Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury is a fight boxing fans have wanted for a long time, and with six common opponents, we might have some idea how the blockbuster fight will go.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury may be the biggest fight that never happens, if ‘The Gypy King’ remains in retirement instead of returning for the huge domestic clash.
Fury is coming off his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk, who has also beaten Joshua on two occasions too.
However, many are confident that the match-up will happen one day, and there may be a clue in how it could go when factoring in the six opponents Fury and Joshua have both faced.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury defeated their six common opponents in very different ways
Joshua and Fury have faced six of the same men throughout their careers, but have won, and lost, in very different circumstances.
The following is every opponent the pair have both faced:
Kevin Johnson
Tyson Fury was the first to face Kevin Johnson in 2012. Johnson at the time held a record of 28-2-1 to Fury’s 19-0, and was outboxed by the Morecambe man losing in a wide unanimous decision.
Joshua faced Johnson just three years later, with the common opponent holding a record of 29-6-1 at the time of their match-up. Joshua was 12-0 at the time, and stopped Johnson in the second round.
Joshua TKO2 | Fury UD
Dillian Whyte
Unlike the last opponent, Joshua was the first to face Whyte, stopping him in round seven of their all-British grudge match in 2015 to win the British title.
Fury did one better than Joshua, albeit seven years later, stopping Whyte a round earlier in the sixth.
Joshua TKO7 | Fury TKO6
Wladimir Klitschko
In 2015, Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko to win the heavyweight world titles. Despite being the underdog, Fury defeated the Ukrainian in a close but unanimous decision.
Joshua fought the former champion just two years later, hot on the heels of Fury. AJ, too, beat Klitschko, but did so with an awe-inspiring eleventh-round knockout.
Joshua TKO11 | Fury UD
Otto Wallin
Fury first beat Wallin in 2019 by unanimous decision, despite a horror cut opening up on the Brit, and prompting many to believe the fight should be stopped.
Joshua stopped Wallin in a far more brutal manner, with the Swede failing to come out of his corner in the fifth.
There were four years between Fury and Joshua’s wins over Wallin, and whilst Joshua beat him in far more devastating fashion, Wallin did go on to lose to Derek Chisora by unanimous decision in a poor showing just a couple of fights later, potentially showing he was on the slide.
Joshua RTD5 | Fury UD
Francis Ngannou
Though more of a novelty fight, and one many believe Fury did not take seriously, Francis Ngannou proved his ability in a boxing ring when he made his debut against Fury in the first of many Saudi-backed cards.
Ngannou, who is set to return to boxing this year potentially against Deontay Wilder, knocked Fury down in round three, but lost a split decision to Fury, with one judge scoring it 95-94 in Ngannou’s favor.
Joshua faced Ngannou next, and showed maybe MMA fighters don’t belong in boxing, stopping Ngannou in the second round, after knocking him down multiple times beforehand.
Joshua KO2 | Fury SD
Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk is the only man to have defeated both men, and whilst both put up a good fight with Usyk, neither were able to defeat the Ukrainian elite.
Joshua LOSES by UD | Fury LOSES by SD, and then Joshua LOSES by SD | Fury LOSES by UD.
It is unclear if the fight between Fury and Joshua will ever happen, but if it does, it is sure to entertain.