Tyson Fury claims Anthony Joshua was forced to be pulled away from their infamous spar back in 2010. The pair have engaged in a decade-long feud, and finally look set to meet in the ring. Having agreed to a fight back in April, the heavyweight icons are expected to clash in November - with an official date or venue yet to be confirmed.
However, both men must first get through their respective warm-up fights this week. On Friday night, Fury will take on heavyweight veteran Mariusz Wach behind closed doors in Thailand. A day later in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Joshua will make his highly-anticipated comeback against Kristian Prenga.
Fury's account of the spar
Despite their mouthwatering contest due to take place later this year, both Fury and Joshua have actually met in the ring before. Back in 2010, the two stars sparred at Finchley Boxing Club. During an interview with BoxingScene ahead of his return, the 'Gypsy King' revealed the truth as to what went down that day.
"He was an amateur boxer, and I was a pro, maybe 10-0 or something, so there wasn't much to think about. There was a lot of people there, so there was 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?' Then they pulled him out and put somebody else in."
Earlier praise for Joshua
Speaking to BBC Radio London at the time, Fury admitted Joshua gave him "a beating" in the ring. "I came up yesterday from Manchester and I went down to Finchley Boxing Club. I sparred with the ABA Champion, Anthony Joshua. He's red hot him. He's very good. To be honest with you, I thought I'm only going to take it easy because he's only an amateur and he probably won't spar again if I go mad. He's rushed out at me… BASH, he gave me a big upper cut right in the point of the chin. If I had a bit of a weak chin like David Pryce, I'd have been knocked out for a month. He's very, very, very good. He's only young, watch out for that name! Anthony Joshua. He is one prospect for the future."
Doubts over the fight
With fans desperate to see the hard-hitters clash in a professional setting, Fury still has reservations and would not be surprised if their mouthwatering clash fails to materialise. "Until that fight happens, walk into the ring... I'm not convinced it does. 100 per cent (on doubts whether the fight will actually happen). I can never see that stiff sitting on the table with me. Ever. What the f*** is he going to say? I can never actually see him at a press conference with me. It will just be like a bombardment. Like I can never see him taking that. He would not even get in the ring," he told IFL TV.
"I was thinking that the other day. He s*** himself and sat on the stool outside and did not even want to get up and build the fight like make the fight happen. When Turki Alalshikh said to us both 'come on boys, let's do it. Get in the ring and make it happen.' He did not want to do it. So how is he going to come face-to-face at a press conference." He added: "I think he is a bottlejob. A flapper. A chinless wonder as well."
