Anthony Joshua will succumb to “another blackout” and be defeated by Tyson Fury, according to legendary trainer Teddy Atlas.
Britons Joshua and Fury are on a collision course for the biggest bout in British boxing history after signing a two-fight deal earlier this month.
The first contest is set to take place in June or July, with both fighters expected to earn £100million and Saudi Arabia the likely host country.
While WBC World Heavyweight Champion Fury has never been defeated, WBA, WBO and IBF belt-holder Joshua has one blemish on his professional record.
This came against Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019, when the Mexican-American produced a stunning upset to defeat AJ by seventh-round TKO.
While Joshua avenged the loss later that year and defeated Kubrat Pulev last December, Atlas has doubts over the 31-year-old’s chin and believes he could suffer a second lapse of confidence.
“I think Fury could stop him,” said Mike Tyson’s former trainer on The Fight with Teddy Atlas podcast. “I like AJ, he’s a good fighter, he’s got good talent, he’s had a great comeback. I like all that.
“I’m not going to say he has a china chin, I’m not going to say that. But I’m gonna say Fury has a better chin.
“And I’m going to say he’s been to dark places when he got stopped by Ruiz. He being Joshua. He went to dark places.
“Now he found a light and he lit the room up and he’s back into a place that’s lit. I just don’t think he’s that far away from a power shortage.
“I think there could be a blackout again, where his confidence [goes]. When I say the electricity, the light, I attach it to confidence, belief, mental strength and durability.
“I think that a blackout could happen in that generator of his again. He’s not far from removed from being taken back to no lights. So I’m going with Fury.”
Atlas also insists Fury has more weapons in his arsenal which will give him a crucial advantage in the “humungous” fight.
The 64-year-old added: “And Fury, all the things he can do in the ring. He showed me he can go get you now and he can box and pot shot and move.
“So I’m going to go with [Fury]. Joshua can punch, Joshua’s a banger. He gets into position, but he’s going to have to get into that position.
“Because Fury is more versatile, Fury has more say because he can do more things.
He can control the outside if he wants and not make it so easy for Joshua to get into his geography so to speak, which I like to talk about.
“But it’s going to be a humongous fight.”