Tyson Fury has launched another blistering attack on Anthony Joshua, branding his long-time British rival a “coward” as uncertainty continues to cloud their proposed blockbuster heavyweight showdown.
The much-anticipated all-British clash had been pencilled in for November, with fans eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see the two heavyweight giants finally settle their long-running rivalry inside the ring.
But hopes of the fight going ahead are fading amid a standoff over where the bout should be staged.
Joshua and his Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, have reportedly signed a contract committing to a fight in the United Kingdom, while organisers are understood to be pushing for the lucrative contest to take place in the United States.
Hearn has previously warned that the existing agreement would have to be renegotiated if the fight is moved outside Britain.
With negotiations dragging on, Fury has now turned up the heat, accusing Joshua of deliberately avoiding the fight.
The 38-year-old, who defeated journeyman Mariusz Wach last month to keep his own momentum going, said he was growing increasingly frustrated by the repeated uncertainty over the venue.
“I’ve been down to fight at every location that’s been mentioned – England, Ireland, Vegas, New York, back to England, back to Ireland, back to New York,” Fury said.
“Listen, I’ve said yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, every single time. Zero stipulations.
“The facts are 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.
“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.”
Fury did not stop there.
In another social media post, the former heavyweight champion intensified his taunts, posting alongside boxing legend Mike Tyson and telling Joshua to “sign the contract, big boy” — a clear reference to one of Tyson’s most famous boxing catchphrases.
Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren of Queensbury, has also sought to shut down any suggestion that his fighter is the stumbling block.
Warren told Sky Sports News that Fury is fully committed to the proposed showdown.
“It is signed by Tyson,” Warren said. “Tyson is signed up for the fight and agreed for the fight.”
The latest war of words has further raised the temperature surrounding a contest that has been years in the making.
For now, however, the biggest fight in British heavyweight boxing remains trapped in negotiations, with the venue dispute threatening to derail a showdown fans have waited years to see.
