Tyson Fury has had praise for Tony Bellew for taking on Alexander Usyk this week but has managed to get in a subtle verbal jab in doing so on Anthony Joshua at the same time.

Usually Fury has nothing but abuse towards Bellew but in a rare change of tune he’s acknowledged that taking on a fighter as dangerous as Usyk has to be commended.

Speaking on Twitter Fury said:

Big respect to @TonyBellew for taking the @usykaa fight real ballsy move.?? a lot bigger balls than his team mate!!!
I hope he wins.????

— DON TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) September 14, 2018

Team mate referring to fellow promotional stablemate Anthony Joshua.

Fury is now in the final stages of signing the Deontay Wilder heavyweight title fight and a formal announcement is expected next week during Joshua vs Povetkin fight week.

The fight will see Fury challenge for the WBC heavyweight title in just his third fight back in boxing after what had previously nearly been a 1000 day hiatus from boxing.

Joshua takes on Alexander Povetkin next week at Wembley stadium and if he were to win, you’d have to think he will be lined up to take on the winner of Fury vs Wilder in the new year at some point.