Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are meeting at a press conference in London on Wednesday ahead of their December 11 fight at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Sky Sports‘ Matthew Macklin has spoken about what he expects when the two boxers face off.
The stakes are high
Macklin sees the psychological battle as central to the build-up. Boxing is an individual sport, he argues, and getting inside an opponent’s head can be half the fight.
“The psychological, mental aspect of boxing is huge. It’s an individual sport – one on one – so if you can get into the other guy’s head and help put him in a negative headspace, you’re halfway there.”
He also points to the pressure around the fight. Money, pride and ego are all on the line, and he says cracks are already appearing on both sides.
Fury will be animated
Macklin expects Fury to be the aggressor at the presser. He says Fury will “try every trick in the book” to unsettle Joshua.
“There will be people there who will try and control things as best they can, trying to make sure that nothing physical happens. But I’d expect Fury to be animated.”
By contrast, Macklin doubts Joshua will engage in the same way.
“I wouldn’t have said that the psychological warfare was as big a part of AJ’s game as it is Fury’s. I don’t think he’s as well versed in it.”
Joshua’s lesson from Froch
Macklin draws on a specific example to explain why Joshua might sit back.
He references Carl Froch’s fights with George Groves, arguing that the second meeting was more controlled than the first.
“I think he realised that for the first fight he wasted so much energy on things and fell into the traps that George was setting.”
Macklin cites Michael Corleone’s advice from The Godfather III: “Never hate your enemies, it affects your judgment.” He says that was a factor in Froch’s first fight with Groves.
AJ’s possible path
Macklin wonders if Joshua will follow the same playbook.
“I think he just chose to disengage. So maybe AJ will do similar and choose to not get involved?”
He acknowledges that the fight will likely go ahead despite the bumps on the way.
“I think we’ll get there. I think the fight will go ahead, but I do think there’ll be some twists and turns and bumps in the road on the way.”
What this means for the fight
The psychological edge is not just talk. Macklin describes confidence as key, and he says sowing doubt in an opponent’s mind can be a real advantage.
“A lot of people involved, a lot of money, a lot of pride, a lot of ego, so there’s already cracks appearing left, right and centre.”
The press conference on Wednesday will test both fighters’ approach.
The bottom line
Macklin’s prediction is a classic contrast between a showman and a quiet fighter, told through boxing lore and a movie quote. Fury will try every trick in the book, and Joshua may choose not to play along.
Source material: “Macklin: Fury will try every trick in the book to get to AJ,” Sky Sports.
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