STWF Sports | Dec. 17, 2025 – The rivalry between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has always been combustible, but the war of words reached new levels on Tuesday after Joshua issued a chilling warning directed at Jake Paul ahead of their highly anticipated heavyweight bout. Joshua, responding to suggestions that he may go easy on the YouTuber-turned-boxer, made it unmistakably clear that he intends to fight with full force — and his comments have sparked backlash from his biggest domestic rival.
During a media scrum following his open workout, Joshua appeared irritated by claims from pundits, including Fury and Deontay Wilder, that Friday’s fight would be little more than a sparring session or a light “move around.” Shutting down that narrative, Joshua offered a stark statement of intent.
“It’s not just that it’s Jake,” Joshua said. “I was actually looking at myself today. I’m a very respectful guy brought up by a good family. But if I can kill you, I will kill you.”
The remark immediately rippled across social media, stirring outrage and reigniting the long-running feud between Joshua and Fury. Fury wasted little time responding, delivering a blistering tirade on Instagram.
Fury Unleashes Verbal Onslaught
“Just picked the kids up from school, I’m with Paris and the kids,” Fury began, before pivoting sharply to Joshua’s comments. “I’ve just been sent a video of Anthony Joshua saying that if he kills somebody, he kills somebody in a boxing ring. I think he’s a little bit long in the tooth to be talking s*** like that.”
Fury then tore into Joshua’s career trajectory, mocking him for his recent knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and the circumstances of the upcoming bout.
“He is 37 years old — 36 — at the end of his career, fighting a YouTuber, a Disney Channel guy who Tommy beat,” Fury scoffed. “And now he’s talking about killing him to try and sell the fight. Come on, please. You’re barking up the wrong tree, you idiot.”
The WBC heavyweight champion escalated further, issuing his own threat. “Here’s a fun fact: if I come across you, you bum, I am knocking you dead, spark out. I’m not a YouTuber or a man half your size. I am him, the man.”
In typical Fury fashion, he blended insult with theatrics, calling Joshua a “classless loser” and a “big bum useless dosser.”
“You’re coming off a 15-month knockout defeat from a local lad,” Fury added. “Imagine if someone from Morecambe knocked me out.”
The tirade ended with a twist: Fury openly rooting for Jake Paul. “I can’t wait if Jake Paul knocks you out.”
Joshua vs Paul: More Than a Tune-Up?
Despite the promotional circus surrounding the event, Joshua insists he is treating Paul as a legitimate threat — even if Fury continues to belittle the matchup. Rumors suggesting Joshua would carry Paul through the early rounds only fueled Joshua’s intensity, prompting his now-viral comments. The Watford fighter has been out of action for 15 months following his loss to Dubois and views Friday night as the first step in a major career rebuild.
Joshua is expected to return again in February, assuming the Paul bout ends without complications. That timeline aligns with plans being arranged behind the scenes for a long-awaited showdown with Fury.
Fury vs Joshua: The Summer Collision Course
Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh is reportedly targeting the blockbuster all-British mega fight for summer 2025 — a date that has boxing fans buzzing. Both Fury and Joshua are set to take tune-up bouts before negotiations progress, and both appear willing to make the fight finally happen.
But the tension is already boiling. Fury’s latest barrage shows that the rivalry is as venomous as ever, and Joshua’s refusal to downplay his intentions against Paul suggests his competitive fire still burns red-hot.
If Joshua defeats Paul convincingly and Fury emerges victorious from his own interim bout, the stage will be set for one of the most anticipated heavyweight clashes in modern boxing.
Until then, the verbal warfare continues — and with comments this heated, it may only intensify.
