Tyson Fury stops Mariusz Wach in seven rounds, then calls out Anthony Joshua as 'great coward'
The former world champion dominated the 46-year-old Pole at a small Pattaya venue before his corner pulled him out after the seventh round. Fury then turned his fire on Anthony Joshua, calling him a 'great coward'.
Dominant performance ends early
Tyson Fury stopped Mariusz Wach by technical knockout after seven rounds at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday. The 46-year-old Pole, who had promised a surprise, was outclassed from the opening bell. Fury won every round, landing clean combinations while Wach could only offer single punches in reply. In the fifth round, Fury connected with a series of five uppercuts that showed his superiority. Wach's corner, led by trainer Piotr Wilczewski, decided to pull their fighter out before the eighth round after he slumped on his stool and was unable to continue.
- Fury dominates from the opening bell, winning every round.
- Fury makes a kissing gesture toward Wach's face during a clinch.
- Fury lands a series of five uppercuts, showing his superiority.
- Wach's corner stops the fight; Wach does not come out for the eighth round.
- Fury hugs Wach, thanks him and his team, then calls Anthony Joshua a 'great coward'.
Showmanship and a controversial kiss
Fury turned the fight into a spectacle, dropping his hands, switching stances and showboating. The most talked-about moment came during a clinch when the Briton moved his lips toward Wach's face in what observers described as a kiss. Video footage does not confirm whether his lips actually touched the Pole, but the gesture was clearly deliberate. Wach did not react and immediately returned to fighting.
Respect for a former sparring partner
Despite the one-sided nature of the contest, Fury showed sportsmanship after the stoppage. He walked over to Wach, hugged him and thanked him for the fight. He also shook hands with members of Wach's team. The two heavyweights have trained together in the past and there was no bad blood between them. Fury later acknowledged the risk any heavyweight poses.
Mariusz is a big, tough guy. He's 203 centimetres tall. In the heavyweight division, anyone can knock out anyone.
Fury turns his fire on Joshua
Immediately after praising Wach, Fury shifted his attention to Anthony Joshua, his planned opponent for later in 2026. Both have signed contracts for a direct fight, but must first win preparatory bouts. Fury noted that he had passed his test and questioned whether Joshua would pass his own, scheduled for Saturday against Kristian Prenga. He then escalated his criticism, referencing an April event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium where Joshua watched Fury defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov from ringside but declined an invitation to enter the ring.
The biggest test will be how big his balls are. I think he's a great coward. At Tottenham stadium, in front of 70,000 people, he didn't have the courage to enter the ring and stand face to face with me.
What's next
The victory was Fury's second since returning from retirement and keeps him on track for the lucrative clash with Joshua. Wach, despite the loss, earned a good payday for the appearance. The fight took place in an intimate venue with a capacity of just 2,000 spectators, a far cry from the stadiums Fury and Joshua are expected to fill later this year.
