SHANE McGUIGAN, the trainer of former world champion David Haye, shared his analysis of the heavyweight division with Boxing News. His view is that Anthony Joshua could beat Wladimir Klitschko, would beat Tyson Fury but would lose to the man Shane trains, David Haye.
โHeโs had one bad performance,โ Shane said of Klitschko. โI thought he got old over night but heโs so desperate to fight Fury again and why would you be desperate if you were doubting yourself. Heโs an intelligent man. Heโs not silly. If he was sliding, heโll acknowledge that. I think he trained on a canvas that was unrealistic. I think when they changed the canvas, it might have messed up his timing. I donโt know, he could have a lot more in the tank than people give him credit for. Itโs a risky fight for Joshua, he punches a heck of a lot harder than Dillian Whyte thatโs for sure. But he punches straight.
โJoshua has got good vision straight down the pipe because heโs come from an amateur pedigree where everyoneโs throwing quick fast punches down the pipe but Dillian Whyte hit him with a big clubbing left hook and you can see he [Joshua] drops his right hand to throw his own right hand, every time he throws his jab his right hand comes down and he throws everything chest height. So coming round the side of it is key, to come round the side at Anthony Joshua but at the same time youโre going to take something straight down the pipe. Itโs interesting. I just think somebody with good calibre, head movement is going to give him nightmares.โ
While McGuigan also thinks Joshua could defeat Klitschkoโs conqueror, Tyson Fury. โI think Joshua beats Fury, styles make fights,โ Shane said, adding, โI think David beats Joshua.โ
He continued, โWladimir has designed a style where he has to get over the top of people. If he misses with his jab or he misses with his right hand, heโs on top of them and heโs able to press down on them, like he did with David Haye. That [Fury fight] is the first time heโs really been punching up. He punched level height against [Kubrat] Pulev, Pulev is the same sort of height, but thatโs the first time heโs really had to punch up in a long time.โ
He explained why he thought Anthony would beat Tyson Fury. โI think Joshua will be too athletic. I think he takes a decent enough shot and I donโt think Furyโs a one-punch knockout artist. Joshua would keep going into him and just keep punching with him and I know he had a lot of success sparring him. I donโt think heโs very fearful of Tyson Fury.โ
But McGuigan continued, โHeโs fearful of David Haye. Itโs uncertainty. How can you prepare for a David Haye? You can prepare for a Klitschko, you can get in high calibre amateur guys like that [Ivan] Dychko or you can bring in the Croatian guy [Filip Hrgovic] who has nice and quick feet, long straight shots. Thereโs nobody you can really prepare for David, unless you spar cruisers that have got really good head movement and are awkward. Itโs interesting – big hooks, quick, I think heโs the most dangerous opponent out there for Joshua.โ