Eric Molina has a great deal of experience facing today’s top heavyweights.
The American contender twice challenged for heavyweight world titles, but came up short on both occasions.
When he got his first shot in 2015, Molina was tasked with dethroning Deontay Wilder.
In a surprising moment, the challenger staggered the champion.
However, Wilder rallied and came back to win by knockout in round nine.
18 months later, AJ picked Molina for a title defence.
This was a far more one-sided affair as Joshua smashed the American inside three rounds.
By the end of the third, Molina was left crumpled in a heap on the canvas as the Brit defended his IBF crown.
Molina has also shared the ring with the likes of Filip Hrgovic, Dominic Breazeale and Fabio Wardley.
However, he’s never tested himself against current champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Despite this, speaking from his experiences, Molina gave an assessment that may surprise fans about a potential Joshua vs Fury fight.
“I can see Anthony Joshua knocking out Tyson Fury,” Molina told iFL TV in 2021, “I can see that happening.
“If you look at Tyson Fury, he does some things similar to me defensively against Wilder, which was to stay away from one or two big shots.
“I’ve always had my strength of when I sparred big punchers, I’ve always said bring me the bigger punchers because I could see one, two, or three shots. I could get a read.
“Wilder gives you a big read like [winding up his shots]. He’s coming hard, but he’s giving me all that. So by the time I see that, I’m moving. I’m not just going to stand there.
“The ones that stand there [covering up] against Wilder, you’re going to get hurt.
“I already knew that I wasn’t just going to pick my gloves up to take a shot like that.
“The same way Fury does not do that. What Joshua does, he doesn’t give you that boom. He’s very fluid with his punches. He comes with three, four, five, maybe even a six.”
