Tyson Fury expresses doubt over Anthony Joshua fight, questions rival’s resolve

By Emeka Nwosu — 24 July 2026 — 4 min read

Fury’s Doubts on Joshua Showdown

Tyson Fury has voiced his skepticism regarding a potential all-British heavyweight fight against Anthony Joshua, questioning his rival’s willingness to step into the ring. These comments followed Fury’s recent victory over Mariusz Wach in Thailand.

After securing a seventh-round stoppage against Wach in a non-televised bout on Friday, Fury reflected on a previous encounter where Joshua did not enter the ring after Fury’s win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fury suggested that Joshua lacked the “guts” to confront him on that occasion.

Joshua is scheduled for his own preparatory fight in Saudi Arabia on Saturday against Kristian Prenga. This will be Joshua’s first fight since being involved in a car crash in Nigeria in December, an incident that resulted in the deaths of two close friends.

Fury stated, “I got through my test. Let’s see if [Joshua] gets through his test. The biggest test of it all is how big his balls are. I think he’s a big s***house.” He added, “In Tottenham in front of 70,000 people, he never had the guts to get in the ring and face me. Let’s see if he ever does. I’m not convinced.”

Despite the ongoing discussions about a potential fight later this year, possibly at Wembley Stadium, Fury remains uncertain. He indicated that he would regroup and hoped the next major fight would be signed soon, though he did not confirm Joshua as his next opponent. He mentioned various potential locations for his next fight, including Las Vegas, New York, Ireland, London, Belfast, or even Pattaya, Thailand.

Preparations and Future Plans

Fury’s recent fight against Wach marked his second bout in two years, a period during which he aimed to maintain activity and get rounds under his belt. He explained that the entire fight week experience, including press conferences, weigh-ins, and the nerves, contributes to staying active, not just the in-ring action.

The 37-year-old boxer also made it clear he would not be attending Joshua’s fight in Jeddah. He stated his intention to return home to his wife and children after being away for an extended period, including a 10-week training camp and four months prior to that.

Fury’s clash with Joshua, if it materializes, could potentially take place at 2 am UK time to accommodate a global television audience. Joshua has expressed openness to such a late start time, envisioning a scenario where fans could enjoy a night out before heading to Wembley for the fight.

Ahead of his fight with Wach, Fury had already expressed doubts about the long-awaited showdown with Joshua, despite reports of both sides signing contracts. He indicated that he was prepared to fight “somebody else” if the bout with Joshua did not materialize within the remaining five months of the year.

Joshua, in turn, responded to Fury’s comments, referring to him as “Mr Greedy Belly” and asserting his commitment to fulfilling his part of the bargain by defeating Prenga. He also offered to help Fury with his physique, suggesting he could assist him in transforming from a “greedy belly into a bodybuilder” and achieve a set of six-pack abs, given Fury’s alleged long-standing obsession with Joshua’s body.

Fury’s fight with Wach took place in Pattaya in front of approximately 1,500 spectators. Joshua had previously attended Fury’s victory over Makhmudov in London in April, but Fury confirmed he would not be traveling to Saudi Arabia for Joshua’s upcoming fight. He maintained that he had little interest in watching Joshua fight, prioritizing his return home to his family.

Despite the back-and-forth, Fury acknowledged the toughness of his opponent, Wach, describing him as a veteran and a dangerous heavyweight. He emphasized the need to be wary and perform at his best, having undergone 10 weeks of training to prepare for the challenge.

The possibility of a fight between Fury and Joshua has been discussed for a decade, yet it has not come to fruition. Fury reiterated his long-held doubts about the fight, stating, “You’ve been told for 10 years it’s happening. It hasn’t happened, has it? So don’t hold your breath. I’ve always had my doubts. But if it happens, good. If it doesn’t, also good.”

Source: skysports.com