Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are on a collision course.
Providing Fury beats Polish veteran Mariusz Wach on Friday in Thailand and Joshua overcomes little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga a day later in Saudi Arabia, plans have been hatched for the pair to meet in late 2026.
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| Joshua and Fury are one fight away from finally meeting under the bright lightsCredit: Getty |
While fans have been waiting a decade to see the Brits finally lock horns, it won't mark the first time they have traded leather.
Back in 2010, long before either man had carved out their glittering résumés, Fury and Joshua sparred at Finchley Boxing Club.
Fury admitted at the time that Joshua put a "beating" on him for three rounds before he rallied with an onslaught to the body.
When asked to recollect the spar by BoxingScene out in Pattaya, Thailand on Wednesday, his memory was a little more hazy.
However, he insists that Joshua was pulled out in round four after "turning away".
Tyson Fury recalls Anthony Joshua sparring session
"He was an amateur boxer, and I was a pro, maybe 10-0 or something, so there wasn't much to think about," said Fury.
"There was [sic] a lot of people there, so there was [sic] a lot of witnesses there.
"I remember him putting his legs up in the ropes after about three rounds, turning away in the corner...
"I've sparred maybe 400 or 500 heavyweights; I don't remember much of any of them really.
"The vivid memory I do have of it, though, is in about round three, he started putting legs up, and in round four he started putting his knees up in the corner, and I was like 'What the f*** is this?'
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| Joshua was an amateur when he sparred Fury and was still two years off winning Olympic goldCredit: GETTY |
"Then they pulled him out and put somebody else in."
Fury didn't mention Joshua being pulled out when he spoke to BBC Radio London a few weeks after the spar.
Tyson Fury's recollection at the time
“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'," said Fury in 2010.
“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.
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| Fury was 10 fights deep into his professional careerCredit: Getty |
“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.’ Being a professional, and I’ve been an amateur myself and fought all over the world, I slowed him down a bit with a few good body shots.
“The kid's only 20, and I’m a handful myself, so for him to put up a good performance like that against a top prospect in me, I think he’s one for the future.”
What did Anthony Joshua say about sparring Tyson Fury?
In 2016, AJ gave his own version of events.
"I used to read the Boxing News religiously, like I still do. In the magazine I remember reading, 'Tyson Fury's going around different gyms sparring, and if anyone can knock him out, they get to keep his Rolex,'" Joshua told Sky Sports.
"I'm hungry. I'm still hungry now; if you know me, I'm hungry.
- George Glinski
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