Tyson Fury apparently is going to have a familiar sparring partner for his rematch with Deontay Wilder on Feb. 22.
Anthony Joshua, coming off his convincing victory over Andy Ruiz Jr. to recapture three heavyweight titles on Dec. 7 in Saudi Arabia, offered to work with Fury in his preparation for the Wilder fight. Joshua said in a Sky Sport video:
“I think Tyson Fury would fight me quicker than Wilder would, so if that’s the case, I want Fury to win because I just wanna fight. Fury, if you need me, if you need me for sparring, I’ve sparred Fury when we were kids anyway. I’d go out to America, spar Fury and get him ready for this Wilder fight.”
Fury didn’t waste time accepting the offer. He said on his Instagram account: “I’d love to, I hope you mean it because [I’d] love to have you in training camp with me. Thanks very much by the way and well done in your last fight [against Ruiz]. Congratulations and fair play.”
And does Fury see himself fighting Joshua in an all-U.K. heavyweight championship fight? You bet.
“When I beat Wilder,” Fury said, “I will fight you, AJ, no problem.”
Now all Fury has to do is beat Wilder. Joshua likes what he sees in his countryman.
“In terms of skill, I rate him highly,” Joshua said. “He’s a real boxing connoisseur, he studies his boxing like I do. He has some resemblances with his movement and style, like Muhammad Ali. And the way he talks, if you listen to what he says, you can see one of his role models is Muhammad Ali.”
Joshua’s offer comes during a transition for Fury. He and trainer Ben Davison announced an amicable split last week on Sunday, after which Fury said he will be working with SugarHill Steward, the nephew of the late Emanuel Steward.
Tyson Fury, SugarHill Steward and Anthony Joshua. No one could’ve predicated those three would end up on the same team.