Tyson Fury looking forward to facing Anthony Joshua twice next year but warns Brit rival not to overlook Kubrat Pulev
TYSON FURY is looking forward to fighting 'real man' Anthony Joshua twice in 2021, after ditching Deontay Wilder over his excuses and accusations.
The 32-year-old Gypsy King demolished the Bronze Bomber in February to grab his WBC heavyweight crown and tee up an undisputed decider with AJ.
A rematch was arranged but the Covid-19 pandemic and Wilder’s tales of Fury loading his gloves and trainer Mark Breland spiking his water have led to the Brit dropping the American out of the picture.
Instead, Fury hopes to come through a December 5 tune-up against Agit Kabayel and then battle Joshua, who has to handle an awkward mandatory defence of his belts against 39-year-old Kubrat Pulev on December 12.
Fury told talkSPORT: “Me and AJ both have to get through our upcoming fights and nothing, at this level, is a given.
“Pulev has been waiting five years for a world title shot so it will be a tough night for Joshua.
“If we both come through then I hope this fight finally gets made when we are both heavyweight world champions - at the top of our careers - and I hope it can happen twice next year.
“Me and AJ are rivals, we have been for a long time, but he handled his defeat to Andy Ruiz like a man , he took it in his stride, he didn’t make a single excuse.
“He said ‘well done, I will see you next time’ and if that happens to me then I hope I can react like that.
“If people are going into a fight with an injury they need to pull out or never mention it. AJ just said ‘I got beat by the better man on the night’ and that was class.”
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On Wednesday, mental health campaigner Fury told Wilder to pick up the phone and call him if he was struggling with the first defeat of his career.
Wilder, who vanished for eight months after the Las Vegas loss, replied on Twitter, urging Fury to honour the trilogy fight they signed before coronavirus ravaged the sport.
The Alabama giant wrote: “Don’t worry about me I am Fine, Blessed.
“The only thing I want from you is for you to honor your agreement and fight me.
“I gave you two shots when I didn’t have to and it changed your life. Now it is time for you to be a man and give me my shot as you agreed to.”
But Fury still fears the bizarre video Wilder released last month and the slanderous slurs he aimed at him and retired Olympic and world champ Breland, are the signs of a sick man.
“After seeing all of his excuses, he is holding on to malicious feelings of his trainer and me cheating him,” Fury said.
“I have run out of ideas of what other excuses a man could use for losing a boxing fight.
“I am concerned for his mental wellbeing because he didn't speak for eight months and now he’s accusing me of cheating.
“I think he needs to seek help, you need to learn to let a defeat go.”
At this rate, fans are more likely to see a match between the bitter rivals brothers, Tommy and Marsellos.
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Tommy, 21, who is fighting tomorrow on the undercard of Mark Heffron vs Denzel Bentley, said he's willing to fight Wilder's brother if he continues to hide from Tyson.
He said: "“I don’t want to look past Friday’s opponent but, if his brother wants the same as Deontay got, then he can get it."