Tyson Fury has dismissed Anthony Joshua's knockout claim as just "another lie" and said his British heavyweight rival is suffering from a confidence crisis.
After his ninth-round KO of Kubrat Pulev in December, Joshua promised to take Fury's "head off his shoulders" when they eventually fight. The pair are reported to have a provisional two-fight agreement in place for 2021 to decide boxing's No 1 heavyweight.
However Fury poured scorn on AJ's knockout threat, claiming that he's never seen Joshua approach a fight that way and that the quote simply "doesn't mean anything".
"This fight has been brewing for a long time, Fury told Fox Miami, per Sky Sports. "They have been avoiding me for a long time and now it's finally got to happen. They either run away from the fight and announce it publicly, or take the fight. Either way it's a lose-lose situation for him.
Advert
"It's a nice quote. It doesn't mean anything. It's sticks and stones. People say a lot of stuff and they don't back it up, so we'll see.
"I've never seen him take anybody's head off anybody's shoulders in all of his 22 fights. Probably a lie. Another lie."
What's true is that Joshua has 22 knockout victories in 25 pro fights (24 wins, one defeat). Thirteen of those KOs have come inside the first two rounds.
Advert
However big-punching Joshua has been far more measured in his approach as he's reached the top of the heavyweight division. He was, understandably, particularly cautious when he outpointed John Ruiz in late 2019 to avenge his own shock KO defeat to the American.
Tyson Fury put on a career-best display when he demolished Deontay Wilder back in February - and now the 32-year-old 'Gypsy King' has questioned whether Joshua really has the courage to try and take him out.
"We'll see if he's got the guts to try and do it when I'm stood in the ring in front of him. I don't believe he has," Fury added.
Advert
"I don't think he's as good as people crack him up to be, or he doesn't believe he is, in his own self. He's got a confidence issue.
"He's coming off two shaky performances. Boxing is all about who is in form and who isn't.
"On his last two fights he's not in form, on mine I am. Momentum is with me and I just believe I take him out early, very early. Maybe even one round, two rounds."
Some might say it's a bit rich for Tyson Fury to claim that Joshua is saying things he doesn't mean, when master of mind games Fury is renowned for taunting and teasing opponents. However he surprised many by fulfilling his pre-fight prophecy of going right after feared puncher Wilder in their rematch and putting him on the back foot.
Advert
Will either AJ or Fury look to knock the other man out in the opening rounds when they do finally meet in the ring? Let us know in the comments.
Featured image credit: Twitter @Tyson_Fury/PA Images
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Heavyweight boxing, Tyson Fury, Boxing News, Boxing, Fight News, Anthony Josuha
