Former world champion Carl Froch believes that current world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury can cement his legacy with wins against Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk.
The WBC champion has not fought since his 10th-round TKO victory against Derick Chisora in December 2022. Fury had been set to fight Usyk in April, but that fight fell through in March after the pair were unable to agree terms.
The 34-year-old claimed to have sent a draft contract to fellow Briton Joshua in May for a fight in September, but promoter Frank Warren has since confirmed that the bout will not be happing next.
For Froch, though, who became just the eighth Briton to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame earlier in June, Fury must fight have fights with both Joshua and Usyk before he retires if he wants to earn his place as the best fighter in modern heavyweight boxing.
“I can’t give him a massive legacy,” Froch said, speaking to William Hill.
“He’s fought Deontay Wilder three times, and he nearly got done in the first one, which was a draw. He nearly got done again in the third, and it was three great fights against a guy who is not a massive heavyweight.
“He’s a massive puncher but because he’s not that big and heavy, Tyson Fury can keep him out of the way, lean on him and just control the fight, so it’s quite easy for Fury to do what he does because he’s so big.
“If he fights Usyk and he fights Joshua and makes mincemeat of them, then he’ll be the best of a generation.”
Joshua appears to be edging closer to a summer rematch with long-time rival Dillian Whyte while Usyk is set to take on Daniel Dubois in August after Usyk’s team won a purse big to hold the fight in Poland against the 19-1 Briton, who is the WBA mandatory challenger.
For Fury, however, there is no clear opponent for a summer fight, with Froch suggesting that the heavyweight champion still wants to fight Usyk but will need to lower his demands to ensure a financial agreement is met in the future.
He added: “If Tyson Fury really wants to fight Oleksandr Usyk then why is he demanding a 70/30 split, and then when it gets agreed turning round and saying that the fight isn’t happening? His bluff was called, and he realised he couldn’t get ready in six weeks when he was trying to look like the bigger man.
“I do think Tyson Fury wants to fight Usyk. He’s very confident and he’s got every reason to believe that he can beat Usyk because he’s twice the size of him and he’s a great fighter. He’s an unbelievable heavyweight.”
Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.
