Anthony Joshua has given his verdict on who will emerge victorious when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk rematch later this year.

Joshua has a long history with both fighters, having engaged in a near decade-long war of words with Fury that has yet to materialise into Britain’s two premier heavyweights meeting inside the ring.

Meanwhile Usyk inflicted back-to-back defeats on the Olympic gold medallist across 2021 and 2022  taking his unified world titles in the process.

Since then, Joshua has rebounded in spectacular fashion, reeling off four wins on the bounce including a devastating second-round KO of former UFC champion Francis Ngannou back in March.

With his own world title clash against Daniel Dubois on the horizon, Joshua gave his thoughts on one of the most highly-anticipated rematches in boxing history.

Anthony Joshua has given his verdict on the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury
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Anthony Joshua has given his verdict on the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury

Joshua revealed that he believes Usyk will once again do enough to get his hand raised
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Joshua revealed that he believes Usyk will once again do enough to get his hand raised

The former heavyweight champion also insisted a clash between himself and Fury is on the cards for 2025
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The former heavyweight champion also insisted a clash between himself and Fury is on the cards for 2025

‘I think it’s going to be a tough fight early on and then I feel like Usyk will edge it again,’ Joshua told Queensberry Promotions.

‘He’s a class operator and I feel like Usyk’s one of the best out there. That’s why I think he’ll win.’

The Ukrainian inflicted the first defeat of Fury’s professional career when the pair first met in May, piling on the pressure in the later rounds and coming close to stopping Fury in the ninth, en route to a decision win.

In doing so Usyk became the first fighter to be crowned undisputed king of the heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis, though his IBF title was later stripped and will now be on the line for AJ’s clash with Dubois.

Although he insisted his full focus remains on becoming just the fifth man to win the heavyweight title on three separate occasions, Joshua remained adamant that he hopes to one day face off against Fury inside the ring.

‘Yeah, it needs to happen,’ Joshua continued. ‘It’s just taken long. It needs to happen, but he’s got his hands full and so have I.

But first he will need to get past Daniel Dubois next month with the IBF title on the line
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But first he will need to get past Daniel Dubois next month with the IBF title on the line

‘Let’s both do our jobs, and we’ll see a positive 2025, I’m sure of it, because as we know, the people that are listening want to make good things happen.

‘So potentially, we might see Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua enter a ring in collaboration with Riyadh Season here in London.’