Tyson Fury believes Anthony Joshua lacks confidence and has dared his rival to back up his words, should they meet in a mega fight this year.
WBC Heavyweight champion, Fury and unified WBA ’Super’, IBF, WBO and IBO Heavyweight titlist, Joshua are on course to meet later this year with the pair having already signed a two-fight deal.
Both Brits have vowed knockout victories and in a recent interview Joshua said, “I want to take his head off his shoulders when that fight happens.”
The ‘Gypsy King’ dismissed Joshua’s intentions and questioned if the 31-year-old would look for a stoppage victory against him.
“It’s a nice quote. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s sticks and stones,” Fury told Fox Miami.
“People say a lot of stuff and they don’t back it up, so we’ll see. I’ve never seen him take anybody’s head off anybody’s shoulders in all of his 22 fights. Probably a lie. Another lie.
“We’ll see if he’s got the guts to try and do it when I’m stood in the ring in front of him. I don’t believe he has.”
Joshua took care of IBF mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds last month, in his first fight since regaining his Heavyweight world titles back from Andy Ruiz Jr on points last December.
However, Fury, who ripped away the WBC title with a seventh round stoppage win over Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas in February, insists his rival lacks belief and is predicting a swift victory.
“I don’t think he’s as good as people crack him up to be, or he doesn’t believe he is, in his own self,” the 32-year-old added.
“He’s got a confidence issue. He’s coming off two shaky performances.
.@anthonyfjoshua it’s a matter of time….. ⏰ ⏰ ⏰ I’ll spank you like I did @BronzeBomber 2/3 rounds. #YOUBUMSOSER #letsgetiton pic.twitter.com/7m8A8Je0ui
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) December 12, 2020
“Boxing is all about who is in form and who isn’t.
“On his last two fights he’s not in form, on mine I am. Momentum is with me and I just believe I take him out early, very early. Maybe even one round, two rounds.”
Joshua-Fury obstacles
Joshua still has WBO mandatory, Oleksandr Usyk awaiting his shot and the Ukrainian would have to step aside to allow the Brits to meet, whilst Wilder has gone to mediation to enforce a third fight with Fury.
The American, former world champion, who activated his rematch clause is intent on facing Fury again, however the latter’s team insist the timeframe for a trilogy has passed.
The pair were set to meet in October, but the fight was delayed until December, as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, whilst a December date was then shelved due to a number of college football games falling around the same time.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn held talks with Fury’s co-promoter Bob Arum last month and believes the situation with Wilder remains the only major issue, whilst the date, venue and broadcast partners are to be determined.
