The boxing world went into overdrive yesterday when WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua offered his services to Tyson Fury, as his bitter rival gears up for his second showdown with America’s Deontay Wilder in February.
What started as a seemingly innocuous comment from AJ on Sky Sports on Tuesday morning, quickly snowballed into something much bigger when Fury responded positively to Joshua’s proposition.
"I would love to have you in camp, work out for this fight and give Deontay Wilder a proper beating," said Fury on his Instagram page.
"I hope you mean it, as I'd love to have you in training camp with me. When I do beat Wilder I will fight you AJ no problem."
Asked about yesterday’s comments by IFLTV while he was attending the lavish JD Christmas party, Joshua amusingly said: "When I look back at some of the sh*t I say, I think 'Why did I say that?'"
Jokes aside, Joshua was clear on why sparring Fury would benefit both boxers in the long-run.
“Fury’s a world-class fighter, and I’m a world-class fighter that’s still trying to improve so that I can become an elite-level fighter,” Joshua added.
“Sparring Fury’s only gonna do me good, in my opinion. I’m never too big for my boots where I can’t learn anymore. So that opportunity for me to spar Fury is for my own benefit as well.”
The two working together could also mean a fight between the pair would be easier to make, should Fury emerge victorious against Wilder this time.
“The reason why I thought about it and why it came to fruition for me is because I feel like if Fury was to win that fight [against Wilder] I think he’d be more inclined to fight me next and quicker, than Wilder would.
“How long I’ve been waiting to fight for the championship belt, I think if Fury had it, me and him would have got a deal done. That’s why I was rooting for Fury to win because I just want to fight and collect my last belt.
If I was betting man, I think Fury wins.
Fury is set to square off with Wilder on February 22 in Las Vegas, although no location has been announced yet.
The two met back in December 2018 and fought out a draw with Fury surviving a late and brutal knockdown in the 12th round.
It will be all change for Fury this time, however, having parted ways with former trainer Ben Davison earlier this week.
Javan ‘Sugar’ Hill, who learned his trade in Detroit's famous Kronk Gym under the tutelage of the legendary Emanuel Steward, will be in his corner this time.
