Fury retired in early January, just weeks after his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. The surprise announcement came as a shock to many fans and pundits. Some speculate it might be a tactic to strengthen his negotiating position for a fight with Joshua.
Joshua has had a tough time recently. He lost twice to Usyk before rebuilding with four straight wins. But he stumbled again in September, losing to Daniel Dubois in an IBF world title fight.
Fury's recent record isn't much better. He lost two close fights to Usyk, both going the full 12 rounds. The judges scored against him in both contests.
Despite these setbacks, Bellew believes Joshua has what it takes to beat Fury. In an interview with FightLens, he explained his reasoning:
"I think AJ knocks Tyson Fury out. I know Tyson Fury's the better boxer, but sometimes the better boxer doesn't always win the fight. I just think AJ will be forced to let his hands go."
Bellew's full interview can be found on FightLens' YouTube channel, where he goes into more detail about his prediction.
As of now, Fury remains retired. Some boxing insiders suggest his retirement announcement might be a negotiating ploy. If true, it could set the stage for one of the most anticipated fights in recent memory.
The boxing world waits with bated breath to see if these two British heavyweight giants will finally meet in the ring. If they do, Bellew's prediction adds another layer of intrigue to an already compelling matchup.