Fury would be ‘massive favourite’ against Joshua – Jones

Tyson Fury would be a “massive favourite” against Anthony Joshua if the heavyweights fight this year, says former world super-featherweight champion Barry Jones.

British rivals Joshua and Fury have long been linked with fighting each other and are both coming off defeats in world title bouts.

Fury, 36, has already said he has no plans to retire following his loss to Oleksandr Usyk and Jones believes the Gypsy King showed against Usyk he has “plenty left” to give to boxing.

“Fury is a massive favourite but I think in general he was always a slight favourite [against Joshua],” Jones told the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast.

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“He’ll want the Joshua fight because he’s almost beaten every fighter of his generation. It might be a different Joshua but it’s a different Fury.

“I think to get Joshua on his record in years to come will show how good he is.”

Jones believes the fight will happen in a stadium in the UK, but boxing expert Bunce disagrees.

Joshua, 35, was stopped by Daniel Dubois in their IBF world title fight last September, while Fury was outboxed by Usyk in a points defeat in December.

Bunce says another loss would be a massive blow to either man.

“The loser has a massive amount to lose,” Bunce said.

“Fury can lose to Usyk again no problem, Joshua can lose to Dubois again no problem.

“I just think this is a monumental fight, the loser of that drops a lot of ground pride-wise.”

Wilder’s Trainer Malik Scott Predicts Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: “He’s Not Who He Used To Be”

Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua remains one of the biggest fights in boxing despite the recent losses on both men’s records.

Former two-time world champion Fury has taken back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in his last two fights. The first was in May when he failed to win the undisputed world heavyweight title after being hurt badly in the ninth round and losing on the cards. The rematch on December 21 saw Usyk repeat the win, this time with unanimous cards reading 116-112 in his favour.

READ MORE:Wilder’s Trainer Malik Scott Predicts Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury…

Joshua meanwhile was stopped in September by current IBF world champion Daniel Dubois. He also lost back-to-back fights to Usyk in 2012 and 2022.

Despite that, many in the sport would love to see the two Brits do battle in what would be a huge fight before they retire.

Deontay Wilder’s trainer and a former heavyweight contender Malik Scott is one of them. Speaking to The Stomping Ground, he was asked who would win were they to fight next.

Fury eyes Joshua fight after Usyk defeat

Tyson Fury has set his sights on a blockbuster clash with Anthony Joshua following his unanimous decision loss to undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia, The PUNCH reports.

The bout, estimated to generate £250m in pay-per-view and box office revenue, has been dubbed “the biggest fight in British boxing history” by promoter Eddie Hearn.

“It’s what people will want to see. The Fury-Joshua fight is a big fight, and if it happens, it will be a mega fight. But it will only happen if Tyson wants to do it,” Fury’s promoter Frank Warren told The Sun.

Hearn, who manages Joshua, emphasised the global appeal of the potential clash.

READ MORE:Anthony Joshua’s trainer responds to critics of ‘roll the dice’ advice during defeat to…

“Everyone will always want to see it. For me, AJ against Fury is the fight that will take place at Wembley. It will be a global event,” Hearn told Marca.

Fury’s second defeat to Usyk saw all three judges score the bout 116-112 in favour of the Ukrainian, with ‘The Gypsy King’ storming out of the ring and claiming he had been “robbed.”

New footage from TNT Sports shows the 36-year-old walking around the Kingdom Arena, criticising the decision to hold the fight in Saudi Arabia, saying, “You get nothing in these countries.”

Interestingly, Usyk has backed Joshua to defeat Fury if they eventually meet.

“Maybe Anthony Joshua. Maybe on points,” the Ukrainian told Boxing King Media when asked about the potential matchup between his former opponents.

The heavyweight king has faced both men, claiming the unified heavyweight titles from Joshua in 2021 and defending them in their 2022 rematch before achieving undisputed status against Fury earlier this year.

With IBF champion Daniel Dubois scheduled to defend his belt against Joseph Parker on February 22, the path appears clear for the long-awaited Fury vs Joshua showdown, although it would no longer crown an undisputed champion.

Joshua, 34, who suffered his fourth professional loss against Dubois at Wembley Stadium, is still “hurting” from the devastating defeat, according to Hearn.

“Yeah, he is hurting. He took a pasting at times in that fight and I think he has got his back up and he wants to come back stronger,” Hearn told talkSPORT.

Despite recent losses for both men, the potential clash remains one of boxing’s most anticipated matchups, with The Sun reporting that Fury told friends, “This is not over,” signalling his intent to continue his career.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk contract deals blow to Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury is obligated to a third bout with Oleksandr Usyk if he triumphs over his adversary this weekend.

The two heavyweight contenders are gearing up for another face-off on Saturday night, with Usyk aiming to secure a 2-0 lead in the series. The Ukrainian made history by being the first to defeat Fury professionally, clinching a split-decision victory in Riyadh last May.

And Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has disclosed that a third match between the two titans is ‘contracted. ‘ When questioned if a trilogy fight between Fury and Usyk would take precedence over potential bouts with Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, Warren confirmed to Boxing News: “Oh it does because it’s contracted. And whatever happens, that would be the case if Tyson wins… providing nobody retires.”

READ MORE:Tyson Fury ‘feels sorry’ for Anthony Joshua but would still fight him

“There’s no secret! I’m going in there to knock you out because I don’t think I’m going to get a decision no matter what I do. I don’t think I’m going to get a boxing decision, so I’m going to have to take it out of the judges hands like I did in America that time and I’ve got to get him (Usyk) out of there. Hand on heart, I have to get him out of there to see victory.

‘The Gypsy King,’ Fury, has taken a step back from a match with Joshua, saying if he triumphs this Saturday he’ll opt for another round with Usyk. “When I win on Saturday night, I think there’s got to be a trilogy next year for sure,” Fury disclosed in an interview with Al Arabiya. “Joshua’s in tatters at the moment. He has got to pick up the pieces from his last fight. But the fight with Usyk – one on Saturday and the one afterwards – would be fantastic for me.”

Amidst his focus on Usyk, Fury shed light on his strategy for the highly-anticipated rematch happening this weekend. Revealing his battle plan to ‘Undisputed’ ahead of its game launch, Fury stated: “I needed to get Wilder out of there or he got me out of there and that’s the type of fight it had to be. It had to be a 50/50 gunsling with the biggest puncher in history or else he’d have chinned me in round nine. Going into the rematch with Usyk, it’s going to be the same. I’m going to roll the dice and it’s going to be you or me… best foot forward and swing away. I’ve never been afraid to get knocked spark out. I’ve always put it on the line every time.”

“There’s no secret! I’m going in there to knock you out because I don’t think I’m going to get a decision no matter what I do. I don’t think I’m going to get a boxing decision, so I’m going to have to take it out of the judges hands like I did in America that time and I’ve got to get him (Usyk) out of there. Hand on heart, I have to get him out of there to see victory.