Tyson Fury has openly accused Anthony Joshua of being a "coward" and of "conning everyone," as the two heavyweight stars continue to haggle over a highly anticipated all‑British clash. The saga has been marked by near‑agreement, only to be derailed by a disagreement over the venue.
While Saudi promoters, led by Sela, have pushed for the fight to be staged in the United States, Joshua’s camp remains steadfast in its desire to keep the bout on British soil. Fury used his Instagram account on Wednesday to vent his frustration and to question why the deal has not yet been sealed.
"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, then back to England, back to Ireland, back to New York – and insisted he had been willing to travel to each one without imposing 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, accusing the former champion of deliberately stalling the negotiations. Joshua, who recently secured a second‑round knockout of Kristian Prenga in July – a fight in which he was knocked down twice in the opening round before rallying – has not publicly responded to Fury's barbs.
The British boxer is still fresh off that victory and appears eager to prove himself against his longtime rival. Fury's own recent fight came in July as well, when he faced Mariusz Wach. The 46‑year‑old Fury stopped Wach in the seventh round, adding another win to his extensive résumé.
After that bout, Fury turned his attention back to Joshua, continuing his Instagram tirade. "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." He pressed on, reminding fans that Joshua has been knocked out before. "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!" Fury's language was deliberately provocative, designed to keep the public conversation alive and pressure the Joshua camp into a decision. The drama intensified when Fury posted a short video featuring former heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, mimicking Tyson’s iconic line, "Sign the contract, big boy." The clip was a clear invitation for Joshua to put pen to paper and end the stalemate. In the same period, promoter Frank Warren, who works closely with Joshua, declared that the ball was "100 per cent" in the British fighter’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 location of the bout. While Fury has been teasing Madison Square Garden on his social media feeds, Warren emphasized that the decision will ultimately rest with the financiers, promoters, and broadcasters who are backing the event. "That 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." Fury, however, has made it clear that he is willing to travel anywhere to make the fight happen. "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, underscoring Fury's eagerness to settle the dispute on the canvas rather than in the boardroom. The ongoing negotiations have sparked a broader discussion within the boxing community about the importance of a domestic heavyweight showdown. Both fighters are in the latter stages of their careers, with Fury at 46 and Joshua in his early thirties, yet both remain among the sport's most marketable names. A British‑versus‑British heavyweight clash would not only satisfy long‑standing fan demand but also generate significant revenue for promoters and broadcasters alike.
Fans have taken to social media to voice their support for a rapid resolution, with many urging Joshua to stop "playing games" and accept Fury’s challenge. Others point out that a fight in the United Kingdom could provide a more neutral setting, given the historical rivalry and the desire for a home‑grown spectacle. Meanwhile, the prospect of a U.S.
venue, particularly New York’s Madison Square Garden, offers a global stage that could elevate the bout’s profile even further. As the weeks progress, the pressure on both camps intensifies. Fury’s relentless public campaign, combined with his willingness to travel to any corner of the globe, suggests he is prepared to fight on Joshua’s terms if necessary. Joshua’s team, meanwhile, must balance the commercial appeal of a U.S.
payday against the patriotic pull of a home‑based event. In summary, the standoff between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remains unresolved, with venue disputes, contractual nuances, and personal pride all playing a part. Fury’s recent social media outbursts, bolstered by Mike Tyson’s cameo, have kept the conversation alive and placed the onus squarely on Joshua to make a definitive move.
Whether the fight will finally materialize in London, New York, or another arena remains to be seen, but the boxing world watches with bated breath, eager for a showdown that promises to be one of the most memorable events in recent heavyweight history.