‘It’s two alpha males’ – Tyson Fury and Joseph Parker BANNED from sparring each other as it’s ‘not going to end well’
TYSON FURY and Joseph Parker are BANNED from sparring each other as it is “not going to end well”.
The heavyweight pair have struck a formidable friendship in recent years and are now training partners.
Fury even advised Parker to link up with former world champion Andy Lee when the New Zealander was searching for a new coach.
But Lee does not allow the duo to spar in camp – as he fears for the worst.
Lee told Queensbury Promotion’s YouTube: “No, I don’t let them spar.
“It’s two alpha males in that type of environment, you know it won’t end well.
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“Someone landing a good punch, the other one trying – it’s not going to end well, so keep them apart.”
Parker, 30, has set up base in Britain with Lee and Fury’s home training base in Morecombe.
The ex-WBO champ is training for his pay-per-view headline bout with unbeaten Joe Joyce, 36, next Saturday in Manchester.
Joyce is currently the WBO mandatory challenger for the belt held by Oleksandr Usyk, 35.
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Although he will fight Parker for the “interim” title, meaning should Usyk vacate his strap, the winner would be elevated.
And with a guaranteed shot at the belt as it is, Joyce has taken an almighty risk by agreeing to face Parker in the meantime.
Their contract does included a rematch option for Joyce, if he is beaten.
And in an interview with iD Boxing, Parker said: “I know deep down I back myself 100 percent to beat anyone.
“I want to beat Joyce first, twice, I have to beat him in September, have a rematch and beat him again then I’m free to fight anybody.
“He’s not even champion so he shouldn’t have a rematch clause, but it’s one of those things where they weren’t going to make the fight happen unless it was in place.
“I don’t need a rematch clause, for the Joshua fight I didn’t need a rematch clause because I backed myself and I back myself now.
“I think it shows a little weakness. Because the first time we negotiated with them they didn’t care about a rematch clause.”