Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion, says Anthony Joshua will defeat Tyson Fury on points if the two British heavyweights meet in the ring.
The Ukrainian, who recently retained his championships with a unanimous decision victory against Fury in their rematch in Riyadh, made the forecast despite admitting that ‘The Gipsy King’ gave him more difficult nights in their previous fights.
“Maybe Anthony Joshua. Maybe on points,” Usyk 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 then defending them against the British-Nigerian in a 2022 rematch before claiming undisputed status against Fury earlier this year and retaining the crowns in their rematch last weekend.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has identified only two important fights for his charge, a clash with Fury and a rematch with current IBF champion Daniel Dubois, who stopped the British-Nigerian in September.
With 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.
Usyk has consistently shown respect for Joshua, recently including the former two-time champion in his list of top five boxers alongside pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, despite the British-Nigerian’s recent setbacks.
The 34-year-old suffered his fourth professional loss against Dubois at Wembley Stadium, with Hearn revealing his fighter is still “hurting” from the devastating defeat.
“Yeah, he is hurting. He took a pasting at times in that fight and I think he has got his back up and wants to come back stronger,” Hearn told talkSPORT.
The Fury vs Joshua clash, once considered the biggest fight in boxing, remains highly anticipated despite recent losses for both men
