Former super-middleweight champion George Groves believes Anthony Joshua should bring boxing icon Mike Tyson into his corner for the heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The bout will end a decade-long feud between the pair in what promises to be a historic night of boxing.
Groves suggests Tyson-style approach
Fury enters the contest as the favourite following a stoppage victory over Polish veteran Mariusz Wach, while Joshua survived two knockdowns to stop Kristian Prenga. Groves has urged Joshua to adopt a more Mike Tyson-esque style to overcome the Morecambe fighter.
Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, Groves said: "I think Anthony Joshua should bring Mike Tyson in to come up with the plan to beat Tyson Fury. What Joshua could also do is have a bit more of a Mike Tyson-esque style."
Peekaboo tactics recommended
Groves outlined how Joshua could implement the legendary fighter's approach: "Joshua could be a little bit more peekaboo, crouching, slipping, sliding, dipping, momentum going forward, bringing those big hooks and uppercuts off those dips, legs loaded."
He added: "That would be the key to success because even though Joshua is a big, tall man, he gives away a bit of height against Tyson Fury. Getting some advice from a man who carved out a fantastic career always being on the shorter side of things makes perfect sense to me."
Tyson backs Fury to win
However, Mike Tyson has backed Fury throughout the buildup to the fight. Revealing his prediction to Piers Morgan, the 60-year-old said: "Tyson's named after me – I'm always with Tyson." He added: "It would be nice [if he beats Joshua]."
Groves agrees with Tyson's assessment and has backed the 'Gypsy King' to stop his long-time foe inside three rounds. "You've got to pick Fury as a solid favourite. Once he lands on Joshua, I think he knocks him out. It's too much of a big-pressure fight for them to pull one another around and get rounds. The second Joshua gets clipped on the chin, I think he's going to go over. Fury is too big," he said.
"He's not necessarily heavy-handed, but if he's coming in the ring at 19-plus stone and throws a couple of solid shots, and starts finding his range, I think he hurts Joshua. I think he stops him. It might be really early. I think there's a strong possibility that this fight is over in the first three rounds."
