‘If you can hit me, you can hit Deontay Wilder’: Tyson Fury’s sparring partner lifts the lid on training camp and how his ‘quick, sharp’ style shaped Gypsy King’s historic victory
- Tyson Fury dominated Deontay Wilder last week to win the WBC world title
- He battered the American to give him his first loss despite being the underdog
- Pundits have praised Fury’s tactics but his sparring partner was the unsung hero
- Jared Anderson says his quick style helped prepare Fury for his Wilder bout
The unsung hero of Tyson Fury‘s stunning win over Deontay Wilder has been revealed as teenage prospect Jared Anderson, who was the Gypsy King’s main sparring partner and helped prepare him with his speed and evasive style.
Anderson, who is only 20, said he wasn’t brought in to imitate Wilder’s style but to instead keep Fury on his toes and give him the confidence to throw punches even against a fighter that moves quickly.
Fury broke Wilder down throughout their heavyweight contest in Las Vegas and eventually stopped him in the seventh round having floored him twice to become the WBC world champion. He impressed particularly with his ability to put Wilder on the back foot while also dodging his big punches.
Jared Anderson was Tyson Fury’s main sparring partner and prepared him for Deontay Wilder
The Gypsy King shocked the world by beating the US fighter to become WBC world champion
Anderson had a direct influence on that game-plan and said he tried to give Fury plenty to think about in sparring to sharpen him up.
‘If you can hit me, then you’ve got some speed and technique,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘That’s our biggest point. I’m shorter, hard to hit, a little faster. That was the point made after our first sparring session. He knew that if he could hit me, he could definitely hit Wilder.’
The young heavyweight didn’t match Wilder’s imposing figure, admitting he is ‘not the biggest or the strongest’, but he could ready Fury for the danger that the Bronze Bomber posed by getting in front of him and throwing punches.
Fury worked hard during sparring sessions to improve his sharpness and and speed in the ring
‘I was definitely not brought in to directly imitate [Wilder]. I’m only 6’4” so my height doesn’t match up. But I definitely bring a lot to the table – I will sharpen you up, make sure that you are aware of punches, make sure that you know when they are coming and know how to get out of the way.’
Many were surprised by Team Fury’s decision to take the fight to Wilder, one of the biggest punchers in recent history, but Anderson, who has a 3-0 professional record so far, says the 31-year-old trained vigorously to implement the strategy. He also believes Fury has been his toughest sparring partner to date.
‘Everything you saw in the ring, he had trained for and practiced for,’ Anderson added. ‘People thought he was talking hype? He did what he had to do.
‘[Fury] is the most challenging sparring I’ve had. He made me think a lot, it was a chess match, tit for tat.’
The preparation paid off as Fury dismantled Wilder and dominated from the very first bell
The vital prep Fury received from his sessions with Anderson will go a long way, as he is set to clash with Wilder for a third time after the American activated his rematch clause.
There had been huge clamour for Fury to take on fellow world champion Anthony Joshua in mega undisputed fight between two British fighters, but he will have to see off Wilder once more – with the trilogy bout set to take place on July 18 in Las Vegas.
Wilder has promised Fury that ‘the war has just begun’, releasing an Instagram video claiming he was still ‘a king’ and vowing to reclaim his WBC strap. Meanwhile, Joshua will take on Kubrat Pulev at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20, hoping to make a statement and secure a big win before taking on the winner.