Heavyweight boxing rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to meet in the professional ring on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, broadcast globally on Netflix, bringing their 16-year training history to a sanctioned bout. Sparring has long been a staple of their relationship, though public accounts of their 2010 sessions rely primarily on recollections from the fighters and witnesses because no full video recording of the three rounds exists.
The 2010 Sparring Sessions and Early Clash
In 2010, a 20-year-old Anthony Joshua sparred with Tyson Fury, generating differing accounts of competitive dominance. According to Tyson Fury in a BBC Radio interview, the young Joshua surprised him by attacking quickly with a punch flurry after Fury initially tried to box cautiously against the amateur. Fury described the three-round session as very difficult, stating that Joshua caused him serious problems and remarking, “The amateur’s killing me.” Conversely, Joshua’s trainer at the time, Sean Murphy, recalled that Joshua shook Fury with heavy punches in the first round and used the ring ropes to keep his balance—a tactic Murphy noted was not permitted in sparring. Murphy added that Fury used his size and professional experience in the second round to force Joshua to work harder, while Joshua resisted effectively in the third round. After three rounds, Murphy pulled Joshua out of the sparring session to avoid risking an amateur against a professional as intensity rose.
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Wager and Motivation Heading Into the Professional Bout
Anthony Joshua recalled that Tyson Fury promised him a Rolex watch before the sparring session if the younger fighter could knock him out or beat him. While Joshua characterized the training as a competitive spar featuring heavy punches from both sides, his promoter Eddie Hearn stated that the 2010 encounter continues to fuel Joshua’s motivation. According to Eddie Hearn, Joshua is specifically motivated to defeat Fury by knockout, drawing on the memories of their first meeting at the Finchley gym 16 years prior.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight taking place?
They will fight on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with a global broadcast on Netflix.
Have Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fought professionally before?
No, the December 11 bout marks their first professional meeting, following a famous 2010 training sparring session.
What happened during their 2010 sparring session?
The two boxed three competitive rounds where both landed heavy blows, leading to conflicting accounts from the fighters and trainers about who held the upper hand before Sean Murphy pulled Joshua out.
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