Tyson Fury ‘cannot wait to smash Anthony Joshua’ in Saudi Arabia on August 14

Tyson Fury has vowed to “smash Anthony Joshua on the biggest stage of all time” after confirming their long-awaited all-British showdown would go ahead this summer.

The pair will contest all four world heavyweight titles for the first time in the sport’s history when they meet on August 14 in Saudi Arabia.

In a video posted on social media on Sunday evening, 32-year-old WBC champion Fury said: “I have got some massive news. I have just got off the phone with Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia and he told me this fight is 100 per cent on, August 14.

“I cannot wait, I repeat, cannot wait to smash Anthony Joshua on the biggest stage of all time.

“This is going to be the biggest sporting event ever to grace the planet Earth. Do not miss it.”

Joshua, a year younger than Fury, holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.

Joshua retained his three belts last December with a ninth-round knockout of mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, but the unbeaten Fury’s planned trilogy fight against Wilder has failed to materialise.

A proposed homecoming against Agit Kabayel in December was scotched, meaning Fury, who proclaims himself as the lineal champion in the division, has not fought in more than 14 months since stopping Wilder in Las Vegas.

Last week, in response to promoter Eddie Hearn’s revelation that the bout was on course to take place in Saudi Arabia, Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, said in a statement to the PA news agency: “It comes as no surprise that Saudi Arabia is once again set to use a major sporting event as a means to sportswash its atrocious human rights record.”

She urged Fury and Joshua to speak out on the issue in the build-up to the fight, saying: “A few well-chosen words about human rights from Joshua and Fury would mean a lot to Saudi Arabia’s beleaguered human rights defenders, helping to counteract the intended sportswashing effect of this boxing match.”