Fabio Wardley Exclusive: I’d rather fight AJ than Tyson Fury

WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley has said he would choose a fight with Anthony Joshua over a bout against Tyson Fury if given the option. Ahead of Fury’s Saturday, April 11 scrap with Arslanbek Makhmudov, Wardley expressed openness to fighting both men, but admitted that “if I was to pick, I’d pick the AJ fight”.

Read on for more from Fabio Wardley on ‘The Gypsy King’ alongside Betfred odds for Saturday’s big fight against Makhmudov.

Wardley spoke with Rob Tebbutt of Sportsman Boxing about the two potential British superfights on his plate, should the new WBO boss come through his Saturday, May 9 bout with Daniel Dubois.

“I think if I was to pick, I'd pick the AJ fight. I always look at fights as a, from the outside looking in. If I was a fan, if I was to look at those two fights as a poster or pop-up on my screen, I think I'd be more excited for Wardley versus AJ than I would for Wardley versus Fury.”

Wardley offered some insight into sparring Fury, who is a 2/9 shot to beat Makhmudov this Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“I was still very green back then. I found him ultimately just a Rubik's Cube that you were fighting against, almost. You're trying to move it into place and it's actually moving back against you, fighting against you. Because I could not figure him out. He was bouncing, moving, pinging here, there, everywhere. Could barely lay a glove on him.”

Boxing Odds

It is Makhmudov’s turn to try and solve the Rubik’s Cube at Spurs on Saturday night. Betfred have him at 4/1 to spring the upset as we go to press.

Meanwhile, Wardley himself is currently 5/6 to beat former IBF kingpin Daniel Dubois next month at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. If you fancy ‘Dynamite’ to relieve Wardley of his newly-won title, you can back him at 21/20.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.