EXCLUSIVE
Anthony Joshua has told talkSPORT that he is picking Oleksandr Usyk to beat Tyson Fury next month.
The pair square off on May 18 in Saudi Arabia in the first undisputed heavyweight world title showdown of the four-belt era.
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They were originally scheduled to duke it out on February 17, however, the contest was pushed back by a month after Fury suffered a cut in sparring.
Joshua will have a vested interest in the fight, as he is targeting a bout against the winner.
Speaking to talkSPORT's Jon Jackson ahead of the Formula E Monaco E-Prix, Joshua gave his prediction for the blockbuster showdown: "Well look I've fought Oleksandr Usyk so I can go only speak on what I have experienced from him.
"Phenomenal fighter, does everything to a tee and I would say he is going to do a really good job.
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"I have never fought Tyson Fury so I can't really speak on how he will perform or what it is like to face him so only speaking on what I know I would have to say Oleksandr Usyk will be victorious."
AJ has fought Usyk twice, losing both fights over the distance.
When they first met in September 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Joshua was no match for Usyk as he was thoroughly outboxed.
But when they rematched 11 months later the Watford powerhouse showed marked improvements and was even given the nod on one of the three judges' scorecards, although the consensus is that he lost the fight by two to four rounds.
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Fury and Joshua have been in talks to face each other on several occasions to no avail.
Yet it appears boxing fans are likely to see the fight sooner rather than later due to Saudi Arabia's involvement.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, recently named Fury vs Joshua among the top three fights he hopes to make in the future alongside Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez and Artur Beterbiev vs David Benavidez.
Matchroom boxing promoter Eddie Hearn does a U-turn on his Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk prediction as he previews the heavyweight showdown
Fury and Usyk have a two-way rematch clause signed into their contracts so it is likely Joshua will have to wait until their agreement is fulfilled.
But providing Fury wins both bouts and Joshua continues to get his hand raised, the all-British showdown could easily be made in 2025.
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