ANTHONY JOSHUA has been backed as the biggest heavyweight star since Mike Tyson and the only man capable of beating Tyson Fury.
Joshua, 31, and Fury, 32, have signed a two-fight deal to secure a historic undisputed title decider.
It will promise, for the first time ever, that one heavyweight champion reigns as the WBC, WBC, IBF and WBO undisputed champion.
Tony Bellew believes the Brit pair are bringing attention to the blue ribband division not seen since Iron Mike’s most destructive days.
Retired Bellew, 38, told talkSPORT: “Anthony Joshua is I think on par with Canelo as the face of our sport.
“There’s not a bigger name in the sport than Anthony Joshua right now. He’s crossed over boundaries, he’s now a face amongst the big sporting names.
“This guy could draw in a 100,000 crowd. He’s phenomenal and Tyson Fury is the king of comebacks.
“His story with the mental health issues – it’s just unbelievable that he came back. It’s fantastic what he’s done.
“To put it purely into context, it’s all of the belts on the line. This is what the boxing world needs.
“The most recognisable face in the history of sport has to be Muhammad Ali, that’s a boxer.
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“These guys now have the opportunity to take boxing back to that magnitude, back to that level. Because it hasn’t been taken there since Mike Tyson.
“Mike Tyson is the last polarising figure that really set the world alight with the marketing and everyone wanted a piece of him.
“Anthony Joshua’s getting to that level of what Mike Tyson was, and Tyson Fury is slowly catching up behind him.
“Make no mistake, these guys are mega stars. This is the biggest fight this country has ever seen and I’m so, so happy it’s happening.”
Joshua stands as the unified champion, with only one loss to his name, a defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019 that he avenged six months later.
Fury is unbeaten in 31 fights, with a 2018 draw against Deontay Wilder, 35, the sole blemish on his record.
But he dominated Wilder in the rematch last February, to dethrone the American of the WBC crown.
Fury’s masterful boxing skills has Bellew – who twice fought at heavyweight with wins over David Haye – admitting he is the better technician than AJ.
But he tipped Joshua to throw caution to the wind and find a way to win inside the first half of the fight – or else find himself staring defeat in the face.
He said: “I believe he is the only guy who has the tools to beat Tyson Fury.
“He’s the man who can get close enough, he’s the man who throws punches that are fast enough to land, he hits hard enough to drop him and hurt him.
“Nobody else in the world has the skillset that Anthony Joshua has. Nobody is technically at the same level as Anthony Joshua.
“I’m not saying he’s better than Tyson Fury – Tyson Fury is a better boxer than Anthony Joshua, but Anthony Joshua moves quicker than Tyson Fury.
“Anthony Joshua’s explosive power is bigger than Tyson Fury’s, Anthony Joshua’s combination punching is quicker than Tyson Fury’s.
“Tyson Fury is quicker with one punch, with the speed of the jab and the speed of the feet, but he is not faster with the combinations.
“I do think it’s got to happen inside the first six rounds for Anthony Joshua If it doesn’t, I don’t think he beats him.
“Tyson Fury is very, very hard to work out, but I still stand by Anthony Joshua.
“I just think he will jump on him, he won’t care what’s coming back, and that’s the only way to beat Tyson Fury.”
