Anthony Joshua has revealed that he is in contact with Tyson Fury’s uncle Peter, in a surprise twist to the buildup between the two former world champion heavyweights who will finally meet in the ring in Cardiff in December.

Peter Fury trained Tyson when he shocked Wladimir Klitschko to win his first world heavyweight title in 2015. The uncle and nephew fell out soon afterwards, apparently over a financial dispute, and have not spoken in many years.

“I speak to Peter Fury,” Joshua said before the fight’s first press conference on Wednesday evening in London. “He’s willing to help me as well. Yeah, I’ll speak to him [before he fights Tyson Fury].”

Asked if he can learn more about Fury from his uncle, Joshua said: “Not about Fury but about our training and how I can approach the fight. This is where I can improve. Everybody’s going to tell me how to win. But the most important person to listen to is myself at this point in my career.”

Joshua said he last spoke to Peter Fury about a month ago. “I speak to Matty Harris [the British heavyweight whom Fury Sr trains] quite a lot. Matty Harris comes down for some sparring. That’s how it all comes about. Through Matty and Peter.”

Ben Davison will train Joshua for the fight and he, too, has also worked previously with Fury. Davison helped Fury to return to boxing in 2018, after the fighter had been out of the ring with drink and drug problems for three years following his defeat of Klitschko.

Fury seemed initially taken aback when he was told that Davison will be in Joshua’s corner. “Is it confirmed? Is he gonna have him?” Fury asked in seemingly genuine surprise. He paused and then turned to Frank Warren, who has promoted him for years and said, in deadpan style: “That’s deflating, isn’t it, Frank? It is deflating.”

Fury soon made clear that his last comment was a joke: “Don’t forget I left Ben Davison to go with SugarHill [Steward] because he wasn’t good enough and this is the same Ben Davison who Anthony Joshua left because he wasn’t good enough.”

After Joshua was dropped numerous times and then stopped by Daniel Dubois in September 2024, he switched from Davison to work with Oleksandr Usyk’s team. Fury, who was in a cheerful mood, said: “When he got knocked out by Dubois it was the same Ben Davison who everyone said: ‘Oh, he’s this, he’s that …’ Now they’re going back to him?

“So that gives me encouragement. That gives me happiness. [Joshua] will probably go out there, get told to throw a jab and throw an uppercut and get himself chinned.”

Joshua stressed that “it wasn’t so much going to Ben and Peter because they have worked with Fury before”, saying: “The reason why I went with Ben is because he and his team pinpoint things. [Against Dubois] there are things I could have done better so I won’t put all that blame on Ben. What I’ve got to do is take control of my fight with Fury, but also add their touch. And with these two powerhouses coming together, I think it will be a match made in heaven.

“Ben and his team are very good at pinpointing certain things leading up to a fight that I can execute and exploit. I believe that they will get me that one step closer to landing the perfect punch to pin Fury to the ground.”

At the press conference Joshua called for a minute’s silence, which was impeccably observed, when he remembered the close friends he had lost over the past 10 months. Unexpectedly, Fury then spoke respectfully about Joshua as they shared the stage. But Fury did insist that: “I’m going to blast him out. I’m going to catch him and when I do it’s going to be curtains.”

Joshua smiled. “I don’t expect anything else from this man than him saying he’s going to render me unconscious.” He then laughed when Fury quipped: “This man is built like an Adonis, I’m built like a blancmange.”

Fury turned to Joshua and said: “I hope after this fight we can have a pint of Guinness together.” Joshua paused and then said: “I don’t know if I can trust you.”

But the traditional face-off between the two men passed peacefully and calmly – for both fighters know that none of the intrigue and wisecracks will matter when the first bell rings and they leave their corners to face each other and fight.