In a highly anticipated statement, former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has weighed in on the upcoming clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title. Scheduled to take place on May 18 in Saudi Arabia, this bout marks a historic moment in boxing history, being the first to declare an undisputed heavyweight fight since Lennox Lewis.
Originally slated for February, the match was postponed due to Fury suffering a cut sustained during sparring. With the new date set, on Saturday, May 18, 2024 anticipation has reached a fever pitch within the boxing community, especially considering the rematch planned later in the year regardless of the outcome.
Fury, the reigning WBC champion, will defend his title against Usyk, who puts his WBA, WBO, and IBF titles on the line. The victor of this monumental clash could potentially face Joshua in the future, a prospect that has captivated fans worldwide.
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Anthony Joshua Explains Why He Believes Oleksandr Usyk Wins
‘AJ’ Made The Prediction Based On His Experience With The Ukrainian ‘Cat’
Reflecting on his own experiences against Usyk, Joshua offered his prediction, stating, “I’ve fought Usyk so I can only speak on what I’ve experienced with him – phenomenal fighter, I would say he’s gonna do a really good job.” However, Joshua admitted his lack of firsthand experience against Fury, leaving him unable to comment on facing the Gypsy King.
Despite two previous encounters with Usyk resulting in losses for Joshua, he acknowledged his improvement over time. Given his history with Usyk, Joshua’s assessment suggests a greater chance of victory for the Ukrainian over Fury. He then declared that Usyk will pick up the win and become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Looking ahead, the potential matchup between Fury and Joshua remains a tantalizing prospect for fans. Should Fury emerge victorious and become undisputed champion, calls for a showdown between the British fighters in 2025 are expected to grow louder.
While negotiations for a Fury-Joshua bout have surfaced in the past, Fury pulled out of their scheduled fight after being forced to face Wilder in their classic trilogy bout. However, with the stakes higher than ever, the possibility of this long-awaited clash becoming a reality remains within reach.
Joshua expects to return in September at Wembley with three names in mind as his next opponent. He revealed in the talkSPORT interview that he expects to fight the best winner of Wilder-Zhang, Dubois-Hrgovic who is on the undercard of the stacked Artur Beterbiev vs Dimitry Bivol headliner. The third opponent is Fury, depending on the outcome of his fight with Usyk.