Tyson Fury says Conor McGregor borrowed the trash-talk formula that helped make the Irishman one of combat sports’ biggest attractions. The former heavyweight champion argued that his own loud, unpredictable approach came first and that McGregor later applied a similar playbook during his rise through the UFC.
Fury made the claim while discussing why verbal promotion has always felt natural to him. He did not present talking as a side act or an attempt to frighten an opponent. In his view, it is part of the entertainment package people expect when they pay to watch a major fight.
Watch the source interview below.
Fury Calls Himself An Undisputed Champion Of Talking
Fury began by describing his confidence on the microphone before the conversation turned to whether McGregor could match him in a verbal contest.
“For me it’s always been easy. Talking is what I do best. If there was world championships for talking, I’d be the undisputed champion.”
The line fits a career built around spectacle as much as results. Fury used press conferences, public appearances, and pre-fight theater throughout his heavyweight run, including the buildup to his 2015 victory over Wladimir Klitschko and his trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
McGregor followed a comparable route in MMA, pairing verbal pressure with a run that produced UFC titles at featherweight and lightweight. Fury went beyond saying the two men share an instinct for promotion. He directly claimed the UFC star copied him.
“Yeah, maybe [McGregor would compete against me on the mic]. But I taught him. He copied me. He copied my style. I’ve been talking sh*t from the beginning, a long time. I don’t do it to get in their heads. Boxing is a show business. Boxing is Hollywood. Boxing is a movie. The fans have to be entertained.”
Fury Says Paying Fans Expect A Complete Show
Fury then explained why he treats the press conference and buildup as extensions of fight night. The point, he said, is to make the entire event feel unpredictable enough that viewers believe something memorable could happen before the opening bell.
“So, when they tune in and pay pay-per-view to watch Tyson Fury fight, press conference, build-up, they’re going to see a show. That’s why they come to see. It’s going to be a crazy show; something’s going to happen. It’s like a circus.”
That show-business framing has also followed Fury into crossover boxing. He shared the ring with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in 2023, later saying the bout felt more like an exhibition than a conventional contest. He has continued to discuss UFC names as possible boxing opponents, including Ilia Topuria and other crossover candidates.
Fury and McGregor have crossed promotional paths before without fighting. McGregor once sent Fury a bottle of Proper No. 12 before a Deontay Wilder rematch, and both men have spent years attached to speculative crossover matchups.
No fight between them was announced in the interview. Fury’s claim was about authorship of the promotional style: talk loudly, make the buildup feel like an event, and give viewers a reason to watch before the contest even begins.
