Tyson Fury has openly expressed his skepticism that Anthony Joshua will ever agree to a highly anticipated British clash, questioning whether his rival truly possesses the "guts" required to face him in a marquee bout. The comments came in the aftermath of Fury's seventh‑round technical knockout of Mariusz Wach, a fight that took place in Thailand and was not broadcast on television. While celebrating his own victory, Fury turned the spotlight onto Joshua, recalling the heavyweight champion's decision to avoid a showdown after Fury's own win over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April.
Joshua, meanwhile, is scheduled to step back into the ring this Saturday in Saudi Arabia, where he will meet Kristian Prenga. This fight is being billed as a tune‑up ahead of a possible clash with Fury later in the year. It also marks Joshua's first competitive appearance since a tragic car accident in Nigeria last December that claimed the lives of two close friends and left him as a passenger in the vehicle.
The Saudi bout will be closely watched by fans and promoters alike, as it could provide a clearer picture of whether Joshua is ready—both physically and mentally—to take on Fury's challenge. During the post‑fight interview, Fury was blunt about his view of Joshua's character. "I got through my test.
Let's see if [Joshua] gets through his test. The biggest test of it all is how big his balls are. I think he's a big s***house," Fury said, using his trademark colorful language. He went on to recall the atmosphere in Tottenham, where a crowd of roughly 70,000 spectators watched Joshua's fight against Makhmudov.
"In Tottenham in front of 70,000 people, he never had the guts to get in the ring and face me. Let's see if he ever does. I'm not convinced," Fury added, emphasizing his belief that Joshua had backed away from a direct confrontation. Fury also hinted at the logistical uncertainties surrounding a potential showdown, noting that the location could be anywhere from Las Vegas to New York, from Ireland to London, or even Belfast.
He even joked that the fight might end up in Pattaya, Thailand—the very city where he had just fought Wach. "I'll regroup.
Hopefully the next big fight is signed next week, and we head wherever we're going to head," he said. "Is it gonna be in Vegas? Is it gonna be in New York? Is it gonna be in Ireland?
Is it gonna be in London? Who knows, Belfast maybe?
It might even be here in Pattaya, Thailand!" The fight with Wach, while not televised, served a strategic purpose for Fury. He explained that after a points victory over Makhmudov, he felt the need to stay active and gain more ring experience. "I've had one fight in two years. This is my second fight in two years.
Of course, I wanted to get the rounds in. I want to be active," Fury remarked.
He stressed that preparation for a bout extends beyond the eight rounds themselves, encompassing press conferences, weigh‑ins, and the psychological buildup that comes with a fight week. "It's not just the boxing in the ring. It's the fight week - the press conference, the weigh‑in, the nerves, everything," he added.
Fury also made it clear that he has no intention of traveling to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to meet Joshua this weekend. After spending six to seven months away from home, the 37‑year‑old champion said he would rather return to his family in the United Kingdom. "I've been away the last six or seven months.
I'm definitely not going to Jeddah. I'm going home to my wife and kids who have been supporting me from a distance," he explained.
He noted that his training camp had lasted ten weeks, preceded by an earlier four‑month stint away from home, underscoring the need for rest and family time before any further commitments. The broader context of this rivalry is the ongoing speculation about where and when a Fury‑Joshua showdown could finally materialize. Some analysts have suggested Wembley Stadium, potentially scheduling the fight at an unconventional hour—such as 2 a.m.
local time—to accommodate a global television audience. Others have floated venues in the United States, like the iconic Las Vegas Strip, or even a neutral location that could attract a worldwide pay‑per‑view market. In addition to the heavyweight drama, the boxing world continues to showcase a variety of other matchups. For example, fans can tune in to watch Edgar Berlanga versus Steven Butler and Richardson Hitchins versus Ricardo Salas, both taking place in New York.
These bouts will be streamed live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event, beginning at 10 p.m. on Sunday. Moreover, the NOW platform offers contract‑free streaming for boxing and other sports, providing an alternative for viewers who prefer digital access over traditional cable packages.
Overall, while Fury's confidence and bravado remain unmistakable, his doubts about Joshua's willingness to engage in a high‑stakes showdown add another layer of intrigue to the heavyweight division. Whether Joshua will ultimately accept the challenge—or whether the two titans will finally meet in a historic bout—remains to be seen. The upcoming fight in Saudi Arabia will likely serve as a litmus test for Joshua's readiness, both in terms of performance and mental fortitude, and could set the stage for the next chapter in what many consider the most compelling heavyweight narrative of the decade.