Having previously sparred both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, an American heavyweight has sided with one man ahead of their long-awaited showdown on December 11.
The two Brits will finally square off at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, looking to settle a rivalry that has been simmering for the best part of a decade.
With the WBA ‘super’ title expected to be on the line, too, the winner should be crowned a three-time world champion while claiming a satisfying victory over his domestic foe.
As for the fight itself, many have made Fury a considerable favourite following their respective warm-up fights in July, when Joshua was twice floored in the opening round of his clash with Kristian Prenga.
He did, to his credit, manage to stop his man in the subsequent round but, based on what transpired beforehand, it is reasonable to suspect that the 36-year-old’s punch resistance is not what it once was.
Similarly, Fury appears to be a fighter in decline but, unlike ‘AJ’, was able to score respective points and stoppage victories over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach while seeming in no real danger of getting stopped.
Yet despite there being a general favouring of the ‘Gypsy King’, heavyweight operator Skylar Lacy has told Pro Boxing Fans that, after sparring both, he would have to back a Joshua triumph.
“It was great work with both of them – I’m definitely excited for that matchup. If I had to [pick a winner], I’m going Team AJ all day.”
Lacy went on to say that he sparred Fury in 2021, ahead of his trilogy match with Deontay Wilder, while the rounds he shared with Joshua came a couple of years later.
