If I were Fury, I would be doing everything to make the Joshua fight.

I've never had any sense that Fury really believes he can beat Joshua enough to outweigh the risk he gets starched like Ngannou.

Fury would never live down getting KTFO by Joshua I don't think - at least with the Usyk fights Fury can cling to the delusion that they were close and he 'won' etc.

My 2c

 

Agreed. But it appears that we, the fans, are the only ones who want to see this fight. Fury made it clear he doesn’t care for it, and AJ isn’t vocal but I don’t get the feeling he particularly plans on trying to fight Fury either.

 

If Fury had enough sting to keep AJ back, he'd win easy. AJ has a puncher's chance.

 

Fury / AJ would have run huuuge numbers if it had happened back in the day when they both were unbeaten. Right now its still a good fight but I suspect nowhere near as wanted 'back in the day'.

 

I thought Fury had multiple elbow surgeries and that his knees were shot a couple years ago? It comes with being 6'8, but I think he's done now.

 

AJ was all for this fight after Fury lost to Usyk the second time. Fury didn't want it. Still doesn't want it. I don't know why -- you'd have to make Fury a heavy favorite. Or is Fury's chin that gone that he's legitimately afraid of AJ?

 

Maybe Fury/Wilder rejecting to fight AJ could have been some attempt to freeze AJ out of the division or rotation, to cheapen AJs legacy in the future, while they all fight eachother. Or just both intimidated

 

Wilder not wanting the fight I understand. Any sane person would make AJ the heavy favorite there.

 

I agree. It'll be a damn shame if we never get to see this one. AJ-Wilder is already looking like the Bowe-Lewis of this generation, no need to have two of those.

Turki recently said he still wants to see the fight though, and he tends to get what he wants, especially with guys he's already worked with. There's still some hope at least.

Problem is, he also said he wants them both to have a tune up. Which I get, but come on man, just get them in the ring. So what if they're coming off of losses and not bringing any hardware, it's still the biggest names in British boxing in recent years. It'll bring in money and eyes no matter what. So many of his plans have been derailed by tune ups that went wrong, why risk adding yet another to that list. Let's not forget, we were supposed to see AJ-Wilder last March til Parker came to Day of Reckoning with other plans

 

I think it will happen. Fury saying there is not chance of it happening probably means it will happen lol.

 

Fury's boxing IQ is truly great. great enough that he knows what fights to stay away from style wise.

 

Starting to look like its a fight furys avoided. Also starting to look like its something that could tarnish furys career a bit imo. Usyk already did that to an extent but people would be up for putting it down to usyk just being a generational great and fury on the downward slope a bit. Fair enough.

But the avoidance of joshua is getting to the point furys just making excuses to avoid him now. Always been of the opinion fury would outbox him handily but i think fury fears getting caught. Getting in their and getting beat off joshua will tarnish his career a bit....but avoiding him will tarnish it more imo

 

I think he knows theres a fair chance Joshua will KTFO him, and his ego and pride won't allow him to take the risk.
He already can't call himself the best heavyweight of his generation after his losses to Usyk, and if Joshua beats him he can't even call himself the best British heavyweight of his generation.

I honestly think it's a 50-50 fight but it's been clear for years at this point that Fury is the reason the fight isn't getting made, not Joshua.

 

True, if he had a bit of sense, that's what he'd do. But Fury is not a rational, sensible man.