Despite Tyson Fury‘s recent retirement announcement, many believe he will still step through the ropes with Anthony Joshua this year.
2025 seems the time the heavyweight battle of Britain will finally take place. Though neither man is considered in his fighting prime, and the bout has lost some weight due both being out of the world title picture, it has a chance because there are no mandatory challengers, rematch clauses, arbitrations or promoter conflicts in the way.
Fury is coming off the back of two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian southpaw who also did the double over ‘AJ’, and Joshua is faced with returning from a devastating KO loss at the hands of Daniel Dubois.
Speaking to Froch on Fighting, famed trainer turned analyst Teddy Atlas said he wouldn’t make a prediction but believes ‘AJ’ has more left physically whilst Fury would have the mental edge.
“It’s a few years too late … But, here’s my answer: who’s got more left? Physically, more left. Because both of them have left something in the ring. When you’re in a tough fight, especially when you get older, you leave pieces of yourself in the ring. Maybe Joshua [has more left]. Fury took a lot punishment in those Wilder fights and a lot of punishment in that first Usyk fight.
“I tell you who I think’s got a chance to better mentally recover, that would be Fury. I think he’s more resilient mentally. But from a physical standpoint, Joshua might, might, have a little bit more left. Very interesting.”
For the fight to happen, Fury must first reverse his retirement decision. Whether or not he does that before ‘AJ’ – who will fight regardless – books another opponent remains to be seen.
