Three-time world champion Carl Froch is still to be convinced by Anthony Joshua’s comeback following his shock seven-round loss to Andy Ruiz in June 2019.
Joshua earned revenge with a cultured boxing display in a rematch 12 months ago, but Froch doesn’t believe that the WBA Super, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion is currently on the same level as WBC king Tyson Fury.
The rival heavyweight champions are expected to meet in 2021, should Joshua navigate his IBF mandatory assignment against Kubrat Pulev at the SSE Arena in Wembley on Saturday night. At present, Froch favours Fury, but that opinion might shift if Joshua impresses tonight.
“I don’t think Joshua’s that close to Fury, I really don’t. Based on his loss to Ruiz and the rematch with Ruiz,” Froch told his Froch on Fighting podcast.
“If I was managing him or promoting him, I wouldn’t want to see Anthony Joshua go in there with Tyson Fury now. I’d be concerned about that fight and I think a lot of people would pick Tyson Fury to win.
“We can all have a bad night. Fury’s had a couple of poor performances where he’s won, but he’s not looked too clever. He’s not looked like the man he looked against Deontay Wilder.
“AJ had a bad night against Ruiz. The rematch he just did what he had to do, but I want to see the old Anthony Joshua back. The Anthony Joshua that’s measured with his sharp jab, that steps in behind that right hand and he stays in range, throws three or four punches, body and head, looks for the uppercut, gets off to the side and has a second-phase attack.
“Going again and sticking it on your opponent, that’s what I want to see him do against Pulev and I’m sure he’ll get him out of there, knock him out, finish him and stop him in style.
“And then I’d be jumping on the Anthony Joshua bandwagon for the fight with Tyson Fury and I’d be backing him as well.”