John Fury is backing Anthony Joshua to defy the odds and win his world heavyweight titles back from Oleksandr Usyk this summer.
The former world heavyweight champion lost his belts for a second time back in September when he was comprehensively beaten at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium by Usyk. And after walking into the ring for that bout as favourite, the betting odds have flipped completely with bookies now picking the Ukrainian as the more likely winner.
And one man who has continued to insist that Joshua will lose is his old rival and the WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. The Manchester native was inches away from signing to a fight that would finally settle their years-long rivalry last year, but was court ordered to face Deontay Wilder instead.
This meant that Joshua was forced to face his WBO mandatory challenger Usyk, who was an undefeated cruiserweight champion and considered one of the pound-for-pound best in the world. Despite the younger Fury mocking Joshua for losing that bout, and thus a chance at an undisputed mega-fight, his dad has shown frequent support for his son's rival as an advocate for British boxing.
And the Fury patriarch is now backing Joshua to get the unified WBO, WBA and IBF belts back, telling Pro Boxing Fans in a recently resurfaced interview : “I just want AJ to achieve.
"Because for my money now he’s underachieved, because he’s better than what you’re seeing. He just needs the right people around him. I’ll always have time for AJ. He’s given us some great nights, he’s ducked nobody, he’s fought them all.
“Whoever they’ve put in front of AJ, give him credit he’s fought them. Yes, okay he’s lost, but he’s boxed hasn’t he? So give the kid credit, he’s still only a very young man.
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"And I do believe with his size and strength and a bit more oil in his can and a bit more brain used, he can win his title for the third time and then who knows? You might get the big GK [Gypsy King; Tyson Fury's nickname] back! But, good luck to Anthony, he’s a nice kid.”
Joshua and Fury Sr have always shared a strong relationship, with the boxer showing respect to his rival's dad after their scheduled bout last summer was cancelled. The elder Fury was critical of his son for not organising a step aside deal to get rid of Wilder.
And in response to a BT Sport interview where Fury pleaded with his song to face Joshua as planned, Joshua posted a link to the video on his snapchat stories and said: "I got a lot of time for this interview, good listen. Some massive statements have been made if you listen carefully. I would want to sit down with J.F. [John Fury], have a Guinness and talk fighting."
