Tyson Fury: Anthony Joshua is a ‘bum’ I have to beat to get Oleksandr Usyk trilogy fight

Tyson Fury has played down any suggestion that his ‘Battle of Britain’ with Anthony Joshua will be his final chapter, branding him a “bum” he has to beat to get his trilogy bout with Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury and Joshua faced off for the first time at their launch press conference on Wednesday after their long-mooted super-fight was finally confirmed for 11 December at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

The match-up is 10 years in the making and is seen by many as the culmination of two legendary careers that have admittedly began to stagnate in recent times.

However, 38-year-old Fury has reduced Joshua, 36, to being a hurdle he has to clear to get a shot at avenging his two losses against former undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk.

“I don't have any intention of retiring after Joshua,” he said. “I'm using this bum as a warm-up for Usyk.

“This is a bum to me, and I can guarantee that on the night when I knock his spark out, make him know what time it is, and then I want the rabbit in New York City.”

Fury and Joshua have engaged in warm-up fights this year to shake off any ring rust ahead of their British super-fight, though neither set the world alight in their outings.

Joshua narrowly escaped humiliation against Kristian Prenga, while Fury lacked the killer instinct of old against Arslanbek Makhmudov as he came out of retirement for a fifth time, a bout he won by decision.

He did finish Mariusz Wach in his next match in July although the Pole, 46, was not the highest calibre of opponent, well below world level even in his prime.

Nevertheless, Fury asserts his 2026 preparation has him fit and firing ahead of his clash with Joshua.

“This year will be the most active year for me since 2018,” he said. “This'll be my third fight, I'm literally match-fit.

“I've done 12 rounds with a six-foot-eight Makhmudov and I've done seven rounds with another six-foot-seven behemoth in Wach, and then I'm going to do whatever rounds with AJ, who's another six-foot-six guy.

“I've had good preparation for this fight. Let's not pull any punches here. I am on all cylinders at the moment, I'm firing on all cylinders. I feel fantastic. I'm 38 years young.”

While insisting he will still have something left in the tank after the Joshua fight, Fury thinks the Cardiff showdown could be it for his opponent’s career, with no clear next step for ‘AJ’.

Fury added: “Where does he go, anyway? Even if he didn't fight me today, who's he going to fight next where he doesn't lose?

“You've just seen him fight Prenga, whoever the f*** he is, and he's just got knocked down twice with him, so what happens if he fights a live opponent, someone who's not hand-picked and selected - a bum - to knock over?

“I don't know anyone he could beat, and he definitely ain't beating me, that's for sure!”