Tony Bellew has hailed Anthony Joshua as the fastest combination puncher in the heavyweight division since a peak Mike Tyson and believes he can halt rival Tyson Fury inside six rounds.
Former WBC cruiserweight king Bellew feels that WBA Super, WBO and IBF champion Joshua is probably the only man with the required skillset to topple WBC title-holder Fury, ahead of their projected two-fight series in 2021.
Fury is the current betting favourite at 8/15, but Bellew fancies Joshua’s speed and combination punching to make a mockery of those odds. Yet also says Fury will take over if the fight goes beyond six rounds.
“Styles make fights,” Bellew told Whyte and Jordan on Talksport. “I think AJ does beat Tyson Fury, but he’s got six rounds to do it. If it goes past six rounds, I don’t think he beats Tyson Fury.
“To beat Tyson Fury, you’ve got to be willing to jump on him and not care what’s coming back. And I believe the only heavyweight in the world with the skillset, the speed and the accuracy who can do it is AJ.
“AJ’s the fastest combination puncher in the heavyweight division since Mike Tyson,” added Bellew. “No-one throws punches in combinations with the speed, power and ferocity that AJ does.
“As I said, he’s got six rounds to do it against Fury. If them six rounds go past then I don’t see anybody beating Tyson Fury after six rounds.”