Tyson Fury has renewed his threat to knock out Anthony Joshua in their highly anticipated heavyweight showdown after watching Daniel Dubois deliver a devastating performance against Fabio Wardley in London.
The former heavyweight world champion promised to inflict a similar defeat on his long-time British rival when they meet in Cardiff on December 11, setting the stage for one of boxing’s most eagerly anticipated encounters.
Fury issued the warning after Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title by stopping Wardley in the second round of their contest on Saturday. Impressed by the champion’s aggressive performance, Fury took to Instagram to congratulate Dubois while using the occasion to send a direct message to Joshua.
“That was a very exciting heavyweight fight there between Dubois and Wardley. Fair play to both guys. Well done to Daniel for retaining his belt with a good knockout. That’s how you get them out of there, big Dan,” Fury said.
He then turned his attention to Joshua, making it clear that he intends to deliver a similarly emphatic finish when the two former world champions finally share the ring.
“That is exactly what is going to happen to AJ on December 11, sparked out. Get up,” Fury added.
The comments have added another layer of intensity to the buildup for the December showdown, which will take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, subject to the necessary arrangements for the event.
The fight represents the culmination of years of negotiations and speculation surrounding a meeting between two British heavyweights who have enjoyed major success at the highest level of the sport.
Fury and Joshua have repeatedly been linked with a potential showdown, but negotiations failed to produce a fight during their respective periods at the top of the heavyweight division. Both subsequently suffered defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, making their upcoming encounter an opportunity to reassert themselves on boxing’s biggest stage.
The December contest is expected to be fought for the vacant WBA super heavyweight title and is scheduled to be broadcast live on Netflix.
Fury’s latest comments came after Dubois produced a commanding performance against Wardley, dropping his opponent with a powerful right hand less than 20 seconds into the opening round.
Dubois continued to apply pressure in the second round, unleashing a barrage of unanswered punches that forced Wardley’s corner to throw in the towel and bring the contest to an end.
The victory marked Dubois’ first defence of the WBO heavyweight title and strengthened his position among the division’s leading contenders.
His triumph was particularly significant given the history between the two fighters. Wardley had beaten Dubois in May in an 11-round contest, during which Dubois was knocked down twice but recovered to continue fighting.
This time, however, Dubois left little room for doubt, delivering the decisive performance he had promised before the fight.
After the victory, the 29-year-old explained that his determination and preparation had played crucial roles in his success.
“I was just prepared for a war. Whatever he did wasn’t going to affect me: his punches or anything. I wouldn’t feel them, and I was just going to go right through him,” Dubois said.
“I was in the zone. I was so on it, and I wasn’t going to be denied. I refuse to lose.”
The performance immediately raised questions about Dubois’ next opponent, with his promoter Frank Warren expressing interest in pursuing a unification fight next year.
Warren, who also promotes Fury, indicated that several major heavyweight names could feature in those discussions, including IBF champion Filip Hrgovic and WBC champion Agit Kabayel.
Asked whether Dubois could face the winner of Fury versus Joshua, Warren said the possibility remained open, although no agreement had been confirmed.
For Fury, however, the immediate priority is Joshua, a fighter whose power, experience and technical ability make the December contest a significant challenge despite the confidence displayed in his latest remarks.
Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight world champion, has also expressed confidence in his abilities ahead of the fight. The British-Nigerian boxer has described himself as an accomplished counter-puncher with the boxing intelligence to adapt to different opponents.
The contest will therefore offer more than a battle of words. Fury will attempt to use his size, movement and ring intelligence to control the action, while Joshua will look to make his punching power and technical discipline count.
Both fighters have experienced the highest levels of heavyweight boxing, and their previous setbacks mean that the December encounter could carry significant consequences for their ambitions of returning to the top of the division.
Fury has made little secret of his desire to face Usyk again, having lost twice to the Ukrainian in 2024. He views the Joshua fight as an opportunity to strengthen his position and potentially create a pathway towards another meeting with his former rival.
Joshua, meanwhile, will be determined to prove that he remains capable of competing for the biggest honours in heavyweight boxing.
Fury’s knockout prediction has added further intrigue to the contest, but his words will ultimately have to be backed up in the ring. Joshua possesses the experience and punching power to punish mistakes, making any suggestion of an easy victory premature.
With the fight scheduled for December 11 in Cardiff, anticipation is expected to intensify as both camps continue preparations for the long-awaited encounter.
For now, Fury has made his intentions unmistakably clear. Having watched Dubois dismantle Wardley, he believes he can reproduce that kind of destructive performance against Joshua.
Whether the prediction becomes reality will be decided inside the ring, where two of Britain’s biggest boxing names will finally have the opportunity to settle their long-running rivalry.
