By Charles Brun: Anthony Joshua has surprisingly accepted Tyson Fury’s invitation to fight in December.
Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) took to social media today to agree to the offer from WBC heavyweight champion Fury for a fight in December after ‘The Gypsy King’ called him out twice
The move by Joshua is likely being done on his own without input from his promoter Eddie Hearn, as he wanted AJ to take an easy tune-up fight against a top 15 contender in December rather than take a risky fight against Fury or one of the other top heavyweights in the division.
Joshua, 32, is putting his career at serious risk by fighting Fury, given that he’s lost three out of his last five fights, including his last two against the crafty Oleksandr Usyk.
What Joshua has on his side against Fury is power, speed, and the ability to nail an easier-to-hit guy than his last opponent Usyk. It was difficult for Joshua to connect with many of his shots against Usyk because he was so quick on his feet and defensively sound.
Yea calm. I don’t do the online discussions just for clout, so if your really about it shout @258mgt. I’ll be ready in December. Khalas https://t.co/kKCWdrlmol
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) September 5, 2022
Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) will be a lot easier for Joshua to nail with shots than Usyk. The way Fury fights now, using a lot of leaning and fouling with rabbit punches, Joshua can deal with that style a lot better than in his fights with Usyk.
What Joshua has to worry about against Fury is gassing out in the second half of the fight, as he did in his two clashes with Usyk. With Fury likely to be in Joshua’s face the entire time, leaning & grappling, he may gas out faster against him.
If Joshua loses this fight, it would be his third consecutive defeat in his fourth in his last six. That’s pretty much the end of the road for Joshua if he gets beaten unless he’s willing to be transformed into a journeyman.
Hearn has got to be apoplectic over the news of Joshua accepting the offer because he cares a lot about AJ, and he wants to save his career. The decision-making Joshua has been making has led to him suffering defeats that he shouldn’t have.
If Joshua had stubbornly insisted on a rematch with Usyk, he could have avoided his loss last August. Also, it was a foolish idea for Joshua to use Andy Ruiz Jr. as his replacement opponent for Jarrell ‘Big Baby Miller.
