Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury: What to Expect from the Anticipated Battle of Britain

Joshua and Fury: A Decade of Anticipation

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, two giants of British heavyweight boxing, have been linked in discussions for nearly ten years. Both are multiple-time champions and among the biggest names in British sports today. Now, at ages 36 and 37 respectively, they remain major figures even as their careers seem to be winding down, especially after both lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk.

The heavyweight scene is shifting rapidly. With Usyk having given up his belts, the WBO title now belongs to Daniel Dubois, the WBC to Agit Kabayel, and the WBA to Murat Gassiev. The IBF championship remains unclaimed. Still, fans would rather see Joshua and Fury face each other than chase fragmented titles.

Are Joshua and Fury Fighting This Week?

No, not yet. Both are scheduled for fights this week but on separate cards. Fury will fight veteran Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24, while Joshua will headline in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 25 against Albanian knockout artist Kristian Prenga, who has faced less challenging opponents.

Joshua’s return is significant, coming after injuries sustained in a tragic car accident last December that killed two of his team members, Ina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. The group was vacationing in Nigeria, where Joshua has family ties, following his win over Jake Paul in Miami. Fury recently came out of retirement with a dominant points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Wembley in April, where he called out Joshua at ringside.

When Will Joshua and Fury Meet?

Both men hope to avoid any upsets this week so they can meet on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The bout was announced officially after they signed contracts with Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh. There were some complications regarding the fight location; Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insisted the fight happen in the UK, while Alalshikh’s affiliation with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing suggested a US venue was possible. Ultimately, the UK date won out.

Fury, ranked No. 1 challenger by the WBC, also emphasized his clearer path to a title compared to Joshua. When promoting his fight with Wach, Fury expressed skepticism about Joshua's willingness to engage fully in press events and media buildup, but they have set aside differences to lock in the December showdown.

Have Joshua and Fury Fought Before?

Joshua and Fury have never met professionally in the ring. Their history includes a memorable sparring session around 2010 when both were amateurs. Fury recounted that Joshua gave him a tough time during three rounds, claiming Joshua dominated the session. Fury later softened his account, noting Joshua was pulled from sparring after three rounds. Joshua’s amateur coach Sean Murphy confirmed that Joshua had the upper hand before being pulled out at Fury’s request.

Joshua has referenced that spar in recent exchanges following Fury’s win over Makhmudov, saying, “I punched you up when we were kids and, after watching you tonight, I'll punch you up again.” The long-awaited professional clash promises to settle questions that have built up over the years.