David Haye: Fury and Joshua Need Each Other for Legacy Fight

According to David Haye, a former two-weight world champion, the time has come for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to finally step into the ring together. Haye, who was a prominent figure in British heavyweight boxing before the rise of Joshua and Fury, is convinced that this fight is essential for both boxers' legacies. Haye expressed to Sky Sports, 'This is the biggest possible fight for both of them. They should be pushing for it and making it happen, as it is crucial for their individual legacies.' He emphasized that both fighters need this bout to prove they competed against each other during the same era and to determine who emerged victorious. Both Fury and Joshua have suffered losses to Oleksandr Usyk, with Fury recently returning to boxing after a year-long hiatus and Joshua resuming training after recovering from a car accident. Talks are underway for the two to face off this year, with Joshua likely to participate in 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 fighters are past their prime, he believes the fight's commercial peak could be now, potentially earning them more than they would have in their earlier years. Fury's recent 12 rounds with Arslanbek Makhmudov may have prepared him for the Joshua fight, according to Haye. 'It's a nice stepping stone to the big one, which is Anthony Joshua,' Haye said. 'From Fury's perspective, he's chosen an opponent with similar dimensions to Joshua, someone big and strong, but not too slick in terms of head movement, with a vertical arm defense similar to AJ.'