Tyson Fury has vowed to knock out Anthony Joshua inside seven rounds when the pair meet in Cardiff on December 11, describing the fight as a “steppingstone” towards a trilogy bout with Oleksandr Usyk.

Speaking for the first time since Thursday’s confirmation that the long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown will take place at the Principality Stadium, Fury predicted a one-sided victory that would set up a third meeting with the Ukrainian, who beat him twice on points in 2024.

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

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

Fury was dismissive of his rival’s chances, describing him as short of the speed and stamina needed to trouble him.

“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,” he said.

“I want Usyk. I want him in America, though, where I get a fair decision. I won the first two fights, and I will definitely get a decision there, where it is fair. But listen, now I want to use Joshua as a heavy bag, then move on to Usyk. Give me a good warm-up before March next year.”

Negotiations for the Joshua fight had repeatedly broken down before this week’s announcement, and Fury said he still harboured doubts after Joshua turned down a face-off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April.

“He had his chance for a face-off. He was a little coward at Tottenham the other month, whenever it was. He did not want to get in the ring,” Fury said.

“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.”

Despite the trash talk, Fury insisted he would respect the result whichever way the fight goes.

“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.

Asked if he had a message for Joshua, Fury replied, “I have got no messages at all. Turn up on the night. Stay sharp. On ball, on point, ready to rock and roll. Let’s go. Ready to train.”

The fight brings together two of Britain’s biggest heavyweight names after years of stalled talks, with the venue dispute only resolved this week.