Boxing expert Bernd Bönte has criticized the decision to hold the Fury vs. Joshua fight—the “Battle of Britain”—in New York instead of in the United Kingdom.
Although official confirmation is still pending, the long-awaited “Battle of Britain” between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua now appears set to take place in the U.S. The mega-fight is scheduled to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 20.
This means British boxing fans are literally left out in the cold. Instead of being able to experience the Fury vs. Joshua heavyweight spectacle live in a stadium on the island, they’ll likely have to watch the showdown between these former boxing giants on pay-TV in the wee hours of the night. BOXSPORT spoke with heavyweight expert Bernd Bönte about this.
Bernd, even though there are two Englishmen in the ring, Turki Al-Sheikh wants to hold the fight in the U.S. What do you think about that?
Bernd Bönte: To me, that’s still completely incomprehensible. This fight belongs in England—or at least in the UK—and theoretically, Cardiff in the winter with the stadium roof closed would also be a possibility. I think it’s absurd to hold it in Europe in the middle of the night or right in the U.S. just so it can air during prime time there.
How do you assess the interest in the “Battle of Britain” overseas?
I don’t think a Fury vs. Joshua fight would draw much interest in the U.S. Neither of them has made a lasting impression there or established themselves as a major draw. Even Deontay Wilder was never a true “household name” in the United States. That’s why, in my view, Fury vs. Joshua is only of limited relevance to the American market. The key market is the United Kingdom. That’s where both fighters have their large fan bases, and that’s where the fight has its history and emotional significance.
Who do you think will come out on top in this matchup—and can the heavyweight champion make another run at the top?
Based on their most recent performances, I see Tyson Fury as the favorite. Anthony Joshua’s biggest weakness is his mental toughness. Even when he takes lighter shots, he seems unsure and starts to waver. To me, this isn’t a question of his ability to take a punch, but primarily a matter of his mental toughness. A seasoned veteran like Fury will try to exploit exactly that in the weeks leading up to the fight. Fury isn’t a hard puncher, which is a definite advantage for AJ. But especially with his powerful uppercuts, he could still cause Joshua major problems. Of course, Joshua still possesses tremendous punching power and can knock out any opponent. Defensively, however, I still see significant flaws in his game: weak footwork, …
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