David Haye has weighed in on the much-anticipated clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, analyzing how their lifestyles and boxing abilities could determine the outcome.
The two British heavyweights are expected to meet later this year, provided Joshua successfully navigates his tune-up fight against Kristian Prenga on July 25. Joshua’s last bout ended in a brutal sixth-round stoppage of Jake Paul in December, which was followed by a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends.
After being involved in that incident, Joshua spent months recovering both physically and emotionally before returning to train with Oleksandr Usyk. Given that his last meaningful contest ended in a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, Joshua clearly needs a warm-up fight before facing Fury in November.
Meanwhile, Fury ended a 16-month layoff last month by securing a unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov. This was his first fight since suffering a second points defeat to Usyk. The “Gypsy King” has often faced interruptions in his career due to issues outside the ring.
Because of this, former cruiserweight world champion David Haye told Tris Dixon that he remains uncertain whether Fury’s boxing skills alone will be enough to beat Joshua. “Is AJ going to dominate him? Is Tyson Fury going to outbox him? Is the lifestyle of Tyson Fury finally going to catch up with him?” Haye questioned.
“The fact that Joshua treats his body like a temple, watches what he eats—no drugs, no drinking—will that come to pass? Maybe it’s about who has lived the best. I would definitely say Tyson Fury has more boxing skill than Anthony Joshua. I’ve never seen AJ stand against the ropes, slip, and slide punches like Fury does. But maybe he won’t need to. Who can fight at a pace? Who can put their punches together?”
While Joshua’s bout with Prenga has been officially confirmed, it remains to be seen whether Fury will also take an interim fight before their eventual showdown.
