Tyson Fury: Gypsy King insists he will ‘100 per cent’ fight Anthony Joshua this year

Tyson Fury has allayed fears about his long-awaited showdown against Anthony Joshua after being forced to take on Deontay Wilder this summer – insisting the all-British bout will ‘100 per cent’ happen this year.

Fury and Joshua had both agreed to face each other in Saudi Arabia on August 14 before being hit with the bombshell that the Gypsy King had been ordered to fight Wilder in a trilogy fight.

With their battle of Britain now likely to take place in December, should Joshua overcome his mandatory WBO title defence against Oleksandr Usyk, Fury has vowed to ‘smash’ Wilder before moving on to his long-time rival.

Tyson Fury (right) insists he will ‘100 per cent’ fight Anthony Joshua this year after delay

The Gypsy King has been ordered to fight Deontay Wilder after the American’s team won an arbitration hearing stating he had a right to a third fight

Speaking to ESPN, via the Sun, Fury said he would deliver an even more devastating stoppage against the Bronze Bomber when they meet on July 24 after he stunned the American last February to take his WBC world title. 

‘I’ve got to beat up Deontay Wilder a bit better than I did last time, because he didn’t get a good enough hiding last time.

‘This time I’m going to really double, double, treble smash him.’

Boxing fans had been awaiting news of Joshua and Fury’s fight but were kept waiting for months after negotiations dragged on – with promoter Eddie Hearn struggling to agree on a suitable site for the event, which will be one of the biggest in boxing history.

Fury believes he will ‘smash’ Wilder in their trilogy bout and ‘knock him out cold’ on July 24

Fury signed on the dotted line while backstage for Josh Taylor’s fight in Las Vegas

He finally got both fighters to sign a contract after agreeing Saudi Arabia as the venue, with the date set for August 14, before all the plans were shelved in the space of 48 hours as Wilder won his legal challenge to face Fury a third time.

It has increased fears that the pair won’t have a chance to face each other with the undisputed title on the line – as both have to come through their next fights unscathed – but Fury has assured fans that the pair will face off in 2021. 

‘100 per cent [I’ll fight Joshua],’ he added. ‘AJ’s got a big mouth and no substance.

‘He says I’m the one that does all the talking, but if I didn’t talk boxing would be stone dead because I’m the only character alive left in it.

The British rivals could possibly face each other this year if they come through their next fights

Anthony Joshua (left) has been ordered to fight mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk (right)

‘Let’s say that for a fact. [The Joshua fight] happens this year.

‘I’m gonna deal with this mug, Deontay Wilder, I’m knocking him out cold, and then I’m going to deal with the other guy straightaway.’

After their fight fell apart, Joshua took aim at Fury for ‘letting boxing down’ after hyping up the bout before the arbitration pushed it back – calling him ‘a fraud’ in a row on social media.

‘The world now sees you for the fraud you are,’ Joshua said.

‘You’ve let boxing down! You lied to the fans and led them on. Used my name for clout not a fight.

‘Bring me any championship fighter who can handle their business correctly.’

Joshua hit out at Fury after the collapse of their fight earlier this month – calling him a ‘fraud’

Fury hit back – saying the arbitration was out of his hands and incredibly challenging him to a bare knuckle fight.

‘You are more full of [rubbish] than [promoter Eddie Hearn]. Your full team knew there was an arbitration going on, it was out of my hands! If I’m a fraud let’s fight this weekend bare knuckles until one man quits.’ 

Joshua replied: ‘If there was an arbitration going on, why announce to the world we are fighting! The fight was signed!

‘Bare knuckle fight? Don’t play with me Luke! I’ll slap your bald head and you’ll do nothing! Waste man.’