Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua officially announced their December 11 fight today in London, meeting up at a press conference that had its twists and turns, but was mostly laid back and respectful, featuring plenty of compliments from Fury toward AJ in particular.
But we did get some good banter, too, starting with Fury poking at Joshua because Fury’s name is going first on promotional materials, and ending with an offer to have a drink together when all is said and done.
Fury: “Here’s the thing, in the build-up
to this fight, Eddie and AJ were talking about landlords and fuckin’ being the boss and being the Don Perginons, being the governors and the owner and boss and all of that, but when I look behind me, I only see one Don — Fury vs AJ. Now you’ve come to collect your rent, and I ain’t fuckin’ paying, son, because I’m number one. Uno! I don’t make a big thing about all that bullshit, but considering youse have, about how you’re the governor and the paymaster and all that, to walk out and see ‘Tyson Fury vs His Opponent, Anthony Joshua, an old tosser who works for me,’ then yeah, I thought I’d highlight that.”
Joshua: “Why do you listen to what Eddie’s got to say? Why do you take it so personally?”
Fury: “I don’t take it personally. There’s nothing Eddie could say or do that could ever make me think anything different. To me, Eddie Hearn’s just a sausage.”
Joshua: “And just so you know, by the way, I got a phone call the other night and they said, ‘Do you mind if Fury’s name goes first? Because he’s not willing to sign unless it does.’ And I said, ‘I don’t want to lose this fight’—”
Fury: “Bullshit. Bullshit. Behind the scenes, youse have been crying like little girls about A-sides and B-sides. ‘I want this, I want that, I want this, I want that’ — youse have tried everything to get out of this fight, and I’ve checkmated ya. There’s no more running, you’ve got to fight.”
Joshua: “That’s what you wanted to get it in Great Britain.”
Fury: “Wherever it was, I’ve always said I don’t care where it is, I’ll fight any man anywhere. I beat Deontay Wilder in America, I beat Klitschko (in Germany) — I’ve actually never won a world title here. Now the (WBA) title is on the line, it gives us a good opportunity to become a three-time champion, either one of us. That’s even better. But just remember that ‘GK’ is number one, and I’m the boss. Know that! Boss! And Eddie don’t like that, he’s fucking seething.”
Joshua: “What is it about you and Eddie?”
Fury: “I haven’t got a problem with Eddie! I would go out for a beer with Eddie any time of the day, even right now I’d go out for a fuckin’ pint with Eddie. I don’t mind Eddie, I’ve got nothing against him. The man’s been a good promoter and a good manager for you, he’s sung your praises from the hilltops. It’s just when he’s crying about bitchy stuff, I didn’t care about anything. I just said, right, let’s do it, whatever you want, let’s go. Not bothered. Have I ever been — outside of trying to build a fight or sell a fight, I’ve never been rude to Eddie, ever.”
Joshua: “It’s all respect.”
Eddie Hearn: “Thank you for your kind words.”
Fury: “And I mean that. I would go for a beer with ya, today, any time ya want. Just holler at me and I’m there. Same for you, AJ. I don’t know if you’re a drinking man or what, but I hope after this fight, we can have a pint of Guinness together, win, lose, or draw.”
Joshua: “I don’t know if I can trust you!”
Fury: “You can trust me with your life. I never robbed a man for a pound, I never took a liberty in my whole life.”
