ANTHONY JOSHUA and Wladimir Klitschko have backed Tyson Fury to defeat Deontay Wilder in their Las Vegas rematch.
Fury, 31, was desperately unlucky not to have ripped away Wilder’s WBC title in December 2018, with the Bronze Bomber’s two knockdowns doing enough to earn him a draw.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have backed Tyson Fury to beat Deontay WilderCredit: PA:Press Association
Wilder and Fury rematch in Las VegasCredit: Rex Features
But unified champion AJ – who exacted revenge on Andy Ruiz Jr in their Saudi Arabia rematch two months ago – believes the Gypsy King will do enough to join him as world champion after February 22, having come so close in the first fight.
Joshua, 30, told PepTalkUK: “I think Fury wins. A man who nearly done it the first time won’t get it wrong the second time.
“That’s the only reason why. I think that he came close the first time to the point of a draw, it wasn’t like a 12-round masterclass then got battered in the 12th and that just separated it.
“It was a draw, it was that close. So I just think Tyson Fury is going to correct his wrongs and come back and win.
“At the end of the day I think Fury will win because he came so close the first time and he wants his hands on the belt so he’ll probably go out there and do what he has to do to win this time.”
The WBA, IBF and WBO belts Joshua holds were all once around the waist of Fury, until the 6ft 9in switch-hitter lost the titles out of the ring following a battle with depression and substance abuse.
But Klitschko, 43, the man Fury dethroned in 2015, wants his former rival to clinch the one crown missing from his career collection and outpoint former sparring partner Wilder, 34.
Klitschko told The National: “Either Wilder is going to knock out Fury or Fury is going to win on points.
“I wish that actually, Fury, believe it or not, might make it. Might not. But I wish he’s going to make it.
“And then, there’s supposed to be a rematch between Fury and me. Am I announcing now a comeback? No, I’m not.”
Joshua beat Klitschko in a 2017 classic heavyweight clashCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Fury only walked away with a draw against Wilder in late 2018Credit: PA:Press Association/PA Images
Tyson Fury’s dad and coach John says he never thought his son would become a successful boxer
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
