Bookies make Tyson Fury ODDS-ON favourite to beat Anthony Joshua in Brits’ blockbuster heavyweight showdown

TYSON FURY has been made the odds-on favourite to beat Anthony Joshua after both men came through crucial must-win fights to keep the long-awaited Battle of Britain alive. Fury, 37, comfortably forced Mariusz Wach to retire on his stool after seven rounds in Thailand, while Joshua, 36, climbed off the canvas twice before stopping Kristian Prenga in a dramatic second round in Jeddah. Tyson Fury has been made the favourite to beat Anthony Joshua Credit: Reuters Joshua is the underdog according to the bookies Credit: Getty The pair signed contracts three months ago, with one condition attached – both had to emerge from their respective warm-up fights unscathed. Coral now make Fury the 4-7 favourite to finally settle British boxing’s greatest rivalry, with Joshua the 6-4 underdog and the draw priced at 16-1. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! The prices come after Fury cruised through his night’s work, while Joshua gave the British public a huge scare after being dropped twice in the opening round before storming back to win. Fury planned to box inside Pattaya’s Max Muay Thai Stadium, using 46-year-old veteran Wach for valuable rounds before the ringside doctor halted the contest after seven one-sided sessions. Joshua then ensured the Battle of Britain remained on track by recovering from two first-round knockdowns to flatten Prenga with a devastating right hand in the second. Coral spokesman David Stevens said: “Tyson Fury was 1-50 to beat Mariusz Wach, while AJ was 1-25 to overcome Kristian Prenga, so both fighters did what was expected of them in winning their respective bouts. “But Joshua was given an almighty scare in Jeddah and remains the underdog to beat Fury should the long-awaited clash between the British pair finally happen this year.” Attention now turns to where the richest fight in British boxing history will land, with New York the frontrunner to host the blockbuster on the rumoured date of November 14. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Netflix are expected to have a major say in the fight’s destination alongside Turki Alalshikh and Sela, with all parties keen to maximise the US audience for the all-British blockbuster. Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn remain determined to stage the fight in Britain, insisting the current agreement is for the bout to take place in the UK. Hearn has admitted announcing the fight anywhere else at this stage would breach AJ’s contract, although he would reluctantly enter fresh negotiations if all parties wanted to move it overseas. After 13 years of false starts, failed negotiations and near misses, both heavyweights have now done their jobs. The Battle of Britain is finally within touching distance, and the bookmakers believe Fury will have his hand raised when the first bell eventually rings. Comment now