Tyson Fury’s upcoming bout against Anthony Joshua has received a damning verdict from former British boxing world champion Carl Froch as tickets go on sale for the fight today.
The all-British bout is scheduled for December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, having been long in the making.
Froch, who won multiple world and regional boxing titles, feels the fight is “years too late” with both fighters “physically past their best”.
In an exclusive interview with GB News through BetVictor, Froch said: “Tyson Fury is physically past his best, but mentally he’s probably in a good place. He loves fighting. He’s retired five times, and he still wants to fight.
“Anthony Joshua is physically past his best as well. Unfortunately for AJ, I think he’s also mentally finished.
“When he gets in the ring, he looks to me like a man with absolutely no confidence. He looks like a man who doesn’t want to be there.
“If he’s just doing it for the money, it’s very silly. But when you’re at that stage of your career, you need the right dance partner.
“Tyson Fury is perfect for Anthony Joshua because Tyson Fury is also past his best. That’s why the fight makes sense now.”
Tyson Fury’s fight against Anthony Joshua has received a damning verdict from Carl Froch
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PA
Turki Alalshikh, the co-founder of Zuffa Boxing, is bankrolling the fight and has been credited by many ex-professionals and commentators across the sporting world for getting the bout over the line.
Froch joined them in their praise for Alalshikh, telling the People’s Channel: “Fury was with Frank Warren and AJ was with Eddie Hearn.
“For two fighters to come together, the promoters have to be on talking terms. For years, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn were always at each other’s necks. Now Turki Alalshikh is involved, and there’s a bottomless pit of money. All of a sudden, these guys come together.
“There’s only one reason this fight is happening, and that’s Turki Alalshikh. Once Turki put the money up, the fight was done. It’s a shame it didn’t happen when it should have. It’s a few years too late. But better late than never.”
Carl Froch told GB News: ‘There’s only one reason this fight is happening, and that’s Turki Alalshikh’
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Both fighters won their warm-up bouts ahead of the all-British fight, with Fury going into the match-up as a narrow favourite.
Commenting on how he feels the fight will pan out, Froch said: “I agree Tyson Fury is the favourite, but if Anthony Joshua could get his head right and believe in himself, he could make this fight really easy.
“He could go in there, stick it on Fury and get him out of there within four or five rounds. Go for it. Put it on him. Put the pressure on him. Back him up. Don’t rush in, leap in and leave your feet behind.
“Do the fundamentals correctly. Double jab. Jab the shoulder. Step in behind your jab. Get off to the side. Don’t work in straight lines.”
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will fight on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium
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GETTYFroch continued: “Plenty of feints. He’ll punch holes in Tyson Fury and knock him out. Absolutely obliterate him and blast him out of there.
“But unfortunately, Anthony Joshua has got no confidence. He doesn’t believe in himself.
“He’s coming in square, his chin’s in the air, he’s throwing shots out of range. He does so much wrong because he’s got no self-belief.”
