Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has warned that the loser of the highly anticipated heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will face a tough reality that might be hard to deal with, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
This all-British match, a decade in the making, is set to finally happen in November after promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that both fighters have signed contracts. The exact venue and date still need to be sorted out.
Wembley Stadium is one option being considered, along with a possible location in the United States. Organiser Turki Al-Sheikh is looking for a time that works for fans around the world.
Brent Council, the local authority in charge of approvals, said that extending Wembley’s 11pm curfew to allow for a two o’clock ring walk would need to be checked by the stadium’s safety advisory group.
“Whoever loses between Joshua and Fury, it will be really hard for them to take. The loser faces a harsh reality,” Bellew told Sky Sports.
“If we are honest, both are slightly past their best, but it is not going to stop anyone from tuning in because we all need to see this happen. This fight has been dodged for far too long.”
Bellew stressed that the fight should happen in the UK given its importance, saying, “It’s the biggest fight in British boxing history. It’s got to happen here, it’s vital. It’s the right thing to do for everybody involved.
“If it goes abroad, so be it. Whoever is paying for it has the right to do what they want with it and put it wherever they see fit.”
Both fighters have completed important warm-up fights. Joshua had a tough time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he was knocked down twice in the first twenty seconds by unbeaten Albanian Kristian Prenga. He managed to recover and stop Prenga in the second round, improving his record to 30 wins from 34 fights.
The 36-year-old dedicated the victory to the memory of two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who died in a car crash in Nigeria in December.
“It is more than punch power. That was spirit, that was Latz, that was Sina, that was the families. It hurts to even talk about it. It has been tough. They are my brothers,” Joshua said in the ring.
Fury faced less trouble in Thailand, winning by stopping forty-six-year-old Polish veteran Mariusz Wach in the seventh round during an untelevised fight. He had also beaten Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson has joined the conversation, telling Ring Magazine he will always support Fury no matter what either fighter does in the ring.
“If Tyson comes in right and avoids those punches, it’s going to be interesting. Joshua’s a fast puncher. I love Tyson Fury. That’s why I can never go against him,” Tyson said.
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