The Olympic gold medalist says Joshua must pressure Fury and force exchanges if the heavyweight fight finally happens later this year
Audley Harrison says Anthony Joshua cannot beat Tyson Fury by trying to outbox him and must instead force a physical heavyweight fight built around pressure and combinations. The former Olympic gold medalist believes Joshua’s best chance comes from walking Fury down and attacking the body early.
Joshua and Fury are both expected to return in separate fights before a proposed showdown later in 2026, with discussion around the contest intensifying again following Fury’s recent comeback.
Harrison said Joshua’s best chance would come through aggression rather than trying to match Fury technically.
“He can’t win the fight trying to box Fury. He has to go in there, break him up, and try to take him out. That’s the only way he’s going to win this fight,” Audley said to the Sky Sports’ Toe2Toe podcast.
“Because you’re fighting a master boxer who knows how to slip, slide, and move. AJ has to go forward, throw punches at the head and body, and try to beat him up.
“And when I watched them after the Fury fight, I looked at Joshua’s eyes. The eyes never lie. I saw real fire there.
“I think Fury saw it as well. It sent chills through my body because styles make fights, and their personalities are completely opposite.
“People say it’s too late, but it’s never too late. We need to see those two settle it. British boxing needs that fight.”
Fury and Joshua have been linked to a fight for several years, though negotiations previously failed to produce an agreement between the two former heavyweight champions.
