Johnny Nelson has completely flipped his pick for the long-awaited heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Years of backing Joshua ended after the contrasting performances against Kristian Prenga and Mariusz Wach, leaving the former cruiserweight champion leaning toward Fury.

“The shots that caught Joshua on Saturday, that sneaky little uppercut on the inside, the one that caught him again, those are natural shots for Tyson Fury,” Nelson wrote for Sky Sports Boxing.

“Heart, determination, desire and want, I put all of that in Joshua’s corner. But on Saturday’s performance, and on Friday’s, it’s Fury for me.”

Joshua deserves credit for shaking off the difficult stretch in his career to climb off the canvas against Prenga. Still, the victory exposed defensive errors that play right into Fury’s hands, particularly getting nailed with short punches on the inside.

Visible regression on both sides stripped away any aura of invincibility. Neither man looks untouchable anymore, and that uncertainty adds genuine intrigue to the fight while making further delays a risk to whatever public interest is left.

On the venue, Nelson insists the rivalry belongs on British soil, though financial realities will likely push the event across the Atlantic to the United States. Delayed as it may be, the timing of the bout is just as critical as who wins.

Holding the bout in November becomes urgent for both heavyweights, as every additional outing exposes new flaws and chips away at what remains of their prime.