Anthony Joshua has revealed that he is in regular contact with Tyson Fury’s estranged uncle, Peter Fury, in a surprising and dramatic twist to the buildup ahead of the long-awaited heavyweight showdown between the two former world champions. The two British boxing icons are finally scheduled to meet inside the ring at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium this December, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most lucrative and fiercely contested bouts in modern boxing history.
Peter Fury famously trained Tyson when the "Gypsy King" produced one of the most stunning upsets in modern heavyweight boxing by defeating Wladimir Klitschko to claim his first world heavyweight titles in November 2015. However, the uncle and nephew experienced a dramatic falling out shortly after that historic night in Düsseldorf, reportedly stemming from a financial dispute. The pair have not spoken in a professional or personal capacity in many years, making Joshua’s unexpected alliance with Peter Fury all the more provocative as fight night draws closer.
The revelation came to light ahead of the fight’s opening press conference on Wednesday evening in London, where the two camps gathered to officially launch the promotion.
"I speak to Peter Fury," Joshua admitted candidly when discussing his preparations for the December clash. "He’s willing to help me as well. Yeah, I’ll speak to him [before I fight Tyson Fury]."
When pressed by reporters about whether he hopes to gain tactical insights into Tyson Fury’s fighting style from his uncle, Joshua clarified that the dialogue focuses more on broad preparation and overarching strategy rather than family secrets. "Not about Fury, but about our training and how I can approach the fight," Joshua explained. "This is where I can improve. Everybody’s going to tell me how to win. But the most important person to listen to is myself at this point in my career."
Joshua disclosed that his most recent conversation with Peter Fury took place approximately a month ago, facilitated through a mutual connection in the heavyweight division. "I speak to Matty Harris [the British heavyweight whom Peter Fury currently trains] quite a lot," Joshua said. "Matty Harris comes down for some sparring. That’s how it all comes about. Through Matty and Peter."
This intricate web of boxing relationships is further complicated by the presence of Ben Davison in Joshua’s corner. Davison will train Joshua for the upcoming December battle, and he also shares a deeply intertwined history with Tyson Fury. Davison previously helped orchestrate Fury’s remarkable comeback to the sport in 2018, guiding him back to the ring after a grueling three-year absence marked by well-documented struggles with alcohol and drug problems following his career-defining victory over Klitschko.
Tyson Fury initially appeared genuinely taken aback when informed during the media events that Davison would be steering Joshua’s preparations. In apparent disbelief, Fury turned to the press and asked, "Is it confirmed? Is he gonna have him?"
After a brief pause, Fury turned directly to his long-time promoter, Frank Warren, and delivered a trademark deadpan assessment: "That’s deflating, isn’t it, Frank? It is deflating."
However, the mercurial heavyweight champion quickly dropped the facade, making it clear that his remarks were delivered entirely in jest. "Don’t forget I left Ben Davison to go with SugarHill [Steward] because he wasn’t good enough, and this is the same Ben Davison who Anthony Joshua left because he wasn’t good enough," Fury quipped.
The narrative surrounding Joshua’s coaching staff has shifted dramatically over the past year. Following a turbulent period that saw Joshua dropped numerous times and ultimately stopped by Daniel Dubois in a blistering display of power at Wembley Stadium in September 2024, Joshua briefly moved away from Davison to align himself with Oleksandr Usyk’s coaching team.
Referencing that turbulent chapter, Fury—who remained in a jovial and buoyant mood throughout the press conference—pounced on the irony of the situation. "When he got knocked out by Dubois it was the same Ben Davison who everyone said: ‘Oh, he’s this, he’s that…’ Now they’re going back to him?" Fury remarked with a laugh.
"So that gives me encouragement. That gives me happiness. [Joshua] will probably go out there, get told to throw a jab and throw an uppercut and get himself chinned."
Despite the playful needling from his opponent, Joshua firmly defended his coaching choices and dismissed the notion that his recent struggles fell solely on his trainer’s shoulders. He stressed that his decision to reunite with Davison and consult with Peter Fury was rooted in a desire for microscopic precision rather than desperation.
"It wasn’t so much going to Ben and Peter because they have worked with Fury before," Joshua insisted. "The reason why I went with Ben is because he and his team pinpoint things. [Against Dubois] there are things I could have done better so I won’t put all that blame on Ben."
Looking ahead to the tactical challenges posed by the undefeated champion, Joshua expressed total confidence in his current training setup. "What I’ve got to do is take control of my fight with Fury, but also add their touch," he said. "And with these two powerhouses coming together, I think it will be a match made in heaven. Ben and his team are very good at pinpointing certain things leading up to a fight that I can execute and exploit. I believe that they will get me that one step closer to landing the perfect punch to pin Fury to the ground."
The atmosphere at the press conference was not entirely defined by promotional bravado and tactical sparring. Earlier in the proceedings, Joshua called for a minute’s silence to honor the close friends he has tragically lost over the past ten months—a sombre moment that was impeccably observed by both fighters, the media, and the gathered entourages.
Following the respectful pause, Fury adopted a surprisingly magnanimous tone when speaking about his adversary on stage, before quickly pivoting back to typical fight-week hyperbole. "I’m going to blast him out," Fury insisted. "I’m going to catch him and when I do it’s going to be curtains."
Joshua offered a knowing smile in response to the warning. "I don’t expect anything else from this man than him saying he’s going to render me unconscious," he replied, before breaking into laughter as Fury delivered another self-deprecating joke: "This man is built like an Adonis, I’m built like a blancmange."
The lighthearted sparring between the two heavyweights continued toward the end of the media gathering when Fury turned to Joshua and offered a gesture of post-fight sportsmanship. "I hope after this fight we can have a pint of Guinness together," Fury said.
Joshua paused, smiled cautiously, and replied, "I don’t know if I can trust you."
Despite the verbal sparring, the traditional face-off between the two British heavyweights passed peacefully and calmly. Both men are acutely aware that the weeks of psychological warfare, promotional intrigue, and clever wisecracks will ultimately hold no weight once the opening bell rings in Cardiff this December, leaving them alone in the center of the ring to settle their long-standing rivalry.
