Former heavyweight champion David Haye has emphasized the necessity of a showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, calling it the most significant matchup available for both fighters.
Interest in the potential bout surged earlier this month after the two heavyweights exchanged words at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a moment that reignited a rivalry that has seen several previously scheduled matches fall through. The renewed tension followed Joshua’s appearance at Fury’s recent victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov, further stoking public demand for the clash.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Haye noted that the timing might actually benefit the fighters financially, admitting, “Maybe they will earn more money now than they would have done when it was first talked about.”
Beyond the financial incentives, Haye argued that the fight is essential for how both men will be remembered in the history of the sport.
“That’s the biggest fight they could both possibly have. They should be pushing it, they should be pressing it, they have to be,” Haye stated.
He concluded that both fighters require this matchup to define their standing in the current era, noting, “They both need each other, for their own legacies, different reasons. They both need to say Anthony Joshua was in the same era as Tyson Fury, vice versa, and they battled it out to figure out who won.”