Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua took more than a decade to make. The two British heavyweights first shared a ring in a 2010 sparring session, came close to a deal in 2021 and 2022, and were finally confirmed for December 11, 2026 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Here is the full history of the rivalry, from the near misses to the announcement. For the latest fight details, see our Fury vs Joshua guide.
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Fury vs Joshua Timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Fury and a young amateur Joshua share a sparring session |
| November 2015 | Fury beats Wladimir Klitschko to become unified heavyweight champion |
| April 2017 | Joshua beats Klitschko in front of 90,000 at Wembley |
| May 2021 | Fury announces an August 14 fight with Joshua in Saudi Arabia |
| May 2021 | An arbitration ruling orders Fury to face Deontay Wilder first. The deal collapses |
| September 2021 | Joshua loses his titles to Oleksandr Usyk |
| September 2022 | Joshua accepts Fury’s terms for a December fight, but no contract is signed |
| 2023 and 2024 | Both men fight Francis Ngannou. Fury wins on a split decision, Joshua by KO 2 |
| 2024 | Fury loses twice to Usyk. Joshua is knocked out by Daniel Dubois |
| January 2025 | Fury announces his retirement |
| December 2025 | Joshua knocks out Jake Paul in Miami |
| April 2026 | Fury returns, beats Arslanbek Makhmudov and calls out Joshua, who is ringside |
| July 2026 | Both win tune-up fights: Fury over Mariusz Wach, Joshua over Kristian Prenga |
| September 30, 2026 | The fight is confirmed for Cardiff at a London press conference |
| October 9, 2026 | About 80,000 tickets sell out in under an hour |
| October 2026 | The WBA “Super” heavyweight title is confirmed for the fight |
The 2021 Deal That Fell Apart
In 2021, Fury held the WBC title and Joshua held the WBA, IBF and WBO belts. An undisputed fight in Saudi Arabia looked set for August 14. Then an arbitrator ruled that Fury owed Deontay Wilder a third fight. Fury fought Wilder instead, and Joshua lost his belts to Oleksandr Usyk weeks later. The chance to crown an undisputed British champion was gone.
The 2022 Near Miss
In September 2022, Fury publicly offered Joshua a December fight. Joshua’s team accepted the financial split, but the negotiations stalled over the details and Fury set a deadline that passed without a signed contract. Fury fought Derek Chisora instead.
How Fury vs Joshua Finally Happened
Losses to Usyk and a short retirement for Fury cooled the talk, but in April 2026 everything changed. Fury beat Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and called out Joshua, who was watching from ringside. Netflix quickly signalled the fight was coming. After months of talks over the venue, with London and New York both in the frame, Cardiff was confirmed on September 30, 2026.
Why the Rivalry Still Matters
Neither man holds a world title going in, and both are past 35. Yet Fury and Joshua are the two biggest names British heavyweight boxing has produced in a generation. Between them, they have held every major heavyweight belt, and both have beaten Wladimir Klitschko. For many fans, this fight settles a debate that has run for ten years.
Read the profiles of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, or see our Fury vs Joshua prediction.
Fury vs Joshua History FAQ
Have Fury and Joshua fought before?
No. They have never met as professionals. They shared a sparring session in 2010, and December 11, 2026 will be their first official fight.
Why did Fury vs Joshua not happen in 2021?
An arbitration ruling ordered Fury to face Deontay Wilder in a third fight, so the planned August 2021 fight in Saudi Arabia collapsed.
When was Fury vs Joshua officially announced?
The fight was confirmed at a London press conference on September 30, 2026.
Have Fury and Joshua fought the same opponents?
Yes. Both beat Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte and Francis Ngannou, and both lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk.