Tyson Fury has labeled Anthony Joshua “a classless loser” in a tirade on social media ahead of Joshua’s fight against YouTuber Jake Paul.
Fury has “indicated” he will return for a long-awaited British heavyweight fight against Joshua next year, and the 37-year-old gave a scathing assessment of his British rival, who will share the ring with Paul in Miami on Friday night.
It will be former two-time heavyweight world champion Joshua’s first fight since one knockout loss to Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September 2024.
“He is a 37-year-old who, at the end of his career, is fighting a YouTuber, a Disney Channel guy that Tommy (Fury) beat,” Fury said of Joshua’s showdown with Paul.
“Here’s a fun fact. If I ever run into you, I’ll knock your spark out.
“I’m not a YouTuber or a man half your size. I’m him. The man.
“You’re a classless loser coming off a 15-month knockout defeat to a local lad. Imagine if someone from Morecambe knocked me out. You big bum, useless doozies.
“I can’t wait if Jake Paul knocks your spark out you big dozer.”
Paul’s professional record stands at 12-1 compared to Joshua’s 24-4, with some notable fights including his fight with 58-year-old Mike Tyson and Fury’s brother Tommy, from which his only loss came.
Since Joshua’s absence from the ring, Paul has fought twice, including against Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., winning both by unanimous decision.
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Fury’s promoter Frank Warren confirmed earlier this week that if the “right deal” is offered, a fight against Joshua will happen, with plans for it to take place “sometime in the late summer” of 2026.
“There’s been some talks going on, nothing’s signed yet, but Tyson has indicated that if it’s the right deal, he’ll definitely do it,” Warren told Sky Sports news.
“I think it’s going in the right direction and hopefully we’ll get some news pretty soon about what’s going to happen.”
Warren added: “I think it will happen.”
A fight between two of the best heavyweights in the world, Joshua and Fury, had been anticipated for years, with a constant stream of back and forth between the two constantly fueling the rumours.