Joshua On Fury Showdown: 'It's Another Fighter'

Anthony Joshua dismissed the magnitude of finally fighting Tyson Fury this December, treating the long-awaited heavyweight clash as business as usual ahead of their December 11 date.

"For me, it's another fighter, someone I'm going to get familiar with because I'm going to be watching them a lot more but, no, nothing surreal about doing what I'm built and what I'm trained to do," Joshua told iFL TV in an interview published by Bad Left Hook just before the bout's kickoff press conference.

Joshua Stays Loyal To Hearn Over White Involvement

The former two-time heavyweight champion addressed the promotional complexities surrounding the fight, reaffirming his commitment to longtime promoter Eddie Hearn despite Dana White's role in making the bout happen. "My loyalty is with Eddie," Joshua said. "There's nothing against Dana, at all. I don't know Dana to have anything against him but my honor and loyalty in this situation stands with Eddie Hearn."

Joshua confirmed Ben Davison will serve as lead trainer for the Fury camp, a decision rooted in the experience he gained working around multiple coaches and sparring partners over recent years. He mentioned training alongside Errol Spence, Oleksandr Usyk, and Derek Chisora as part of the global preparation that led him to Davison. "I believed that Ben Davison and his team will add to what I'm planning on doing," he explained, per the report.

On drug testing protocols for the fight, Joshua expressed disappointment but refused to dwell on the issue. "It could've been better but we're here," he said, noting he has previously beaten opponents later found to have used banned substances. He conceded top billing to Fury without protest, saying he let his rival take the marquee spot because "it's the loudest who hold the least power."

Joshua and Fury will settle years of postponed negotiations when they meet at a venue yet to be announced in mid-December.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — ‘For me, it’s another fighter’: Anthony Joshua takes showdown with Tyson Fury in stride