Anthony Joshua’s prospects in the possible title fight with Tyson Fury shouldn’t be discounted, according to Deontay Wilder’s head trainer Malik Scott.
The current WBC heavyweight champion, Fury, squared off against Wilder three times.
Fury overcame two knockdowns to defeat Wilder in the 11th round of their third meeting, which occurred in October of last year.
To fight for the WBC title on December 3, Fury and Joshua are now in advanced negotiations.
As the unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk, who is considerably smaller than Tyson Fury, who many consider to be the best heavyweight in the sport right now, has defeated Joshua twice, the public perceives Joshua as a major underdog in the bout.
Scott, though, is of a different opinion. He said to Fair Betting Sites:
“It’s a great time for AJ to take the Fury fight. I believe AJ is in a mindset that he has something to prove. He wants to get back up on the horse. He wants to go again. Tyson and him have always wanted to fight each other, the big question, is it really going to happen? I mean, nowadays we’re just in the place where there is so much business and people are so selfish and everyone wants to be greedy.
“But what I like the most and what you have to give AJ credit for is he said whatever deal that they’re offering. You have to respect that, absolutely. He said whatever deal they offer me, I’ll take. He believes he can beat Tyson Fury. I believe AJ believes he can beat Tyson Fury.”
While the majority believe Joshua has no chance at all, Scott is adamant that the British-Nigerian star fighter possesses the talent to defy the odds. He said, “It’s a tough job for AJ but in my opinion, he has a pedigree, he has a gold medal, he has ability. AJ can punch, he’s a strong kid. He’s big. It can almost come across, when you think about all those attributes, like, hold up, this is Anthony Joshua. Let’s back up. How could he not win? I think personally the people who are giving him no shot at all are crazy. I think people who are giving AJ no shot at all – that’s blasphemous. I do not agree with that at all.”
“Fury’s been on fire. He’s been smoking everybody. Yeah, but he’s also more vulnerable than he’s ever been. Fury also gives you an opportunity to hit him more than he ever did too, and in the heavyweight division, I just can’t have full confidence in someone that gives you an opportunity to hit them, I just can’t do that. He said it himself, he’s very vulnerable. He’s very vulnerable as a fighter. But that’s what makes him exciting as well.”
As of last weekend, Joshua’s team had received a contract from Fury’s camp, according to the most recent information on the fight front.
In his Star column, promoter Frank Warren disclosed,
“The contracts have been sent to Anthony Joshua’s team.
“Now we wait for them to go through them and sign so we can get one of British boxing’s biggest events on.
“All our side is on board for this fight. Tyson Fury is eager for it as he showed last week by calling out his fellow Brit.”
