'They'll be hating each other!' - Nelson: Don’t let AJ and Fury smiles fool you! — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Johnny Nelson called the first Fury-Joshua press conference a "soft launch," expecting real "ruckus" and animosity to emerge as the December 11 Cardiff date approaches, likening the build-up to a 100-metre sprint where "hating" kicks in around 20-50 metres down the track
- Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua traded taunts but also shared mutual respect at their long-awaited first media event, a demeanor Nelson says "shocked" observers given years of public back-and-forth
- Nelson predicted the fight will likely not last past five rounds, saying "boxing Fury is like trying to hit with a bag of rice," and expects "rocks" and at least one canvas visit
- Nelson leaned toward Fury winning, reasoning that Fury's style suits an older age while Joshua appeared "vulnerable" and "susceptible" to damage in his last fight
- Nelson said both fighters are past their prime and the bout "should have happened five years ago," describing it now as "more business than pleasure" rather than a clash of two hungry warriors
- Nelson expects Fury to "come out and have a tear-up," referencing his pre-fight prediction against Deontay Wilder that Fury then delivered on
- The Fury-Joshua fight is booked for Friday December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, capping a rivalry Nelson says has had a "10-year build-up"
Why it matters: Nelson — a former heavyweight champion himself — is breaking from his stated AJ fandom to pick Fury, grounding his call in Joshua's visible decline and the reality both are past their athletic prime. His prediction that the bout won't go five rounds carries real stakes for promoters, broadcasters, and PPV buyers banking on a dramatic, decisive ending rather than a long, attritional chess match.
Ask SkimNews
