Mexican boxing star Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has backed Anthony Joshua to emerge victorious if the long-awaited showdown between the British-Nigerian and Tyson Fury ever materialises.
Despite both British heavyweights losing their titles to Oleksandr Usyk, the prospect of an all-British clash between Joshua and Fury remains one of the most talked-about bouts in the boxing world.
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Fans have long clamoured for the fight, which many believe would settle the debate on who truly is the best heavyweight of their generation.
In a recent interview with DAZN Boxing, Alvarez was asked who he thinks would win if the two former champions finally squared off. Without hesitation, Canelo threw his weight behind the perceived underdog.
“Joshua,” the undisputed super middleweight champion responded.
The match-up has drawn comparisons to previous high-profile boxing duels that took years to come together, such as the infamous Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao bout in 2015.
Though the fight eventually happened, it was widely regarded as coming too late, with both fighters past their primes.
The same fate could befall the Joshua-Fury bout, which has seen numerous negotiations fall apart over the years.
However, with both heavyweights aiming to reclaim world titles in their upcoming fights—Joshua against Daniel Dubois for the IBF title and Fury in a rematch against Usyk for the WBO, WBA, and WBC belts—the stage could be set for a blockbuster clash.
Should they both emerge victorious, boxing fans might finally get to witness the epic contest that has been years in the making. And if Canelo’s prediction is anything to go by, Joshua might just have the edge in what would be one of the most significant heavyweight bouts in modern boxing history.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
