RIYADH – Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua is wasting his time being in Riyadh for the fight on Saturday between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
At the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia, Fury and Usyk will finally battle for the undisputed heavyweight title, and do so with a rematch clause already in place for them to fight again later in 2024.
Joshua is already in Riyadh for what could prove the most significant fight of the year – his recent victory over Francis Ngannou means he is on course to challenge the winner – but Fury has reminded him of how futile his presence is when he first expects to fight Usyk again.
If a mutual respect exists between Fury and the 37-year-old Usyk, the “Gypsy King” and Joshua have often had a considerably more strained relationship. Joshua is regardless expected to fight an alternative opponent before Fury and Usyk potentially fight again.
“There’s not much he can build because we have a two-fight deal, so if he builds what he wants to do he has to wait until it’s all over,” Fury said. “Then we can negotiate. Now the Saudis are involved and His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] is controlling everything, he can make these fights like that because money is not a problem.
“And it’s always about money in these deals and why they don’t get made. All fights are easy to make in any weight division. Turki will make them.”
The 35-year-old Fury’s confidence in victory on Saturday is such that he was asked if a rematch would prove pointless, and he responded: “Double-bubble, innit?
“What are we in this for? Money. If I can get double-bubble for one job there’s not much more to be said.”
