David Haye: Recent Defeat Could Give Anthony Joshua Edge Over Tyson Fury

Former unified cruiserweight champion David Haye believes Anthony Joshua‘s recent defeat could give him the edge over Tyson Fury.

Joshua is set to defend his heavyweight titles against Kubrat Pulev this Saturday where a win would put him on course for a highly-anticipated title unification clash with WBC champion Tyson Fury next year.

And should it be given the green light in the near future, Haye believes Joshua’s recent taste of defeat when he was TKO’d by Andy Ruiz Jr. last year could give him an advantage over the currently undefeated Fury.

“I think that was the best thing to ever happen to Anthony Joshua,” Haye told Sky Sports. “I think he’s going to become the fighter he was always going to be, because he’s got that taste of defeat and he doesn’t like that.

“None of us winners like that taste of defeat and if there’s anything humanly possible to get back into your winning run, no matter how hard you have to dedicate yourself, what type of sparring, what type of pain behind the scenes, you don’t want that feeling of a loss.

“It’s been a long, long time since Tyson Fury had the taste of a loss. A very, very long time. Many years. Anthony Joshua knows what it feels like recently, so I think that gives him a slight edge. It sounds crazy. I think that gives him an edge, because he doesn’t want to rely on his natural attributes. He wants to make sure he wins this fight.”

It’s certainly a valid point but the same can be said for Fury who undoubtedly wouldn’t want to taste defeat for the first time professionally either — especially to his longtime domestic rival.

Regardless, Haye believes Joshua is the one fighter capable of inflicting defeat on him as he still has scope for growth in the sport.

“This is a serious test for him now, Kubrat Pulev, and then it’s the big one,” Haye added. “Then it’s the Tyson Fury fight and I think there is only one guy in the world who the odds makers will give a legitimate chance of beating Tyson Fury. That’s someone as powerful, as strong, as fast, as motivated as Anthony Joshua.

“He will be the underdog in that fight, but write Anthony Joshua off at your peril. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Anthony Joshua yet. I think over the next three years the real Anthony Joshua will come out.

“He came to boxing late. He hasn’t been boxing since he was a little kid, like Tyson Fury. He’s had to fast-track himself and there have been gaps as he’s been fast-tracking himself, so he’s now filling these gaps in.”

Hopefully, we get to see that fight in a few months.

Do you agree with Haye?