Odds Say Tyson Fury Won’t Fight Anthony Joshua in 2020, But Is Favored in Potential Bout
- Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is a title unification bout that boxing fans have long been clamoring for
- Does this fight come to fruition this calendar year? Who secures the victory if it happens?
- Check out the odds for the two questions above, the sweet science analysis, and my predictions on all of these things below
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is a fight that has been discussed by those in the boxing sphere for several years. A multitude of factors have gotten in the way of these two locking horns. Joshua has long been criticized for how he is booked and how his handlers use him in a very risk-averse fashion.
It’s a strategy that has kept AJ from bouts with names like Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury. The recent series Joshua had with Andy Ruiz Jr coupled with Fury’s impressive win over Wilder in the rematch has created a set of circumstances where Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua has a greater likelihood of being booked now. More so than ever before.
Tyson Fury to Fight Anthony Joshua in 2020 Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +200 |
| No | -260 |
Odds taken Feb. 24
The performance that Fury put on in the Wilder rematch was a sweet science masterclass. The feints, the footwork, the defensive savvy, and the offensive effectiveness was all there for The Gypsy King. The seventh-round stoppage victory came when Wilder’s corner threw in the towel and the referee intervened. Deontay Wilder entered the rematch as the favorite but odds have been put out for a prospective trilogy bout and Fury is the favorite over Wilder.
Tyson Fury is now favourite to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2020.https://t.co/0sJb1y8Ajn
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) February 24, 2020
Joshua taking on the winner of Wilder vs Fury II seemed quite likely in the lead up to that big rematch. Fury threw a bit of a wrench in the plans with his post-fight press conference. Tyson Fury indicated he was looking toward a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder for his next outing. Fury truly has a savvy mind for the business end of prizefighting. He realizes that the AJ fight is still there but he understands that the Wilder trilogy would need to be capitalized on sooner rather than later.
Pick: No (-260)
UK Heavyweight Mega-Fight
The dialogue around Wilder vs Fury III is so strong that Wilder favored as Fury’s next opponent. Not Anthony Joshua. There has been a lot of talk surrounding the idea that Joshua could fight Kubrat Pulev. If the money-minded forces within boxing guide us towards a trilogy bout between Fury and Wilder, I can certainly see Joshua defending against Pulev in the interim. Pulev is one of two mandatory challengers waiting in the wings for the multi-title holding world champion Anthony Joshua.
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tyson Fury | -150 |
| Anthony Joshua | +130 |
It seems like things are shaping up whereby Joshua and Fury would fight each other in late 2020 at the earliest but more than likely in the earlier part of 2021. Fury has a couple of fights left on his present contract and has been a little nebulous about his fighting future. Almost indicating that his career would reach a closure point with the end of his present contractual agreement.
Fury vs Joshua would represent a chance to unify all major belts in the heavyweight division. A feat that has not been done in two decades. Stylistically I believe the fight would be a fun one with Joshua having an approach that could lead to a fun heavyweight fight with the lienal champion. With talks of Wilder vs Fury III, Anthony Joshua’s promoter came out to have his say and what he thinks the next step should be.
No need for a third let’s go straight to it in the Summer! #undisputed
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 23, 2020
Some of Joshua’s bigger performances have revealed some flaring issues with his chin. Getting dropped by Wladimir Klitschko and the KO loss to Andy Ruiz Jr creates a narrative that Joshua has a glass jaw. With Fury being a technically savvy boxer with more than capable finishing power (as evidenced in his last victory), this does not bode well for AJ. In the end, Tyson Fury gets it done. Whenever he ends up stepping into the ring with Anthony Joshua.
Pick: Tyson Fury (-150)
A part-time writer and full-time broadcaster, Dylan has hosted MMA talk shows Lights Out and Pure Fight Radio with featured guests like Jens Pulver, Roy Nelson, Miesha Tate, and covered some of the biggest MMA promotions like Rumble in the Cage, Unified MMA, and King of the Cage.
