Former world super-featherweight champion Barry Jones has weighed in on the much-anticipated heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, tipping Fury as the clear favorite if the fight happens this year.
Speaking on the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast, Jones highlighted Fury’s impressive performance against Oleksandr Usyk despite his recent loss and suggested the Gypsy King still has plenty to offer in the sport.
“Fury is a massive favourite but I think in general he was always a slight favourite [against Joshua],” Jones said.
“He’ll want the Joshua fight because he’s almost beaten every fighter of his generation. It might be a different Joshua, but it’s a different Fury.”
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“I think to get Joshua on his record in years to come will show how good he is.”
Potential Venues and Stakes
While Jones predicts the fight will take place in a UK stadium, boxing expert Steve Bunce is skeptic about it. Both fighters are under immense pressure, with their legacies and pride on the line.
Bunce stated: “The loser has a massive amount to lose. 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.”
Recent Form of Both Fighters
Fury, 36, is coming off a points defeat to Usyk in December but has stated he has no intention of retiring.
Joshua, 35, suffered a stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in an IBF world title fight last September, casting doubts over his ability to reclaim top status in the division.
With both fighters facing critical moments in their careers, a Fury-Joshua matchup could serve as a definitive test of their standing among the heavyweight elite.
