Roy Jones Jr. has told talkSPORT that Anthony Joshua may hold the key to Tyson Fury’s heavyweight return.

In May, the Gypsy King lost his WBC title to Oleksandr Usyk, who later became the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO heavyweight world champion.

In prior years, Fury has been champion when AJ has been dethroned, but Jones Jr believes that script may be changing.

Usyk has already surrendered his IBF title, however he will defend the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles in his rematch against Fury on December 21.

Daniel Dubois has taken over the vacant IBF strap.

When he defeated Usyk’s mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic in June, Dubois won the IBF ‘interim’ belt and was promoted to full champion after the Ukrainian relinquished it.

Dubois will defend his IBF heavyweight world title against Joshua on September 21.

“I think Joshua is gonna be the favourite because of his past,” Jones Jr told talkSPORT Drive when asked about that fight.

“He just had a great fight with Francis Ngannou, but Ngannou is not Daniel Dubois.

“So it’s gonna be interesting for a few rounds, but if Joshua goes out and it’s the Joshua we wanna see, I think he’ll be dominant and be victorious.

“If he takes Dubois lightly though, it could be an upset.”

Jones Jr won world titles from super-middleweight up to heavyweight.

As Jones Jr rightly pointed out, AJ is indeed the favourite in that fight.

Likewise, Usyk is the favourite to defeat Fury again on December 21.

Asked if he believes Fury will become champion again, Jones Jr replied: “I don’t know because here’s the thing.

“I feel like if Joshua wins the title and if Usyk is able to beat Fury again, then the next fight I think people in the UK will wanna see will be Fury vs Joshua for Joshua’s title.

“And that’s a 50/50 fight to me. A real pick ’em.”

In this scenario, AJ would be the defending IBF world champion, allowing Fury a chance to revive his career.

Time will tell how events unfold in the exciting heavyweight scene.