Johnny Nelson says Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s smiles at their first press conference were just a cover, and that the real rivalry will surface as the Cardiff fight approaches.
The British heavyweights met in London on Wednesday evening for their long-awaited first face-to-face press conference. They traded taunts but also showed mutual respect. Nelson, Sky Sports Boxing’s expert, says that was just a soft launch.
He expects the animosity to heat up as the weeks pass.
Nelson’s Kettle Boiling
Nelson compares the build-up to a 100-metre sprint. Ten weeks remain until the fight at Principality Stadium on December 11, and he says the first week was all niceties.
As the weeks roll on, he says the rivalry will tighten like runners closing in on the finish line. By the time they reach the halfway mark, the tension will be close to its peak.
He believes the public was subdued at the conference because of all the back-and-forth they have seen previously. “Let’s see if this is for real,” he said.
The words will get worse as the weeks roll on, he predicts. Tyson’s potty mouth will come into play, and litigation and threats will follow.
Boys Turn Into Men
Nelson notes that Fury and Joshua are now grown-ups with families. They conduct themselves better now, but he expects them to regress as the fight gets closer.
“It’s like a kettle boiling and thinking: ‘Right, they’re finally in the room together.'” For the first time we’ve seen them head-to-head, these guys were just grown up.
“They were boys, now they’re men. They’ve got children, they’ve got responsibilities. So now they probably conduct themselves a little better, but they’ll turn back into boys again as it gets closer to the fight.”
The Fight Itself
Nelson expects Fury to come out and have a tear-up, as he did against Deontay Wilder. He knows Tyson Fury thinks Anthony Joshua isn’t good going backwards.
“I don’t think Joshua wants this fight to go the distance where it depends on Fury’s boxing skills, because boxing Fury is like trying to hit with a bag of rice,” he said. “So I’d be very surprised if the fight went past five rounds.”
But for five rounds, it will be drama.
“There’ll be rocks, people will be hitting the canvas; it’s going to be absolute drama.”
Past Their Prime
Nelson admits they are both past their prime. He has always been an AJ fan, but he says Fury has a little more left.
AJ looked vulnerable. He looked susceptible. He looked like he could be hurt.
And Tyson may not look as sharp and on point as he did 10 years ago, as he did when he boxed Wilder the first time.
Fury’s style suits an older age, Nelson says, while Joshua’s style means he will hit you if you don’t hit him first. At this stage in their careers, it leans towards Fury.
Business Transaction
Nelson calls the fight a business transaction that will turn personal as it goes on. He says it is more business than pleasure.
He expects the atmosphere to be electric. It’s going to be such an atmosphere. It’s going to be a great story.
He also predicts the fight should have happened five years ago, when both were mature and in their prime.
Who Wins
Nelson is leaning towards Fury. He knows he is an AJ fan, but he says you have to say what you see.
At least we’re getting it. At least the fans are going to see it. At least the place is going to be packed out.
The build-up has been 10 years in the making.
Comparison Table
| Fighter | Style | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Tyson Fury | Champs at the bit | Leans towards Fury |
| Anthony Joshua | Hits you if you don’t hit him | Vulnerable, but dangerous |
Nelson’s prediction is that Fury will come out aggressive, the words will get worse, and the fight will be drama from start to finish. The smiles were a cover, and the kettle is boiling.
The fight will be a business deal turned personal.
Source material: “'They'll be hating each other!' – Nelson: Don’t let AJ and Fury smiles fool you!,” Sky Sports.
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