Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meeting in a boxing ring in Cardiff on Friday December 11, a fight that has been many years in the making.
‘The Gypsy King’ (36-2-1) will likely start favourite against Joshua (30-4) for a blockbuster which should have the WBA heavyweight title on the line.
It is time to begin our final analysis with under eight weeks to go until fight night in the Principality Stadium, and what better way than to assess their records and performances against common opponents.
Six fighters have shared the ring with both men: Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, Otto Wallin, Francis Ngannou, Kevin Johnson and Oleksandr Usyk. The results reveal a fascinating contrast.
Joshua stopped all five common opponents he managed to beat. Fury defeated those same five men but needed the scorecards on four occasions, with Dillian Whyte his only stoppage victory among them.
Against Usyk, neither British heavyweight could find a winning formula. Both lost twice on points, although Fury came closer on the judges’ scorecards in their first meeting.
Does that mean Joshua is the more dangerous puncher? Does Fury’s record demonstrate superior technical boxing ability? And can these performances tell us anything meaningful about how a fight between the two British rivals might unfold?
Here is the complete Fury vs Joshua common-opponents comparison – with the results, dates, methods of victory and crucial context behind every fight.
Full Results Comparison
| Common opponent | Tyson Fury result | Anthony Joshua result |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Johnson | Won UD, 2012 | Won TKO, Round 2, 2015 |
| Wladimir Klitschko | Won UD, 2015 | Won TKO, Round 11, 2017 |
| Dillian Whyte | Won TKO, Round 6, 2022 | Won TKO, Round 7, 2015 |
| Otto Wallin | Won UD, 2019 | Won RTD, after Round 5, 2023 |
| Francis Ngannou | Won SD, 2023 | Won KO, Round 2, 2024 |
| Oleksandr Usyk | Lost SD and UD, 2024 | Lost UD, 2021; lost SD, 2022 |
UD = unanimous decision; SD = split decision; TKO = technical knockout; RTD = corner retirement.
The Numbers at a Glance
- Six common opponents across the two heavyweight careers.
- Five opponents beaten by both fighters.
- Five stoppage victories for Joshua, compared with one for Fury.
- Two defeats each against Usyk, all decided on points.
- Seven fights each against the six shared opponents, because both men faced Usyk twice.
These numbers offer an interesting starting point, but they do not tell the whole story. The opponents were different ages, the fights took place at different stages of their careers, and styles often explain more than stoppage statistics.
1. Wladimir Klitschko: Fury’s Tactical Masterclass vs Joshua’s Wembley Thriller
Wladimir Klitschko is arguably the most significant shared victory on the records of Fury and Joshua. A long-time world champion who is now enshrined in Boxing’s Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
Both men defeated the Ukrainian giant, but they did so in dramatically different circumstances.
Tyson Fury vs Wladimir Klitschko – November 28, 2015
Result: Fury won by unanimous decision
Fury travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany to challenge a champion who had dominated heavyweight boxing for more than a decade. He produced a virtuoso performance to dethrone the Ukrainian king.
Klitschko entered the contest with an extraordinary winning streak and a reputation for controlling opponents through his jab, footwork and powerful right hand – but Fury disrupted the champion’s rhythm right from the opening bell.
Using bewildering feints, movement, stance switches and his own considerable reach, the British challenger made Klitschko unusually hesitant. Wladimir just could not pull the trigger and he appeared tentative and completely befuddled by Fury’s boxing skills.
The fight was not an action-packed spectacle, but it was an exceptional tactical performance from Fury, who won by unanimous decision to claim the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.
Klitschko was 39 years old and had not suffered a defeat since 2004.
Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko – April 29, 2017
Result: Joshua won by TKO in Round 11
Joshua’s meeting with Klitschko at Wembley Stadium was almost the complete opposite of the masterclass Fury had delivered in Germany a couple of years earlier.
In front of approximately 90,000 spectators, the British champion and the former heavyweight ruler produced one of the most dramatic world-title fights of the modern era. AJ would have to come back from the brink of disaster to register a famous victory.
Joshua knocked Klitschko down in the fifth round, only to be dropped himself by a huge right hand in the sixth.
The contest appeared to be slipping away from AJ before he recovered and produced a devastating attack in Round 11, scoring two further knockdowns and forcing the stoppage.
Klitschko was 41 and had not fought competitively since losing to Fury approximately 17 months earlier.
Who Performed Better Against Klitschko?
Fury produced the more controlled tactical victory; Joshua delivered the more spectacular finish.
Fury’s achievement was particularly significant because he ended Klitschko’s long reign while fighting in the champion’s adopted home country. Winning on the road in Germany against a long-time champion considered the home fighter was no joke.
Joshua’s performance meanwhile demonstrated extraordinary resilience, punching power and the ability to recover from a major crisis. It was the first time he had faced adversity like this as a professional, and eventually he came through.
The key distinction is that Fury neutralised Klitschko’s strengths, while Joshua overcame them in a thrilling contest.
2. Dillian Whyte: Two Uppercuts, Two Knockout Victories
Dillian Whyte is the only shared opponent Fury and Joshua both stopped with an uppercut – in fights which came seven years apart. And fights which were very very different.
Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte – December 12, 2015
Result: Joshua won by TKO in Round 7
Joshua faced Whyte at London’s O2 Arena in a heated domestic grudge match.
Their rivalry dated back to their amateur careers when Whyte had beaten Joshua, and there was genuine hostility between the two heavyweights ahead of the big showdown on Sky Sports in the UK.
Joshua started aggressively but was badly shaken by a left hook in the second round. He recovered, gradually regained control and eventually finished Whyte with a powerful uppercut in the seventh.
The victory was a significant step in Joshua’s development – it was the toughest test of his career to date and it and helped establish him as one of British boxing’s leading attractions.
Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte – April 23, 2022
Result: Fury won by TKO in Round 6
Fury’s meeting with Whyte took place at Wembley Stadium, with the WBC heavyweight championship on the line.
By this stage, Whyte was an experienced contender who had waited years for his opportunity to challenge for a world title. But he froze on the biggest night of his career and hardly landed a meaningful punch.
Instead Fury, masterful and composed, controlled the contest with his jab, movement and superior reach, preventing Whyte from establishing sustained pressure.
In the sixth round, Fury landed a devastating right uppercut that sent Whyte to the canvas. Whyte regained his feet but was unable to continue safely, and the referee stopped the contest.
Who Performed Better Against Whyte?
Fury delivered the cleaner, more controlled victory.
Joshua had to survive a serious moment of danger before stopping Whyte in seven rounds. Fury largely neutralised Whyte’s attacks and finished the contest one round earlier.
However, Joshua faced a younger, unbeaten Whyte in a bitter domestic rivalry, while Fury met a more experienced version several years later.
Both victories remain important, but Fury’s performance was significantly more emphatic.
3. Otto Wallin: Fury Survives a Cut, Joshua Forces a Retirement
The contrast between Fury and Joshua’s performances against Otto Wallin was particularly striking.
Fury needed 12 rounds to defeat the Swedish southpaw in 2019 and experienced a major scare doing it, while Joshua forced him to retire after a five-round beatdown in Saudi in 2023.
Tyson Fury vs Otto Wallin – September 14, 2019
Result: Fury won by unanimous decision
Fury entered the Wallin contest in Las Vegas as a substantial favourite, but the fight became unexpectedly difficult when the Swede opened a serious cut above Fury’s right eye in the third round.
The injury threatened to end the contest, and Fury had to cope with blood affecting his vision while continuing to defend himself against a determined opponent. Despite the damage, Fury gradually imposed himself and won a unanimous decision.
The performance demonstrated his resilience and ability to adjust under difficult circumstances, although it was a much tougher contest than expected.
Wallin lived off this one for years afterwards, and it would eventually net him a big payday against AJ in 2023.
Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin – December 23, 2023
Result: Joshua won by corner retirement after Round 5
Joshua faced Wallin on the Day of Reckoning card in Riyadh and produced one of his most convincing performances in several years.
It was AJ’s first fight with Ben Davison heading up his corner (the man who previously masterminded Fury’s 2018 comeback) and the results were immediate.
Working behind a sharp jab, Joshua repeatedly found openings with his right hand and combinations, leaving Wallin struggling to respond. A fractured nose gave the Swede a world of pain and only hastened the inevitable conclusion.
Wallin’s corner withdrew him after the fifth round, their man had taken a brutal beating from a fighter who looked completely reinvigorated by his new trainer. This was the AJ of old – a fearsome predator inside the ropes and a devastating finisher.
The victory was especially impressive because Wallin had previously given Fury such a difficult evening.
Who Performed Better Against Wallin?
Joshua delivered the more dominant victory.
He controlled the action and forced an early retirement, while Fury had to overcome a severe cut to win on points.
But Fury’s performance also revealed qualities that do not appear in a simple results table: composure under pressure, physical toughness and the ability to win despite a significant injury.
4. Francis Ngannou: Joshua’s Devastating KO vs Fury’s Narrow Escape
No shared opponent provides a more dramatic contrast than Francis Ngannou.
The former UFC heavyweight champion made his professional boxing debut against Fury in October 2023 before facing Joshua five months later. The results could hardly have been more different.
Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou – October 28, 2023
Result: Fury won by split decision
Fury entered the contest as a heavy favourite against an opponent with no previous professional boxing experience. Instead of the expected cakewalk he had to go life and death to remain unbeaten, and get off the canvas in the process.
Ngannou immediately demonstrated that his physical strength and punching power could translate into the boxing ring, and in the third round, the Cameroonian dropped Fury with a powerful left hook.
Fury recovered and managed to win enough rounds to claim a narrow split decision, but the result prompted widespread debate about his performance, and whether his preparation had been adequate.
Ngannou, instead of being a novice exposed at a new level, was now seen as a legit threat in the heavyweight division and it netted him the reward of a money-spinning showdown with Joshua in early 2024.
Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou – March 8, 2024
Result: Joshua won by KO in Round 2
Joshua approached Ngannou very differently when they met in early 2024 in Saudi Arabia. Building on that terrific performance against Wallin, he was especially devastating in obliterating the Cameroonian star.
AJ established his range early and knocked the former UFC champion down with a straight right hand in the opening round. It was almost his first meaningful punch of the night.
Another knockdown followed in Round 2 before Joshua delivered a devastating right hand that ended the contest. It was a true highlight-reel ending, a magnificent punch to close the show.
It was a clinical display of heavyweight punching and one of Joshua’s most emphatic victories.
Who Performed Better Against Ngannou?
Joshua, by a considerable margin.
He eliminated Ngannou in two rounds, while Fury was knocked down and needed a disputed split decision to secure victory. The contrast is difficult to ignore.
Ngannou had gained professional boxing experience by the time he faced Joshua, and Fury’s level of preparation and performance on the night have also been debated.
What the fights clearly demonstrate is Joshua’s ability to punish an opponent’s defensive mistakes with exceptional precision and power.
Related reading: Joshua vs Ngannou full fight report
5. Kevin Johnson: An Early-Career Test for Both Heavyweights
Kevin Johnson is sometimes overlooked when discussing the fighters Fury and Joshua have both faced.
But the experienced American provides another useful comparison.
Tyson Fury vs Kevin Johnson – December 1, 2012
Result: Fury won by unanimous decision
Fury met Johnson in Belfast during the earlier stages of his professional career.
Johnson was an experienced heavyweight known for his defensive skills and ability to survive against strong opposition.
Fury controlled the fight over 12 rounds, using his height, reach and boxing ability to secure a comfortable unanimous-decision victory.
The contest offered valuable rounds against a seasoned opponent and helped Fury progress towards world-title contention.
Anthony Joshua vs Kevin Johnson – May 30, 2015
Result: Joshua won by TKO in Round 2
Joshua faced Johnson at London’s O2 Arena in his 13th professional contest and the Olympic gold medallist overwhelmed the American with a series of powerful punches, forcing a stoppage in the second round.
Johnson had previously gone the distance with leading heavyweights, making Joshua’s rapid victory a notable statement.
Who Performed Better Against Johnson?
Joshua produced the more destructive result.
He stopped Johnson inside two rounds, whereas Fury won a comfortable 12-round decision.
However, Fury was still developing his professional style when he faced Johnson, while Joshua’s aggressive approach and explosive power were central to his rise through the division.
It is another example of the different ways the two British heavyweights have built their careers.
6. Oleksandr Usyk: The Opponent Neither Fury Nor Joshua Could Beat
Oleksandr Usyk is the most important name on the shared-opponents list because he defeated both Fury and Joshua twice.
The Ukrainian’s four victories provide a particularly valuable insight into how the two British fighters respond to elite movement, accuracy and southpaw boxing.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk – September 25, 2021
Result: Usyk won by unanimous decision
Joshua defended his unified heavyweight titles against Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The Ukrainian used his movement, speed and accuracy to disrupt Joshua’s rhythm and land cleaner punches throughout the contest. Joshua enjoyed periods of success but struggled to impose his physical advantages.
Usyk finished strongly and claimed a unanimous-decision victory to become unified heavyweight champion.
Related reading: Joshua vs Usyk: Complete Fight Guide and News Archive
Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2 – August 20, 2022
Result: Usyk won by split decision
Joshua produced a much-improved performance in the rematch in Jeddah, but it was still not enough to decode the puzzle that is Oleksandr Usyk.
AJ applied greater pressure, attacked Usyk’s body and enjoyed significant success in the ninth round.
But Usyk responded superbly in the championship rounds, raising his workrate and reclaiming control.
Two judges awarded the contest to Usyk, while the third favoured Joshua.
Related reading: Usyk vs Joshua 2: Complete Fight Guide and News Archive
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – May 18, 2024
Result: Usyk won by split decision
Fury and Usyk met in Riyadh to decide the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era and their gripping battle was befitting of the occasion.
Fury enjoyed success through the middle rounds, particularly with his jab and uppercuts. So much so that Usyk appeared in trouble and dispirited. But we should have known better than to count him out.
The Ukrainian mounted a dramatic comeback, badly hurting Fury in the ninth round and forcing a standing eight count, it was incredible stuff. Somehow Fury survived to hear the bell and would even stage a late rally in the 12th round. But it would not be enough.
After 12 rounds, Usyk won the closest of split decisions to claim the undisputed championship after a truly spectacular fight.
Related reading: Fury vs Usyk: Complete Fight Guide and News Archive
Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2 – December 21, 2024
Result: Usyk won by unanimous decision
The rematch was a more measured tactical battle when Usyk and Fury again locked horns in late 2024. It was still a fascinating contest, but lacked the fireworks of that first meeting seven months earlier.
Fury again had moments of success, but Usyk’s accuracy, movement and sustained activity proved decisive. All three judges scored the contest 116-112 for Usyk, confirming his second victory over Fury.
Related reading: Usyk vs Fury 2: Complete Fight Guide and News Archive
Who Performed Better Against Usyk?
Fury arguably came closer to victory in their first meeting, but neither fighter solved Usyk over two contests.
Both men lost one split decision and one unanimous decision.
Fury’s first fight featured extended periods of success before Usyk’s dramatic ninth-round attack changed the contest. Joshua also improved considerably in his rematch and received a winning scorecard from one judge.
Usyk’s four victories demonstrate that both British heavyweights struggled to maintain control against a technically outstanding southpaw with exceptional stamina.
Fury vs Joshua: Who Has the Better Record Against Common Opponents?
The overall results produce an intriguing statistical comparison.
| Measure | Tyson Fury | Anthony Joshua |
|---|---|---|
| Shared opponents faced | 6 | 6 |
| Total fights against them | 7 | 7 |
| Wins | 5 | 5 |
| Defeats | 2 | 2 |
| Stoppage wins | 1 | 5 |
| Decision wins | 4 | 0 |
| Defeats to Usyk | 2 | 2 |
Joshua has the clear advantage in stoppage victories – against Johnson, Klitschko, Whyte, Wallin and Ngannou, he finished every contest inside the distance.
Fury defeated those same five men but relied more heavily on his boxing skills and ability to win rounds, with Whyte the only opponent he stopped. Yet the statistics need context.
Fury’s victory over Klitschko ended a long heavyweight championship reign, while his performance against Wallin demonstrated considerable resilience in the face of a serious cut.
Joshua’s victories over Klitschko and Whyte involved recovering from dangerous moments, while his stoppages of Wallin and Ngannou were especially emphatic.
There is also a significant difference in the dates of the contests. Some opponents were younger or closer to their peak when one British fighter faced them than when they met the other.
For that reason, the stoppage count is a factual distinction rather than proof that Joshua would necessarily beat Fury.
What Do the Common Opponents Tell Us About Fury vs Joshua?
Three important conclusions emerge from the comparison.
Joshua Is the More Consistent Finisher Against Shared Opposition
Five stoppages from five victories represent a remarkable record.
Joshua has repeatedly demonstrated his devastating ability to finish an opponent once he creates an opening, whether through combinations, uppercuts or his powerful straight right hand.
His performances against Ngannou and Wallin were particularly convincing examples.
Fury Has Demonstrated Different Ways to Win
Fury’s record is built around more than punching power.
His victory over Klitschko demonstrated his ability to dismantle an elite opponent’s tactical approach, while his win over Wallin showed that he could overcome significant adversity.
Against Whyte, Fury also demonstrated that he possesses the power to end a contest emphatically.
Usyk Exposed Problems for Both Men
Neither Fury nor Joshua managed to defeat Usyk across four combined meetings.
His movement, accuracy and stamina created problems that neither British fighter could consistently solve. Size absolutely did not matter.
The Verdict: Fury or Joshua – Who Performed Better?
Joshua has the stronger record for finishing common opponents, while Fury’s victories include exceptional examples of tactical control and resilience.
Joshua’s five stoppages are an impressive achievement and provide a clear statistical advantage.
Fury, however, has shown that he can neutralise elite opponents over 12 rounds, overcome difficult situations and win through technical adjustments.
Both lost twice to Usyk, preventing either man from claiming an outright advantage against the most accomplished shared opponent of their heavyweight careers.
Ultimately, comparing common opponents reveals the contrasting qualities that have made Fury and Joshua such compelling rivals.
Joshua brings explosive punching power and an instinct for the finish. Fury brings size, adaptability, movement and an unusual ability to disrupt an opponent’s preferred style.
The shared-opponents record adds substance to the debate, but it can’t settle it. They have differing styles, and that is what makes their December 11 match so compelling.
