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Tyson Fury targets Anthony Joshua’s tenth knockdown

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Wladimir Klitschko stands over Anthony Joshua after knocking him down during their heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium in 2017

Tyson Fury believes Anthony Joshua may still be injured and if the long-awaited heavyweight clash finally happens later this year, the “Gypsy King” will be looking to become the tenth man to carry his British rival to the canvas.

Joshua’s heavyweight aura didn’t disappear overnight. He broke in the match with Wladimir Klitschko, fell in the match with Andy Ruiz Jr. and has never fully recovered since then.

Long before Daniel Dubois smashed Joshua at Wembley and Fury publicly questioned his ability to take punches, warning signs were already observable for the former unified champion.

Dillian Whyte first took a look at boxing in 2015.

Joshua recovered to hold off Whyte but was badly concussed in a wild exchange that immediately raised doubts about the Olympic gold medalist’s reaction under pressure.

At the time, these concerns were drowned out by the hype around Joshua’s promotion. Eddie Hearn was building his biggest star and openly talked about Joshua as a generational heavyweight who could join the likes of Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis.

Then came Klitschko.

Anthony Joshua

Joshua’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 remains one of the best heavyweight fights of the up-to-date era, but it also permanently changed how many watched him.

After tripping the Ukrainian, Joshua came close to forcing a stoppage before Klitschko suddenly turned the tide and sent the Londoner to the canvas with a powerful right hand.

Joshua recovered brilliantly and eventually stopped Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley, but the image of him badly injured and exhausted in the middle rounds remained in people’s minds.

The aura of invincibility disappeared.

Even as Joshua continued his march towards an undisputed title shot and added the Joseph Parker belt to his collection, concerns about his durability never completely disappeared.

Then came the night that changed everything.

Ed Mulholland

Andy Ruiz Jr.

When Jarrell Miller failed multiple drug tests ahead of Joshua’s American debut at Madison Square Garden, Matchroom began looking for a replacement who could keep the event alive.

Several names were discussed before Andy Ruiz Jr. was called.

By then, Ruiz had lost to Parker, whom Joshua had already beaten, and few gave the Mexican-American much of a chance to pull off the upset.

This decision backfired spectacularly.

Joshua dropped Ruiz early on before completely breaking down as the challenger exposed huge weaknesses in the champion’s squad. Ruiz dropped Joshua four times and took the unified heavyweight titles in one of the biggest shocks of the up-to-date era.

Joshua regained the belts six months later in Saudi Arabia, but the rematch never fully repaired the damage done to his reputation.

Ruiz entered the fight significantly overweight after admitting he had barely trained, and many viewed the second fight as little more than a controlled recovery mission.

From that point on, Joshua’s vulnerability became part of every major fight discussion surrounding him.

Broad kryptonite

Oleksandr Usyk then presented a completely different problem.

Joshua was chasing greatness against one of the most technically gifted fighters of his generation, but stylistically it always looked like a nightmare fight for the Briton. Usyk’s movement, timing, footwork and IQ repeatedly set Joshua up for two defeats.

Daniel Dubois knocks out Anthony Joshua
Mark Robinson

Then Dubois came.

Unlike Usyk, Dubois did not defeat Joshua. It overwhelmed him.

Dubois repeatedly dropped Joshua and smashed him in devastating fashion at Wembley as all the senior concerns about Joshua’s durability and return immediately resurfaced.

Questions surrounding Joshua’s heavyweight reign have persisted over the years due to circumstances surrounding several of his championship wins and opportunities. The Dubois debacle has only intensified these conversations.

Tyson Fury aims for ten

Now Fury has reignited the entire debate ahead of the long-awaited showdown later this year by openly attacking Joshua’s biggest weakness.

If Fury finally defeats Joshua, he will become the tenth fighter to do so.

No one can question Joshua’s ambition, professionalism or desire to become one of heavyweight boxing’s biggest stars.

But every time Joshua hit the canvas, the perception around him changed a little more.

When heavyweight boxing senses weakness, it never forgets.


About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Adrien Broner Challenges Ryan Garcia: You Got Stopped, I Never Did

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Adrien Broner Challenges Ryan Garcia: "You Got Stopped, I Never Did"
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“I want to fight you. We can fight next,” Broner said on social. “I know you’re getting nice fights, but you ain’t going to get as much money as you will fighting me. You’re about that money, right? Fight me. I’ll take your belt. Do he got a belt? Whatever he got, I’ll take it.”

Adrien also contrasted Ryan’s career with his own, pointing to his knockout loss and accusing him of quitting while insisting he has never been stopped.

“You got knocked out. You got stopped. I ain’t never got stopped, not ever against no matter who I fought,” Broner said. “You done quit.”

The 36-year-old then shifted from boxing to their personal relationship, saying Ryan had leaned on him during difficult times but failed to return the favor.

“When you were going through your s***, you was calling me, and I was answering every time,” Broner said. “So, don’t be on no fake s*** now.”

He closed by claiming Garcia had the resources to help him but chose not to.

“You call your people, and my people are ready. I ain’t with nobody. I’m doing this from the ground up,” Broner said. “If you felt that way about me, you would have came and picked me up. You had the money, right? You didn’t come and pick me up.”

Broner has not fought since his unanimous decision win over Blair Cobbs in June 2025 and has repeatedly called for high-profile opponents as he attempts to revive his career. Whether Garcia has any interest in the matchup remains to be seen, but Broner made it clear he’s looking for a title shot rather than a tune-up.

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Diego Pacheco Makes Debut with Buddy McGirt as Andy Cruzs Opponent Changes

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"Diego Pacheco Makes Debut with Buddy McGirt as Andy Cruz's Opponent Changes"
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The Matchroom Boxing card streams live on DAZN this Saturday, July 18, from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. In the co-feature, lightweight contender Andy Cruz will face late replacement Abraham Montoya (24-7-1, 14 KOs)) after Albert Bell withdrew to accept a world title shot against WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason.

Cruz, who many fans believed did enough to defeat IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla before dropping a disputed 12-round majority decision last January, had been scheduled to meet Bell in what was widely viewed as a more compelling matchup. Bell’s withdrawal forced Matchroom to find a replacement on short notice, with Montoya getting the opportunity.

Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) enters the fight looking to continue his rise toward a world title shot while beginning his partnership with McGirt, one of boxing’s most accomplished trainers. Aleem (22-4-3, 14 KOs) is an experienced veteran who has shared the ring with several respected contenders and will look to derail Pacheco’s momentum.

Cruz (6-1, 3 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, remains one of boxing’s most highly regarded lightweight contenders despite the controversial loss to Muratalla. A victory over Bell would have strengthened his case for another title opportunity, but Bell’s decision to pursue a championship fight changed those plans.

The opponent switch drew criticism from some fans on social media, with many describing the revised matchup as a mismatch and expressing disappointment that Cruz would no longer face Bell. Others questioned the overall strength of the doubleheader.

However, the change was not Cruz’s doing. Bell withdrew after landing a title shot against Mason, leaving Matchroom to secure an available replacement rather than remove Cruz from the card. While Montoya may not generate the same interest as Bell, Cruz can still make a statement with an impressive performance and move himself closer to another lightweight title opportunity.

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53-Year-Old Heavyweight Champion Prepares for Boxing Comeback: Im Outperforming Everyone in the Gym

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"53-Year-Old Heavyweight Champion Prepares for Boxing Comeback: 'I'm Outperforming Everyone in the Gym'"

Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are regarded as two of the best heavyweights in recent history, and now a former world heavyweight champion who fought them both is planning a shock return to the sport at the age of 53.

Lewis and Holyfield ruled the heavyweight division at various stages throughout the 1990s, which led to the duo famously colliding on two occasions in 1999.

The first bout ended in a controversial split decision draw, before Lewis left no doubt in the second meeting as he won by unanimous decision to become undisputed heavyweight champion.

Just under 18 months later, Lewis suffered an upset defeat, as he was knocked out inside five rounds by Hasim Rahman, and it is Rahman who is now planning on returning to the sport at the age of 53, as he looks to compete for the first time since June 2014.

After his victory over Lewis, Rahman lost by fourth round knockout in their immediate rematch, before he then headed straight into a bout with Holyfield, suffering a technical decision loss after eight rounds due to an eye injury after an accidental head clash.

Further defeats followed, with his record currently standing at 50 wins from 62 fights, but he has told Sean Zittel about his current success in the gym.

“I feel like in every aspect of my life, I feel like a 25-year-old. I go in the gym and I’ll work everybody in the gym, every single person.”

Rahman is scheduled to compete at the ESL Ballpark in Rochester, New York on Tuesday 18 August, with an opponent yet to be announced.

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