillian Whyte who are going to cause mayhem."
Joshua v Whyte is part of another huge night of British boxing on December 12 - also featuring Chris Eubank Jr's grudge match with Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan.
