According to former world heavyweight champion David Haye, the time has come for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to put their differences aside and agree to a highly anticipated fight. As a two-weight world titlist and a former star of British heavyweight boxing, Haye believes this bout is essential for both fighters' legacies. Haye expressed his conviction 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 prove they battled each other and determine who emerged victorious." Both Fury and Joshua have recently lost their world titles to Oleksandr Usyk. Following a year-long break, Fury has returned to boxing, while Joshua is resuming training after recovering from a car accident.
Talks are underway for the two to face each other this year, with Joshua likely to participate in a warm-up bout first. Haye acknowledges that both fighters are past their prime but emphasizes that what matters is they are fighting each other now. He draws a comparison to the fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, which took place at their commercial peak rather than their fighting peak. Haye suggests that this could be Fury and Joshua's commercial peak, potentially earning them more money than they would have in their prime.
Fury's recent 12 rounds with Arslanbek Makhmudov have prepared him for the Joshua fight, according to Haye. He views this as a strategic move, with Makhmudov's similar dimensions and fighting style to Joshua's, allowing Fury to gauge his skills before the big fight.