Tyson Fury has declared that he will knock out Anthony Joshua inside seven rounds when the British heavyweight rivals meet on December 11, insisting the fight is only the beginning of his next chapter.

The former heavyweight champion said he views the long-awaited showdown as a “stepping stone” to securing a trilogy bout with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated him in their two previous meetings.

Fury expressed confidence that Joshua would not last beyond the midway point of the contest.

“I’m knocking him out inside seven rounds. This is just a stepping stone to getting Usyk for the trilogy,” Fury said.

The December 11 contest has been billed as one of the biggest all-British heavyweight fights in boxing history, ending years of speculation over a meeting between the two former world champions.

Joshua enters the bout aiming to revive his world title ambitions after rebuilding his career with a series of victories, while Fury is seeking a statement performance following his back-to-back defeats to Usyk.

A victory for Fury would strengthen his push for a third fight against the Ukrainian, with the 37-year-old making no secret of his desire to settle the rivalry.