Bitter rivals Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury traded words on FaceTime ahead of a potential fight next year.
The domestic grudge fight could finally happen if both men with their upcoming fights, with Fury set to rematch Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 whilst ‘AJ’ looks to become a three-time heavyweight champion against Daniel Dubois three months earlier. Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh called Fury to tease the fight whilst sat next to Joshua.
“Champ, finish the job on 21 of December and look who’s waiting for you,” Alalshikh said to Fury before Joshua said: “I’m waiting for you!” Fury then insisted: “I’ll get the f****** job done [against Usyk].” Joshua doesn’t think Fury will avenge his defeat to Fury, but said he will fight him even if he loses.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury shared words on FaceTime ( Image: Turki_alalshikh/X)
“Either way, I’m waiting for you,” Joshua said. When Fury said he “can’t wait” for the fight, Joshua pointed at his fight and said “this can’t wait.” Fury sharply replied that he also has two fists, but Joshua said: “Use them, stop using this [his mouth].” Things then heated up when Joshua called Fury an idiot and he responded: “I’ll use them both on your face you big ugly dosser.”
Fury and Joshua were finally set to fight in 2021, but the grudge match fell apart when Fury was ordered to fight Deontay Wilder for the third time instead. Joshua then went on to lose his unified world titles against Usyk and he failed to win them back in their rematch the following year.
Joshua admitted he wants Fury to do what he couldn’t by beating Usyk in their second fight. “Yeah in a way. I don’t mind anymore whether he wins or loses. I just want to fight him, it’s been dragging on. Fury ducks a lot of people, he doesn’t fight many people, many top-tier people. He needs to get on with it and come and fight me and stop wasting my time,” he said.
The former two-time world champion was then asked if he fears Fury will retire if he loses to Usyk again. “It’s up to him. He’s put himself in a position to make his own decisions,” Joshua added. “In terms of the fans, I know what they want. We tried to make the fight happen, it was signed and then it fell apart. Hopefully after this we can get it on, finally.”
