GERALD WASHINGTON might just have the answers for the greatest fantasy fights in the current heavyweight division.
After all, he has shared the ring in some shape or form with the best of them.
Washington was beaten by Deontay Wilder in 2017 but they later linked up as sparring partners.
Similarly, Anthony Joshua recruited the 6ft 6in American for his camp before beating Kubrat Pulev in 2020.
Oleksandr Usyk, Andy Ruiz Jr and even ex-heavyweight champions of the past like Wladimir Klitschko have also called on Washington’s services.
And when he steps into the ring with Derek Chisora on Saturday night, it will not be for the first time as they sparred dating back to 2016.
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So Washington has almost experienced it all and lives to gush about the talent he has graced the ring with.
He told SunSport: “Everybody brings something different to the table.
“If you want power, you’ve got Deontay Wilder. If you want class boxing fundamentals then you’ve got Joshua.
“If you want ring IQ and hard work, Usyk is a crazy guy to learn from. And even Derek Chisora, what he brings to the table is all heart.
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“He comes to get it, he works hard and he’s a grinder. That’s a skill in itself, that’s hard to do.
“He’s putting in a lot of hard rounds for our entertainment, we’re grateful for him and that’s why he’s a hero here in the UK.”
Washington, 41, and Chisora, 38, provide undercard action for Joshua’s return on Saturday night at the O2 Arena.
But the event faced the KO when AJ’s initial opponent Dillian Whyte, 35, was pulled out amid a failed drug test.
Robert Helenius, 39, has since subbed in to save the day but Washington was also considered although later overlooked.
He said: “We were ready to go. We’ve been working for a long time now and we was ready to go to put it together.
“But, they chose Robert Helenius and we’ll get him next time.”
Joshua, 33, will step foot in the ring knowing he is one win away from a super-fight in Saudi Arabia against Deontay Wilder, 37.
And Wilder is a training partner and friend of Washington’s as they share the same coach, Malik Scott.
But Washington admits he would have had no qualms in taking the bout with AJ despite Wilder’s impending blockbuster with the Brit star.
He said: “I mean, s*** if it was going to come my way it was going to come my way.
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“If the cards fall as they lie, you just have to take it as they come. We were worried about what we’re in control of and that’s it.
“Now we’ve got Derek Chisora on the plate and that’s all we’ve prepared for.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
