The undisputed clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk has seen its fair share of drama. Their anticipated bout has been brewing for several years, yet it was the Saudis who ultimately orchestrated its realization. However, in February this year, reports revealed that Fury suffered an eye injury while training with his sparring partner, Agron Smakici.
The injury resulted in a postponement of the fight to May 18, sparking rumors that Fury might be trying to avoid the fight. However, this wasn’t the only time Fury has faced issues with a sparring partner. In January, Jai Opetaia left Fury’s camp after sparring with him for just five rounds. Nevertheless, Fury announced today on social media that he has enlisted a new sparring partner.
Sparring partner thanks Tyson Fury for the opportunity
Turning to Instagram stories, ‘The Gypsy King’ shared a post from Kevin Lerena, in which the South African boxer expressed his gratitude for the opportunity alongside a picture of the duo sparring. He wrote, “Working with the WBC heavyweight world champion @tysonfury… Having the opportunity to grind and grow in such an environment is priceless.
Meanwhile, Fury seems to have enlisted another newcomer from the heavyweight division, Ricky Gorman. Like Lerena, Gorman also shared a picture with Fury and wrote, “All praise to Jesus new undisputed.” Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua’s former trainer has spoken out about a potential matchup between the two Brits.
AJ’s Former trainer on Fury vs. Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua has showcased pure boxing brilliance in his past few fights. The way the Brit knocked out Francis Ngannou, who gave Tyson Fury the toughest challenge yet, has sparked conversations about an all-English showdown. However, ‘The Gypsy King’ has to fir get through the Usyk challenge to make that fight possible.
In case Fury wins against Usyk, AJ’s former trainer has given his thoughts on how the fight may look. While speaking to Boxing Social, Richie Woodall said, “We’ll have to judge it on [Fury’s] next fight with Usyk. It’s going to be a difficult fight, and he’s going to have to be at his best. So, Tyson versus AJ is 50-50 at this stage, but if he beats Usyk, he starts the favorite.”
