Anthony Joshua has issued an X-rated warning to Tyson Fury ahead of their December 11 heavyweight showdown, vowing to "stomp all over" anyone who wants to see him fail.
The 36-year-old secured home advantage for the all-British clash, with Cardiff's Principality Stadium winning the right to host the £150million fight after a bitter row with New York's Madison Square Garden. Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn also ensured Fury would be enrolled in drug-testing, while UFC boss Dana White was sidelined after attempting to muscle in on the event.
Fury's US visa and Saudi backing
White had been instrumental in securing Fury a US visa after the 38-year-old had previously been denied entry to the States. Fury had cosied up to White and President Donald Trump this summer when the fight looked destined for the Big Apple.
Saudi Arabia's boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, who is financing the fight, has never hidden his admiration for Fury. Outstanding issues remain, including who walks to the ring first on December 11.
Joshua's war mentality
Joshua, who rejected more than £10m to move the fight to America, has vowed to fight his corner until the bitter end. "I believe they want him to win more than me," he said of the organisers. "I want to do good but if someone hits you, you stab them.
"If you f*** with me and you want to see me lose, I will f*** you up even more. I wanted to bring the fight to the UK and do good for people and do the right thing. But if that means people will hate me, and want to see me fail, then I am going to stomp all over them and raise a war they are not ready for. That's just how it is. That's just my mentality; now it's just 'f*** everyone' and that's just it."
Prenga victory and Fury preparation
Joshua warmed up for the fight by stopping little-known Kristian Prenga in July, having twice climbed off the canvas in the opening round. He insists he will be ready to deal with whatever ammunition Fury throws at him.
"My last fight was mad," Joshua added. "Prenga was hitting me from pillar to post in round one but I got up and I got the victory. But this time it will be different because I will be ready to be punched and keep pushing forward. I need to be calm because it's nothing personal. I know what sort of person he is. He can be really good to me but I'll still know that this is a fight. He doesn't have to be a bad person, we don't have to hate each other, even if he is being respectful, I need to remember that he wants to beat me.
"I know where I stand with it, it doesn't matter what he says. I won't be friendly because he's friendly or rude because he's rude. I will be stoic in my approach because I know that this is a fight."
