According to David Haye, a former two-weight world champion, the time has come for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to finally face each other in the ring. Haye, who was a prominent figure in British heavyweight boxing before Joshua and Fury rose to fame, is convinced that this fight is essential for both boxers.
Haye expressed his thoughts to Sky Sports, stating, "This is the biggest fight they could possibly have, and they should be pushing for it. They both need each other for different reasons, primarily to solidify their legacies and prove who was the better fighter in their era." Both Fury and Joshua have recently suffered losses to Oleksandr Usyk, and they are now looking to bounce back. Fury has just returned to boxing after a year-long hiatus, while Joshua is resuming training after recovering from a car accident that claimed the lives of two of his close friends. There are ongoing discussions for Fury and Joshua to fight later this year, with Joshua likely to have a warm-up bout first.
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealed that they have received a contract for the Fury fight, which is currently being discussed. Although Haye acknowledges that both boxers are past their prime, he believes the fight can still be a highly lucrative and exciting event. "Maybe they will earn more money now than they would have if they had fought earlier, just like Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, who didn't fight in their prime but at their commercial peak," Haye said.
Fury's recent 12-round fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov may have prepared him for the upcoming bout with Joshua. Haye thinks that Fury has chosen an opponent with similar dimensions to Joshua, which could be a useful stepping stone for the big fight.
From Fury's perspective, Haye believes he has selected an opponent that will help him prepare for Joshua, someone with similar size, strength, and fighting style. Fury is confident that he still has what it takes to beat Joshua, and this fight is exactly what the fans want to see.