TYSON FURY CLAIMS ANTHONY JOSHUA WAS 'PULLED OUT' OF THEIR INFAMOUS SPARRING SESSION AFTER 'TURNING AWAY'

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.

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?'

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.

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

TEOFIMO LOPEZ WANTS ENNIS AT 147, CRAWFORD AT 154, AND MORE SUPPORT FROM TOP RANK AND ESPN

Teofimo Lopez Jr. is calling his shots and taking some too.

The WBO junior welterweight champion Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) recently rejected a Sept. 27 fight date at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York on ESPN. A matchup against recently elevated WBO welterweight titleholder Brian Norman Jr. was on the table.

But Lopez believes there are bigger fish to fry, and he is now focused on reeling in Terence Crawford, among others, following “Bud’s” close unanimous decision win against Israil Madrimov for the WBA junior middleweight title. 

“Now that we have Riyadh Season in the mix, why can't we make a Crawford and Teofimo fight happen? We're in the house now. Make it happen,” Lopez told BoxingScene. “More money doesn't cause more problems. More money causes more boxing.

“Absolutely I can [move up to 154 pounds]. And I will. Just send me the date. I am walking at 155 pounds right now. I can fight Crawford right now.

“I didn't expect for age to catch up with Crawford so quickly [against Madrimov]. I thought it would happen at 38 and not 36.

“Everyone had high expectations of Crawford – he even had high expectations against Madrimov. But this is boxing, and things happen like this. This is probably good learning for him. He couldn't figure out his moves and feints. Maybe he shouldn't have taken so long coming back [after the Errol Spence fight in 2023]. But to each his own. I wasn't Terence Crawford in that fight. I'm Teofimo and I look forward to facing him in the coming year.”

Lopez has previously hinted that he’d entertain a Crawford fight at a catchweight and that he’d destroy and end the Nebraskan’s career if they ever met. 

Crawford has clapped back by calling Lopez a chump, telling him: “Your little bitch ass better worry about them little guys that’s on yo ass down there in yo weight class.”

Lopez leaping up to 154 pounds would require him to bypass the 147-pound weight class. But Lopez is open to facing the welterweight division’s top dog, too, in IBF titleholder Jaron Ennis, in addition to Norman. 

“To be honest, whatever plans they have. I have nothing but respect for Boots,” said Lopez. “We've known each other a long time. We won the National Golden Gloves together in 2015. We were both 17 years old. If people want to see it, then we'll do it. I don't say no to any fight. As long as it’s eye-catching and eye candy to everyone who’s watching, that's what really matters.” 

Lopez said he passed on his September fight date because he wanted to fight in Southern California, and not because the date fell on a Friday, as some reports have suggested. 

“I didn't duck or dodge Brian Norman at all,” said Lopez. “Look, I love New York. I love Madison Square Garden. I fought nine times there throughout my career. It's a home for me. I fought in Las Vegas four times. I just want to try a different avenue, with all due respect, and fight in Los Angeles. I've never fought in LA and I want to. And I'll still fight Brian Norman this year. Crawford just fought. I am sure he wants to take some time to be with his family. I still want to stay active. I'm ready.

“I fought on a fucking Thursday [in February against Jamaine Ortiz] for crying out loud. It's just making the right decisions for me now. It's something that I didn't do when I was younger, and I am doing it now. That's really it. I don't duck anyone. You should know this by now. Don't listen to any of these false narratives. All I am doing is just dictating and taking care of my career. We put our lives in there, and I am at that point now where I have earned it.”

Lopez said earlier this year that he was looking for more activity in 2024, and so far he’s gotten it, beating Ortiz in February and Steve Claggett in June. Before that,  beat former undisputed junior welterweight champion Josh Taylor in June 2023 for the WBO belt he now holds. 

But despite the opportunities, Lopez still appears irritated with Top Rank. Earlier this year, Lopez claimed his career-long promoter gave him too many “take it or leave it” offers.

“I need a promoter and network that is going to push me,” said Lopez. “I'm not saying ESPN is not doing its part, however, it's not what it was before in the beginning, and that's what I don't approve of. I don't appreciate it. I'm the only star that they have left. With everything that I have done for Top Rank and ESPN, I believe that it's time. Just do what I ask. I have done so much for them for nearly eight years. I'm going to sit back and let God do the rest for me. I look forward to coming back again this year. We'll see when.

“I have conquered the [140-pound] division. There is no one at 140. Everyone lost. Nobody wanted to fight us. They went the wrong route, and everybody is out. What more can a guy do? I look forward to making more history. We'll go to 147 and be a three-division world champion at 27. That sounds great. And then from there, we'll go to 154. Or we'll just jump to 154, because we can do it.”