David Haye is expecting a knockout when Anthony Joshua takes on Tyson Fury in August and thinks it is AJ who will secure it, early in the fight.
The mammoth showdown has been confirmed for 14 August in Saudi Arabia, when a unified heavyweight champion will be crowned.
Joshua (24-1) is bringing his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles to the party while Fury (30-0-1) holds the WBC and Ring Magazine belts.
It is the unbeaten Gypsy King who is going in as the odds-on favourite to win the fight, but Haye fancies AJ to pull off the upset in spectacular style.
‘I like the dedication of Joshua and I think he has a good chance of winning it early,’ Haye told the Press Association. ‘People think I’m crazy but that’s just the way I see it.
‘I loved his fight against Wladimir Klitschko – he took his licks and got back up and showed the heart of a champion.
‘I think it’s a great fight and I really see it being won by stoppage. I’m just so glad we’re so close to seeing it happen.’
While many believe Joshua is going to have serious trouble landing on Fury, as many opponents have found in the past, Haye thinks it is AJ’s style that will cause problems for the Gypsy King in Saudi Arabia.
‘Joshua waded in in his first fight against Andy Ruiz Jr and learned a hard lesson,’ said Haye of Joshua’s only professional defeat. ‘You’ve got to soften your man up and pick your punches – just because you have the ability to knock someone out doesn’t give you the divine right to do so.
‘Tyson isn’t so much of a one-punch specialist. He puts his punches together and his style is that if you throw big looping shots at him he’ll make you look silly.
‘But AJ throws hard, compact punches and he puts them together well. I don’t see this fight going smoothly for Fury at all.’
It was Fury that confirmed the bout’s date and location in a Twitter video, in which he predictably predicted his own victory: ‘All eyes of the world will be on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and I cannot wait to smash Anthony Joshua on the biggest stage of all times.
‘This is going to be the biggest sporting event ever to grace the planet earth. Do not miss it.’
MORE : Tyson Fury announces Anthony Joshua fight is confirmed for August 14
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