Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have once again taken to the mic to trade barbs, reigniting speculation about whether their highly anticipated bout will ever materialise this year. Fury is set to step back into the ring against Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday, while Joshua will make his return against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the following day. Both fights are being billed as warm‑up tests ahead of a potential showdown that fans have been waiting for since the two British heavyweights first hinted at a November date, although the exact venue and timetable remain unconfirmed. In a candid interview with Sky Sports News host Dev Sahni, Fury made it clear that he is not obsessing over a Joshua fight and, in fact, seemed ready to face any opponent later in the year.
"Let's not make this about silly Mr Bodybuilder," he said, referring to Joshua with a dismissive tone. "I don't care about him, his team, his family – I could give zero f***s. If I see him again, great; if not, fine." He went on to stress that his focus is on his upcoming bout with Wach, saying, "We've got five months left in the year, so I want to box Wach, do a good job, and keep moving forward." Fury also boasted about his physical condition, claiming he could defeat a heavyweight with a single hand.
"I'm injury‑free, in great shape, and ready to rock and roll," he declared. "If the next fight is against Anthony Joshua, that's fine.
If it's someone else, I'm prepared for that too." His confidence seemed to echo his usual bravado, but the underlying message was unmistakable: the Gypsy King is not desperate to lock in a date with Joshua and will keep his options open. Joshua, not one to stay silent, fired back with his own set of nicknames, dubbing Fury "Mr Greedy Belly" and promising to "do his part of the bargain" by dispatching Prenga this weekend. He mocked Fury's physique, saying, "He's always been talking about my abs.
If he wants a six‑pack, I’ll give him a set of six‑pack abs – at a discounted rate because of his profile." Joshua added that once he clears his own fight, the onus will be on Fury to step into the ring, stating, "It's going down. If I win my fight, I've done my part. Now it's up to Mr Greedy Belly to honour his commitment." The two fighters also hinted at logistical details for a potential Wembley showdown. Joshua suggested that the stadium might need to extend its curfew to 2 a.m.
for an international TV broadcast, and he seemed open to a later start time, envisioning a quick pre‑fight gathering in central London before heading to the arena. "A quick party, a local Wetherspoons, then the fight night at Wembley – that would be unbelievable," he said.
Fury's bout with Wach is scheduled for around 4 p.m. UK time in front of a modest crowd of 1,500 in Pattaya, while Joshua's clash with Prenga will take place on Saturday night in Jeddah. Earlier this year, Joshua attended Fury's 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 have as much interest in fighting Joshua as I have in throwing Pringles on the floor – none," Fury quipped, underscoring his lack of urgency. When asked whether a fight in Saudi Arabia would serve as a signal that the much‑talked‑about showdown is imminent, Fury responded, "You can send out as many signals as you want.
You've been told for ten years it's happening. It hasn't happened, has it? So don't hold your breath.
I've always had doubts. If it happens, good. If it doesn't, also good." Wach, a former heavyweight world champion from 2012, has remained active despite a recent record of eight losses in his last twelve outings. At 46, he expressed a desire to disrupt Fury's plans for a Joshua clash, stating, "It's going to be crazy, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.
He's a tough, veteran fighter with over 20 years in the game, so anything can happen. I've trained for ten weeks and left no stone unturned – I'm in great shape and ready." The back‑and‑forth between Fury and Joshua highlights the broader uncertainty that surrounds heavyweight boxing's biggest potential payday. While promoters and broadcasters are eager to lock down a date, both fighters appear to be using the media spotlight to maintain leverage, each insisting they are ready but not desperate. Fury's willingness to fight anyone else and Joshua's insistence that he will honour a future agreement only if he defeats Prenga keep the narrative fluid.
Fans are left watching two parallel storylines: Fury polishing his craft against an experienced, though past‑its‑prime, opponent in Thailand, and Joshua sharpening his own edge against a lesser‑known challenger in Saudi Arabia. Both bouts will serve as indicators of form and fitness ahead of any possible December or early‑next‑year clash. Whether the two British heavyweights will finally meet in a Wembley stadium under bright lights, or continue to dance around each other with interim fights, remains to be seen. The only certainty is that the rivalry has added another chapter of colorful insults, promotional hype, and strategic posturing, keeping the heavyweight division buzzing with anticipation.