Tyson Fury has been criticised by Carl FrochCredit: Getty

Anthony Joshua hopes to fight Fury in 2024Credit: AFP

Ngannou even scored a knockdown only to be controversially beaten by split-decision.

Fury now faces Oleksandr Usyk next while Joshua, 34, returns on March 8 against Ngannou, 37, in Riyadh.

Victory for the British pair could see the two finally fight this year – and Froch has revealed his prediction.

He told talkSPORT: “I make Tyson Fury the favourite but not as huge a favourite as I did six months ago before he fought Ngannou.”

Froch continued: “If AJ fights Fury next, I think Fury wins. I think he turns up better prepared than when he fights Ngannou.

“And if AJ fights Oleksandr Usyk, then we know what happens. He can’t beat Usyk.

“He was close in the second fight but when it got close, Usyk was able to step it up and take over. He always fights within himself.”

Fury, 35, was due to fight Usyk, 37, on February 17 but he was forced out after suffering a horror cut in sparring just two weeks out from the bout.

The historic first four-belt unification bout has since been postponed to May 18 but Froch questioned Fury’s form heading into it.

He said: “The big problem is, he’s getting hit a lot more now, and when you start getting hit at that weight, you have problems.

“He can’t do it at 35 years old. Now, he’s sitting flat-footed, getting hit with more shots.

“He’s getting on to 36 years old, he’s getting bigger and heavier.”

Carl Froch backs Fury to beat JoshuaCredit: AP