THE undisputed title decider between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has divided opinions across the UK and the world.
The Battle of Britain has been thrown into doubt by AJ’s recent defeat to Oleksandr Usyk while Fury must overcome Wilder to keep the fight alive.
The pair were said to have agreed a two-fight deal in 2021.
But Fury has recently said he never thought the fight would happen.
However, when the mega-bout was in the offing, boxing’s great and good were split over who would win.
Here, SunSport runs down who the stars are backing as their winner.
MIKE TYSON
Iron Mike has backed his namesake to prevail against AJ if the pair meet inside the ring.
Tyson told BBC Sport: “It’s very interesting, Joshua is a masterful puncher. But you can see his punches coming, he telegraphs his punches.
“And that’s just a recipe for disaster if you’re fighting Tyson Fury and you’re telegraphing your punches – to a guy whose 6ft 7in, come on.”
The Baddest Man on the Planet also left AJ off his list of his top five current boxers.
Prediction: Fury
FLOYD MAYWEATHER
Mayweather was credited for bringing the money to the smaller division – but he has a friendship with both Joshua and Fury.
He even revealed he speaks to AJ on the regular, but refrained from calling a winner.
Mayweather told entrepreneur Rob Moore: “It’s a very intriguing match-up, you can never say what’s going to happen in the sport of boxing.
“Both guys are great competitors. Like I say, me and Anthony Joshua talk on the regular, so I look forward to working with Joshua.”
Prediction: Wouldn’t like to say
ANDY RUIZ JR
Ruiz Jr, who famously handed Joshua his first ever defeat, reckons AJ can get the better of Fury – but only if he adopts an aggressive approach to the blockbuster fight.
Mexico’s first heavyweight champion told The Daily Mail: “Fury has a really weird style.
“I feel if Joshua doesn’t box around – like he did to me – and goes forward, throws his combinations, I think Anthony will pull out the victory.”
Prediction: Joshua
GEORGE FOREMAN
The former two-time world heavyweight champion sees no way in which AJ can prevail.
He told iFL TV: “That boy Tyson Fury, you’re going to have to bring everything you’ve got to beat him.
“I’m going to be honest with you – I just can’t see Joshua beating him.”
Prediction: Fury
DAVID HAYE
Haye, a former heavyweight champion, twice pulled out of fighting Fury and he had some words of warning for his old rival.
He told Sky Sports: “If Tyson Fury attacks Anthony Joshua in the same manner, in which he did in Vegas against Deontay Wilder, I don’t believe it works in his favour.
“I believe he’ll be too open, too wide and someone as fast, athletic, and as skilful as Anthony Joshua will be able to punch right through the middle and take him out, and take him out early.
“I know it’s a controversial prediction.”
Prediction: Joshua.
DILLIAN WHYTE
Whyte was beaten by Joshua in 2015 but has had an equally heated rivalry with Fury – and his prediction reflects how he feels about the two.
He said on Behind The Gloves: “I have no idea who wins the fight, man.
“I think it’s a 50/50 fight.
“It’s crazy, in heavyweight boxing there’s a lot of things going on.
“We’ll have to wait and see.”
Prediction: Too close to call.
ROY JONES JR
The American four-division great – who amazingly won the heavyweight belt in 2003 – sat on the fence but did appear to suggest Fury is favourite.
Jones told iFL TV: “I’m not saying Fury is as good as Ali skill-wise but he has a mind like Ali. With a mind like that, he can be anybody.
“I think it was at a local show I saw him at and I said to him: ‘If you just give yourself to boxing for five years, you’ll be amazed and you’ll beat all these guys.’
“I love him to death. I’m so happy for him and proud of him that he was able to do it.
“I see him as the No1 and I think him against Joshua is a good fight.”
Prediction: Fury… just about.
TONY BELLEW
Only one winner for the Bomber.
He said: “The top three heavyweights today, if you’re going on what they’re actually doing, you can’t really knock Tyson Fury for what he’s doing since he’s come back.
“I understand why people have him No1.
“I have to put Fury No1, but I still think AJ beats him. Styles make fights, and I think AJ’s style is all wrong for Fury.”
Prediction: Joshua
AMIR KHAN
Fury’s dominant rematch win over Wilder in February 2020 has convinced Khan he has the edge over AJ.
Khan told Sky Sports: “If I was to pick someone, I do lean a little bit more towards Fury.
“I think Fury is the full complete fighter. He is a good boxer, he can fight, he’s the one who put Wilder down with the power.
“I never used to think he had that much power as a heavyweight and I think he proved it coming forward on the front foot.
“So I do favour him a little bit more.”
BERNARD HOPKINS
Following lessons learned from AJ’s loss to Andy Ruiz Jr, Hopkins has not only backed him to win – but to knock out Fury and ‘make a serious statement’.
He told Sky Sports: “He redeemed himself. Now that is in his memory – what not to do ever again – Joshua beats Fury by knockout late.
“It will be an interesting, exciting five or six rounds at the beginning. Then Joshua’s athleticism, boxing IQ and experience would overwhelm Fury.
“Joshua would come out of a dust-storm based on his experience.
“At this point he has to make a really serious statement based on [the Ruiz defeat]. Redemption.”
Prediction: Joshua
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO
Klitschko, who lost to both men, spoke earlier this year about his prediction.
He told the National: “Joshua is a superior athlete, great fighter, Olympic champion.
“Most importantly, he’s a great guy, who carries the torch of this image of a heavyweight champion perfectly. I’m proud to call him as a friend, even though we were [rivals].
“And I think and I wish that eventually Joshua is going to unify all of the belts. That’s the eventual plan.”
Prediction: Joshua
CARL FROCH
Froch thinks Joshua could upset the bookies’ odds but gives Fury just as much chance of winning on points.
He told Sky Sports: “I think the only way that Anthony Joshua can win this fight is by stoppage.
“He can’t outbox Fury, who is too good at range. He throws punches from all angles and he’s so awkward.
“But Joshua is an Olympic gold medallist with strong fundamentals and he’s got combination punches with real aggression.
“If he produces the same finishing instinct that he’s shown in past fights, then he can beat Fury.
“AJ can get him out of there, I think he can, because you saw bursts of his aggression in the Kubrat Pulev fight.
“If AJ maintains that, there’s a chance he could stop him, but the problem is, if he doesn’t stop Fury then he’s going to lose on points.”
Prediction: Sitting on the fence
JOHNNY NELSON
The former WBO cruiserweight champion believes Joshua has more in his arsenal than Fury.
He told talkSPORT.: “I’ve gone public in saying I think Anthony Joshua is the all-round better fighter.
“I think Tyson Fury is better tactically and the more technically equipped, but AJ is the all-rounder.
“He can fight, he can box, he’s an athlete. Tyson Fury is a boxer.
“I think both men are now at a stage where they’ve done so much and learned so much in their careers that they’re so neck and neck.
“But, I’d go with Anthony Joshua because he’s shown me a lot more variety in his arsenal.”
Prediction: Joshua
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
