Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have once again taken to the mic to hurl insults at each other, reigniting speculation about whether their much‑anticipated clash will ever materialise this year. Both champions are set to return to the ring within days – Fury will face Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday, while Joshua is slated to take on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. The two British heavyweights were originally expected to meet in November, although the exact date and venue have yet to be confirmed. Fury, however, has made it clear that he is prepared to step into the ring with "anybody else" later in the calendar year if the Joshua bout does not come together.

During a heated interview with Sky Sports News host Dev Sahni, Fury dismissed the prospect of fighting his fellow Briton with a profanity‑laden tirade that left no doubt about his feelings. "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," Fury said, before adding that no one – not his manager, wife, sister or cousin – mattered to him in this context. He went on to outline his immediate priorities, noting that there were only five months left in the year and that he wanted to "box this fella [Wach] and do well" before moving on. Fury continued to boast about his physical condition, claiming he could defeat any heavyweight "with one hand" and emphasizing that he was "injury‑free, in good shape and ready to rock and roll." He left the door open for a Joshua showdown, saying, "If it is your man Anthony Joshua, good.

And if it's not, then I'll be fighting somebody else." The British champion, however, was not about to let Fury's swagger go unanswered. Joshua retaliated by dubbing Fury "Mr Greedy Belly" and promising to "do his part of the bargain" by beating Prenga on the weekend. "He's always been talking about my body for so many years," Joshua said, before offering a tongue‑in‑cheek proposition: "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." He went on to claim that if he survived his upcoming fight, the responsibility would shift to "your mate, Mr Greedy Belly," to honour the agreement and step into the ring with him.

The two fighters also hinted at logistical considerations for a potential Wembley showdown, with Joshua suggesting that the stadium might need to extend its curfew to 2 a.m. to accommodate an international broadcast, and even floated the idea of a quick pre‑fight party in central London followed by the main event. 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 was present at Fury's April victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London, but Fury has indicated he will not travel to Saudi Arabia for a potential face‑to‑face bout there. "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 asked whether a Saudi showdown would send a signal that the long‑delayed fight was finally happening. When pressed further, Fury responded, "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." The veteran Polish fighter Wach, a former heavyweight world champion in 2012, has remained active despite a recent run of losses – eight defeats in his last twelve outings. At 46, he insists he wants to "ruin" Fury's plans for a Joshua showdown, yet Fury 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, acknowledging Wach's experience: "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 for ten weeks and has left "no stone unturned," asserting that he is "fit as a fiddle" and ready for the fight. Both fighters continue to trade barbs on social media and in press interviews, keeping fans guessing whether the long‑awaited Joshua‑Fury showdown will finally be booked or remain a phantom on the heavyweight calendar.

The next few weeks, with each champion fighting a different opponent in two separate continents, will likely provide further clues about the viability of the bout and whether either man will ultimately decide to honour the much‑talked‑about contract or pursue alternative opponents as the year draws to a close.