Having shared rounds with both heavyweights, former world champion Lawrence Okolie has offered a tactical breakdown of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
The pair will square off in their long-awaited Battle of Britain on December 11, colliding for the WBA ‘super’ title at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Both combatants therefore have the opportunity to become a three-time world champion but, more than that, they can finally settle a rivalry that has been simmering for roughly 10 years.
During that time, they have enjoyed varying degrees of success but, on the evidence of recent form, neither fighter is anywhere near his best.
Fury’s speed and elusiveness, for instance, seemed far less pronounced than usual in his respective points and stoppage victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach.
Joshua, meanwhile, showed an alarming lack of punch resistance against Kristian Prenga in July, when suffered two knockdowns before scoring a second-round finish.
Looking at their showdown more from a tactical perspective, though, heavyweight contender Okolie has told Boxing News magazine that he feels this is where their match is won and lost.
“If Fury’s allowed to get into a rhythm, he makes it a one-sided boxing match.
“However, if AJ comes in like the landlord and punches aggressively at middle distance, he has every chance of ending it. AJ has explosive speed and power at middle range, and we’ve seen Fury get hurt a good few times.”
Indeed, Joshua has shown that he remains a potent puncher and, with Okolie having sparred both fighters, it is clear that he feels ‘AJ’ trumps Fury in the power department.
