Former world champions Carl Froch and Tony Bellew have offered conflicting predictions for the long-awaited showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
The two British heavyweights are set to collide later this year, just so long as they complete their respective warm-up matches against Mariusz Wach and Kristian Prenga.
First to the ring will be Fury, who, despite unanimously outpointing Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, is looking to bank more rounds against the 46-year-old Wach.
Or at least, that appears to be the plan for when they collide at the Max Muaythai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, on July 24.
Joshua, meanwhile, will face the unproven Prenga a day later in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, fighting for the first time since his sixth-round finish over Jake Paul in December.
There is no shortage of speculation about Joshua’s mental wellbeing, though, particularly after he was involved in a tragic car crash that took the lives of his two close friends.
Froch, for instance, is unsure that the 36-year-old still wants to box, telling Fight Your Corner that he sees Fury outboxing his rival.
“I think Tyson Fury wins on points, quite comfortably. He’s past his best, Fury – has slowed down. But so is AJ.
“I don’t think [Joshua will] be in the right headspace. I don’t really think he wants to box anymore.”
Bellew, too, remains unconvinced that Joshua is back to his best, but nonetheless believes that his friend has the power to render Fury unconscious.
“The only thing I can really commit to is … it ain’t going the distance. The reason I can’t put my hand on my heart and go, ‘I think [Joshua wins]’, is because I need to see [him] in a ring and see what he can do.
“If he gets in that ring and lets his hands go for six rounds … he’s got the capabilities to knock anybody out. That’s what I will be predicting.”
With Froch backing Fury on points and Bellew favouring Joshua by stoppage, it would appear that no one is quite sure how their domestic dustup will unfold.
