Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has backed Anthony Joshua to defeat Tyson Fury when they eventually meet, insisting the British-Nigerian only needs to improve his self-confidence to return to the top.
Despite Joshua’s recent knockout defeat to IBF champion Daniel Dubois, Wilder believes a clash between the British rivals would go the distance, with Joshua emerging victorious if he can overcome his mental barriers.
“I can see Joshua beating him (Fury). It’s crazy to say, some people are like how do you see that?” Wilder said.
“But I can really see Joshua winning that fight, to be honest. If he goes in and does what he has to do and does not think so much. I think Joshua thinks a lot. He doubts himself a lot as well. I don’t think he has a lot of self-motivation or self-confidence.
“I think if he changes a few things mentally, he can come back and redeem himself more so than ever,” he said.
The potential clash, which could generate over $300 million in revenue, remains one of boxing’s most anticipated matchups despite both fighters losing their most recent bouts – Fury dropping consecutive decisions to Oleksandr Usyk while Joshua suffered the knockout defeat to Dubois.
Top Rank president Todd DuBoef believes the fight would bring Britain to a standstill, even without world titles on the line.
“I think the brands are so strong,” DuBoef told Sky Sports. “In the UK, the country would stop for an hour to see what happens and I think that’s a wonderful thing. They’re like peanut butter and jelly, Joshua and Fury, they go together.”
Joshua, who recently visited Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, confirmed his interest in facing his British rival while at the State House, Abuja.
“2025, I am targeting Tyson Fury,” he said. “Time is of the essence, time is limited, so I just want to put in more work. When I look back, I believe I could have done more in 2024,” Joshua stated.
Former world super-featherweight champion, Barry Jones, however, disagrees with Wilder’s prediction, backing Fury to emerge victorious.
“Fury is a massive favourite but I think in general he was always a slight favourite (against Joshua),” Jones told the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast.
“He’ll want the Joshua fight because he’s beaten almost every fighter of his generation. It might be a different Joshua but it’s a different Fury. I think to get Joshua on his record in years to come will show how good he is,” he said.
Boxing expert Steve Bunce warned that defeat could be devastating for either man’s legacy.
“The loser has a massive amount to lose,” Bunce said. “Fury can lose to Usyk again no problem, Joshua can lose to Dubois again no problem. I just think this is a monumental fight, the loser of that drops a lot of ground pride-wise,” he declared.
The fight could potentially land at Wembley Stadium, though Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has expressed interest in staging it during the Riyadh Season.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated the British-Nigerian won’t return to action until at least May 2025, describing the potential clash as “the biggest fight probably in the history of British boxing.”
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