Not many people have ever got the better of Tyson Fury.
‘The Gypsy King’ is one of the best heavyweights of his generation and is a two-time world champion who also long held the Lineal title.
His breakout win came in Germany when he dethroned fellow great Wladimir Klitschko back in 2015. After a time out due to mental health problems, the Brit returned and went on a winning run that included victories over Derek Chisora, Dillian Whyte, Otto Wallin and a trilogy with the fearsome puncher Deontay Wilder which ended with one draw and two knockout wins.
However back in May, Fury took his first career loss in the biggest fight of them all – an undisputed contest with Oleksandr Usyk that saw him come out on the wrong side of a points decision.
Speaking to BBC Radio London years ago, Fury admitted that long-time rival Anthony Joshua once stuck it on him in sparring at the Finchley Boxing Club back in 2010 when Joshua was an amateur and Fury was two years a pro.
“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.’
Fury claimed he then got control of things but had plenty of praise for Joshua.
“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.”
Fury was right about Joshua’s talent. In September he will fight Daniel Dubois in an attempt to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, while Fury has a rematch with Usyk. Should he win, he will also become a world champion for the third time and the pair could well finally get it on next year.
