Tyson Fury has openly declared that his upcoming clash with Anthony Joshua is merely a preparatory bout on the road to a third encounter with Oleksandr Usyk. The British heavyweight champion, who will face Joshua at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on December 11, said he intends to finish the fight inside seven rounds, using the contest as a "warm‑up" before his next major challenge.
The long‑awaited all‑British heavyweight showdown finally received official confirmation on Thursday, confirming that the two fighters will meet in the capital of Wales. In the first interview Fury gave since the announcement, he was unapologetic about his expectations. He told the audience of the Furocity YouTube channel that he plans to hand Joshua a "one‑sided defeat" that will pave the way for a third fight against Usyk – the Ukrainian who bested Fury twice in 2024 via points decisions. "I'm just going to knock him out, 100 per cent," Fury asserted.
"I'm going to box the head off him and stop him inside six or seven rounds. I'm only using Joshua as a stepping stone, a warm‑up to Usyk." Fury did not mince words when describing his opponent. He called Joshua "an old bum, a weightlifter" and complained that the former champion carries too much mass, lacks speed, and suffers from insufficient cardio.
"Too many weights, not enough speed. Too many weights, no cardio.
So I'll cut through him like a hot knife through butter," the champion said, emphasizing his belief that the fight will be a swift and decisive victory. The Englishman also hinted at his broader ambitions. While he wants to face Usyk again, he expressed a desire for that bout to take place in the United States, where he feels the judging would be more impartial.
"I want Usyk. I want him in America, though, where I get a fair decision.
I won the first two fights, and I'll definitely get a decision here, where it's fair," Fury explained, underscoring his confidence that a third meeting would finally produce a clear winner. Fury's language grew even more colorful when he likened Joshua to a heavy bag.
"But, listen, now I want to use AJ as a heavy bag. Punch the **** out of him and then move on to Usyk. Give me a good warm‑up before March next year," he said, indicating that the December bout serves as a rehearsal before a potential March showdown with the Ukrainian.
Negotiations for the Fury‑Joshua fight have been fraught with setbacks. Earlier this year, Joshua declined a face‑to‑face meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a snub that Fury described as a "little ****house" moment. "He had his chance [or a face‑off]. He was a little ****house at Tottenham the other month, whenever it was.
Didn't want to get in the ring," Fury recalled, adding that he never truly expected the fight to materialise. "So getting him in the ring now is like Christmas has come early for me." When asked about his feelings toward the upcoming contest, Fury was blunt.
"Honest to God. Like I can never ever see him or envision him sitting next to me at a press conference. It's going to be an onslaught." He also emphasized sportsmanship despite his aggressive rhetoric. "All the talking aside, honestly, we're both going to get in there and both going to throw down.
And I always say, look, may the best man win. If he knocks me out, I'll shake his hand, and if I knock him out, I'll shake his hand, either way," the champion said, indicating that he respects the competitive nature of the sport. When pressed for a direct message to Joshua, Fury's response was a mixture of taunt and challenge. "I've got no messages at all.
Turn up on the fight. Turn up on the night, you little yellow‑bellied ******. Stay sharp. On ball, on point, ready to rock and roll.
Let's go. Ready to train," he declared, ending the interview with a clear signal that he is eager to step into the ring and prove his dominance.
The upcoming bout promises to be more than a simple heavyweight clash; it is positioned by Fury as a crucial stepping stone toward a larger narrative in the division. By framing Joshua as a warm‑up opponent, Fury is setting the stage for a potential trilogy with Usyk, a series that could define the heavyweight landscape for years to come. Whether Fury's confidence translates into a swift knockout or the fight evolves into a more contested battle remains to be seen, but the stakes are undeniably high for both fighters and for the future of heavyweight boxing.