Ricky Hatton believes that the boxing industry will have “f***** up” if Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua never happens.
The former world champion made the admission as he assessed the Gypsy Kings’ chances for his festive rematch against Oleksandr Usyk. The heavyweight pair meet again on Saturday, December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the Ukrainian’s IBO, WBC and WBO world heavyweight titles on the line. Back in May, Usyk overcame a tough start against Fury to take over in the second round for a split decision win after nine rounds.
But Hatton claims Tyson Fury still has a good chance of avenging his defeat – and needs to if his bout with AJ is ever to happen. Joshua’s potential rematch with Daniel Dubois is also critical to make boxing fans’ dreams come true. Speaking in an interview with US sports media company, The Action Network, Hatton said: “I do think Tyson, and I say this with love, has reached as good as he’s going to be. His lifestyle over the years, when he went through that bad period and had to lose all of the weight, will catch up with you eventually and I think Tyson has found himself at that point. But I do think he still has a good chance of winning the rematch. The fact he is the naturally bigger man will work in his favour.”
Hatton has seen Fury‘s undeniable ability first hand – both on the pads and between the ears. He said: “He’s a lot bigger and taller than Usyk and is a very clever thinking fighter. When he used to train in my gym when Ben Davison used to train him, I used to stand back and watch him in amazement and admiration on just how clever he is. He can fight up close, fight on the back foot and the fact that he is a clever fighter, he will be able to go away, study the fight, watch the fight and clean up a few little things and put them right. The only problem is, Oleksandr Usyk is a fantastic thinking fighter as well.”
“It will be a very similar, close fight and is one of them that could go either way. If I was giving Tyson any advice, not that he needs it from me, his tactics could be a little bit better where he uses his size to his advantage.
“Usyk is a hell of a fighter, but he was letting him bully him all over the ring and you’d have thought Usyk was the man mountain and Tyson was the little fella the way he was pushing him around the ring. If Tyson holds his feet a little bit better and hits him hard, leans on him a little more, certainly in the early rounds then I think that will make a difference.”
Hatton also believes Joshua has to beat Daniel Dubois, if a rematch were to happen, calling Fury v Joshua the “biggest fight in British boxing history”. If they never end up going head-to-head then he thinks boxing has “f***** up”.
He added: “We’re all starting to think has Tyson got too many miles on the clock now? It seems to be the case after the last couple of fights. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in this one. But I don’t see the fight happening now, I think we’ve lost our chance, and it was criminal it didn’t happen a few years ago when they were both in their prime. It would be criminal if that fight doesn’t happen. Let’s have our fingers crossed as boxing fans.”