Tyson Fury told Anthony Joshua he will “blast him out of there” when they meet on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, after the heavyweights came face to face for the first time at Wednesday’s launch press conference in London, according to World Boxing News’ live coverage.
Fury Sets The Tone, Joshua Stays Measured
Fury said he plans to stand and throw down rather than box on the back foot, catch Joshua clean and end it. He predicted tickets would sell out within seconds and called it the fight he would most want to see as a fan, a rivalry he said has simmered for a decade and a half.
Joshua kept it calmer. He said he feels fresh and ready, framed boxing as a battle of spirit, and said he wants to be a great dance partner for Fury. He also spoke about inspiring the next generation.
The Adonis Line And The Hearn Swipe
The exchange that will travel furthest came when Fury joked that Joshua is built like an Adonis while he is built like a “blancmange.” Joshua then asked why Fury takes his promoter Eddie Hearn seriously. Fury answered that he doesn’t and labeled Hearn a sausage, after telling the stage it was time to collect rent that he had no plans to pay.
When the presenter asked for a more serious tone, Fury obliged for a stretch. Once questions opened up, he turned on the media, calling reporters sausages and telling one to get lost.
Sparring Story And A Thank You To Turki
The two also revisited their infamous sparring session. Fury confirmed he took a black eye but insisted he gave Joshua a beating to the body. Later he thanked Turki Alalshikh for getting the fight made, saying nobody else had managed it.
Alalshikh explained why the United Kingdom was not his first choice, pointing to the difficulty of keeping a stadium open until 2am and the fact that Dua Lipa would not perform. He also thanked DAZN for clearing the way despite its existing agreements with both fighters.
What Is Still Unclear
The start time and whether a world title will be on the line were still being clarified heading into the event. The fight streams on Netflix at no extra cost to members.
The face-off capped a turbulent week. Fury was reportedly woken for his first drug test hours before the press conference, Eddie Hearn insists Dana White is not involved, and Joshua added former Fury trainer Ben Davison to his camp. With 10 weeks to go, fight week in Cardiff should bring more heat. Dana White also blamed Hearn’s ego for the drama ahead of the presser.
