Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has predicted a knockout victory over Anthony Joshua when the two British heavyweights meet at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.

Fury, speaking publicly for the first time since the long-awaited bout was confirmed, said he expects to stop Joshua inside six or seven rounds and described the fight as preparation for a potential third meeting with Oleksandr Usyk.

“I’m just going to knock him out, one hundred per cent,” Fury said on the Furocity YouTube channel.

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“I’m going to box the head off him and stop him inside six or seven rounds. I’m only using Joshua as a stepping stone, a warm-up to Usyk.”

Fury also criticised Joshua’s speed and conditioning, claiming the former two-time world champion would struggle to cope with his style.

“Joshua, for me, is an old bum. A weightlifter. Too many weights, not enough speed. Too many weights, no cardio. So I will cut through him like a hot knife through butter,” Fury said.

Fury has also made clear that he wants another fight with Usyk, who defeated him by decision twice in 2024. The British fighter said he would prefer their potential third meeting to take place in the United States.

“I want Usyk. I want him in America, though, where I get a fair decision,” Fury said, while maintaining his view that he deserved to win their first two encounters.

The Joshua fight comes after years of unsuccessful negotiations between the two British heavyweights. Fury also referred to an earlier opportunity for the pair to face off, claiming Joshua declined to enter the ring during an event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“We will see. I always never believed I would get him in the ring. So getting him in the ring now is like Christmas has come early for me. I can never envision him sitting next to me at a press conference. It is going to be an onslaught,” Fury said.

Despite his confident predictions, Fury said he would respect Joshua if he lost the fight.

“All the talking aside, honestly, we are both going to get in there and both going to throw down. And I always say, look, may the best man win. If he knocks me out, I will shake his hand, and if I knock him out, I will shake his hand, either way,” he said.

Fury ended his remarks by telling Joshua to be prepared for their December 11 showdown.