Wladimir Klitschko, the former heavyweight champion, is backing Nigerian-born British boxer Anthony Joshua to beat Tyson Fury in a future showdown. Klitschko, who faced both fighters later in his career—losing to Fury in a controversial decision in 2015 and to Joshua by knockout in 2016—believes Joshua has what it takes to come out on top.
Klitschko praised Joshua’s physical attributes and ongoing improvements, calling him a “complete fighter.” He pointed out Joshua’s technical skills, size, weight, and power as key factors that could lead to a victory over Fury.
“Joshua, hands down,” Klitschko said when asked about a potential clash between Joshua and Fury. “He’s becoming a complete fighter—technically, size-wise, weight-wise, and power-wise. And he learns well.”
Klitschko’s comments add excitement to the prospect of a unification bout between Joshua and Fury. Despite Fury’s strong performance in recent fights, including his trilogy with Deontay Wilder, Klitschko has expressed concerns about Fury’s long-term discipline, comparing him to “a fart in the wind” and questioning his ability to stay at the top.
“The other guy (Fury), like a fart in the wind, it’s there and then it’s gone,” Klitschko said. “There are many examples in boxing history of this type of fighter—successful for a time but lacking the discipline to maintain that success.”
The boxing scene has evolved since Klitschko’s retirement, with Joshua facing recent challenges, including losses to Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk. However, Joshua has a chance to revive his career with an upcoming fight against IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois in September.
Fury is also preparing for a rematch with Usyk, aiming to reclaim the world titles. If both Joshua and Fury secure victories in their respective fights, a highly anticipated unification bout could be on the cards for 2025.
