The Wilder-Fury trilogy saw an unanticipated delay due to ‘The Gypsy King’ testing positive for COVID. The long-time rivals are now all set to settle the score once and for all. Before Wilder and Fury were matched up for the third leg of their rivalry, Tyson Fury was on track to fight the unified champion, Anthony Joshua, for all the marbles.

While Tyson Fury is currently focused on Deontay Wilder, it seems he is already looking past him.

Recently, Anthony Joshua dug into Tyson Fury in an ‘Overlap’ interview. He said that he would “smoke” him in a 12 round heavyweight battle.

When asked if he respects him as a man and a fighter, Joshua simply replied he only has respect for Wladimir Klitschko in the division.

‘The Gypsy King’ clapped right back at the two-time unified heavyweight champion. His comments suggest he is confident enough in his approach and abilities to defeat Anthony Joshua.

“AJ couldn’t smoke a cigarette, never mind smoke the ‘Gypsy King’… I will absolutely annihilate that bodybuilder,” said Tyson Fury.

The Englishman also took shots at promoter Eddie Hearn and even called him a “proper southern w****r” for criticizing boxers when he himself is not one.

“That’s why Eddie Hearn’s been steering around me for the past ten years,” Fury added.

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: will it ever happen?

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are taking shots at each other; however, both fighters still have to overcome two massive challenges before the mega heavyweight unification bout can even be negotiated.

Deontay Wilder stands in Tyson Fury’s way and both are now scheduled to fight on October 9. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has not stopped training since his only career loss against Fury in early 2020.

His new training videos suggest he has adopted new approaches and even seems more active inside the ring. His Instagram posts with coach Malik Scott clearly indicate a sense of dedication and commitment to his training.

As for Anthony Joshua, the undisputed cruiserweight champ Oleksandr Usyk is now looking forward to challenging him for the heavyweight throne.

Read More: Mike Tyson’s Ex-Coach Ridicules Tommy Fury’s Performance on Jake Paul’s Undercard

Based on recent reports, Joshua is planning to trim down for the Usyk bout on September 25. He believes stepping into the ring bulked up will not be a smart move against an agile fighter like Usyk.

On the other hand, the Ukrainian champion already seems confident and has even initiated his typical mind games. He recently shared a brief video of himself riding a bike and saying “Hey Anthony, have a good day!”.

Considering the true magnitude of their title challenges, it is obvious why the Joshua-Fury mega-fight is not a guarantee. Regardless of the results on September 25 and October 9, boxing’s heavyweight division is now on track to undergo tremendous changes.

Also Read: Anthony Joshua’s Net Worth: Is He a Billionaire?