Tyson, who once held the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles throughout his remarkable career, acknowledged Joshua's strength but raised concerns about his lack of unpredictability in a recent interview with BBC Sport.
“It’s quite intriguing; Joshua is an exceptional puncher. However, his punches are easy to read. He telegraphs his shots, which could spell trouble when facing Tyson Fury, especially considering Fury's height at 6ft 7in,” Iron Mike remarked.
The boxing icon notably did not include Joshua in his list of the top five current boxers, instead opting for Fury, Deontay Wilder, Andy Ruiz Jr, Vasyl Lomachenko, and Gervonta Davis. Current undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk was also absent from his selections.
A potential fight between Joshua and Fury could take place, contingent on the outcome of Fury’s rematch with Usyk next month, as both fighters are coming off defeats in their previous bouts. Joshua, 35, who has earned over $200 million throughout his career, faced a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in September at Wembley, while Fury, 36, lost his WBC heavyweight title to Usyk by split decision in May.
Currently, the Watford-born fighter is dealing with injuries and is not expected to return to the ring until at least May 2024, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
“We have one final chapter in this career that we need to ensure is executed perfectly,” Hearn stated to Boxing News.
In the meantime, Tyson, 57, is preparing for his professional boxing comeback after an 18-year break, facing YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul (10-1) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on November 15.
The eagerly awaited bout between Joshua and Fury could potentially take place under the Riyadh Season banner, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh likely to present a lucrative offer if Fury is unable to reclaim his title from Usyk.