Tyson Fury has once again taken to social media to lambaste Anthony Joshua, labeling the two‑time heavyweight champion a "coward" and accusing him of "conning everyone" as the two camps continue to haggle over a long‑awaited all‑British clash. The animosity has intensified after recent talks appeared to be on the brink of a breakthrough, only to be derailed by a dispute over the venue.
Saudi‑backed promoter Sela has expressed a strong preference for staging the bout on American soil, a proposition that Joshua’s team has repeatedly rejected in favor of a UK location. In a series of Instagram posts on Wednesday, Fury questioned why the deal remained unresolved. "Joshua, where are you?
Still no deal done. It's getting quite tiring," he wrote. He went on to list every possible location that had been floated – England, Ireland, Las Vegas, New York, back to England, back to Ireland, back to New York – and insisted he had never attached any conditions.
"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," Fury added, suggesting that Joshua’s reluctance was a long‑standing pattern rather than a recent hiccup. The background to this standoff is worth noting.
Joshua entered the conversation fresh from a second‑round knockout of Kristian Prenga in July, a fight in which he was knocked down twice in the opening round before rallying to secure the victory. Fury, meanwhile, last fought in July as well, defeating Mariusz Wach when the 46‑year‑old opponent retired after the seventh round. Both men are now in their late thirties – Fury is 37, Joshua 38 – and the window for a marquee heavyweight showdown is narrowing. Fury’s Instagram tirade grew increasingly pointed.
"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 out for a final time," he wrote. "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 sparked 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!" The language, while coarse, underscores Fury’s frustration and his belief that Joshua is avoiding the clash out of fear rather than legitimate logistical concerns.
Adding a theatrical flair, Fury later posted a video featuring former heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, mimicking the iconic "Sign the contract, big boy" line. The clip was a clear signal that Fury was ready to seal the deal, provided Joshua would step up. Promoter Frank Warren weighed in on Wednesday, stating unequivocally that the ball was "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 admitted, however, that the venue remained an open question. He noted that Fury had recently teased Madison Square Garden on social media, but emphasized that the final decision would rest with the financiers, promoters, and broadcasters who are footing the bill.
"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," Warren added. The underlying issue appears to be a clash of priorities.
Sela’s desire to host the fight in the United States is driven by the massive market potential and the lucrative pay‑per‑view audience that a US venue can attract. Conversely, Joshua’s camp is keen to keep the bout on home soil, both to satisfy British fans and to capitalize on the domestic revenue streams that come with a UK arena.
This geographic tug‑of‑war has become the primary obstacle, with both sides accusing the other of inflexibility. From a broader perspective, the fight would represent the first heavyweight showdown between two British fighters in over a decade, a narrative that could rejuvenate interest in the sport across the UK and beyond.
It would also serve as a potential swan song for both athletes, who have already amassed multiple world titles and are now looking to cement their legacies before age inevitably erodes their performance levels. If the bout does materialize, it is likely to command a massive global audience, drawing in viewers who have followed each fighter’s career for years. The promotional hype, combined with the personal animosity displayed on social media, sets the stage for a classic showdown that could rival historic heavyweight clashes of the past.
Until the venue dispute is settled and a formal contract is signed, the boxing world will continue to watch both camps closely, waiting for the moment when the two giants finally step into the ring. The stakes are high, the egos are bruised, and the fans are eager – all that remains is a location and a signature line on the dotted paper.