Fury Vs Joshua: A $100M ‘Old Times’ Clash?

Tyson Fury has yet to say whether he will continue his run to face former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at the “Battle of Britain” in 2025. It is expected that there will be $100 million each for AJ and “The Gypsy King” to collect from Turki Al-Shiekh in his domestic junkyard.

The best of the UK

This fight will prove who is the better of these two guys, but not the #1 or even #2 heavyweight in the UK. That’s how faded Fury and Joshua are. The UK’s top two heavyweights are Daniel Dubois i Martin Bakole. Even Moses Itauma, a 20-year-old with no experience, could be better than AJ and Tyson.

Once again, the Fury-Joshua fight will be about the best guy between them. It’s almost like an oldies or celebrity contest. It’s a shame they couldn’t wrestle seven years ago when they were younger and considered the best heavyweights in the division. That they are fighting now is strange. I don’t know what to call this fight other than a clash of old men.

You can understand why Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) might choose to retire rather than face Joshua (28-4, 24 KOs) after being beaten for the second time by the heavyweight champion unified Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 in Riyadh.

The proud former WBC champion was bitter and in complete denial after his second loss. As in the first bout, he thought he had done enough to deserve victory. Tyson may stray from principle and refuse to let the boxing world see him fight again.

It would be self-destructive on Fury’s part, but it’s a predictable move if he’s nursing hurt feelings. He could choose to get angry and refuse to honor the fans with his presence since they had something to do with both of his losses. He is still a big boy despite his advanced age.

Assuming Fury comes back with a bang, he may be the favorite against the 35-year-old Joshua. Not that Fury has better speed, power or athletic ability than Joshua.

This is how AJ was blown out in five rounds by his last opponent, IBF Heavyweight Champion Daniel Dubois, on September 21st. This wasn’t even sports. Joshua’s punch resistance appeared to be gone as he was knocked down four times in the contest before being stopped in the fifth.

The power of AJ

Fury looked vulnerable taking Usyk’s power shots in both of their fights, and his punch resistance seems to have deteriorated from his three fights against Deontay Wilder.

If Joshua can land the same kind of right hand shots that knocked out Francis Ngannou, Fury won’t make it past the second round. He won’t be able to avoid Joshua’s power like he did with Deontay or Wladimir Klitschko. Joshua isn’t a gunslinger, and he won’t wear himself out leaning like Wilder was.

It will be fun to see how Fury withstands Joshua getting punched with full force in this fight. AJ will be on the bear hunt from the first round, and I don’t see him letting go until he takes a bearded one.