Ben Davison will head up the Anthony Joshua corner in Riyadh on Friday night, but once upon a time he was the man behind Tyson Fury’s march to heavyweight boxing greatness.
The highly-respected Davison was Fury’s trainer when he began that epic comeback from 400lbs and mental health issues to become world heavyweight champion for a second time.
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Davison was in Fury’s corner for that first meeting with Deontay Wilder in late 2018, which ended in a draw. The two would part company before the rematch in Las Vegas in early 2020.
Fury though still has great respect for Davison, and has given his take on Ben now linking up with another two-time heavyweight king in the shape of Joshua.
The pair worked together for the first time last December when AJ blasted out Sweden’s Otto Wallin after five rounds. It was an impressive performance, leaving Joshua to admit that the new partnership is clicking perfectly.
Fury on AJ and Davison linkup
Fury told The Stomping Ground: “I thought it was a good linkup. I said it years ago, he probably should have done that because Ben lives right around the corner from him and he’s a fun guy to be around, he’s a good trainer.
“So I don’t see why he needed to travel to America when he good get training in the UK, so that’s fantastic for him.”
Fury was at pains to stress he does not particularly care who wins Friday night’s massive Joshua vs Francis Ngannou matchup, but he did point out the difference in the way the fight is being viewed – compared to his own meeting with ‘The Predator’ last October.
Then Ngannou was painted as a complete no-hoper on his professional boxing debut, but he had ‘The Gypsy King’ on the floor early in a terrific performance – only losing by controversial split decision. Fury is a giant of a man, but in Ngannou he met somebody who could match him.
Ngannou proved everyone wrong
“I think it’s a great fight. When I was fighting Ngannou it was a mismatch and it was a bull***t fight, but it is what it is, because styles make fights,” explained Fury.
“I’m not sure what people expected of the man before that, do you know what I mean. I know it was supposed to be like a 1000-1 shot, he was useless and couldn’t fight and all that, but he proved everyone wrong so fantastic for him.”
Ngannou earned a career-high purse for that meeting with Fury, and he’ll reportedly make even more cash from Friday’s date with Joshua. Up around the $20million mark if reports are to be believed. Fury of course believes he is the man responsible.
“I put him on the map and made him a multi-millionaire, and now I’m making him even more money. So he needs to thank me, he needs to get on his knees and kiss my feet doesn’t he, for what I’ve done for him.”
