While the exact date and time have yet to be determined, it’s almost certain that the much-anticipated battle between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will take place in 2021. June is a proposed date, and promoters are likely to confirm the details very soon.
To have two British heavyweights in the same ring, battling for world titles, is a dream come true for fight fans, and the bout will undoubtedly attract a huge audience worldwide. But it’s not just viewers who will be joining in to enjoy the spectacle. This clash of the titans is sure to attract plenty of attention in the boxing odds market, with millions forecasted to be placed on the bout. Arguably, this is the fight of the decade, and both competitors have everything to lose.
It’s going to be a great spectacle, but what can we expect from Fury vs. AJ?
Joshua’s Ascent
Both men have strong records in the ring, but they’ve taken very different routes to the top. Anthony Joshua first seeped into the public’s consciousness when he claimed the heavyweight gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.
As a home fighter, AJ becomes one of the heroes of that event, and it’s fair to say that he’s enjoyed the British public’s backing ever since. He’s admired and liked in equal proportions and has previously been firmly in the running to win the prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award.
Inside the ring, Joshua will come into any fight against Tyson Fury with a record of 24 wins from 25 professional fights. Twenty-two of those victories came by knockout, but many casual fight fans will likely have a better chance of recalling his solitary defeat.
Upsetting the Odds
Anthony Joshua’s June 2019 fight against Andy Ruiz Jr was intended to be a stopgap until a stronger boxer became available. Few gave the champion’s opponent any chance, but Ruiz caused one of the biggest shocks in modern boxing history by claiming a TKO in the seventh round.
AJ got his revenge in the rematch but was this loss just a blip, or does it underline his vulnerability in this advanced stage of his career?
Unleash the Fury
Tyson Fury is four years older than Anthony Joshua, and the man known as the Gypsy King enjoyed a brief amateur career before turning professional in 2008. From 2011 onwards, he became known for some memorable battles with another British fighter, Derek Chisora. It wouldn’t be long before Fury claimed a world heavyweight belt from Wladimir Klitschko back in 2015.
Personal problems outside of the ring saw Tyson Fury relinquish his belt take a break from the sport. He eventually returned in December 2018, and a titanic battle with Deontay Wilder ended in a draw. The British boxer won the rematch, and that victory looks to have set up this showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Coming into his next test, Fury has a record of 30 wins from 31 fights, with just that solitary draw against Wilder standing in the way of a 100% return.
Bad Blood
The buildup between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has certainly been heated. That’s before the fight has even been confirmed. The Gypsy King is an active user of social media and, at the start of 2021, he was eager to recall AJ’s major blemish. Fury responded to a tweet by Joshua, which essentially labeled himself as a ‘great fighter.’ Using some colorful language, Fury suggested that Andy Ruiz jr could ever beat no great fighter.
More recently, the Gypsy King has created polls across his social media accounts asking his fans where Joshua actually has the ‘balls’ to take him on in the ring. In contrast, Joshua has been relatively quiet, but there’s no shortage of bad blood between these two.
Perfect Preparation
With both men nicely rested ahead of what would appear to be a grudge match, Fury and Joshua should be in optimum shape when they finally step back into the ring. The Gypsy King will certainly be prepared with a diet that he refers to as ‘dirty keto.’ It’s a full-on regime that includes ‘tons of meat,’ fried with cheese, eggs, bacon, sausage, and mayonnaise.
While it may not seem like the healthiest of plans, it actually promotes weight loss because it’s low on carbohydrates. Fury will obviously need to strike a balance here to be at the perfect levels for weigh-in.
In contrast, Anthony Joshua’s approach to his daily intake seems a little more measured. He still consumes around twice the daily calories of the average man but, included in his regime is a lot of fruit, poached eggs, vegetables, and yogurt.
Who is to say which approach is best? AJ’s may be more traditional, but it’s all about who is in better shape and form on the day.
A Close Call
We’ve seen that this will be a huge occasion for the sports betting community, but predicting the result will be tough. Age could potentially be a factor, and, as the younger fighter, Anthony Joshua may be installed as the favorite.
On the other hand, the experience can also be a factor, and that’s where Tyson Fury comes through. A fast start will be vital, and getting those early punches in to dominate the opening stages could ultimately be the key. It should be tight, but, as a sporting spectacle, it promises to be one of the most thrilling fights in recent memory.
Featured Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay
