Tyson Fury credits his fights against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach with preparing him for Anthony Joshua. Those rounds gave him time in the ring, but they offered little evidence that his movement, speed, and punching authority had returned.
Fury looked slow and heavy in both outings. This physical decay traces directly to his second beating from Oleksandr Usyk, completely destroying the comeback rust excuse.
“Of course, 16 months out of the ring. It wasn’t to have one round,” Fury told The Ring. “I needed rounds. The same with the other fellow, Wach Mariusz. I needed rounds. I actually have the perfect grounding for this fight. I fought one 6’7″ guy in Wach and one 6’8′ guy in Makhmudov. So they’re perfect for Joshua.”
The height comparison is a thin argument. Tall opponents provide practice managing reach, but their dimensions do not reproduce Joshua’s timing, combinations or speed when he closes the distance.
Wach was 46. Getting seven rounds against him supplied work, but offered limited evidence that Fury could still control a dangerous heavyweight with his feet. His 12 rounds against Makhmudov answered the endurance question more clearly than the movement question.
The version of Fury who beat 39-year-old Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 was nowhere to be seen. That Fury used feints, changes of rhythm and quick repositioning to leave Klitschko reluctant to throw. Recent performances have shown far less of that elusive fighter.
Fury can still draw on his experience, size and awkwardness. However, when his feet slow, he spends longer within punching range. Without enough authority behind his own shots, discouraging Joshua from advancing becomes harder. Fury also claims Joshua’s team wanted him inactive. That accusation does nothing to settle the question raised by his performances.
Needing rounds is understandable. Calling them “perfect grounding” asks the public to accept that ring time has restored tools Fury has yet to show.
