Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan has asserted that neither Tyson Fury nor Anthony Joshua merits a shot at a world title ahead of their highly anticipated clash for the WBA ‘super’ championship. The two British heavyweights are scheduled to meet at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11, in a bout marketed as a decade in the making.
While the “Battle of Britain” finally nears fruition, it arrives at a stage where both fighters are past their absolute peak. Fury enters as the favorite for many following convincing wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach. Conversely, Joshua survived two knockdowns before stopping Kristian Prenga in July, raising renewed concerns about his durability.
Speaking to Boxing News, McGuigan pulled no punches regarding the title implications.
“I think it does [devalue the WBA title], but money talks all languages. It’s a big money fight.
“Even though both these guys have seen better days … it is a major event. Money talks and bulls**t walks … but let’s be honest: they don’t deserve to be fighting for a world title.
“Both of them have been beaten – [Oleksandr] Usyk battered both of them – and he [Usyk has] proved, unreservedly, that he’s the superior fighter.
“What have they [Fury and Joshua] done, since they’ve both been beaten by Usyk, to deserve to fight for a world title again?”
Although Joshua lost decisively to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, Fury was widely viewed as far more competitive in his two 2024 encounters with the undisputed champion.
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