Esteemed trainer Freddie Roach has cast his expert eye on the projected super-fight between unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and WBC king Tyson Fury and predicted a KO victory for the ‘Gypsy King’.
WBA Super, WBO and IBF title-holder Joshua and WBC champ Fury have agreed a deal in principle to fight in a two-bout series in 2021 though that deal still hinges on financial terms being agreed and AJ negotiating a defence against IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev at the SSE Arena on Saturday.
Roach, who helped work Fury’s corner in his drawn 2018 fight with Deontay Wilder, believes Joshua has the edge in skill, but Fury’s all-round ability should eventually prevail.
“Tyson Fury can be a beast in the ring and go right at you strong or he could come out as more of a boxer and outbox you,” Roach told Marc Gatford of Mybettingsites.co.uk.
“For this fight, I’d like to see him go out and pressure and batter Anthony Joshua. Pressure him early and beat him up. He won’t do it, but I would encourage him to fight in his natural southpaw stance. He’s a beast as a southpaw.
“Joshua’s best chance to win is by using his boxing skills since they are better than Tyson’s. Anthony must dictate the pace and stay off the ropes. For both, distance will be important. I think Tyson wins this one by knockout.”