Fury vs. Joshua History: Have They Fought Before?
Updated October 25, 2026
This Fury vs Joshua history guide answers the big question, “has Tyson Fury fought Anthony Joshua?”, then walks through the timeline of failed talks that led to Cardiff. For the latest prices on their first-ever meeting, see the Fury vs Joshua odds.
Did Tyson Fury Fight Anthony Joshua Before?
Did Tyson Fury fight Anthony Joshua? No. Despite more than a decade of rivalry, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have never fought, and the Cardiff event on December 11, 2026 will be their first professional meeting.
- Head-to-head record: 0–0. There is no previous result.
- Same-era rivals: both have beaten Wladimir Klitschko and Francis Ngannou, and both lost to Oleksandr Usyk.
- Tommy Fury: Tyson’s half-brother has not fought Joshua either.
- First meeting: read our Fury vs Joshua predictions for how it could play out.
Fury vs. Joshua History: A Timeline of the Rivalry
The Fury vs Joshua history is a story of near-misses: agreements, arbitration rulings and rival fights that kept pushing the date back. Here is the timeline.
- Fury beats Klitschko. Fury wins the heavyweight titles by decision over Wladimir Klitschko.
- Joshua beats Klitschko. Joshua stops Klitschko in round 11 at Wembley and becomes the face of British heavyweight boxing.
- Both reign. Fury draws with Deontay Wilder (2018) and then beats him (2020), while Joshua regains his belts after a 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr.
- The fight is agreed, then collapses. Fury and Joshua reached a deal for a 2021 fight, but an arbitrator ruled Fury had to face Wilder a third time, ending the plan.
- Usyk beats Joshua. Oleksandr Usyk wins the first of two decisions over Joshua.
- Talks return, then die. Negotiations over a December date broke down over terms and timing, and the fight did not happen.
- Usyk beats Fury twice. Fury beats Ngannou in 2023 but loses to Usyk in May and December 2024, while Joshua loses to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
- Fury retires again. Fury announces his retirement before returning in 2026.
- Joshua beats Jake Paul. Joshua stops Paul in round six in his only fight of the year.
- Both win comeback fights. Fury beats Makhmudov (April) and Wach (July); Joshua stops Prenga in round two after two knockdowns.
- Cardiff is announced. Turki Alalshikh confirms the fight for December 11 at Principality Stadium, streamed on Netflix.
- Tickets sell out. The stadium sale reportedly clears in about an hour.
Why Didn’t Fury Fight Joshua Sooner?
Why didn’t Fury fight Joshua when the public wanted it for years? There was no single cause. Several practical problems stacked up.
- Contracts and promoters: Fury and Joshua had different promoters and broadcasters, which made a joint deal hard to negotiate.
- Purse splits: each side wanted the larger share as the bigger draw, and talks stalled on percentages.
- Rival commitments: arbitration for Wilder in 2021 and two Usyk fights each changed priorities.
- Form: losses (Joshua to Usyk and Dubois, Fury to Usyk) briefly reduced the fight’s appeal, then raised it again.
The money and the platform finally lined up when Netflix, Riyadh Season and The Ring got involved. Follow the build-up in the Fury vs Joshua news.
Fight finally on
See the latest Fury vs Joshua odds and pick your side.
Fury vs. Joshua History FAQ
The most-searched questions about Fury vs Joshua history, answered.
Did Tyson Fury fight Anthony Joshua?
No. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have never fought. Their first meeting is scheduled for December 11, 2026 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Has Anthony Joshua fought Tyson Fury before?
No. A fight was agreed for 2021 and talks resurfaced in 2022, but neither bout happened, so Cardiff will be the first time they share a ring in a professional fight.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: who won?
There is no previous result because the fight has not happened yet. Fury is the betting favourite for the first meeting.
Why didn’t Fury fight Joshua sooner?
A mix of contracts, purse splits, scheduling and rivals got in the way. An arbitrator’s ruling sent Fury back to Deontay Wilder in 2021, and later talks in 2022 broke down. Both men then fought Oleksandr Usyk and other opponents before finally agreeing terms.
Has Tommy Fury fought Anthony Joshua?
No. Tommy Fury is Tyson’s half-brother and has not fought Joshua. This event is Tyson Fury against Joshua.
Who has beaten both Fury and Joshua?
Oleksandr Usyk beat Joshua in 2021 and 2022, and beat Fury twice in 2024. That shared opponent is why Usyk’s opinion carries weight.
Where is the fight and who is promoting it?
The fight is in Cardiff, Wales, on Netflix, with Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh and The Ring behind the event.
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