Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have only sparred once, and the outcome was not favorable to ‘The Gypsy King’.
Fury, an up-and-coming pro, and Joshua, a young ambitious amateur, faced up at Finchley Boxing Club in 2010.
Tyson Fury acknowledges Anthony Joshua won the spar.
Fury was 11-0 and had recently defeated John McDermott in their rematch for the English heavyweight belt.
Fury, eager to capitalize on the excitement of his triumph, published a guest editorial in Boxing News magazine, urging sparring partners to step up.
The Mancunian offered anyone who could knock him out in sparring an expensive Rolex watch, and while Joshua was unable to accomplish this feat, Fury admits he was ‘battered’ by AJ for three rounds.
A few weeks after the session, Fury told BBC Radio London: “I went down to Finchley Boxing Club and 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.
Joshua was 20 years old at the time and had just won the ABA title.
2nd September 2010 🗓
22 year old Tyson Fury, 11 fights into his professional career, travels down to Finchley to spar a promising young amateur 🥊
That amateur's name, Anthony Joshua.
Later that day, he spoke to @bigdaddybunce on BBC Radio London to tell him how it went… pic.twitter.com/YHB00gDhE6
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) December 15, 2020
“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.’ 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.”
AJ-FURY SPARRING WAR…💥
@anthonyfjoshua recalls the time he went toe-to-toe with @Tyson_Fury
This fight could be closer than you think, according to @EddieHearn
Read more here👉 https://t.co/8LLVACkOUK pic.twitter.com/57qbblbskF
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) April 3, 2020
In 2016, Joshua gave his side of the story but chose not to delve into the same detail as Fury did.
“I just got my head guard on, gum shield in, and we just cracked on,” he told Sky Sports.
“Me and him just had a straight war. What I learned about Fury is we’ve got the same heart. We’re both fighting people and we go to war.
‘I didn’t manage to knock him out. We both hit each other with some big shots, powerful shots.
“Years ago he predicted ‘watch out for the kid, he’ll be heavyweight champion of the world one day’ – and he got his prediction right.”
Joshua had only been boxing for two years at the time yet another two years later he would win gold at the London Olympics and turn over as a pro.
Fury and Joshua have both been slated to face each other on several occasions in the paid ranks.
However, nothing has come to fruition as of yet.
For now, the only encounter we have to go off is their 2010 sparring session at Finchley ABC.
