Fury: AJ is 'stepping stone' to Usyk trilogy

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury finally agreed to fight in Cardiff on December 11 after lengthy delay over venue for historic all-British heavyweight clash; Fury gives first thoughts since announcement, saying he intends to use the bout as a "stepping stone" to facing Oleksandr Usyk again

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>Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua is a "stepping stone" towards a trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk and vowed to knock out his British rival "inside seven rounds".

>On Thursday, confirmation finally arrived that Fury and Joshua's long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown will take place at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday December 11.

>Speaking for the first time since the announcement, Fury has predicted that he will inflict a one-sided defeat on Joshua to set up a third fight against Usyk, who defeated him twice in 2024 on points decisions.

>"I'm just going to knock him [Joshua] out, 100 per cent," Fury said on the Furocity YouTube channel.

>"I'm going to box the head off him and stop him inside six or seven rounds. I'm only using Joshua as a stepping stone, a warm-up to Usyk.

>"Joshua, for me, is an old bum. A weightlifter. Too many weights, not enough speed. Too many weights, no cardio. So I'll cut through him like a hot knife through butter.

>"I want Usyk. I want him in America, though, where I get a fair decision. I won the first two fights, and I'll definitely get a decision here, where it's fair.

>"But, listen, now I want to use AJ as a heavy bag. Punch the **** out of him and then move on to Usyk. Give me a good warm-up before March next year."

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>Negotiations over the Fury vs Joshua fight had repeatedly hit stumbling blocks before this week's announcement and Fury insists he still has lingering doubts after Joshua turned down a face-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April.

>"He had his chance [or a face-off]. He was a little ****house at Tottenham the other month, whenever it was. Didn't want to get in the ring.

>"We'll see. I always never ever believed I'd get him in the ring. So getting him in the ring now is like Christmas has come early for me.

>"Honest to God. Like I can never ever see him or envision him sitting next to me at a press conference. It's going to be an onslaught.

>"All the talking aside, honestly, we're both going to get in there and both going to throw down.

>"And I always say, look, may the best man win. If he knocks me out, I'll shake his hand, and if I knock him out, I'll shake his hand, either way."

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>Asked finally if he had a message for Joshua, Fury replied:

>"Turn up on the fight. Turn up on the night, you little yellow-bellied ******. Stay sharp.

>"On ball, on point, ready to rock and roll. Let's go. Ready to train."