STWF Sports | Dec. 18, 2025 – The decades-long verbal tug-of-war between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury erupted once again this week, adding yet another fiery chapter to British boxing’s most elusive rivalry. While Joshua prepares for his December 19 heavyweight matchup against Jake Paul, it was Fury — retired or not — who reignited the feud by branding the former unified champion a “classless loser” on social media.

The insult was directed at Joshua’s blunt declaration that he would “kill” Paul if circumstances in the ring allowed it. The remark, which circulated rapidly across social platforms, drew immediate condemnation from Fury, who appeared in an Instagram video delivering his latest barrage of insults.

Joshua, however, was not about to let Fury’s words go unanswered. Appearing on the Mr. Verzace Podcast, the 34-year-old fired back with a dismissive and pointed rebuttal that escalates tensions at a time when both camps are inching closer to a long-awaited super fight.

Joshua: “Tyson’s Not a Real Fighter in My Eyes”

When asked about Fury’s comments, Joshua brushed aside the criticism and insisted his focus remains solely on Jake Paul.

“I’ll fight Jake, that’s my focus. Fury’s not even on my radar,” Joshua said. “He can sit around doing Instagram videos, but he’s not the one getting in the ring. Jake is.”

Joshua went on to question Fury’s credibility, pedigree, and hunger — jabs echoed from years of frustration over failed negotiations and collapsed fight deals.

“Why am I sitting around waiting for a guy that likes to do more Instagram videos than fight?” he continued. “I’m looking for real fighters. Tyson’s not a real fighter in my eyes.”

The former two-time heavyweight champion listed off names — Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz Jr. — as proof of his willingness to face elite opposition.

“I’ll be on the walls of Jake Paul’s, of Joseph Parker’s, of Povetkin’s, of Ruiz’s… He ain’t fought these kind of guys. I have. So yeah, unless you want to fight, shut the f*** up.”

Fury’s Counterpunch: “I Am Him, the Man”

Fury’s initial eruption stemmed from Joshua’s warning that he would “kill” Paul if he needed to. In trademark Fury style, the WBC champion unloaded a scathing attack.

“I think he’s a little bit long in the tooth to be talking s*** like that,” Fury said. “He is 37 years old [36], at the end of his career, fighting a YouTuber, a Disney Channel guy who Tommy beat.”

Fury went further, questioning Joshua’s character and fighting spirit.

“You’re barking up the wrong tree, you idiot. Here’s a fun fact: if I come across you, you bum, I am knocking you dead, spark out. I am him, the man.”

He then circled back to his favorite insult: “You’re a classless loser coming off a 15-month knockout defeat from a local lad. Imagine if someone from Morecambe knocked me out.”

A 2026 Showdown Edges Closer

Despite being retired following consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, Fury appears ready to return — and Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is aggressively pursuing a Fury–Joshua super fight for 2026, according to Ring Magazine.

Sources indicate the bout would headline a major Riyadh Season event, with both fighters expected to take tune-up bouts early next year. The fights would serve not only as preparation but also as part of a promotional buildup for what could be the most lucrative British boxing event of all time.

The Rivalry That Refuses to Fade

The animosity between Fury and Joshua has endured more than a decade of shifting titles, dramatic losses, retirements, failed contracts, and constant social media clashes. Their personalities — Fury the chaotic showman, Joshua the stoic competitor — continue to clash like oil and water.

But with Fury returning from retirement and Joshua still searching for the defining victory of his post-championship career, the stars may finally be aligning.

For now, Joshua insists Jake Paul is the only opponent on his mind. But his words — and Fury’s — tell a different story: their rivalry is still raw, personal, and dangerously close to boiling over.

If all roads truly lead to 2026, British boxing may finally get the monumental showdown it has waited so long to see.