Tyson Fury has intensified his public feud with Anthony Joshua, questioning his rival's patriotism and commitment to fighting in England. Fury dredged up a 2020 speech by Joshua, delivered at a Black Lives Matter march, in which he read a letter urging attendees to boycott white-owned businesses and redirect spending to Black-owned enterprises.
Fury re-posted a video of the speech, criticizing Joshua's perceived lack of national pride and accusing him of seeking to avoid the fight. "This is the man who loves England, absolute s*** bag! Total peice of s*** bully with zero guts! Don't let them deceive you! & living in Dubai," Fury wrote, referencing Joshua's earlier reported move to Dubai.
In a video address, Fury claimed Joshua is attempting to derail the fight to avoid a definitive loss. "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 stated. He also suggested Joshua's tactics mirrored his approach to Daniel Dubois, who was knocked out.
Fury refuted claims that he is the one avoiding a UK fight. "The latest news from them is, 'Tyson don't want to fight in England'. Why the f*** wouldn't I want to fight in England, you sausage? 'Tyson only wants to fight in America'. Are you joking or what?" he asked, emphasizing that the fight's financial and logistical decisions lie with Netflix and Turki Al-Sheikh, the paymasters. Fury expressed enthusiasm for a Wembley Stadium fight, stating he would "knock the motherf***er out even quicker" on home soil.
The dispute over the fight's location has been ongoing, with Wembley Stadium in London and New York's Madison Square Garden as the primary options. While Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, indicated that talks for Wembley had reopened, Netflix and Saudi partners have reportedly favored New York to maximize U.S. revenue.
Joshua has yet to sign the contract for the bout. Frank Warren, Fury's promoter, noted that Fury signed in January and is actively training. The original agreement reportedly stipulated England as the venue. For a fight of this magnitude, Joshua would require a training camp of at least two months.
Discussions around a potential Wembley event have included accommodations for late start times and curfews to suit the American television market. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed his interest in hosting the fight and finding a suitable resolution.
Fury continued his verbal assault, comparing Joshua unfavorably to Deontay Wilder and questioning his courage. "You're a useless dosser, a big bodybuilding piece of s***. Too many weights, not enough speed. When I crack a big right hook off it, you'll go over like spaghetti legs Deontay Wilder. But he's 10 times the man you'll ever be, because he's got a pair of bks like King Kong, and you've got a pair of bks like two fing garden peas, you piece of s."