Tyson Fury has teased Anthony Joshua after calling off their heavyweight showdown – joking that Oleksandr Usyk could ‘lend him his nuts’ after he offered to train his British rival for a potential fight against the Gypsy King.
Fury and Joshua looked to be on a collision course at last after the WBC world champion offered the struggling fighter a title shot at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on December 3 – with the Watford-born star agreeing to a 60/40 split.
But Fury grew tired of waiting for Joshua to return his contract after his promoters Matchroom agonised over small details – and talks with broadcasters also took time – leaving the fight in tatters and the unbeaten heavyweight now seeking to face Mahmoud Charr instead.
Tyson Fury has stuck the boot into Anthony Joshua after Oleksandr Usyk offered to train him
Fury claims he has moved on from a mega fight with AJ after his failure to return his contract
Before Fury claimed the fight was off, Usyk – who outpointed Joshua in Saudi Arabia in August – offered to train AJ for his showdown, something the Gypsy King has now pounced on, as he goaded both men.
He also warned Usyk not to be a ‘p***y like your pal’ after the Ukrainian said he wouldn’t face Fury until next year.
Writing on Twitter alongside the story about Usyk offering to train AJ, Fury wrote: ‘Maybe you can lend him your nuts middleweight?! Usyk, don’t be a p***y like your big pal!’
Usyk said he was happy to travel to Joshua’s camp to help him prepare for a fight with Fury
Usyk overcame Joshua in their rematch in Saudi Arabia in August, winning on a split decision
Speaking last month, Usyk urged AJ not to give up despite his disappointing split decision defeat to him on August 20.
‘If he needs my help, I will go to his camp and help him,’ he said, speaking to Sky Sports. ‘He is not 40 years old, he is 33, so he should keep working – Anthony, don’t stop. I understand that he wanted to win against me, but Anthony can’t give up. He must go forward.’
His manager Alex Krassyuk added: ‘He said if needed he might come and give him a couple of [pieces of] advice.’
Usyk himself is still hoping to face Fury despite his taunts and confirmed this week they are still holding talks about a possible undisputed showdown – with Fury putting his WBC belt on the line and hoping to take the Ukrainian’s WBO, WBA and IBF belts.
Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn (L) have been assessing a contract sent to them by Fury’s team but have exhausted the patience of the WBC champion
‘I don’t know anything about what Tyson Fury is doing or thinking,’ he told Parimatch.
‘We’re in negotiations talking about a match and we’re doing our best to make this bout happen.
‘Of course, I really want to have this fight next year. But, if Tyson Fury is not interested in a match next year, then it’s not possible to fight against him. I’m not interested in fighting any other boxer, so let’s wait.
‘He’s talking about £500million pounds for the fight. He’s a lunatic, but in a good sense I mean. I’d also want £500m, but it’s something crazy.’
Fury has been calling out a number of fighters in recent weeks, despite seemingly retiring this summer, but left a number of boxing fans crushed when he walked away from talks with Joshua after ten days of not returning his contract.
He said AJ could ‘forget about’ an all-British showdown after missing the 5pm deadline he set on Monday evening.
‘Well guys, it’s official: D-Day has come and gone,’ Fury said on social media.
‘It’s gone past 5 o’clock [on] Monday, no contract has been signed. It’s officially over for Joshua. He is now out in the cold with the wolfpack. Forget about it.
‘Idiot, coward, s*** house bodybuilder. Always knew it, always knew you didn’t have the minerals to fight the Gypsy King.
‘Regardless of what the f*** you say now, I don’t really care. Good luck with your career and your life. End of.’
