Boxing champion Claressa Shields recently stated her support for Anthony Joshua in a fictitious bout versus Tyson Fury in an interview with VegasInsider.com.
Despite Fury’s impressive record and statistics, Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed middleweight champion, believes Joshua has what it takes to defeat Fury.
“I think Tyson is a fantastic fighter and an excellent opponent for AJ. But I’m on a roll with AJ,” Shields remarked, expressing her belief in Joshua’s s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s. She emphasized Joshua’s development and learning experiences, including the lessons he learned following his surprising defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019.
“I think he learnt a lot from the Andy Ruiz fight. I just think now AJ knows to over prepare, over focus, put boxing first. So I don’t think that he’ll be facing another defeat for a very, very long time,” Shields explained.
Shields detailed the keys to Joshua’s potential victory over Fury, focusing on specific aspects of his technique and strategy. “The keys to victories will be his head movement, his jab, body work and using his combinations and I think he’s been doing that very well in all of his fights. He’s just going to have to be perfect that night because Tyson Fury is someone to be reckoned with.”
While acknowledging Fury’s formidable s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s, Shields remains steadfast in her belief that Joshua has the edge. “Tyson Fury got a great jab, good footwork, movement, he holds some power, but I just think AJ brings more to the table s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁swise. If AJ brings his A-game, focuses and uses all his s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s; like I said, he’s going to need his jab intact, the head movement, the bodywork, everything in order to win that fight,” she stated.
Shields also noted Fury’s need to be at his best to secure a win against Joshua. “Tyson Fury is going to have to fight his butt off too in order to beat AJ,” she remarked, adding her admiration for Joshua’s resilience and heart. “I feel like AJ got a lot of heart, I see him get dropped by [Wladimir] Klitschko and get back up and I’m a huge supporter of him.”
As the boxing world eagerly anticipates the possibility of a clash between Joshua and Fury, Claressa Shields’ endorsement adds an interesting perspective to the ongoing debates. Her analysis underscores the potential for an epic battle, should the two British heavyweights finally meet in the ring.