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Anthony Joshua Says Tyson Fury is Six Years Ahead of Him

Published 09/02/2020, 8:19 AM EDT

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The four-belt heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua spoke to GQ Middle East and commented on his place in the sport. Joshua extended an introspective look into his mindset as a championship-caliber boxer and looked back into his journey. Moreover, he referenced his growth from his humble beginnings in the sport alongside the two-time lineal champion Tyson Fury.

‘The Gypsy King’ is arguably at the top of the heavyweight boxing landscape following his sensational win over Deontay Wilder. “AJ” is close on his heels for the top spot after bouncing back from his first loss as a professional. With his chapter against Andy Ruiz Jr. in the books, Anthony Joshua will have his sights set on Fury.

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Anthony Joshua on ‘The Gypsy King’

Anthony Joshua reflected on his growth in tandem with Fury’s accomplishments. Why? Tyson Fury has been a lifelong boxer, being named after heavyweight icon Mike Tyson. Also, Joshua put on a pair of gloves at 18, despite a tough childhood.

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“Being world champion, with all those knockouts, you do feel kind of unstoppable. But realistically, in boxing terms, I’m way ahead of where I should be. I’m working at such a quick pace. I shouldn’t even be in a position where I’m mentioned in Tyson Fury’s era. He’s five or six years ahead of me in terms of turning professional. In fact, when he was turning pro, I was just putting on my gloves for the first time.”

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Not to mention, AJ actualized Olympic gold at the 2012 games just a few years after dedicating himself to the sport. His early accomplishments show the talent that the Londoner possesses.

Moreover, he touched upon how his life has changed since transitioning to boxing. His transformation into a marquee draw and the ‘Live Gate King of the O2’ arena has been possible because of his dedication to the sport.

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“I was just living life. Enjoying myself, having no real structure. I was going to college, but there was no real purpose. With boxing, it wasn’t even about becoming the world champion. It was about becoming a world champion of myself. I made the decision to focus on the sport. It was either sleep early, digest good food, listen to the right things, focus on my boxing education or just go to the gym to keep fit, have a bit of fun with it, sleep late, struggle the next day, probably miss training and eventually give up.”

Combat sports fans have been waiting to see the two elite heavyweight boxers collide. However, they will first have to get through their respective challengers in Deontay Wilder and Kubrat Pulev to bring their match to fruition.

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Written by:

Darryl Pinto

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Darryl Pinto is a senior MMA writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Mass Media (with a specialization in Journalism) out of Xavier’s College and has a year's experience in his current role. Darryl specializes in predictions, reporting, and covering UFC events live.
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