Tyson Fury is “good for boxing in his own way” and WILL be back in the ring, says rival Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury can bounce back from cocaine claims and will return to the ring, heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua has said.

The 28-year-old, who announced his retirement from boxing on Monday only to retract it hours later, could be stripped of his belts after reportedly testing positive for the Class A drug.

Joshua believes Fury will be back in the ring

But Joshua, who is now set to fight Wladimir Klitschko in a unification contest, believes Fury is “good for boxing in his own way” and will return to the sport.

Joshua has often been on the receiving end of Fury’s rants. But, speaking before it was reported Fury had failed a SECOND drugs test , he said: “I am sure we will see Tyson Fury back in the ring again.

Fury and Joshua don’t often see eye to eye

The champion faces being stripped of his belts (Image: Reuters)

“Tyson is a fighting man, a real talent and he is good for boxing in his own way. I really hope to see him getting back to what he does best.”

Before the cocaine revelations Fury withdrew from his rematch with Klitschko with a statement explaining he was “medically unfit” to fight.

In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Fury appeared to confirm reports he had tested positive for cocaine by discussing using “lots” of’ the drug.

The British Boxing Board of Control will decide on October 12 if it will withdraw WBO and WBA heavyweight champion Fury’s licence.

A precedent was set in 2010 when the BBBofC withdrew the inactive Ricky Hatton’s licence after allegations of cocaine use.

General secretary Robert Smith said: “The board meets next week and we’ll discuss it, I’m fairly sure.

Wladimir Klitschko could now go head to head with Joshua

Ricky Hatton had his boxing license revoked in 2010 after allegations of cocaine use (Image: Vincent Cole/Manchester Evening News)

“The meeting won’t be for Tyson Fury alone. We have a meeting on October 12. All of Mr Fury’s recent issues will be discussed at that point, after which we’ll see what we’re going to do.

“He is licensed by us. The sanctioning bodies, the WBO, WBA – they are not governing bodies – they can strip him, declare the titles vacant, or he can vacate them.

“We deal with the licence, so in theory, if we were to suspend him they would have no choice but to strip him because he can’t defend them, can he?”