Tyson Fury has dismissed Anthony Joshua‘s claims that he would knock the Gypsy King out as ‘another lie’ and claimed his heavyweight rival has a ‘confidence issue’.

The British duo are expected to meet in a mammoth heavyweight showdown in 2021 with talks progressing over the specific details of a possible unification fight. 

Hopes of the pair coming to blows were boosted last month when Joshua came through his title fight with Kubrat Pulev unscathed, delivering a ninth-round knockout to retain his WBA, IBF and WBO titles. 

Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua's claims he would knock out his heavyweight rival are a 'lie'

Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua's claims he would knock out his heavyweight rival are a 'lie'

Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua’s claims he would knock out his heavyweight rival are a ‘lie’

Joshua vowed to take Fury's 'head off his shoulders' after beating Kubrat Pulev on December 12

Joshua vowed to take Fury's 'head off his shoulders' after beating Kubrat Pulev on December 12

Joshua vowed to take Fury’s ‘head off his shoulders’ after beating Kubrat Pulev on December 12

In the aftermath of that fight, Joshua vowed to take Fury’s ‘head off his shoulders’ when they eventually fight. 

But Fury, who attracted criticism over the weekend after sharing videos on Instagram of his holiday with his wife as millions in England are living under Tier 4 lockdown, says Joshua’s knockout promises are just ‘another lie’.

The Gypsy King told Fox Miami: ‘I don’t think he’s as good as people crack him up to be, or he doesn’t believe he is, his own self. He’s got a confidence issue.

‘It’s a nice quote. The fight has been brewing for a long time. They’ve been avoiding me for a long time. Now it’s finally got to happen.

‘I’ve never seen him take anybody’s head off anybody’s shoulders in all of his 22 fights.

‘It’s probably a lie, another lie. We’ll see if he’s got the guts to try and do it.’

Fury catapulted himself back to the summit of the heavyweight division when he beat Deontay Wilder for the WBC belt in February.

Although he describes himself as an ‘average Joe’, the 32-year-old insists his unique style and body shape has made him a ‘freak of the nature’ within the ring. 

Talks of a Joshua-Fury showdown were boosted when Joshua knocked out Pulev last month

Talks of a Joshua-Fury showdown were boosted when Joshua knocked out Pulev last month

Talks of a Joshua-Fury showdown were boosted when Joshua knocked out Pulev last month

Fury, 32, and his wife Paris, 30, posed on a hotel balcony in Miami last weekend, prompting criticism from some of the boxing champ's fans due to coronavirus travel restrictions

Fury, 32, and his wife Paris, 30, posed on a hotel balcony in Miami last weekend, prompting criticism from some of the boxing champ's fans due to coronavirus travel restrictions

Fury, 32, and his wife Paris, 30, posed on a hotel balcony in Miami last weekend, prompting criticism from some of the boxing champ’s fans due to coronavirus travel restrictions

He added: ‘I just see myself as the regular average Joe. Don’t have the great body, don’t have anything brilliant about me,’ said Fury.

‘There’s never been a 6ft 9in, 275lb guy who can move like a middleweight. I’m a freak of nature.’ 

Boxing fans slammed Fury over the weekend after he shared footage of him eating breakfast on a Miami hotel balcony together with his wife, Paris, 30.

It’s not clear when Fury flew out to the US but on December 31 the self-appointed Gypsy King’s home town of Morecambe was plunged into Tier 4 lockdown measures.

Fans responded angrily, as one wrote: ‘He’s certainly not a champion of the people.’

Government guidance on travelling from Tier 4 areas reads: ‘You can only travel internationally where you first have a legally permitted reason to leave home.  

‘In addition, you should consider the public health advice in the country you are visiting.’

Exemptions are in place for work or emergency family matters – such as funerals. 

Fury and Joshua have a financial agreement in place for two fights, which could potentially see the winner unify all of the world heavyweight titles. 

Several political obstacles remain before that can be confirmed, however, such as the sanctioning of the fights by all of boxing’s governing bodies, plus where and when the fights would take place given coronavirus restrictions.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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