ANTHONY JOSHUA has proposed a brilliantly bizarre PUNCH MACHINE challenge to determine the vital second ring walk against Tyson Fury.
The pair have finally announced and confirmed their overdue grudge match, which is set for Friday,
Fury’s name was first on the poster – – but several contract niceties are still yet to be ironed out
That includes who gets the bigger home dressing room and who can walk out second –
A good old-fashioned flip of the coin is the likely outcome to determine the key factors – but AJ wants their fists to settle the crazy contract decider.
Eddie Hearn told SunSport: “It’s very likely that we’re going to end up probably tossing a coin for all of it, which is fine.
“That was one of the conversations that was happening even a couple of days ago.
“AJ actually requested, and I think I think Tyson agreed to it as well, I have to check with them but we want to do a punch machine.
“Whoever does the biggest numbers gets the ring walk.”
The remarkable challenge was put to Fury’s manager Spencer Brown – who did not seem so keen.
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All eyes are focused on the ‘Battle of Britain’ between and , with the pair set to finally settle their decade-long rivalry in December.
Before that, October sees and face off in a rematch of their thrilling May fight, while returns against Christian Mbili on Halloween.
October
- Sat 3 – Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace – DAZN
- Sat 10 – Joey Essex vs Dapper Laughs – DAZN
- Sat 17 – Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 – DAZN
- Sat 24 – Dalton Smith vs Alberto Puello – DAZN
- Sat 31 – Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbili – DAZN
December
- Fri 11 – Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua – Netflix
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Brown told us: “That’s not going to happen, is it? If it’s going to be done in any way, it’ll be a coin toss.
“But we don’t want any injuries before the fight, do we?”
Another key detail will be what time the two actually make their way to the ring.
Broadcasters Netflix were keen to take the Battle of Britain to New York to capitalise on greater prime-time US viewership.
But AJ’s contract stated the fight HAD to take place in the UK – with Hearn and Fury’s promoter Frank Warren helping secure the deal for Wales’ Principality Stadium.
To compromise for the American audience, a later start time of 2am has been proposed but
Hearn said: “Well, the word is I’ve seen it reported, and I knew because I knew from inside the camp, they don’t want to fight late.
“This 1am in the morning, 1.30, they are desperately trying to get that changed.
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“Now, we would love to change that for fight fans, but we don’t care if it’s 4 or 5 in the morning in terms of the fight.
“The fight’s the fight. So yeah, look, there’s going to be all these conversations.”
Another narrative heading into the fight of their lives is Joshua returning to former trainer Ben Davison – the man who brought Fury back from the brink of retirement.
Davison made his name by guiding Fury back to the ring for his 2018 comeback and they worked together for five unbeaten fights.
The Gypsy King parted ways with Davison before his 2020 rematch against Deontay Wilder – which he won in seven rounds.
And he still remains cornered by American coach Sugarhill Steward.
Joshua meanwhile has chopped and changed trainers since leaving mentor Rob McCracken after defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021.
Fury vs Joshua - all the info
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally go head-to-head in a blockbuster bout this December!
The two greats will settle their bitter feud in a ‘Battle of Britain’ that has been over a decade in the making.
Both Fury and AJ cleared their final hurdles with wins over Mariusz Wach and Kristian Prenga in July.
Now, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium awaits the two heavyweight giants for a Christmas cracker!
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Robert Garcia and Derrick James came before Davison – who was then replaced by a squad of coaches in Usyk’s camp.
had two fights with the Ukrainian’s team – beating YouTuber-turned-boxer last December and then Kristian Prenga in July.
Now he has linked back up with Davison – perhaps believing there is a psychological edge to be had.
Hearn said: “He’s very close with AJ. People think that when AJ went to Team Usyk, that was it for Ben Davison. They talk all the time.
“AJ would always lean on him tactically going into fights even when they weren’t working together.
“So I think he’s very comfortable to go back there and work with him.
“Obviously, Ben Davison knows Tyson Fury extremely well, which I think is a big advantage going into this fight.
“But AJ’s got to still deliver on the tactics and get it right.”
