Anthony Joshua can still beat Tyson Fury, says former world champion Tony Bellew.
Fury revealed to Sky Sports that he is willing to take on his British rival Joshua after his comeback fight next month.
Bellew, a former cruiserweight world champion who also enjoyed success at heavyweight, believes that long-awaited Fury vs Joshua fight will finally take place.
“It has to. It would be a travesty if it didn’t happen,” Bellew told Sky Sports News.
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“It’ll never be too late. We’ll always want the answers. When it comes to Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury we’ll always want them answers. Anthony Joshua’s the most marketable fighter this country’s ever produced, a former Olympic gold medallist, a former unified heavyweight champion of the world.
“Tyson Fury is doing what he does best,” Bellew continued. “He’s ready. It all looks to be heading towards this way, meeting in a big clash.
“Ultimately I just want to see both back in the ring, happy. British boxing’s in a better place when Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are around.”
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He does though consider both boxers to be past their prime. “All fighters meet at different times and it is what it is, so we’ll see,” Bellew said.
“I’m not going to lie, at this stage they’re both past their best, in my opinion. But it’s still relevant. So were Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather when they came together. That wasn’t the best version of Sugar Ray Leonard that faced Marvin Hagler if I’m being totally honest.”
Joshua is said to be targeting a return to the ring in July, after he survived a fatal car crash in December in which two of his friends were killed.
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The former heavyweight world champion is currently training with Oleksandr Usyk, who has defeated both he and Tyson Fury twice.
“He’s had ups and downs in the sport, he’s going through a really tough time at the minute. Thoughts are with him,” Bellew said. “But he looks like he’s in really great shape.
“He’s preparing diligently again, under the tutelage now of Oleksandr Usyk. So that looks good.”
Fury is coming off two defeats, but both were competitive, top-level bouts against Usyk. Joshua suffered a heavy knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in their 2024 title fight and came back last year to go into an unusual match-up with influencer turned prizefighter Jake Paul. Joshua did stop him, but it took six rounds.
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Bellew though would still tip Joshua to beat Fury. He explained: “I’ve always said it’s going to be AJ, I think styles make fights. But you have to go on the most recent performances and Fury’s only been defeated by the magnificent Oleksandr Usyk… This could come down to who lands first.
“You’ll have to edge towards Anthony Joshua because he’s the one with the destructive power of the two.
“It’s a genuine 50-50,” he added. “You don’t know what you’re going to get. In all honesty who’s got more left?”
