The British boxing scene is unlike any other around the globe. Despite the overall lack of island size, the scene remains one of the fiercest and most competitive around the world. With that said, the biggest fight in Great Britain still has yet to be made. Tyson Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) and Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) remain the bout to make, and it feels like it's been a decade in the making. Fans and observers have already begun to predict the winner of the proposed battle.
Chris Eubank Jr. (35-4, 25 KOs) can speak to the depth of the strength of British boxing. As a fighter with nearly 15 years of experience and two minor world titles, he can speak to the magnitude of the fight and who he believes will emerge victorious. In no uncertain terms, Eubank delivered his prediction.
Chris Eubank Jr Predicts Fury vs Joshua Fight Winner
"I think AJ has been a lot more disciplined than Fury has during his career, and I think he is probably in a better headspace right now mentally, probably physically too," Eubank Jr told Boxing King Media. "I wasn't that impressed with Tyson Fury's last fight [with Arslanbek Makhmudov]." The heavyweight champion, in the view of many, offered up a lackluster effort against a fighter who lost two of his previous five fights. "I think if that fight happens, then AJ probably has the edge."
Eubank refers to Fury's unanimous decision victory over Makhmudov in April. Additionally, the discipline remark could focus on the perennial notion that Fury struggles to stay in shape. Meanwhile, Joshua always seems to either walk around or enter the ring, looking in better physical condition.
Joshua's Comeback vs Fury's Stagnation
One of Joshua's advantages could be wear and tear. Fury's last four fights ended in a decision. At 40 years old and with extensive ring time, a bigger fighter like Fury will wear them. Furthermore, the losses against Oleksandr Usyk showed Fury looking a couple of steps lower, with his defense and punch trigger delayed. Like Fury, Joshua also lost back-to-back fights against the unified world heavyweight champion.
However, those fights took place in 2021 and 2022. Since then, he recorded a 5-1 record, winning three of them by way of knockout. In other words, he put the distance between himself and those losses, something that Fury cannot say, as the Makhmudov fight serves as the only buffer between him and consecutive defeats.
Historical Context of the Rivalry
The potential clash between Joshua and Fury has been a topic of conversation for nearly a decade. Both men have held multiple world titles and have faced elite opposition. Joshua’s rise was meteoric after his 2012 Olympic gold medal, capturing the IBF, WBA, and WBO titles by 2017. Fury, the lineal heavyweight champion, toppled Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and later came back from depression and weight gain to defeat Deontay Wilder in a trilogy.
Fury's recent activity has been sporadic. After the third Wilder fight in October 2021, he fought only twice, beating Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora before losing twice to Usyk. Joshua, meanwhile, has been more active, facing Robert Helenius, Otto Wallin, Francis Ngannou, and twice defeating Jermaine Franklin. This activity has kept Joshua sharp, while Fury’s style has become more cautious.
Analysis of Eubank's Prediction
Chris Eubank Jr’s perspective carries weight as a fellow British boxer who has competed at a high level. He has shared the ring with elite middleweights and super middleweights, but his understanding of the heavyweight division is based on observation rather than firsthand experience. Still, his comments align with many analysts who favor Joshua’s recent momentum.
Joshua has also changed trainers, working with Ben Davison and later with Derrick James, though he recently returned to Davison. This shuffle indicates a search for consistency. Fury, under the guidance of his father John and later SugarHill Steward, has a more settled corner but has shown signs of decline.
From a technical standpoint, Fury’s movement and reach have always caused problems for smaller, less mobile heavyweights. However, Joshua possesses a longer frame and similar reach, neutralizing some of Fury’s advantages. Joshua’s power is also more proven, with crushing knockouts of Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, and Kubrat Pulev.
Fury’s greatest weapon is his ring IQ and unorthodox style. He can fight on the back foot or pressure opponents with feints. Against Usyk, however, Fury struggled to find his rhythm, losing on points. Joshua faced Usyk twice and lost both times, but he adjusted in the second fight and forced a competitive contest, even hurting Usyk in the final round. That grit could be crucial against Fury.
The Business of Boxing
All of the United Kingdom and the boxing world will tune in to watch the fight, if it ever happens. As mentioned, with one of the combatants entering the twilight of his career and controversy over who will promote the bout, the fight needs to occur sooner rather than later. Boxing fans will have their fingers crossed.
The promotional landscape is complicated. Joshua is aligned with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN, while Fury works with Queensberry Promotions and ESPN. Negotiations have broken down multiple times, with issues over purse splits, venue, and rematch clauses. Despite these hurdles, there is renewed hope that both sides can come together in 2025.
The financial stakes are enormous. A domestic super-fight between the two biggest names in British boxing would generate massive pay-per-view numbers in the UK and likely surpass the revenue of the Usyk fights. For Joshua, it would be a chance to reclaim his standing after two Usyk losses. For Fury, it would be an opportunity to avenge his only legitimate defeats and prove he is still the division’s best.
Larger Implications for the Division
A Joshua-Fury winner could face Usyk again, or possibly the emerging contenders like Daniel Dubois or Filip Hrgovic. The division remains fluid, but the Joshua-Fury fight would immediately determine the next major attraction. Eubank’s prediction adds to the narrative, but ultimately the ring will decide.
In the meantime, both fighters are expected to have tune-up bouts. Joshua is rumored to face a top-ten contender later this year, while Fury may need a warm-up after his lengthy layoff. The Makhmudov win did not convince many, and Fury’s team knows he must look impressive to maintain interest.
Chris Eubank Jr, ever the showman, may have sparked more debate. His own career continues at middleweight, where he aims for a world title. But his opinion on the heavyweight blockbuster will resonate with fans who trust his judgment as a fellow professional.
The wait for Fury vs Joshua continues. With Eubank Jr now weighing in with a clear pick, the pressure on both men to finally sign the contract intensifies. Boxing history awaits.
Eubank Jr's prediction is not just about current form—it is about legacy. Both fighters are already first-ballot Hall-of-Famers, but the head-to-head winner will secure bragging rights over an entire nation. As the chess match continues behind closed doors, the public remains hungry for the biggest fight that British boxing can produce.
Whether it happens in a stadium or an arena, the atmosphere will be electric. For now, fans will have to settle for predictions from legends like Chris Eubank Jr. And his answer is clear: Anthony Joshua has the edge.
Source: MSN News