Wilder’s coach backs Joshua to shock Fury
Deontay Wilder’s head trainer Malik Scott believes Anthony Joshua’s chances in the potential title clash with Tyson Fury should not be overlooked.
Fury, who is the current WBC heavyweight champion, fought the former champion, Wilder three times.
In their third encounter, which took place last October, Fury overcame two knockdowns to eventually stop Wilder in the 11th round.
Fury and Joshua are now in advanced talks to meet in the ring on December 3 for the WBC title.
Public opinion views Joshua as a huge underdog in the fight – coming off back-to-back losses to unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk, who is much smaller than Fury, who many regard as the best heavyweight in the sport currently.
However, Scott disagrees with the popular opinion.
“It’s a great time for AJ to take the Fury fight. I believe AJ is in a mindset that he has something to prove. He wants to get back up on the horse. He wants to go again. Tyson and him have always wanted to fight each other, the big question, is it really going to happen? I mean, nowadays we’re just in the place where there is so much business and people are so selfish and everyone wants to be greedy,” Scott said to Fair Betting Sites.
“But what I like the most and what you have to give AJ credit for is he said whatever deal that they’re offering. You have to respect that, absolutely. He said whatever deal they offer me, I’ll take. He believes he can beat Tyson Fury. I believe AJ believes he can beat Tyson Fury.”
While most are giving Joshua no chance at all, Scott strongly feels the British-Nigerian star pugilist has the skills to upset the odds.
“It’s a tough job for AJ but in my opinion, he has a pedigree, he has a gold medal, he has ability. AJ can punch, he’s a strong kid. He’s big. It can almost come across, when you think about all those attributes, like, hold up, this is Anthony Joshua. Let’s back up. How could he not win? I think personally the people who are giving him no shot at all are crazy. I think people who are giving AJ no shot at all – that’s blasphemous. I do not agree with that at all,” Scott added.
“Fury’s been on fire. He’s been smoking everybody. Yeah, but he’s also more vulnerable than he’s ever been. Fury also gives you an opportunity to hit him more than he ever did too, and in the heavyweight division, I just can’t have full confidence in someone that gives you an opportunity to hit them, I just can’t do that. He said it himself, he’s very vulnerable. He’s very vulnerable as a fighter. But that’s what makes him exciting as well.”
The latest update on the fight front as at last weekend was that Joshua’s team had been sent a contract by Fury’s team.
Promoter Frank Warren revealed in his column for the Star, “The contracts have been sent to Anthony Joshua’s team.
“Now we wait for them to go through them and sign so we can get one of British boxing’s biggest events on.
“All our side is on board for this fight. Tyson Fury is eager for it as he showed last week by calling out his fellow Brit