Tyson Fury has once again taken to social media to lambast Anthony Joshua, calling the former two‑time heavyweight champion a "coward" and accusing him of "conning everyone" as the two fighters continue to haggle over a long‑awaited all‑British clash. The exchange comes after weeks of intense back‑and‑forth, with both camps saying they are close to sealing a deal, only for the venue question to repeatedly stall progress. The latest obstacle appears to be the preference of the Saudi promoters, led by Sela, who have expressed a strong desire to stage the bout on U.S. soil.
Joshua’s representatives, however, have consistently insisted that the fight belong in the United Kingdom, arguing that a British showdown would generate the biggest possible fan interest and financial return. This tug‑of‑war over location has left the negotiations in a limbo that both fighters seem increasingly impatient to escape.
On Wednesday, Fury posted a new Instagram video, his tone unmistakably frustrated. "Joshua, where are you?
Still no deal done. It’s getting quite tiring," he said, listing every possible venue he would be willing to travel to – England, Ireland, Las Vegas, New York, and then back again – and emphasizing that he had never attached any conditions to his willingness to fight. "The facts are that I feel like you’re being a coward. I feel like you don’t want the fight and you’re just conning everybody.
I feel like you’ve been doing that for years," he added, suggesting that Joshua has been dragging his feet for an extended period. The heavyweight division has been buzzing with anticipation ever since Joshua’s second‑round knockout of Kristian Prenga in July, a victory that, despite the win, revealed some lingering vulnerabilities as Joshua was knocked down twice in the opening round. Meanwhile, Fury’s most recent bout came earlier that same month when he faced Mariusz Wach. The 46‑year‑old former champion retired on his stool after the seventh round, handing Fury a relatively straightforward win and adding another fight to his résumé.
In the same Instagram clip, Fury pressed his point further, saying, "You’ve had many opportunities to fight me, but deep down you’ve never really wanted it, so let’s see if you’re going to man up for a final time." He reminded both fans and his rival that they are now in the latter stages of their careers – both men are 37 or 38 years old – and that age should not be an excuse for hesitation. "We’re both f***ing 37, 38 years old – let’s f***ing fight. It’s a boxing match and you’ve been banjoed before plenty of times.
You’ve been knocked out a few times. So what, what’s the worst that can happen? I’m going to f***ing chin you, 100 per cent, but it’s nothing that hasn’t been done before!" Fury declared, using his trademark bluntness to underline his eagerness.
Promoter Frank Warren, who represents Joshua, weighed in on Wednesday, stating unequivocally that the ball is now "100 per cent" in Joshua’s court. "Tyson has signed up for the fight and agreed to the fight," Warren said. "He’s all good to go, just waiting for AJ.
I can’t speak for him, because he’s with Matchroom. He [Fury] has signed." Warren also admitted uncertainty about the final venue, noting that Fury has recently teased a possible showdown at Madison Square Garden on social media. "I don’t know," he said.
"That’s going to be up to the people who are putting up the money and the promoters and the TV company putting up the money. Tyson just wants to get on.
He said ‘I don’t care where I’ll fight, whether it’s Wembley, New York, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man – I’ll fight him anywhere.’ He doesn’t care." The stakes for both fighters are high. A successful British heavyweight clash would not only settle a personal rivalry but also generate massive pay‑per‑view revenue and potentially revitalize the heavyweight scene, which has seen a series of high‑profile fights in recent years. For Joshua, a win would cement his status as the premier British heavyweight after his recent knockout triumph.
For Fury, a victory would reaffirm his claim to being the dominant force in the division, especially after his recent retirement victory over Wach. Fans and analysts alike are watching the negotiations closely, aware that any further delays could diminish the momentum both fighters have built. The ongoing dialogue between the promoters, the fighters, and the potential host venues suggests that a resolution is still possible, but it will likely require a compromise on location that satisfies both parties and the financial backers.
In the meantime, both men continue to train, promote, and publicly challenge each other, keeping the hype alive. Whether the fight ends up in London’s Wembley Stadium, New York’s Madison Square Garden, or another iconic venue, the expectation remains that when the two giants finally step into the ring, it will be a historic event that boxing fans around the world will remember for years to come.