According to David Haye, a former two-weight world champion, the time has come for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to put their differences aside and agree to a fight. Haye, who was a prominent figure in British heavyweight boxing before the rise of Joshua and Fury, is adamant that this is the biggest and most significant bout both fighters could possibly have. He emphasizes that they both need each other to cement their legacies and prove who was the better fighter during their era.
"They should be pushing for it, pressing for it, they have to make it happen," Haye stated in an interview with Sky Sports. Haye acknowledges that both Fury and Joshua have lost their world titles to Oleksandr Usyk and are now looking to regain their footing in the boxing world. Fury has recently returned to boxing after a year-long hiatus, while Joshua is resuming training after recovering from a car accident.
There are ongoing discussions for the two to face off this year, with Joshua likely to participate in a warm-up bout first. Haye recognizes that both fighters may be past their prime but believes the fight could still be a commercial success, drawing comparisons to the highly anticipated bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. He also thinks that Fury's recent 12-round fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov could serve as a useful stepping stone for his potential matchup with Joshua.