Joshua and Fury have agreed "in principle" to two fights next year, says Eddie Hearn
Friday 12 June 2020 10:29, UK
Tyson Fury has stoked the flames ahead of his planned double-header against Anthony Joshua by claiming he is a bigger puncher than his heavyweight rival.
It was confirmed by Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, this week that the British duo have reached an agreement for two unification fights next year.
Joshua holds the IBF, WBA and WBO belts after avenging his only career defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019, meaning he has won 23 of his 24 career bouts - with 21 by knockout.
Fury's stunning victory over Deontay Wilder in their February rematch to reclaim the WBC belt was also his 21st career knockout - although he reached that mark in seven more fights than Joshua.
Despite that, Fury says he agrees with Frank Warren's suggestion that he is the more devastating puncher, telling Queensbury Promotions' YouTube channel: "I turned pro at 19. As a child, I was boxing men.
"[Joshua] never turned pro until he was mid-20s, when he was a man. So I was learning as a young kid. If I had turned pro at 25, 26, then I'd have knocked all the people out who went the distance with me when I was a young boy.
"I've never been a stand-still man who lands big shots, because I'm a slick boxer. I've just knocked out the heaviest puncher in boxing history. Andy Ruiz is not a big puncher but he knocked out Anthony Joshua.
"So I'd say I am a harder puncher than him. There's people who have sparred both of us and quite a few of them have said it as well.
"But it's not about who can punch hardest - it's about the skill that goes behind it. I am still unbeaten in a 12-year professional career. I'm a force to be reckoned with."
Fury's planned fights with Joshua are only due to take place after his third bout against Deontay Wilder, while Joshua is also set to take on Kubrat Pulev.
In addition, Dillian Whyte is the WBC's mandatory challenger, and the governing body want him to be given a chance to win their belt before February 2021.
However, Fury - the current holder of the WBC belt - says he has little interest in taking on the likes of Whyte when he has fights against Wilder and Joshua on the horizon.
He told Queensbury Promotions' YouTube channel: "I'm about fighting the biggest fights out there. Wilder, Joshua are the biggest fights out there.
"Dillian Whyte is looking for a payday against me. The last few fights I've got left, I want them to be the biggest possible. It won't be an organisation dictating to Tyson Fury. Let's face it: nobody's ever dictated to the champ.
"These low-profile fighters, they don't mean anything to me. I'm a proud WBC champion, but I'm the lineal heavyweight champion, which trumps everything.
"I've completed boxing now. The belts are just pieces of leather with some fancy metal stuck on them. They mean a lot to an unknown champion, but not when you've been ruling the game for as long as I have."
