While Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to collide for the WBA ‘super’ title, a Hall of Famer has argued that neither deserves the chance to become a three-time world champion.
Regardless of the potential prize at stake, the two British heavyweights will finally square off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.
According to promotional material, it is a fight that has been 10 years in the making, with their Battle of Britain having often been debated in boxing circles.
It is therefore a relief, to many, that they are now close to settling the score, albeit at a time when both men are no longer at the peak of their powers.
Of the two, many will be favouring Fury based on his last two performances against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach, which both resulted in convincing victories for ‘The Gypsy King’.
Joshua, on the other hand, was made to survive two knockdowns before stopping Kristian Prenga in the second round of their July encounter, with many suggesting his punch resistance has become a major issue.
While speaking with Boxing News, though, Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan has claimed that neither man deserves to fight for a world title.
“I think it does [devalue the WBA title], but money talks all languages. It’s a big money fight.
“Even though both these guys have seen better days … it is a major event. Money talks and bulls**t walks … but let’s be honest: they don’t deserve to be fighting for a world title.
“Both of them have been beaten – [Oleksandr] Usyk battered both of them – and he [Usyk has] proved, unreservedly, that he’s the superior fighter.
“What have they [Fury and Joshua] done, since they’ve both been beaten by Usyk, to deserve to fight for a world title again?”
While Joshua was somewhat convincingly beaten by Usyk in 2021 and 2022, many felt Fury was far more competitive with the Ukrainian in their two encounters in 2024.
