TheCable

Mike Tyson, former heavyweight boxing champion, has backed Tyson Fury to overcome Anthony Joshua in their proposed unification bout for a new undisputed heavyweight boxing champion.

Joshua, the British-Nigerian unified champion, is set to fight Fury later this year after the pair signed a £200m two-bout deal last week.

But in an interview with Haute Living, Tyson, 54, who was once the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990, explained why he thinks Fury will beat Joshua.

Mike Tyson is backing Tyson Fury over Anthony Joshua…

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[📽️ Haute Living] pic.twitter.com/gd4G18Z9F4

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) March 23, 2021

When asked who would win between the British boxers, Iron Mike said Joshua would not land a punch against Fury, the WBC and Lineal heavyweight champion.

“Listen, I love Anthony Joshua but I really think Tyson is too elusive, he’s not going to hit him,” the Brooklyn-born boxer said.

“Let’s keep it honest, maybe he punches harder than Wilder but he doesn’t punch faster. If he doesn’t punch faster than Wilder he’s not gonna punch this guy [Fury].

“He punches hard but he doesn’t punch fast, and if Tyson Fury can get away from Wilder’s fast punches Joshua might be in trouble.”

Tyson recently came out of retirement to fight an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr. in November last year.

In the interview, he added that he would be fighting Evander Holyfield, his former nemesis, in another exhibition match on May 29.

“I just want everybody to know, the fight is on with me and Holyfield. Holyfield’s a humble man, I know that. And he’s a man of God, but I’m God’s man. And, listen, I’m going to be successful on May 29th,” he said.

Tyson had previously fought Holyfield twice — in 1996 and 1997 — but lost on both occasions.