Roy Jones Jr has told talkSPORT that Anthony Joshua may end up holding the key to Tyson Fury’s heavyweight return.
The Gypsy King was dethroned of his WBC crown by in May, and the Ukrainian emerged from their battle as undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight world champion.
Usyk has since vacated his IBF belt, but will defend the WBA, WBC and WBO in his rematch with Fury, which is planned for December 21.
Meanwhile, that vacated IBF strap now belongs to When he beat Usyk’s mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic in June, Dubois claimed the IBF ‘interim’ belt, and so was upgraded to become the full champion after the Ukrainian gave it up.
“I think Joshua is gonna be the favourite because of his past,” Jones Jr told talkSPORT Drive when asked about that fight.
“He just had a great fight with Francis Ngannou, but Ngannou is not Daniel Dubois.
“So it’s gonna be interesting for a few rounds, but if Joshua goes out and it’s the Joshua we wanna see, I think he’ll be dominant and be victorious.
As Jones Jr rightly pointed out, AJ is indeed the favourite in that fight.
Likewise, Usyk is the favourite to defeat Fury again on December 21.
Asked if he believes Fury will become champion again, Jones Jr replied: “I don’t know because here’s the thing.
“I feel like if Joshua wins the title and if Usyk is able to beat Fury again, then the next fight I think people in the UK will wanna see will be Fury vs Joshua for Joshua’s title.
“And that’s a 50/50 fight to me. A real pick ’em.”
In this scenario, AJ would be the defending IBF world champion and offering Fury a lifeline to resurrect his career.
Time will tell how things play out in the fascinating heavyweight landscape.
