Tyson Fury would be a “massive favourite” against Anthony Joshua if the heavyweights fight this year, says former world super-featherweight champion Barry Jones.

British rivals Joshua and Fury have long been linked with fighting each other and are both coming off defeats in world title bouts.

Fury, 36, has already said he has no plans to retire following his loss to Oleksandr Usyk and Jones believes the Gypsy King showed against Usyk he has “plenty left” to give to boxing.

“Fury is a massive favourite but I think in general he was always a slight favourite [against Joshua],” Jones told the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast.

“He’ll want the Joshua fight because he’s almost beaten every fighter of his generation. It might be a different Joshua but it’s a different Fury.

“I think to get Joshua on his record in years to come will show how good he is.”

Jones believes the fight will happen in a stadium in the UK, but boxing expert Bunce disagrees.

Joshua, 35, was stopped by Daniel Dubois in their IBF world title fight last September, while Fury was outboxed by Usyk in a points defeat in December.

Bunce says another loss would be a massive blow to either man.

“The loser has a massive amount to lose,” Bunce said.

“Fury can lose to Usyk again no problem, Joshua can lose to Dubois again no problem.

“I just think this is a monumental fight, the loser of that drops a lot of ground pride-wise.”

‘I can’t see how Jonas beats Price’

Welterweight world champions Lauren Price and Natasha Jonas collide on 7 March in the first all-British unification fight of 2025.

Unbeaten Welshwoman Price, the WBA champion, challenges Jonas for her WBC and IBF titles.

Jones says 30 year-old Price is the favourite against Jonas, who at 40 became a two-weight unified champion last December.

“Jonas is a fighter in form, but I think Lauren Price is wrong for her in every facet,” Jones said.

“Price is not the biggest puncher but she’s strong, fast hands and stylistically it’s a hard fight for Natasha at her peak so now, she knows it’s a not a fight she would [have wanted to] take.”

“I think Price can be braver with her movement and although it will be an entertaining fight, I can’t see how Natasha wins.”

Former world super-featherweight champion Barry Jones has weighed in on the much-anticipated heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, tipping Fury as the clear favorite if the fight happens this year.

Speaking on the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast, Jones highlighted Fury’s impressive performance against Oleksandr Usyk despite his recent loss and suggested the Gypsy King still has plenty to offer in the sport.

“Fury is a massive favourite but I think in general he was always a slight favourite [against Joshua],” Jones said.

“He’ll want the Joshua fight because he’s almost beaten every fighter of his generation. It might be a different Joshua, but it’s a different Fury.”

“I think to get Joshua on his record in years to come will show how good he is.”

Potential Venues and Stakes

While Jones predicts the fight will take place in a UK stadium, boxing expert Steve Bunce is skeptic about it. Both fighters are under immense pressure, with their legacies and pride on the line.

Bunce stated: “The loser has a massive amount to lose. Fury can lose to Usyk again no problem, Joshua can lose to Dubois again no problem. I just think this is a monumental fight.”

“The loser of that drops a lot of ground pride-wise.”

Recent Form of Both Fighters

Fury, 36, is coming off a points defeat to Usyk in December but has stated he has no intention of retiring.

Joshua, 35, suffered a stoppage loss to Daniel Dubois in an IBF world title fight last September, casting doubts over his ability to reclaim top status in the division.

With both fighters facing critical moments in their careers, a Fury-Joshua matchup could serve as a definitive test of their standing among the heavyweight elite.

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are no longer world champions but a fight between the two is still of huge interest to fans.

Joshua is a former two-time world heavyweight belt holder who also unified the division. He had big wins over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Dillian Whyte and Joseph Parker but took an upset loss to Andy Ruiz in 2019 that first derailed him.

After rebuilding, it was then Olekansdr Usyk who relieved him of all of his belts in 2021 and since then Joshua had another shot at the IBF title held by Daniel Dubois but ended up getting stopped back in September.

Fury meanwhile had an epic trilogy with Deontay Wilder which saw him pick up and defend the WBC title before stopping the likes of Whyte and Derek Chisora. Back in May he challenged Usyk for the undisputed title but fell short on points and then lost again to the same man in the rematch in late December.

When asked by Sports Boom about a potential all-British clash with Fury, Joshua seemed optimistic.

“it has to happen.”

He then added more positivity.

“And hopefully, it does happen.”

This fight has been on the cards for many years, often while both men were holding version of the world title, but it has so far always sadly eluded fans.

Were it to happen this year, potentially as one final hurrah for both men, it would be a legacy fight that would see the winner going down as one of the best of the era despite there being no belts on the line.