Tyson Fury has cast doubt on whether his long-awaited fight with Anthony Joshua will actually take place, labelling his rival a 'bottlejob' and a 'chinless wonder'.
The 'Gypsy King' announced his retirement last year but made a U-turn and returned to the ring in April, defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov on points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Joshua was ringside, and Fury goaded him to enter the ring for a face-off, which Joshua refused. The pair later signed a fight contract, with a November date expected but no official venue announced.
Fury's doubts
Speaking to IFL TV, Fury admitted he is not convinced the fight will happen. 'Until that fight happens, walk into the ring... I'm not convinced it does. 100 per cent. I can never see that stiff sitting on the table with me. Ever.'
Fury also criticised Joshua for not getting in the ring when Turki Alalshikh urged them to build the fight. 'He did not want to do it. So how is he going to come face-to-face at a press conference.'
Warm-up fights
Both fighters have warm-up bouts first. Fury is scheduled to face Mariusz Wach behind closed doors in Thailand on Friday night, while Joshua will take on Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a day later.
Fury will not fly to Jeddah to watch Joshua's fight, instead returning home to the Isle of Man to his family after being away for 10 weeks. 'I am going home to the Isle of Man to my wife and kids I've been away from for 10 weeks,' he said.
