Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have once again found themselves exchanging sharp words, reigniting speculation about whether their long‑awaited bout will ever materialise this year. Both fighters are slated to step back into the ring in the coming days – Fury will face Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand on Friday, while Joshua is set to take on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The two British heavyweights were originally expected to finally meet in November, though no definitive date or venue has been confirmed. Fury, however, has hinted that he is willing to fight "someone else" later in the calendar year if the Joshua showdown does not come together.
During a recent interview with Sky Sports News host Dev Sahni, Fury let loose a profanity‑laden tirade that left little doubt about his feelings toward his compatriot. "Let's not make this about silly Mr Bodybuilder. I'm not interested in him or his mates or anybody else.
I don't give a **** about him. I don't care if I ever see him again in my life. If I do, I do. If I don't, I don't," he said, before adding that no one – not even the boxer’s manager, wife, sister or cousin – mattered to him.
Fury went on to stress his focus on the upcoming fight with Wach, saying, "We have got five months left of the year, so I want to get this fella boxed, do well, and do what I can." Fury’s confidence was palpable. He claimed he could defeat Wach with a single hand, insisting that his own condition was "fine, injury‑free and ready to rock and roll." He also hinted at a possible alternative opponent, stating, "There's five months to get another fight in before the end of the year. And if it is your man Anthony Joshua, good.
And if it's not, then I'll be fighting somebody else." Joshua, never one to stay silent, responded by dubbing Fury "Mr Greedy Belly" and vowing to "do his part of the bargain" by beating Prenga this weekend. He mocked Fury’s physique, saying, "He's always been talking about my body for so many years. What I would do for him at a discounted rate because of his profile, I'll help him transform his body from being a greedy belly into a bodybuilder.
I'll give him a set of six‑pack abs." Joshua went on to claim that once he clears his own upcoming fight, the onus will be on Fury – or "Mr Greedy Belly" – to step into the ring. The potential venue for the much‑talked‑about showdown, Wembley Stadium, may need to adjust its curfew to accommodate an international television broadcast, and Joshua indicated he would be open to a later start time. "Quick party, quick central London, local Wetherspoons or whatever it is, and then hit the fight night in Wembley. That would be unbelievable," he said.
Fury’s bout with Wach is scheduled for around 4 p.m. UK time in front of roughly 1,500 spectators in Pattaya, while Joshua’s clash with Prenga will take place Saturday night in Jeddah.
Joshua attended Fury’s April victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London, but Fury has no plans to travel to Saudi Arabia for a potential Joshua fight. "I'm going home. I've got about as much interest in Anthony Joshua versus 'some Pringles' as I have of spewing that all over the floor.
None. I'm going home.
I'm not interested in AJ and his mate boxing," Fury declared. When pressed on whether a fight against Joshua in Saudi Arabia would serve as a signal that the long‑rumoured bout was finally happening, Fury replied, "You can send out as many signals as you want. You've been told for 10 years it's happening.
It hasn't happened, has it? So don't hold your breath. I've always had my doubts.
But if it happens, good. If it doesn't, also good." Mariusz Wach, a former heavyweight world champion in 2012, has continued to fight on a near‑annual basis but has lost eight of his last twelve contests.
At 46, he remains a seasoned veteran and has expressed a desire to "ruin" Fury’s plans for a Joshua showdown. Fury, however, does not underestimate his opponent.
"It's going to be crazy but I'm looking forward to the challenge. It's going to be good," the "Gypsy King" said.
"He's a tough man. He's a veteran, and he's been around the game 20 years plus.
So he's a dangerous man, a big heavyweight and anything can happen. I've got to obviously be wary of him and be on my A‑game and do what I do." Fury added that he has been training intensively for the past ten weeks, leaving "no stone unturned," and feels "fit as a fiddle." He believes his preparation puts him in prime condition to take on any heavyweight, whether that be Wach, Joshua, or another opponent later in the year. The ongoing verbal sparring between Fury and Joshua highlights the broader uncertainty that surrounds heavyweight boxing’s marquee matchup.
Both fighters have demanding schedules, promotional obligations, and personal branding considerations that complicate negotiations. While Fury appears willing to keep his options open, Joshua is eager to press forward and secure a fight that will cement his standing after a series of mixed results. As the calendar inches toward the end of the year, fans and promoters alike will be watching closely to see whether the two British giants finally agree to settle their rivalry in the ring, or whether the saga will continue to be delayed by scheduling conflicts, contractual hurdles, and the occasional colorful insult.