Former trainer to both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, Ben Davison, has backed Joshua’s decision to schedule a preparatory fight before the highly anticipated all-British heavyweight clash, dismissing concerns that a tune-up bout could derail momentum heading into the mega-fight.
Joshua is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before meeting Fury in a bout that has already had contracts signed. Some observers have questioned whether an additional contest introduces unnecessary risk ahead of the main event, but Davison sees it differently.
“Everybody knows about the accident and the crash, naturally he would have come out of that accident with injuries,” Davison told Sky Sports. “Make sure that his body’s good and ready to go before going into that fight, which I think makes sense. Tyson’s just had his tune up fight.”
Davison also addressed Joshua’s well-documented reluctance to publicly discuss physical setbacks, framing it as a character trait rather than a strategic omission. “He’s always been like that. There’s been situations that have happened sometimes in fights that he’s won, sometimes in fights that he’s lost and I think he’s never looked to share situations publicly,” the trainer said. “I think he’s always just took it on the chin, dealt with it and worked in silence and I think that’s something to be admired as well.”
Having worked intensively with both men in the build-up to major fights, Davison occupies a rare vantage point when assessing the upcoming contest. Despite that inside knowledge, he stopped short of making a prediction. “When you get to a certain level both men are capable of winning the fight. I think it boils down to how they approach the fight and I don’t know how both men are going to approach the fight,” he said.
While acknowledging contrasting personalities and public personas, Davison identified a shared quality in both fighters. “At heart they’re both really good guys. But I just feel the way they’ve approached the showmanship of boxing is the complete opposite. But naturally those two guys have changed boxing, especially in the UK. Really changed the game. To do that says something,” he said.
Davison also spoke to the psychological weight both fighters carry, suggesting the public rarely grasps the full extent of it. “Most people can’t even comprehend the pressure and all the rest of it that they’re under. There’s high pressure, high expectation, lots of people relying on you. It’s really tough and you can only commend what they’ve both done in the sport. I’m extremely grateful, lucky and blessed to have worked with both of those guys.”
The Joshua vs Fury fight represents one of the most commercially significant heavyweight matchups in British boxing history. Both men have held versions of the world heavyweight title, with Joshua previously holding the IBF, WBA, and WBO belts across two separate reigns, while Fury captured the WBC title and held an unbeaten professional record before entering a period of inactivity. Joshua, meanwhile, is returning to the ring following a period away from competition, making the Prenga fight his first outing since his defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Fury’s recent tune-up bout, referenced by Davison, was a points victory over Oleksandr Usyk’s stablemate in preparation for the same showdown. The winner of Joshua vs Fury is expected to position themselves as a leading contender in the reshaping heavyweight division.
