Tyson Fury looked back on his firs-ever sparring session with Anthony Joshua when he was an unknown amateur
Back when Tyson Fury was just 22-years-old, he visited Finchley ABC in London for sparring and was introduced to an unknown amateur in Anthony Joshua, who ultimately gave him a “beating”, he readily admitted.
Keen on being tested, Fury had offered the boxers in the gym his Rolex watch if anyone could knock him out.
The Gypsy King reflected on the experience not long after it happened, “I went down to Finchley Boxing Club and I sparred with the ABA champion, Anthony Joshua.
“He’s red hot, him, he’s very good. To be honest with you, I thought to myself, ‘I’m only going to take it easy as he’s an amateur and we probably won’t spar again if I go mad.’
“He’s rushed out at me, he threw a one-two and a left hook and I slipped. I thought, ‘He’s not that good, I’m going to take my time.’
“Then bash, he gives me a big uppercut right on the point of the chin. If I’d have had a bit of a weak chin like David Price, I’d have been knocked out for a month.
“He’s very, very good and he’s only young, 20, watch out for that name Anthony Joshua he is one prospect for the future.
“He came out at me for three rounds and he gave me a beating – I’m not going to deny it, he gave me hell for leather for three rounds.
“I thought ‘Oh my god, an amateur is killing me.’”
AJ also spoke about the sparring session too, when talking with James Corden on the ‘This Life of Mine’ podcast, “So this guy called Tyson Fury, who I have no idea who he is, comes down the gym.
“And word on the streets is that Tyson said: ‘If anyone knocks me out, I’m the best heavyweight. If anyone knocks me out they get my Rolex watch.’
“Hey, I was looking at the cash. I’m saying a Rolex, yeah. I said, let’s go. Bell goes, we go at it, we go at it. I think we sparred about three or four rounds.”
The pair of British heavyweights have remained rivals ever since, with a long awaited showdown scheduled for November.
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