Fury vs Joshua: Your questions answered

Sky Sports answers your Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua questions…

Of their shared opponents, who do you think did the best? (Craig)

They’ve both fought Oleksandr Usyk twice and they’ve both lost to him twice. Joshua did not box well in his first one but put in a stronger performance second time around. Fury though was impressive in his first Usyk fight, he looked strong in the first half of that first fight. At that level, with that opponent, Fury did do the best.

But they’ve both fought Francis Ngannou and Fury struggled whereas Joshua levelled the former UFC champion.

Both have boxed Wladimir Klitschko, Joshua did so later than Fury. AJ faced an older Klitschko, but perhaps one who’d learned lessons from his Fury fight. Klitschko though did give Joshua a more torrid fight while Fury exerted more control and won a decision in Germany. Ultimately Fury seems to come out ahead of Joshua against their highest level shared opponents, but hard to call really.

What does the future hold for each fighter if they win or lose? Will they seek a trilogy with Usyk? (Nem)

Fury will seek it, but whether there’s a market for it is another question. Daniel Dubois could be an easier sell for the winner.

Neither Fury nor Joshua have a win over Usyk. Their first fights were intriguing enough to justify their rematches. But a trilogy with Usyk for either Fury or Joshua probably isn’t needed.

Why is there a championship belt up for grabs? (Several)

The WBA has decided to sanction this for a ‘super’ title. We don’t know why, frankly, and the WBA hasn’t explained its reasoning. Both are former champions but the WBA already had a ‘regular’ titlist in Murat Gassiev and neither Fury nor Joshua were rated as the WBA’s No 1 contender going into the fight.

It’s the battle of each other and it doesn’t need any belt on the line.

So who is promoting this then? (Jon)

This isn’t happening without Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. The press release to announce the fight did say he’s doing it in partnership with Dana White, which opens the Pandora’s Box of what can Dana White’s involvement be alongside the contract that Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua have and what contract Frank Warren and Tyson Fury have. But Turki Alalshikh is putting up the money, he is the promoter of the event.

Obviously a huge fight, albeit later than hoped. Given there have been losses on either side, who do you think needs the win the most, based on skills, class, character, history and fan base? (Boon)

Anthony Joshua does have an outstanding resume and has fought high-quality opponents. But he hasn’t fought Deontay Wilder, who Fury’s boxed three times. Fury, albeit at different times, has held every major heavyweight world title and over the course of two Usyk fights arguably performed better.

For his legacy, Anthony Joshua probably does need the win more. A great question though that you can argue either way.

Just wondering how both fighters can adjust their bodies/minds to be able to fight in the early hours of the morning in the UK, just for the US audience to be able to watch the fight? (Peter)

A lot of the fights we’ve covered in Saudi Arabia for example were taking place in the early hours of the morning there. Joseph Parker when we visited him in camp was not getting up until 4.30pm, was then having his breakfast at 5pm and working out at 2am. These guys will move everything and settle into a schedule and a rhythm. Fury is already on US time, training in America.

For the US audience, although it’s two Brits in the fight, the massive Netflix audience is coast to coast in America and they will expect to get better viewing figures at that time.

Will the loser of the fight retire? (Raz)

It depends on the manner of defeat. Fury’s been vocal that he wants to go on as long as he can, but he has retired and unretired several times before. He could do that again.

For Anthony Joshua, a heavy loss might well force him to contemplate retirement. And if he does consider hanging up the gloves after this fight, as an Olympic gold medallist, as a two-time unified world heavyweight champion and British boxing superstar, Joshua has nothing left to prove.

Do you think Joshua will have the engine to keep up with Fury if it goes 12 rounds? (Sean)

Joshua’s been 12 rounds on five different occasions. There’s been no suggestion that he has any issues with his stamina. He is more musclebound and Fury has a natural rhythm but Fury doesn’t set a relentless pace. Fury would have to make Joshua think and fight at a pace he’s not used to and make him work harder than he normally would.

What would happen after 12 rounds if the decision was a draw? Do we get a rematch? (Richard)

A rematch in that scenario would be almost inevitable. If it’s a draw they’d have to go again. They’d have learned lots about each other, it could be hyped all over again. They’d have to run it back.

We know AJ can be knocked down/out but do you think Fury has the power to put AJ down? (Paul)

In years gone by Fury wasn’t deemed to punch his full weight. But he changed those assumptions with his devastating performances in the second and third fights with Deontay Wilder. Joshua has been hurt too, most recently and most worryingly by Kristian Prenga. Fury is certainly dangerous for him.

Why didn’t they host this fight in Wembley? (Nas)

It doesn’t have a roof. The weather at that time of year is probably more of a factor than licensing the late main event start time.

Who is going to be on the undercard in Cardiff? Will there be any Welsh boxers on it? (Jase)

We don’t know yet. Dana White is looking to make Jai Opetaia versus Deontay Wilder on that bill. Queensberry will have a fighter on the undercard, so will Matchroom. We await confirmation of the card and it would be great to see Welsh boxers showcased on that bill. We will have to wait and see though.

For more questions and answers, including whether the fight will go the distance and how different it could have been eight years ago, listen to the full special edition of the Toe2Toe podcast here