Peter Fury plotted the downfall of Wladimir Klitschko and has given a game plan for Anthony Joshua ahead of the world heavyweight title fight. Joshua takes a substantial step up in class against Klitschko this Saturday night, with the unbeaten 27-year-old facing a hugely experienced former champion in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley.
Klitschko's lengthy reign at the top of the division was finally ended by a points defeat to Tyson Fury in November 2015, and we spoke to the man who devised that winning formula in Dusseldorf. Trainer Fury revealed a few of his tactics and offered his own opinion on how Joshua can topple Klitschko.
What are Wladimir's main strengths?
Very, very clever, very astute. This is the first real, big heavyweight he's [Joshua] had in front of him that can box, and can also punch back.
Wladimir ticks all the boxes. The only boxes he doesn't tick are his age. Is the desire still there? These are all big question marks. Has the loss to Tyson completely affected him? Was he at the end of his reign when Tyson boxed him then? Who knows what we are going to see?
If we see a fully determined Klitschko, then it's worrying, and I would have to fancy Klitschko to win it.
What were your tactics?
We constructed that game plan and Tyson carried it out brilliantly. Tyson is an elite boxer. He is very awkward, personified, so it wasn't because Klitschko couldn't throw anything, he just wasn't allowed to throw anything.
But that's Tyson. Joshua is not Tyson.
Did you disrupt Klitschko's game plan?
Absolutely, it's all about offsetting your opponent. It's a lot more to it. It's not about what you can do, it's what you can make your opponent do. Everything is astutely looked at.
Can Joshua follow that blueprint?
He's got to come up with his own one [game plan]. They are all different styles aren't they. Nobody has got Tyson Fury's style.
I don't see how Joshua is going to implement that. If he tries to implement that type of boxing, there is only one winner. I think Wladimir will walk away with it.
He's got to come for that knockout and he's got to bring it early. He's got to put Klitschko in shock, take him out of his stride, and rough him up properly. That is the only way he is going to handle Klitschko in my opinion.
What approach should Joshua employ?
For me, Joshua has got the power, he is saying all the right things - 'I do what I do best and I'm coming for a knockout.'
Joshua has got to be a lot more aggressive, even than what he has been in the past. He's got to really come to take him out. He's got to take it into a street fight.
If he applies a boxing match to this, I think only one winner, because he's got to take Wladimir out of his stride, not give him the time to set himself, and not give Wladimir the time to get into a routine.
How should Joshua start the fight?
From round one, he's got to get going, start winging them shots. He's a big, powerful lad. One of them has got to land and I think he can unsettle Wladimir like that.
Wladimir likes everything to be perfect. My opinion is - Joshua head down, hands up, and let those shots fly.
What do you expect from Klitschko?
I think Klitschko will come out and show something different. I think he will come out also a little bit aggressive, but controlled aggression. I think that's what we are going to see from Klitschko.
Toughest test of Joshua's career?
It's going to be a whole new ball park for Joshua, because at the moment Joshua has been swimming in that Olympic pool in Sheffield, but he's not been swimming in a force seven [wind] in the middle of the sea.
This is the difference in opposition. He's now in the middle of the sea.
Can you pick a winner?
First four rounds, Joshua to knock him out, after then Klitschko to knock him out. I would have to edge to Klitschko on the sheer experience and if he wants it.
But if I was a betting man, I wouldn't put money on it, because I don't know what Klitschko is turning up. I wouldn't bet on it.
