If Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury were to ultimately agree to a bout, Tony Bellew thinks Joshua would defeat Fury.
Joshua has now fought in Saudi Arabia three times in the past five, most recently when he defeated Francis Ngannou in only two rounds earlier this month.
In October, Fury defeated Ngannou on points in a fight held in Saudi Arabia. He is scheduled to return there in May to fight Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed heavyweight match.
A victory for Fury may lead to a matchup with Joshua, which would be fantastic for British boxing.
And according to Bellew, Joshua is the obvious favorite versus Fury—who defeated Ngannou on points in the MMA star’s boxing debut—given his previous performances.
Tony Bellew feels that if Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury were to square off, Anthony Joshua would win.
Joshua has enjoyed a brilliant return to form, winning his last four consecutive fights
Fury will take on Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed heavyweight clash in May
‘I believe he faces the winner of Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk and if that is Fury who comes out as the winner and the undisputed champion, then Anthony Joshua knocks him out,’ Bellew told Spinbet.
‘I just think he will let his hands go and stop Fury. His power is ridiculous and he has once again proven how destructive he can be, it is scary.’
Just four months after the former UFC heavyweight champion knocked down and drove Fury to the limit before losing a razor-thin points decision, Joshua destroyed Ngannou in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago.
However, the 34-year-old put on a commanding display, taking the MMA star down twice before finishing him with a stunning right hand that left the celebrity—who was born in Cameroon—needing medical treatment.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, made a suggestion earlier this week that his client and Fury would agree to a two-fight agreement to eventually square off, including a possible Wembley Stadium match.
Joshua has now won his last four bouts since losing his rematch to Usyk by split decision two years ago, an emphatic return to form that has impressed Bellew.
‘You have to say well done to AJ because he is the one going out there and knocking these guys out,’ the former WBC cruiserweight champion said.
‘The job he did with Otto Wallin was absolutely clinical, it was a brilliant performance from start to finish.
‘The finish was ridiculous and then we cross over to the Francis Ngannou fight and everyone thinks he’s going to be in a world of trouble. I pretty much said it would be over within six rounds but what I did also say was that if it went past six rounds.’
Hearn feels Joshua has put himself back at the top of the heavyweight division, and admits even he was shocked by how easy the Brit made it look against Ngannou.
‘The comeback for Anthony Joshua is unbelievable. I’m talking about the mental comeback,’ Hearn, who is Joshua’s promoter, told iFL TV this month.
Joshua knocked out Frances Ngannou in two rounds earlier this month
In October, Ngannou floored Fury before losing a tight decision on points
Eddie Hearn (left) believes Joshua is the best heavyweight in the division
One of the fights between Fury and Joshua could take place at Wembley Stadium, according to Hearn
‘I’m talking about the comeback from criticism. I’m talking about the comeback to form. Should he retire now, or is he the best heavyweight in the world? It’s one of the two.
‘So, what this guy has done to come back to the position he’s in is unbelievable. Like a broken man after the second Usyk fight, searching for answers, searching for form. He has worked so hard to find it.’
Bellew echoed Hearn’s stance, suggesting Joshua is mentally much stronger than he was even when he won his two world titles.
‘Anthony Joshua is in a place now where the mental fragility that he’s had placed on his name has now gone,’ he said.
‘There is no mental side anymore. He doesn’t have much to think about because Ben Davison has taken care of most of that. He knows he’s fit and can go and let his hands go.’
