Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury prediction: Usyk picks clear winner
Quick Reads
- Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has predicted Anthony Joshua will beat Tyson Fury in their anticipated all-British showdown.
- Usyk has welcomed Joshua into his training camp in Spain, calling his new partner a “machine” in the gym.
- The Ukrainian holds two wins apiece against both Joshua and Fury, giving him unique authority on this prediction.
- Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that negotiations for the Fury fight are actively advancing.
- Usyk fights kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven for his WBC title on May 23, in front of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Usyk Backs Joshua to Beat Fury: “He’s a Machine”
Oleksandr Usyk has delivered a clear, confident prediction. The unified heavyweight world champion believes Anthony Joshua will defeat Tyson Fury. Moreover, he says he is actively helping Joshua prepare for that very outcome.
Joshua has joined Usyk’s training setup in Spain. The two men, once fierce rivals who fought twice, now share a camp. Usyk told reporters: “We help each other. We help, we work, we’re joking, it’s a great time. Earlier we were rivals, opponents, now we’re friends.”
Negotiations between Joshua’s team and Fury’s camp are progressing. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, confirmed the talks are advancing. Furthermore, Hearn suggested Usyk could even appear in Joshua’s corner on fight night.
Why Usyk Backs Joshua to Beat Fury
Usyk’s confidence in Joshua comes directly from what he sees every day in training. “I believe. I look how Anthony is training. He’s a machine,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
The Ukrainian champion holds victories over both men. Therefore, his view carries real weight. He beat Fury twice in unified heavyweight title fights. He also defeated Joshua twice, the second by split decision in a bout that was extremely close.
Usyk called Fury “Greedy Belly” and stated firmly: “I think AJ will do it, beat my friend ‘Greedy Belly’.” He added that Joshua’s supporters must keep the faith, even after setbacks. “If we don’t help each other we are not people. We are animals,” Usyk said.
Joshua’s Road Back: From Car Crash to Training Camp
Joshua’s journey to this point has not been straightforward. In December 2024, he was involved in a car crash that claimed the lives of two close friends. Joshua sustained minor injuries in the incident. However, it delayed his return to boxing significantly.
He returned to Usyk’s camp in Spain during August or September of last year. Hearn revealed Joshua originally planned to stay for just two weeks. Instead, he never left.
“He phoned me after three days, facetimed me from his bed, basically said: ‘I’m not sure about this, I think I’m going to come home,'” Hearn recalled. However, Joshua pushed through and transformed. Hearn explained that having the pound-for-pound number one urge Joshua on during gruelling sprints was “inspirational stuff you can’t think about attaining without that kind of environment.”
Usyk also weighed in on Joshua’s physical readiness. “I think yes but we need a little bit of time because we know AJ has problem with body after crash but yes, he can return,” he said.
Before any Joshua-Fury clash happens, Usyk has his own assignment. On May 23, he defends his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing superstar Rico Verhoeven. The fight takes place in front of the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Usyk is not taking Verhoeven lightly. “For me, it’s a regular fight. I am a master boxer,” he said.
After that, Usyk may have roles in multiple heavyweight storylines. He is linked to a possible fight with the Fabio Wardley-Daniel Dubois winner and potentially a trilogy with Fury. However, he declined to discuss any of that for now. “Now I have focus only on Rico then we speak about future plans,” he said.
As for the Joshua-Fury fight, Hearn eyes a November 2026 date as the target. He signalled Joshua could take a tune-up bout first. Fury, meanwhile, previously stated that Joshua is the only opponent he wants. He won his comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov and immediately called out Joshua from the ring.
The Ring magazine had already announced a deal for the two fighters to meet in 2026 before Joshua’s car accident derailed those plans. Consequently, both sides must rebuild the timeline. Usyk, for his part, has placed himself at the centre of it all, and he says he believes Joshua will finish the job.
By the Numbers
- Usyk’s record: 24-0, 15 KOs
- Joshua’s record: 29-4, 26 KOs
- Fury’s record: 35-2-1, 24 KOs
- Usyk vs. Joshua II: Usyk won by split decision, the closest anyone has come to beating Usyk in the heavyweight division
- Usyk vs. Fury: Two wins for Usyk
- Usyk vs. Verhoeven: May 23, 2026, Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, WBC heavyweight title on the line
