"I Checkmated You!" Fury And Joshua Finally Came Face To Face — And The Trash Talk Did NOT Disappoint

Stop scrolling, because the heavyweight feud we've waited YEARS for just got its first proper face-off — and Tyson Fury came with chess metaphors, Wild West references and a landlord joke. Yes, really.

Fury and Anthony Joshua sat down at their first London press conference on Wednesday, and Sky Sports reports the pair immediately started trading jibes about the drawn-out negotiations that kept delaying this thing.

The Rent Man Cometh

The fight is set for Friday December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, and Fury opened by tearing into the "landlord" and "guvnor" talk coming from Joshua's side of the build-up.

Per Sky, he said he only sees "one Don" on stage, and that when someone comes to collect the rent, he's not paying because he's number one. He also branded Joshua "an old dosser who works for me." Rude! Also, kind of iconic?

The Name-Order Drama

Joshua wasn't about to sit quietly. He claimed he got a phone call the other night asking whether Fury's name could go first on the billing, because Fury was supposedly unwilling to sign otherwise.

Fury fired straight back, accusing Joshua's camp of "crying" over A-sides and B-sides behind the scenes. His big closer:

"You have tried everything to get out of this fight... And now I've checkmated you!"

We are NOT okay. Somebody get these two a board game.

Fury's Game Plan: Chaos

Asked about tactics, Fury promised a full-on brawl. Sky quotes him saying it'll be "gunfight at the O.K. Corral," that he's not going to box or run, and that when he lands one, "it's going to be curtains."

Joshua's response was weirdly zen. He said this is exactly the energy he wants and that Fury's knockout talk will fuel his sparring and "extra rounds in the gym."

AJ's Best Moment

Sky also posted a clip headlined "'I'm bald and fat... It's true!' - AJ gives hilarious response to Fury." The clip is billed as Joshua's perfect comeback to a Fury dig, and we'll let you watch it for yourself rather than guess at the exact exchange. Self-aware roasting? Respect.

The Tea ☕

• Fury vs Joshua is locked in for December 11 in Cardiff.
• The first London presser was all about who blinked during negotiations.
• Fury promises a knockout brawl; Joshua says he's fuelled by it.

So who actually won the first round, the man with the chess move or the man who laughed along?

Team Fury or Team AJ? Sound off in the comments.

Sources:

• Sky Sports – Fury vs Joshua press conference
• Sky Sports – AJ's response video