Oleksandr Usyk has put his neck on the line with a prediction for who would win in a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
It’s the fight many British fans want to see and now that the prospect of a trilogy clash between Fury and the Ukrainian has evaporated, it seems more likely.
Usyk defeated the Gypsy King 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards on Saturday night to claim his second win of the year and retain his WBC, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles.
And he speaks from a position of authority, having also dispatched Joshua twice, beating the Brit on points in 2021 and 2022.
There has been talk of a domestic shake-up for well over a decade, since Fury first became champion when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015. But the stars haven’t aligned yet as both Fury and AJ reach the twilight of their careers. .
Usyk received two questions from Boxing King Media: Who was a tougher opponent overall, and who would be the favorite between the two if they fought?
Oleksandr Usyk has predicted the winner if Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua faced each other
The Cat defeated Fury for the second time this year on points Saturday night in Riyadh
A fight between the Gypsy King and Anthony Joshua has been a long time in the making
The Cat said Fury had been the tougher opponent through 24 rounds but believes AJ would win on ‘maybe points’.
We could find out in 2025, when Wembley Stadium beckons for what remains arguably the biggest commercial fight in world boxing.
Both men are expected to enter the fight on the back of defeats after Joshua was dominated by Daniel Dubois in September.
During his post-fight press conference, Fury was asked what the future holds.
“Maybe you’ll see me fight again, maybe not,” he replied cryptically.
Fury could finally walk away once and for all. The two-time heavyweight king has climbed to the top of the mountain, beating the likes of Klitschko and Deontay Wilder along the way.
But according to a report in The Sun, the 36-year-old hasn’t reached the end of the road yet.
A source told the publication that after returning to Britain, Fury told close friends: “It’s not over yet.”
Fury did not reveal much about his future after the fight, but a source told the Sun that he is not ready yet
Frank Warren called the prospect of a showdown between Fury and AJ a ‘mega fight’
Fury made a valiant effort but was knocked out for the second time in seven months
And during Saturday’s showdown, promoter Frank Warren emphasized that Fury vs Joshua is the fight to be had if the Gypsy King chooses to fight on.
He told The Sun: ‘This is what people want to see.
“The Fury/Joshua fight is a great fight and if it happens it will be a mega fight, it will be brilliant.
“But it will only happen if Tyson wants to do it and that’s a big ask. And if he doesn’t want it, then so be it.’
Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn agreed: “The reality is there is only one fight for Tyson Fury and that is Anthony Joshua.”
‘It’s probably the biggest fight in the history of British boxing, everyone will always want to see it.
‘For me, AJ versus Fury is the one, it’s the one at Wembley, I’m going to put pressure on His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] to enter into battle.’
Fury and Joshua were set to fight each other in 2022, with the former still the WBC heavyweight champion.
A fight with Joshua could convince Fury to continue fighting, even though both are nearing the end of their careers
But Joshua has also suffered losses after being defeated by Daniel Dubois in September
Negotiations were ongoing for a fight in December that year before they collapsed, with Fury instead defending his title against Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Joshua’s last fight took place in September when he was stopped in the fifth round by Daniel Dubois for the IBF title.