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The sports world is longing for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to hit each other in the boxing ring. They already have.
Because while Joshua’s win over Kubrat Pulev on Saturday intensified calls for him to face Fury in 2021, the pair really fell out in 2010.
On his way back from the gym, Fury, who was 22 years old at the time and a pro, called Steve Bunce of BBC Radio London and explained what Joshua was like, who was 20 years old and chasing amateur honors.
Now that the Joshua-Fury rivalry has reached a new level, BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello describes Fury’s words from a decade earlier as “gold dust.” Are here.
It’s red hot with him …
“I went to the Finchley Boxing Club and fought ABA champion Anthony Joshua. He’s red hot, great.
“To be honest with you, I thought ‘I’ll just take it easy because he’s just a fan and he probably won’t train me again if I go crazy.’
“He pounced on me, threw a one-two and a left hook and a punch, he hit me with an uppercut right on the tip of the chin.
“If he had a weak chin like David Price, he would have been knocked out for a month. He’s very, very, very good and he’s just young. Watch out for that name, Anthony Joshua, he’s a prospect for the future.
“I’m a good prospect, I rate myself as one of the best heavyweights in the world and he attacked me for three rounds and beat me up. I’m not going to deny it. He gave what the hell for” leather. I thought an amateur was killing me.
“I stopped him with some good body shots. The kid is only 20 years old. I’m a bunch myself, so for him to put in a good performance like that against a top prospect in me, I think he’s one for the future.
“But sparring is not fighting and fighting with a head guard is not professional boxing.”
Will they really fight?
The match is indeed very different from the kind of pressure and occasion the pair would face if they actually faced each other, with all four heavyweight world titles potentially at stake.
Its promoters have already raised the possibility of a contest in May, possibly in the Middle East, but there is a number of problems to solve First, from avoiding other potential opponents to securing a suitable venue during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Steve Bunce, BBC Radio 5 Live Boxing analyst:
For this proposed fight, I see boxing problems, not so much problems with things like the broadcasters.
There is a WBO problem and Joshua is mandated to fight Oleksandr Usyk. Then there’s Deontay Wilder’s third fight for Fury. Wilder invoked that clause and they were destined to fight for the third time last July.
The other problem is the normal chaos of boxing, like people getting involved and busy. It will take a lot of courage and skill to turn this plan into a reality, great skill on the part of an experienced staff.
So Mike, your gut tells you what will happen in May or June?
BBC Sport boxing correspondent Mike Costello:
Yes. For the feelings of Eddie Hearn, Bob Arum and the fact that there is nothing covered up in Joshua and Fury’s comments. I am as sure as I can that this happens if there are no impediments from the governing bodies or a legal situation.
I think there is a time problem. If this fight is to be staged in the Middle East, Ramadan is from mid-April to mid-May. So it is from the end of May to June for any fight to take place.
If you look at the temperatures there at that time of year, then it will be very difficult to hold those kinds of events. That could be a factor.
