ANTHONY JOSHUA has backed Mike Tyson to take him the distance if they fought NOW.
It comes after the announcement that 54-year-old Tyson will box for the first time in 15 years, facing former four-weight champion Roy Jones Jr in an eight-round exhibition.
WBC champion Tyson Fury, 31, said he was offered £10million to take on his namesake but turned down the approach.
Naturally, Fury’s rival Joshua, 30, was asked how he would fair if he took on the reformed Baddest Man on The Planet.
He told Sky Sports: “I don’t want to say anything because I love Mike Tyson, he would land a few left hooks and body shots but we would go the distance.
“His age would show but we would be pushing and shoving, he is in my top-three.”
Tyson has shed six stone to trim down to fighting weight, as he makes his comeback on September 12 in California.
He initially had no plans on boxing again, when he was first approached to fight veteran 46-year-old Bob Sapp, a kickboxer, MMA fighter and actor.
But after coming around to the idea of lacing up the gloves again, he admits he is unsure on how legendary puncher Jones, 51, was even selected as his comeback opponent.
Tyson told TMZ: “I thought about it in my mind and went ‘ding’ – I said I would fight and for some reason, it went from Bob Sapp to somebody else, and this guy, and the next thing you know, I’m fighting Roy Jones Jr on September 12.
“I don’t know how this happened.
“I’m just very grateful that I’m not living the life that I was living before. Allah has blessed for me to be able to do this.”
