Anthony Joshua’s decision to train with Tyson Fury’s estranged uncle, Peter Fury, and Ben Davison just escalated the stakes for their December 11 heavyweight showdown in Cardiff to another level entirely. It was the most telling information to come out of Wednesday’s chaotic opening press conference in London, even with all the wild antics happening around them.
The Press Conference Was Wild, But Not For The Reasons You’d Think
Seriously, this opening press conference felt more like a circus than a build-up to what could be one of the biggest heavyweight fights in British boxing history. We’re talking constant heckles from fans, Turki Alalshikh going on some bizarre tirade against Dua Lipa, and Rick Reeno showing up in a Versace robe. Then there’s Max Kellerman, straight-up poking the bear, asking Tyson Fury if he was gonna “go a little nuts” on Joshua. The chaos was all around, supplied by everyone *else* orbiting the main event.
But get this: through nearly 50 minutes, the two men actually sharing the ring? They kept it pretty cordial. Fury, the “Gypsy King,” actually lavished praise on Joshua! He even said, “[Joshua’s] been a role model and a poster boy for British boxing for years.” He went on, “I mostly find myself defending my arch rival to fans I meet on the street. I say to them, if you could achieve 10% of what this man’s achieved, you’d be f***ing doing well.” Joshua was equally respectful, even laughing when Fury called himself a blancmange compared to Joshua’s Adonis-like physique. Of course, Fury couldn’t resist a classic rally cry, egged on by his family: “I’m going to come out, blast him out of there, it’ll be a gunfight at the O.K. Corral. I’m not going to box, I’m going to throw down, I’ll catch him, and when I do, it’ll be curtains. That’s it.” The faceoff itself was chill, Fury on his tip-toes, Joshua playfully grabbing his stomach. Both guys are old hands at this, with a combined 73 professional fights, so they weren’t about to crack or show their full hand ten weeks out.
Joshua Drops A Bombshell: Peter Fury Is In His Corner
Away from all the main stage noise, Joshua dropped a legitimate bombshell. This man told reporters, straight up, that he’ll be training with Ben Davison and having regular talks with Tyson Fury’s estranged uncle, Peter Fury. Talk about an early flex, a total mind game, right? Joshua is playing with pocket aces. He literally said, “I speak to Peter Fury. He’s willing to help me,” and added, “And yeah, I’ll speak to him [before December’s fight].”
If you know your boxing history, you know Peter Fury was in Tyson’s corner when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko back in 2015, winning that first world title. And Davison? He guided Fury through his epic comeback and that insane first fight with Deontay Wilder. This isn’t just a trainer; this is Tyson’s own family, the guy who knows him inside and out, now potentially sharing secrets with his biggest rival.
This rivalry has been simmering for over a decade, and with Joshua pulling a move like this, the December 11 fight isn’t just a showdown. It’s personal. Get ready, because what happens in Cardiff is going to be absolutely wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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