Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua

This is big business, but it’s a proper fight. I prefer Joshua as a bloke, and his run through Klitschko, Parker and Povetkin deserves respect. Fury just nicks the career argument for me because of what he did across the Wilder trilogy. For excitement, I’ve got them level: Fury’s first Wilder fight and Joshua’s night against Klitschko both had you watching every second.

Technically, Fury’s advantage is the awkwardness. He changes the angle, leans on you when you get close and makes a man reset before he can throw. His weakness is that he can be caught coming out of an exchange; Usyk showed that, and Joshua has the right hand to punish it. Joshua’s strength is his straight punching when his feet are set. His problem is getting those feet set against someone who won’t stand where he wants him.

Both lost twice to Usyk, though Fury took the worse sustained punishment. Even so, Fury looks better placed now. Makhmudov was a useful test. Joshua beat Prenga, but getting put down twice in the first round after that damaging Dubois defeat troubles me far more than a win over Jake Paul reassures me. The loss of his two friends in the road accident deserves respect, not guesswork about his state of mind.

I’m picking Fury on points. Joshua can hurt him, but I reckon Fury’s movement and clinch work will deny him enough clean chances.