Boxing
BRITISH DAILY MAIL’S ANALYSTS TIP TYSON FURY TO DETHRONE ANTHONY JOSHUA
Both Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have signed financial contract that will see the two in world heavyweight unification clash next year.
In the analysis and interviews with experts conducted by Daily Mail of UK, the clash would most likely see Anthony Joshua losing his four titles while Tyson Fury, holder of one title would be holding all the five as an undisputed world champion.
Joshua is headlined as a boxer with explosive power while Fury is believed to posses boxing IQ and stamina.
Joshua, 30, holds the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight belts, while Fury, 31, is the WBC champion. Finally, we will know who is the undisputed world heavyweight champ.
The Daily Mail experts predict thus:
- Jeff Powell, Daily Mail Boxing Correspondent
“Another passing year or more may weary them and alter the perception. For example if they fought this weekend Tyson Fury would bury an Anthony Joshua with a busted knee. And who knows where Fury’s head will be some time next year.
“But if both are in perfect nick do not expect a knock out. Fury will not be able to bully AJ the way he did the smaller Deontay Wilder in their second fight and Joshua has now adopted a safety first box and dodge strategy similar to the evasive athletic mobility to which the Gypsy King will probably revert.
A draw is not out of the equation but at the moment a split decision in favour of Fury looks more likely.
VERDICT: Fury by split decision
- Ricky Hatton, former light-welterweight world champion
“It will be a very close fight. We are very fortunate to see Tyson at close quarters in my gym and I think he is on a different level.
“I think with his boxing IQ, he can fight on the inside as he did in his last fight or he can box from a distance. He has got movement, the hand speed, the jab, the defence and I think his last fight showed he has got the talent.
“I think he has too much in his Arsenal for AJ. Yes, AJ has the punching power to hurt him and knock him out but whether he gets him is another thing. If you are asking me where my money is going, I’d have to say Tyson Fury.”
VERDICT: Fury
- Lee Selby, Welsh featherweight boxer
“I like both guys and I think it’s a real 50-50 fight. Anthony Joshua has the power and the explosiveness to end the fight at any moment and Tyson Fury has the stamina and the boxing brain and the hand speed.
“I think it’s a real 50-50 fight and I wouldn’t be surprised if either man won by either way. If Tyson Fury won by a stoppage or points or if Joshua won by a stoppage or points too. I think it’s a genuine 50-50, whoever turns up on the night and performs to the best of their ability wins the fight.
VERDICT: Anyone’s guess
- Riath Al-Samarrai, Daily Mail Chief Sports Feature Writer
“It’s tricky and that is why it’s brilliant. My instinct for years had been that Joshua would stop Fury, owing to the lack of deterrent for Joshua in coming forward and getting his shots off.
“But the recent fights from each man has dropped that theory on its backside. Fury, in two fights with Deontay Wilder, showed he has the punch resistance and the power to beat anyone, not to mention a style and range unlike any other active fighter.
“Joshua has the power to hurt and drop Fury but after watching his fights against Andy Ruiz, I worry about his chin and, more fundamentally, whether he has the movement and nouse to get close enough.
“I can see Joshua winning with a stoppage but I feel Fury on points in a scrappy fight is more likely.”
VERDICT: Fury on points
- Matthew Macklin, British-Irish former middleweight boxer
“I think Fury wins on points. I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion, I know a lot of people are really favouring Fury now because of his great win over Wilder and with AJ, the Ruiz loss took the shine off him a little bit.
“I think it’s a great fight. Joshua is definitely a better fighter than Wilder all-round, he is much better on the inside and up close.
“But I think Fury is the man in the heavyweight division, his smartness, his jab, his mobility and his all-round general boxing IQ, I definitely think that Fury is the favourite and I would pick him to win on points.
VERDICT: Fury on points
- Daniel Matthews, Daily Mail sports reporter
“On paper, it would appear Tyson Fury holds most of the cards. He has the advantage in height, weight, reach and in movement. He is the slicker boxer, with better punch variety and defensive foundations.
“AJ possesses neither the one-punch power of Deontay Wilder, nor the world’s sturdiest chin. He does, though, have excellent fundamentals and a sponge-like mind. His improvement over a decade in the sport has been remarkable.
“AJ hits hard, boasts great tacticians in his corner, and has exceptional mental strength. Only a special athlete could climb off the canvas and exact immediate revenge against Andy Ruiz. Only a fool would write him off.
“The mind could be Fury’s undoing. His reliance on reflexes requires immense concentration and he has lapsed before.
“But the most intriguing aspect of this match-up is that both are still improving. Few thought Fury would break with his jittery, defensive brilliance to dismantle Wilder so savagely.
“Few thought AJ would be able to box with such discipline to win back his titles in the desert. Who knows how another 12 months and another fight could alter the heavyweight landscape?
“As it stands, though, you’d have to side with Fury, most likely on points.
VERDICT: Fury on points
- Charlie Edwards, British flyweight boxer
“Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua will be a great fight. It will be a close and 50-50 fight.
“If it goes early and AJ starts fast, maybe he can get him out of there. I also believe Fury could out-box him and get him out there late.
“It’s a really good match-up, I am edging more towards Fury off the back of his last performances. I’m really looking forward to seeing it happen.
VERDICT: Fury
Jordan Seward, MailOnline sports reporter
“I’ve always fancied Tyson Fury in this fight. He is the more talented fighter in my book and he’ll have height, reach and speed advantage over Joshua.
“I liked how AJ performed at a leaner weight for his last fight against Andy Ruiz Jnr. He showed his experience and proved that he is adaptable and has the discipline to stick to, and execute a game plan.
“Joshua’s coach Rob McCracken is a great strategist and will already have an idea of how Joshua goes about winning this fight. I just can’t see it happening though.
“Fury has too much skill, depth and know-how. Although Fury is naturally more of a boxer than a puncher, I’ve always felt that he hits a lot harder than perceived and he showed it against Deontay Wilder that when he sits down on his shots, he can do some real damage.
“I could envision him hurting Joshua and potentially stopping him in the mid to late rounds or claiming a fairly wide points decision.
VERDICT: Fury on points
British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua is set to make his long-awaited homecoming fight in Nigeria in early 2026, according to Nigerian promoter, Dr Ezekiel Adamu, a serial entrepreneur, investor and son of Nigerian sports administration legend, Dr Amos Adamu..
Adamu, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Balmoral Group, revealed that discussions with Joshua’s camp had been positive and that plans are underway to stage the bout at the 50,000-capacity Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Speaking to The Punch, the promoter disclosed that Joshua has always expressed his desire to fight in Nigeria before the end of his career.
“I spoke with him, I spoke with his team, and they already said to me, ‘If we had an offer from Nigeria, it’s a match made in heaven,’” Adamu said.
He added: “Joshua has always said that before he ends his career, he wants to fight in Nigeria, and we are going to make that fight happen.”
The proposed fight, expected in the first quarter of 2026, would likely feature Joshua against another African opponent. Adamu hinted at possible names, including France’s Tony Yoka, Congo’s Martin Bakole, and former WBC champion Deontay Wilder, who also has Nigerian heritage.
The promoter dismissed rumours that Ghana could host Joshua’s African debut. “I heard rumours about Joshua fighting in Ghana, and I laughed it off because, for me, where is the story in there? Joshua is Nigerian. Now we have a big promotion, and Nigeria is the biggest market. It’s a no-brainer for Joshua to fight in Nigeria,” he insisted.
Joshua, born in Watford, England, spent part of his childhood in Nigeria and proudly wears a tattoo of the country’s outline on his right shoulder.
Adamu maintained that Nigeria has both the infrastructure and the market to become a hub for global boxing.
“We’ve got the population, we’ve got the infrastructure, and we’ve got the technical know-how. This is just the start. October 1 (Chaos in the Ring event in Lagos) is only a sneak peek of what we can make happen,” he told The Punch.
Joshua’s long-time promoter, Eddie Hearn, had previously suggested the possibility of staging a fight in Africa, but Adamu’s plan now appears to be the most concrete yet. If successful, the 2026 bout would mark a historic milestone for African boxing and pave the way for more high-profile contests on the continent.
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British boxing great Ricky Hatton, a former two-division world champion, has died at the age of 46, the World Boxing Association said on Sunday.
Nicknamed ‘the Hitman’, Hatton won the WBA, IBO and IBF light-welterweight titles and the WBA welterweight world championship during his 15-year professional career before retiring in 2012.
He had been due to make a comeback for an event in Dubai this year.
“A true champion, an indomitable spirit and a legend of the sport. Your legacy will live on in every fight and in the hearts of boxing fans around the world,” the WBA posted on Instagram.
Greater Manchester Police said that a body had been found on Sunday morning at an address in Hyde in the northern English city.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious,” a police spokesperson said.
Hatton had 45 wins in 48 bouts over his career but in the years after he retired he said he had tried to kill himself several times and had been open about his struggle with depression, drink and drugs.
“I was coming off the rails with my drinking and that led to drugs. It was like a runaway train,” he told BBC radio in 2016.
Hatton became an ambassador for the mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably in 2023.
The crowning moment of Hatton’s career in the ring came in 2005 when he stopped Australian Kostya Tszyu in a brutal duel in Manchester to add the IBF light-welterweight title to the WBU belt he already held.
He had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again.
Hatton’s second loss came in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ricky Hatton. He was not only a great fighter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life,” Pacquiao wrote on X.
“We shared unforgettable moments in boxing history and I will always honour the respect and sportsmanship he showed.”
British former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan described Hatton as “a friend, a mentor, a warrior.”
“Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible … you’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories,” Khan said on X.
Hatton was a lifelong Manchester City fan and wore sky blue shorts, matching the soccer club’s colours, in most of his bouts.
The Premier League club held a thunderous minute’s appreciation ahead of their derby against Manchester United on Sunday with both sets of supporters paying their respects.
“Ricky was one of City’s most loved and revered supporters … everyone at the club would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” City added.
-Reuters
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Boxing
Excitement As Nigeria’s Ibeabuchi, Former Mike Tyson’s Conqueror, Danny Williams Clash in Comeback Fight In Lagos
The boxing world is abuzz with anticipation as legendary heavyweight, Ike “The President” Ibeabuchi (20-0, 15 KOs) prepares to make his highly anticipated return to the squared circle against British knockout specialist Danny “The Brixton Hammer” Williams (55-33, 42 KOs).
This monumental clash, a true spectacle of power and resilience, is set to ignite Lagos, Nigeria.
This event will be live on pay-per-view streaming on www.Prizefighting.tv only on August 23, 2025, at the Teslim Balogun stadium, Surulere.
The times for the event are 1:00 PM New York, 6:00 PM London, noon Dallas, and 10:00 AM Los Angeles.
Ibeabuchi, a fighter revered for his explosive power and unblemished professional record, will step back into the ring after a lengthy hiatus, ready to remind the world of the immense talent that once captivated boxing fans globally.
His return to his ancestral homeland of Nigeria adds an even deeper layer of significance to this historic event.
Facing “The President” will be the formidable Danny Williams, a seasoned veteran known for his knockout power and the monumental upset of Mike Tyson in 2004.
“The Brixton Hammer” brings a wealth of experience and a relentless fighting spirit, promising to test Ibeabuchi’s comeback every step of the way.
This is more than just a fight; it’s a homecoming, a testament to perseverance, and a chance for ‘The President’ to once again showcase his abilities on the world stage. To do this in Lagos, in front of his people, is an incredible honour.
“Danny Williams is a tough opponent, with a very respectable career, but Ike Ibeabuchi is here to make a statement. “The Brixton Hammer’ will be sent back to England hammerless. Danny Williams will be knocked out,” Ibeabuchi has said in what is seen by many as a pre-fight hype.
Danny Williams expressed his readiness for the challenge, “Ike Ibeabuchi is a legend, and I know he’ll be coming to fight.
“But ‘The President’ will not be returning on my timeline. I will come to his hometown, drop the hammer on him and send him back into exile. That will become a fact mate,” Williams has been quoted as saying.
Promoters are anticipating a jam packed arena and a global viewership as fans eagerly await to see these two big punchers. Prizefighting.tv states “pig punchers do not lose power with age.”
With these two big punchers there is no way this fight is going the distance. This fight will end in a knockout.”
Ike Ibeabuchi is an undefeated Nigerian-American heavyweight boxer with a professional record of 20 wins and 0 losses, with 15 knockouts.
He is the biggest “what if’s” in heavyweight championship history.
Danny Williams is a British professional boxer with a record of 54 wins and 33 losses, with 43 knockouts. He is best known for his shock win over the famed Mike Tyson in a non-heavyweight title fight in 2004.
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