Anthony Joshua backed to KO Tyson Fury by Barry Hearn who predicts £100m earnings for British rivals

ANTHONY JOSHUA would knock Tyson Fury spark out if their eagerly-anticipated Battle of Britain comes to fruition.

The pair were on course to fight last year until Joshua was turned over in his Tottenham tussle with new unified heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk.

AFP

A Battle of Britain between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is still a possibility[/caption]

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AJ’s chances of winning the domestic dust-up have been written off by many[/caption]

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AJ’s chances of getting the better of Fury have since been written off, but Matchroom Boxing founder Barry Hearn believes the Watford warrior has what it takes to win the domestic dust-up.

During an appearance on BBC Breakfast, Hearn said: “Obviously I’m a Joshua man and I get criticised all the time because I think Joshua beats Fury.

“Joshua is my friend and also my client so I am biased.

‘But I am biased and that’s why people like me in their corner because I only know black and white, I’m either with you or against you.

“I like Tyson Fury, I think he is a great fighter and he is world No 1, no question.

“But Usyk and Joshua have got to fight first and hopefully…. don’t do anything silly, Tyson. Don’t retire, you nummy!”

Fury, 33, teased retirement after his stunning sixth-round knockout of Dillian Whyte late last month but Hearn is convinced The Gypsy King will fight again.

He said: “Of course, he doesn’t mean it, do you have any idea how much money is in that fight?

“There’s £100million plus.

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“I don’t care how much money you have got, there is one more fight to make sure your family is protected forever.”

Although he’s confident of AJ getting the better of Fury, Hearn is under no illusion of the size of the task on the Olympic gold medallist’s hands.

He admitted: “He is a really difficult man to fight and there is really only one way to beat Tyson Fury and that is you have to attack him and try to knock him out.

“You can’t try to out-box him because he is too smart for you. He is too good and Usyk is a bit like that as well.”

Before Joshua can think about throwing down with Fury, he must first win his high-stakes rematch with Usyk.

A date for the pair’s second showdown hasn’t been finalised, but it’s understood that the fight is likely to take place in Saudi Arabia on July 23.

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