When top heavyweights spar together… Dillian Whyte with the Klitschko brothers, Deontay Wilder with David Haye and Anthony Joshua with Tyson Fury
By Michael Benson
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In the heavyweight division, it often proves difficult to make the fights that boxing fans really want to see.
Plenty of tantalising match-ups between the sport’s best often fall by the wayside, as we've recently seen with the collapse of Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury.
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Fans will have to wait to see Fury vs AJCredit: Getty
However, many of these potential bouts have already happened in the gym, several years prior.
All of the world’s best heavyweights were at some point developing youngsters learning their trade, often sent out to spar with the division’s top dogs.
This produces many sessions that, in hindsight, we’d definitely pay to see.
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Take a look at 15 examples of top class heavyweight sparring below...
Tyson Fury clashes with Deontay Wilder's new trainer Malik Scott over claims 'Gypsy King' busted his ear in an old sparring session
1. Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte
Whyte worked with Team Fury in camp for some of his early fights. They have since argued on multiple occasions about who got the better of the sessions.Credit: Instagram - Dillian Whyte/Tyson Fury
2. Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois
The young Dubois sparred AJ alongside Frazer Clarke as part of the Team GB setup.Credit: Frazer Clarke - Twitter
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3. Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko
Wilder was one of many emerging prospects Klitschko brought in to help him prepare for fights towards the end of his career.Credit: Instagram - Deontay Wilder
4. Andy Ruiz Jr and Michael Hunter
Ahead of his rematch with Joshua, Ruiz Jr recruited Michael Hunter to help him prepare.Credit: Instagram - Andy Ruiz Jr
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5. Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora
Chisora travelled to help his old friend Joshua get ready for the Ruiz Jr rematch.Credit: Instagram - Derek Chisora
6. Dillian Whyte and the Klitschko brothers
Whyte was initially recruited by Vitali and then also by Wladimir.Credit: Instagram - Dillian Whyte
7. Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic
While in London three years ago, Croatian sensation Hrgovic got some rounds in with fellow hot prospect Dubois.Credit: Twitter - Daniel Dubois
8. Deontay Wilder and David Haye
Wilder joined Haye’s camp before his cancelled fight with Fury. Brief video footage is available to watch in the player at the top of the page.Credit: Instagram - Deontay Wilder
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9. David Haye and Filip Hrgovic
Hrgovic was also in Haye's camp for the cancelled Fury fight. In fact, it was he who cut the Brit with a stray elbow, causing the bout to be postponed. It was later called off completely.Credit: Instagram - Filip Hrgovic
10. Wladimir Klitschko and Oleksandr Usyk
Even though Klitschko had retired at this point, he helped his fellow Ukrainian adjust to dealing with a big size difference before his move up to heavyweight.Credit: Instagram - Oleksandr Usyk
11. Daniel Dubois and Alexander Povetkin
Prior to his fight with Joshua, Povetkin flew Dubois out to help him prepare. The young Brit spoke highly of his experience in Russia.Credit: Instagram - World of Boxing
12. Joseph Parker and Tony Yoka
Olympic gold medallist Yoka shared a few rounds with former world champion Parker.Credit: Instagram - Tony Yoka
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13. Dillian Whyte and David Haye
A young Whyte worked with his fellow south Londoner Haye. At this point, Whyte was very inexperienced in comparison to the fighter seen today.Credit: Instagram - Dillian Whyte
14. Wladimir Klitschko and Murat Gassiev
Gassiev is another former cruiserweight champion who, like Usyk, was able to spar with Klitschko in order to help prepare for a move up to heavyweight.Credit: Instagram - Murat Gassiev
15. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua
Fury was a contender when he sparred an amateur AJ. Fury said back in 2010: “He’s very good. He’s rushed out at me, he threw a one-two and a left hook and then bash, he hit me with a big uppercut right on the point of the chin. He came out at me for three rounds, and he gave me a beating. Watch out for that name, Anthony Joshua, he is one prospect for the future.”