Three-time world champion Carl Froch foresees few problems for heavyweight kings Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in their next fights as they build towards a projected unification bout in 2021.
With a two-fight series agreed in principle, Fury and Joshua must each negotiate one more contest to push their undisputed world heavyweight title clash closer to reality.
WBC champion Fury has a contracted trilogy fight with old rival Deontay Wilder, tentatively scheduled for December 19, while WBA Super, WBO and IBF title-holder Joshua must fulfil his IBF mandatory obligation against battle-hardened Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev, also likely for December.
Upsets are always more likely in the heavyweight division, given the weight and power involved, as illustrated by Alexander Povetkin’s shock KO of Dillian Whyte at the weekend, but former 168lbs king Froch expects Fury and Joshua to emerge from their next fights without too much problem.
“I fully expect Tyson Fury to do the job against Deontay Wilder again,” Froch told Sky Sports News. “I don’t think Fury’s in too much trouble against Wilder.
“AJ against Pulev – that should be a straightforward job. Not taking anything away from Pulev, but he’s not a massive puncher – 28 wins, 14 knockouts. He knows what he’s doing. He’s a decent opponent, but I thoroughly expect Anthony Joshua to come through Pulev without too much of a problem. And then I’d like to see Fury and AJ get in there for a unification fight.
“I want to see a unification and then I want to see an undisputed heavyweight champion, and both of these guys are British, so it doesn’t get much bigger than this. It’s a mega-fight and I hope it does happen.”