Anthony Joshua could lose Wednesday’s launch press conference before he says anything about fighting Tyson Fury. Fury thrives on trading insults; Joshua has often looked uncomfortable when a fight becomes a contest of sound bites. Johnny Nelson thinks Eddie Hearn should handle the talking and leave Joshua to answer Fury in the ring.
“Anthony Joshua needs to turn the volume down. He needs to make Eddie do the talking,” Nelson told Pro Boxing Fans. “Once Fury gets him talking and draws him in, he’s got him.”
Hearn is better suited to that role. He can answer Fury, produce a clip that travels online, and keep fans interested without leaving Joshua to defend every word for weeks. Joshua can speak when he has something to say. He does not need to match Fury at a game Fury plays for pleasure.
Fury would love to make Joshua prove he can trade insults. That would put the buildup on Fury’s terms, with every Joshua response becoming fresh material for the next round. Hearn gets paid to sell that kind of chaos. Joshua has a harder job waiting for him in the ring.
Nelson described two approaches Fury might take: making an opponent feel like a friend, or mocking and intimidating him. He pointed to Oleksandr Usyk as someone Fury struggled to reach with either tactic. Joshua knows Fury well enough to expect the insults, but knowing they are coming does not make it useful to answer each one.
If Fury turns Wednesday’s press conference into an insult contest, Joshua should let Hearn take the bait. Hearn can fire back and give the cameras their clip. Joshua trying to prove he can outtalk the louder man would hand Fury exactly the fight he wants before a punch is thrown.
Nelson even suggested Fury could extend the games to the ring walks, perhaps making Joshua wait before the opening bell. That was Nelson’s speculation, but his broader point holds: Fury will keep looking for a reaction for as long as he can.
Joshua does not have to stay silent throughout the buildup. A brief, direct answer from him could carry more weight than a rehearsed exchange of insults. Let Hearn do the promotional sparring. Joshua’s reply to Fury has to come in the ring.
