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Former world title challenger suggests unique venue for Joshua-Fury showdown
Kevin Mitchell has suggested a unique venue for the proposed blockbuster showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
As AJ prepares to face Jake Paul in Miami on Friday, Turki Alalshikh has vowed to deliver the mega-fight fans have craved for years.
To make that happen next year, the man who controls the biggest purse strings in boxing must lure Fury out of retirement.
Should he manage that, Mitchell believes the battle of Britain warrants an open-air extravaganza in London.
The former lightweight world title challenger, 41, told DAZN News: “I'd like to see something massive done, something special like in Hyde Park. Build up an arena there.
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
“I want AJ to earn his money, be happy and do what he wants. I'd like to see him have one more fight after Paul.
“Put that to bed against Fury. Get that one massive fight on and then come out of the limelight to live a normal life.
“He can't go anywhere [without being recognised], so it must be terribly hard for him.”
Before Joshua, 36, can turn his attention to Fury, the two-time unified world heavyweight champ must take care of Paul in front of 20,000 fans at the Kaseya Center.
He is widely expected to make quick work of the YouTuber-turned-boxer, who has lost just once in 13 pro bouts.
Eva Marie Uzcategui / Getty Images for Netflix
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And Mitchell, who will watch his son Connor debut in the paid ranks on Wednesday night, believes his old friend fully deserves the lucrative payday.
The Hammer added: “Boxing’s gone like WWE. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. You can't begrudge two men earning a great living.
“It brings more eyes to boxing, so you can't complain. It makes boxing bigger.
“It’s delivered a wider audience and made more money in the sport. I’m gonna watch AJ knock him out — he could go and knock him out in the first minute."
Paul, 28, has earned plaudits for notching seven knockouts in 12 victories since turning professional in January 2020 following a stint in white-collar boxing.
But there is no doubt about the size of the challenge and risk involved in facing the naturally bigger, stronger and more experienced Joshua.
With heavyweight kingpin Oleksandr Usyk warning that the Olympic gold medallist could kill Paul if he wanted to, the long-retired Mitchell admits he would fancy his chances against the American influencer.
With a glint in his eye, he said: “I'd knock Paul out. Give me a set of cage fighting gloves, little tight gloves, and I'd knock him out.”
Regardless of whether you rate Paul as a boxer, there can be no denying he faces the fight of his life against Joshua on Friday night.
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