Fury vs Joshua: British rivals trade taunts about negotiations for long-awaited fight at first press conference in London

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua taunted each other about the fight negotiations at a raucous first press conference in London.

The British heavyweight rivals finally went head to head in front of the cameras and traded a few jibes about the protracted talks that have repeatedly delayed their long-awaited fight.

Fury and Joshua will share the ring at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Friday December 11 and both men offered their own version of why the boxing world was made to wait for this fight.

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"In the build-up to this fight, Eddie [Hearn] and AJ were talking about landlords, being the boss, being the 'guvnor', the rent man and all that," said Fury.

"When I look behind me, I only see one don and that's Fury vs AJ. Now you've come to get the rent and I ain't f****** paying because I'm No 1.

"I don't make a big thing about all that but we're going to walk out seeing Tyson Fury versus his opponent Anthony Joshua - an old dosser who works for me."

Joshua quickly interjected by saying: "I got a phone call the other night and they said, 'do you mind if Fury's name goes first, because he's unwilling to sign unless he does'."

But Fury was determined to have the final word and replied: "Behind the scenes you've been crying like little girls over A-sides and B-sides. I want this, I want that!

"You have tried everything to get out of this fight, every move in the book. And now I've checkmated you!"

When asked about their fight tactics, Fury insists he will adopt an ultra-aggressive approach as he seeks a swift knockout.

"I'm going to come out and I'm going to blast him out there," said Fury.

"It will be Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the best man is going to win, because I'm not going to run way and I'm not going to box. I'm going to throw down!

"From what I'm seeing, I'm going to catch him and - when I do - it's going to be curtains."

But Joshua welcomed this pre-fight prediction from Fury, admitting he will use it as motivation to pull off his own momentous victory.

"This is the energy that we want," said Joshua.

"There's nothing else I'd expect from this man than him to say he's going to render me unconscious and do everything he can to stick me to the canvas.

"This is what is going to keep me running, this what is going to keep me sparring and this is going to keep me doing those extra rounds in the gym."

Fury: It's the icing on the cake!

The two former unified champions will meet in the closing chapters of their career, with Fury 38 years-old and Joshua 36.

But Fury has dismissed suggestions that the fight has lost some of its significance.

"It has been 10 years in the making," he said.

"The rise has been phenomenal for both fighters - we've both had our ups and down - and we arrive at this moment.

"Is it too late? Is it f*** too late. It's the icing on the cake of two great careers, to throw down in front of 80,000 people and may the best man win.

"Let's go out f****** swinging."

A former Olympic gold medallist, Joshua then emerged as a world heavyweight champion and he believes all his previous fights have prepared him for this moment.

"People have their views and views are respected, but that's their opinion," he said.

"I can only listen to myself and nobody knows more about boxing than me. I'm great, I'm good.

"I've been from gym to gym and been from coach to coach, and I can honestly say I've learned so much.

"I'm going to take everything I've learned into this fight."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Fury vs Joshua: British rivals trade taunts about negotiations for long-awaited fight at first press conference in London