2026-04-29 10:47:40

Anthony Joshua’s former trainer Ben Davison thinks the fighter has made the correct decision to take a warm-up bout before facing Tyson Fury.

The former heavyweight world champion will take on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia in July before his long-awaited clash with Fury and Davison thinks the boxer is right to get some competitive action following last year’s car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his friends and team members.

The trainer told Sky Sports: “Everybody knows about the accident and the crash, naturally he would have come out of that accident with injuries.

“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 explained that Joshua typically doesn’t make his injury problems public knowledge.

He said of the fighter: “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.

“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.”

Davison has a unique perspective after working with both Joshua and Fury and thinks that the fight could go either way.

The trainer said: “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.

“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.”

Davison explained that he has complete respect for what both Joshua and Fury have achieved in the ring.

He said: “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.”

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