Anthony Joshua is backing Tyson Fury to win his heavyweight title rematch with Deontay Wilder on February 22.
The pair will face off for Wilder’s WBC crown after playing out a dramatic draw back in December 2018.
Joshua believes Fury has what it takes to take the belt, potentially setting up an all-British unification clash later in 2020, although he claims a Wilder win would better serve his interests.
But he has advised his rival to either “hurt or out-box” Wilder as he claimed his punching power is underestimated amid all the talk of Wilder’s knockout power.
(Image: JD Sports)
Joshua told Sky Sports:“Wilder coming through is better because [a fight with me] is what people have been eagerly anticipating.
“But I think Fury can win. For Wilder to win he has to knock Fury completely out, and he couldn’t do that the first time.
“For Fury to win, he can hurt Wilder or out-box him. Fury has more to his arsenal so that’s why I’m leaning to him.
“Fury can punch a bit. He’s underestimated with his punching power which makes him dangerous. If you underestimate someone it makes them dangerous because you don’t respect them until you get hit.
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“Fury is a really good boxer, to a certain degree, so he has the upper hand. Wilder isn’t the best of boxers but he has a right hand – if you can avoid that, you have the beating of him.
“Good luck to Fury – it would be great to have two heavyweight champions here in England.”
Despite Joshua talking up Fury’s power, Wilder this week downplayed his “pillow fists”.
“I can tell you going back in the fight, I can tell you now that there were no rounds where I felt threatened by his power,” said the Bronze Bomber.
“Like I said before, he has pillow fists. That’s how soft they were in that fight.
“Maybe my adrenalin was too high to even feel anything. But even after the fight, I didn’t feel anything.
“I took all his punches, the ones he’s landed, and I walked right through them. So I don’t respect none of his power he has. He’s just a tall, big man, who can move around the ring. That’s about it.”
