Oleksandr Usyk thinks Anthony Joshua would beat Mike Tyson in his prime. The unified heavyweight champion shared this surprising view during a recent interview.
Usyk, who holds the WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles, made this bold claim while chatting with MailSport Boxing. When asked who'd win between 'AJ' and Tyson, Usyk simply answered, "Anthony Joshua."
Mike Tyson, now 58, is still seen as one of the most fearsome heavyweights ever. He became the youngest world heavyweight champion in 1986 and was undisputed from 1987 to 1990. Tyson ended his career with 50 wins, 44 by knockout.
Joshua, 35, turned pro in 2013 after winning Olympic Gold. He's been world heavyweight champion twice, beating big names like Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Alexander Povetkin along the way.
Usyk knows Joshua well, having beaten him twice. The Ukrainian first took AJ's titles in September 2021 and then won their rematch in Riyadh by split decision.
Joshua's last fight didn't go his way. He lost by knockout to Daniel Dubois, who's now the IBF heavyweight champ. But AJ's not giving up. He plans to return to the ring in 2025, aiming to become a three-time heavyweight champion.
While Joshua works on his comeback, he might face Deontay Wilder next. Both fighters want to bounce back from recent losses.
Sadly for British boxing fans, we probably won't see Joshua fight Tyson Fury. The 'Gypsy King' said earlier this month that he's retiring from boxing.
As for Usyk's opinion on Joshua beating a prime Tyson, it's got people talking. But in boxing, as in life, we'll never know for sure. That's what makes these "what if" debates so much fun for fight fans.
