Tyson Fury has launched a blistering verbal assault on fellow British heavyweight Anthony Joshua, condemning what he called "classless" comments made in the build-up to Joshua's fight with Jake Paul.
Joshua's Chilling Pre-Fight Warning
The fiery exchange was sparked by remarks made by Anthony Joshua during open workouts for his upcoming professional contest against YouTube sensation-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The fight is scheduled for Friday at Miami's Kaseya Center and will be a fully professional bout, with the result recorded on both men's official records.
Joshua, 37, made headlines when he stated: "I was actually looking at myself today, I'm a very respectful guy brought up by a good family. But if I can kill you, I will kill you." This stark warning, given the significant size and experience disparity between the former two-time world champion and the 28-year-old Paul, intensified existing concerns about the American's safety in the ring.
Fury's Explosive Response from the School Run
Tyson Fury, the undefeated former world champion who is eyeing a 2026 return from retirement, did not hold back in his criticism. He delivered his retort while on the school run with his wife, Paris.
"I've just been sent a video of Anthony Joshua talking about if he kills somebody, he kills somebody in a boxing ring," Fury said. "I think he's a little bit long in the tooth to be talking s**** like that. He's (a) 37-year-old at the end of his career fighting a YouTuber, a Disney Channel guy who Tommy (Fury) beat, and now he's talking about killing him and all that to try and sell. Please, barking up the wrong tree, idiot."
Fury then turned his ire directly onto Joshua, issuing his own violent promise and mocking Joshua's recent defeat. "Here's a fun fact. If I ever come across you, bum, I'm knocking you dead spark out. I ain't YouTuber or a man half your size. I am him. The man. You're a classless loser, coming off a 15-month knockout defeat to a local lad (Daniel Dubois). Imagine if someone from Morecambe knocked me out. You big bum useless dosser. Get up and I can't wait if Jake Paul knocks you spark out, you big bum."
The Stakes for Both Fighters in Miami
For Joshua, this fight represents a critical juncture. His professional record stands at 28-4 with 25 knockout wins, boasting victories over legends like Wladimir Klitschko. However, he has not fought since September 2024, when he suffered a devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium, enduring four knockdowns.
Jake Paul, meanwhile, enters the bout with a 12-1 (7 KOs) professional record. His resume includes wins over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., ex-UFC stars Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva, and a highly-publicised bout against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson.
The intense war of words between Britain's two most famous heavyweights adds another layer of intrigue to the sport, keeping alive hopes of a long-awaited 'Battle of Britain' between Fury and Joshua in the future.
