Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua is a “stepping stone” towards a trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk and vowed to knock out his British rival “inside seven rounds”.
On Thursday, confirmation finally arrived that Fury and Joshua’s long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown will take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday December 11.
Speaking for the first time since the announcement, Fury has predicted that he will inflict a one-sided defeat on Joshua to set up a third fight against Usyk, who defeated him twice in 2024 on points decisions.
“I’m just going to knock him [Joshua] out, 100 per cent,” Fury said on the Furocity YouTube channel.
“I’m going to box the head off him and stop him inside six or seven rounds. I’m only using Joshua as a stepping stone, a warm-up to Usyk.
“Joshua, for me, is an old bum. A weightlifter. Too many weights, not enough speed. Too many weights, no cardio. So I’ll cut through him like a hot knife through butter.
“I want Usyk. I want him in America, though, where I get a fair decision. I won the first two fights, and I’ll definitely get a decision here, where it’s fair.
“But, listen, now I want to use AJ as a heavy bag. Punch the **** out of him and then move on to Usyk. Give me a good warm-up before March next year.”
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Johnny Nelson shares his thoughts on Fury vs Joshua
Fury: I never believed I’d actually get AJ in ring – ‘Christmas has come early’
Negotiations over the Fury vs Joshua fight had repeatedly hit stumbling blocks before this week’s announcement and Fury insists he still has lingering doubts after Joshua turned down a face-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April.
“He had his chance [or a face-off]. He was a little ****house at Tottenham the other month, whenever it was. Didn’t want to get in the ring.
“We’ll see. I always never ever believed I’d get him in the ring. So getting him in the ring now is like Christmas has come early for me.
“Honest to God. Like I can never ever see him or envision him sitting next to me at a press conference. It’s going to be an onslaught.
“Tell you that now. A one-sided beatdown.
“All the talking aside, honestly, we’re both going to get in there and both going to throw down.
“And I always say, look, may the best man win. If he knocks me out, I’ll shake his hand, and if I knock him out, I’ll shake his hand, either way.”
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Fury joined Lennox Lewis, Frank Bruno & Scott Welch in giving Joshua words of wisdom just after he had won gold at London 2012, and was looking to turn over to the professional ranks
Asked finally if he had a message for Joshua, Fury replied:
“I’ve got no messages at all.
“Turn up on the fight. Turn up on the night, you little yellow-bellied ******. Stay sharp.
“On ball, on point, ready to rock and roll. Let’s go. Ready to train.”
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