Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have been bitter rivals for the last decade, despite somehow still not having met in the ring.
However, according to a radio interview from Fury way back in the day, he and Joshua actually did spar each other on one occasion.
Though there is only roughly a year between the pair in terms of age, ‘The Gypsy King’ turned professional half a decade before his would be adversary, who had a much more accomplished amateur career.
And it was while ‘AJ’ was plying his trade in the unpaid ranks that he locked horns with Fury, who was around two years into his pro career, at Finchley ABC.
Remarkably, the Morecambe favourite admitted that Joshua “gave him a beating” in an interview with BBC Radio London.
“He came out at me for three rounds and he gave me a beating – I’m not going to deny it, he gave me hell for leather for three rounds. I thought ‘Oh my god, an amateur is killing me.’
“Being a professional, and I’ve been an amateur myself and fought all over the world, I slowed him down a bit with a few good body shots.
“The kid’s only 20, and I’m a handful myself, so for him to put up a good performance like that against a top prospect in me, I think he’s one for the future.”
Over 14 years on from that sparring session, it is hard to believe Fury and Joshua have not met in a professional ring, given they have both been amongst the very best heavyweights on the planet for the majority of that time.
That said, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has stated in recent interviews that he believes 2025 will be the year the two Brits finally do battle.
If Joshua comes through Daniel Dubois next month and Fury scores revenge over Oleksandr Usyk in their December rematch, that fight would likely be for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
