Tyson Fury has claimed that his highly anticipated fight against Anthony Joshua is off, citing renewed disagreements over contractual agreements and location. Fury took to social media on Sunday to accuse Joshua of backing out of the bout, which has been a subject of prolonged negotiation.
"So it looks like AJ has s*** his pants yet again," Fury stated on social media. "After 11 years, he's finally s*** his pants yet again."
The proposed "Battle of Britain" has been mired in disputes, primarily concerning the fight's venue. The choice lay between London's Wembley Stadium and New York's Madison Square Garden, the latter favored by broadcaster Netflix and Saudi partners aiming to maximize U.S. revenue. Fury expressed frustration with the location debate, asserting his willingness to fight anywhere, including England.
"Why the f*** wouldn't I want to fight in England, you sausage?" Fury questioned. "Tyson only wants to fight in America'. Are you joking or what? ... If it's in England, even better. I'll knock the motherf***er out even quicker. Prime time England, 10 o'clock, Wembley Stadium, 100,000 people."
Fury also referenced a 2020 speech by Joshua at a Black Lives Matter march, where Joshua encouraged boycotting white-owned businesses. Fury re-posted a video of the speech, calling Joshua a "piece of s*** bully with zero guts" and criticizing his reported move to Dubai.
Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that Joshua had not yet signed the contract by the Sunday deadline, while Fury had signed in January. Warren had previously warned that the fight would "slip away" if not finalized by the end of the previous week. Discussions around Wembley included accommodating late start times for the American TV market, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressing a desire to host the event.
Fury suggested that Joshua's actions indicated a fear of being defeated. "If I agreed to tie both hands behind my back and wear solid cement boots, Anthony Joshua would never get in the ring with me because I'll annihilate him," Fury declared. He further asserted that Joshua avoids him due to a lack of confidence, comparing him unfavorably to Deontay Wilder.
With the Joshua fight seemingly off, Fury has turned his attention to a potential third bout with Oleksandr Usyk. "So this would only lead me to a fight with Oleksandr Usyk," Fury announced. "Let's do it again. Let's run it back in November. The ball is now in your court, Oleksandr."