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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.”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

‘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.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

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.

Tyson Fury receives message from Anthony Joshua as ex-champion discusses fight date

Anthony Joshua has been heavily linked with a fight against Tyson Fury for some time now and has recently aimed a direct message to his heavyweight rival as he outlined his plans for 2025

Anthony Joshua has shared his desire to face Tyson Fury in the ring this year.

The long-standing rivalry between Matchroom Boxing’s AJ and Queensberry Promotions’ Fury has been a point of anticipation for boxing enthusiasts around the globe, who are keen to see the two heavyweights clash to establish supremacy. Joshua, who has been vocal about his future goals, recently hinted that a showdown with Fury might not be far off.

In a conversation with Channels Television, he outlined his ambitions: “Three-time world champion, and Tyson Fury.” When probed about a date for when he envisages the high-profile fight occurring, Joshua shared: “I’m not sure, but that’s my target,” before looking into the camera and adding: “2025, I’m targeting Tyson Fury.”

Media representatives questioned Joshua on his prospects against Fury, especially after his recent unanimous-decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. To which, the 35-year-old boxer responded: “We’ll see, let us get in the ring. Only God knows, but for me we’ll see in the future.”

AJ also hinted at his eagerness to take on his British rival as soon as possible in 2025, saying: “Time is of the essence, time is limited. So, I just want to put in more work. In 2024, when I look back, I believe I could have done more, and I have another chance in 2025 to do more. I’m going to make sure that I take every opportunity that comes my way.

“Ups and downs, they happen. To some people, it is always up. My life is up and down, so I have got to get used to the turbulent times and keep riding the wave. I can’t stop now. I have to keep going until I reach my destination.”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Joshua is aiming for a comeback after losing his world titles to Usyk in 2021 and failing to reclaim the IBF belt against Daniel Dubois last year, where he suffered a brutal knockout in the fifth round.

AJ’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has identified Dubois and Fury as the only two feasible opponents, although Dubois is set to defend his title against Joseph Parker in February first, and has since shown interest in a rematch with Usyk for all the titles. Fury, who no longer holds any titles following consecutive defeats to Usyk, might even retire yet.

Following his second loss to the Ukrainian, he conceded: “You might see me in a boxing ring again, you might not.” Yet, The Sun reported that he has informed close friends he’s ‘not done,’ fuelling further speculation about a potential all-British clash with Joshua.

The duo have been trading verbal jabs for years and had even settled on the financial aspects of a two-fight agreement before discussions fell through, reports the Mirror US. Now, as both men are seeking to rebuild, fans will be hoping that they might finally witness the showdown in 2025.

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.

President Bola Tinubu has hosted Anthony Joshua, a former world boxing champion, who is currently in Nigeria on vacation. 

The president received the boxer at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos on Wednesday.

During the visit, Joshua presented Tinubu with an autographed boxing glove.

The 35-year-old boxer, born in the UK to parents who hailed from Sagamu in Ogun, arrived in Nigeria a few days ago and has been spotted enjoying his vacation at various spots across the country.

On Monday, he was hosted by Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, at the government house in Abeokuta, the state’s capital.

The governor honoured him with the state’s “sports ambassador” role and urged him to continue making Ogun proud.

President Bola Tinubu and Anthony Joshua

Joshua’s visit to Nigeria comes four months after his shock defeat to Anthony Dubois in their IBF heavyweight title fight in September.

His opponent knocked him down four times before his eventual fifth-round knockout at Wembley Stadium in front of 96,000 fans.

The defeat halted Joshua’s four-match win momentum. He eventually vowed that the setback would not make him “run away” and quit boxing.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has claimed that “something unfair happened” during his boxing bout with Anthony Joshua in 2024.

Ngannou, who left MMA’s biggest promotion in search of new challenges, made his boxing debut against Tyson Fury, surprising many by knocking down the ‘Gypsy King’ before losing via a razor-thin decision. He later stepped into the ring with two-time heavyweight world champion Joshua, only to suffer a brutal second-round knockout defeat.

Reflecting on the fight with Joshua, Ngannou expressed dissatisfaction with the circumstances leading up to the bout. “A rematch with Joshua? I felt very off and not comfortable in that fight,” Ngannou said in an interview with Seconds Out. “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but I didn’t like the Joshua fight. Things weren’t right… I was in the locker room for almost four hours, which is not something that happens, so just from there.”

Despite consecutive losses in boxing, Ngannou made a triumphant return to MMA in October, knocking out Renan Ferreira within minutes. However, the 38-year-old remains focused on returning to the squared circle, prioritizing a rematch with Fury over any potential bout with Joshua.

 

“What I want to see now is Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou,” he told Pro Boxing Fans after the recent rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Fury. Speaking on the Usyk-Fury fight, he added, “I think the fight was pretty close… From my scorecard, it was closer than that. Maybe Usyk still wins, but I wasn’t sure who the winner was at the end.”

Ngannou’s determination to reclaim his place in boxing highlights his unwavering ambition, as he continues to push boundaries across combat sports.

British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua warmed hearts this festive season with a surprise visit to his hometown in Ogun State, Nigeria.

A video of the heavyweight champion enjoying the vibrant atmosphere has gone viral on social media, showcasing the two-time world champion moving gently to fuji music as locals gathered around to celebrate his presence.

Anthony Joshua sparks reactions after Christmas visit to Nigeria

The viral footage captured AJ, 35, exuding calm and humility as he swayed to the music while a man danced close to him and whispered something inaudible.

Joshua’s unguarded moment drew admiration and nostalgia from fans on social media, with one commenting, “Home sweet home. Anywhere you go… Always remember the way to your home.”

Another added, “Who no enter Nigeria this year? I’m wondering what motivated it; everybody run back this December.”

Anthony Joshua

A third user joked, “Omo na only for 9ja dey celebrate Christmas this year?”

Anthony Joshua, also known as AJ, has cemented his status as one of boxing’s biggest names.

Born Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua, in Watford, Hertfordshire, he the son of Yeta and Robert Joshua.

His mother is Nigerian, while his father has both Nigerian and Irish ancestry, with Joshua’s roots tracing back to the Yoruba people/

Joshua’s cousin, Ben Ileyemi, is also a professional boxer, and the two made their professional debuts together in 2013.

Joshua spent part of his childhood in Nigeria, attending Mayflower School in Ikenne as a boarding student before returning to the UK at age 12 following his parents’ divorce.

Anthony Joshua

Growing up on the Meriden Estate in Garston, Hertfordshire, he was affectionately called “Femi” by friends and teachers, a nod to his middle name, Oluwafemi.

The former two-time world heavyweight champion has shared the ring with legends like Wladimir Klitschko, Dillian Whyte, and Andy Ruiz.

Despite recent setbacks against Daniel Dubois, Joshua’s legacy as a global sports icon remains intact, having held the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles twice between 2016 and 2021, before losing twice to Usyk.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun welcomed world-renowned boxing champion Anthony Joshua to his office on Monday, 30 December.

The courtesy visit was a testament to the bond between the people of Ogun State and their pride in Joshua’s achievements.

Despite presently without any world title, Joshua’s remarkable accomplishments in boxing inspire millions globally, including the people of Ogun State.
His dedication, discipline, and commitment to excellence align with the values held dear by the state.
“His dedication, discipline, and unwavering commitment to excellence are values we hold dear as a state,” Governor Abiodun stated.

Ogun State boasts a rich history of producing sports legends, including Segun Odegbami, Falilat Ogunkoya, and current world record holder Tobi Amusan.

Governor Abiodun expressed his hope that the state will continue producing national champions and world-acclaimed superstars.

As a gesture of collective pride and recognition of Joshua’s contributions to sports, Governor Abiodun presented him with a letter appointing him as a Sports Ambassador for Ogun State.

Dapo Abiodun and Anthony Joshua

This appointment, he said, underscores the state’s commitment to celebrating excellence and supporting individuals who bring honour and pride to the state.

“We remain committed to supporting our talents and creating an environment that nurtures greatness in all spheres of life,” Governor Abiodun said. “Together, we celebrate Anthony Joshua’s accomplishments and look forward to more victories as he continues to make Ogun State proud.”

Some of his family members accompanied Joshua during the courtesy visit.

His appointment as Sports Ambassador is expected to inspire upcoming athletes in Ogun State and beyond.

Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury now looks likely for 2025.

The battle of Britain has eluded fans for many years and is now undoubtedly past its best before date, however it will still be a mega-fight that can fill a stadium.

Why it could happen now is because both men are out of the title picture and looking for big fights before retirement. Joshua lost twice to Oleksandr Usyk before going on a run of four wins to get a shot at Daniel Dubois’ IBF world title. He was knocked out in five. Fury has recently suffered the same fate against Usyk, failing to beat the Ukrainian over 24 rounds.

It is now widely agreed that the match-up is the best out there for both men. How it plays out is anybody’s guess, but there are some shared opponents who can provide good insight.

Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin took Fury the distance back in 2019, inflicting a near-fight ending cut on the Brit before losing on the scorecards. After a run of six victories, he faced Joshua but was stopped inside five rounds.

Speaking to Sun Sport with the experiences of facing both, Wallin gave ‘AJ’ a good chance but said he can’t back against ‘The Gypsy King.’

“I feel like Joshua is a very good fighter, very good power, very good counter puncher. I feel like he definitely has a shot with Fury. And you just never know what Tyson Fury shows up. I still have a hard time going against Tyson in that fight.

But, the fights if you compare it my fight against Joshua was a lot tougher than the one I had against Fury. That doesn’t mean everything but I give Joshua more of a chance than I did before. But I still would probably pick Fury as the favourite.”

Wallin returns to action against Derek Chisora on February 8 in Manchester.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could finally be set to meet in 2025.

Fury came up short in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk earlier this month, missing out on the chance to once again become world heavyweight champion after the Ukrainian won by unanimous decision.

Just like their first meeting, it was another close encounter across 12 hard-fought rounds, but all three judges scored it 116-112 to Usyk to make it back to back defeats for Fury.

Attention has already turned to who ‘The Gypsy King’ may look to take on next, with the long-awaited all-British showdown with Joshua seemingly top of the list for many boxing fans.

Joshua himself lost two straight fights to Usyk in 2021 and 2022, so he knows full well what it is like to have to bounce back after sharing the ring with the extremely talented Ukrainian.

‘AJ’ initially looked to struggle, claiming lacklustre wins against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius, but then appeared to be back to his lethal best with dominant stoppage victories against Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou.

That earned Joshua another crack at world honours against IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, but ended in a devastating loss after Dubois picked up a fifth round knockout win.

Having shared the ring with Joshua, Dubois has an expert opinion on who may come out on top between ‘AJ’ and Fury, and he made his prediction whilst speaking to Seconds Out.

“Fury.”

Dubois did add though that he thinks it may be time for ‘The Gypsy King’ to hang up his gloves.

“He’s had a great career. It’s time for him to call it a day now.”

Time will tell if a fight between Fury and Joshua does indeed happen, but that hasn’t stopped Usyk revealing which of the two men gave him a tougher fight.