ANTHONY JOSHUA has carefully picked the perfect sparring partners ahead of his must-win fight against Kubrat Pulev.
AJ cannot afford any slip ups against the Bulgarian as an undisputed title decider with Tyson Fury could be at stake.
Anthony Joshua pictured with his group of sparring partners
Joshua, as always, has spent the majority of his training camp up at Team GB’s Sheffield HQ.
And Sky Sports revealed the men helping AJ prepare for his IBF mandatory defence, as selected by training camp manager David Ghansa.
Martin Bakole, 15-1 (12 KOs)
The Congolese heavyweight – who trains in Scotland with coach Billy Nelson – has long been a fixture in AJ’s sparring team.
They even consider each other close friends, but Bakole makes it no secret he wants to one day fight Joshua, who has Nigerian heritage.
He said: “It would be a big show, not only for Africa, but for the whole world. Imagine if Joshua fought in Nigeria or my home in Congo.”
Bakole faces Russian Sergey Kuzmin on the Joshua vs Pulev undercard.
Martin Bakole has long been a fixture in AJ’s sparring team
Bryant Jennings, 24-4 (14 KOs)
American veteran Jennings has shared the ring with Wladimir Klitschko, Luis Ortiz as well as Oscar Rivas and Joe Joyce recently.
The versatile former world title challenger even acted as a southpaw sparring partner for Derek Chisora – something AJ appreciated.
Ghansa said: “He is such an athlete, he can do whatever we ask him to do.
“He can fight in any style, he’s very fit. He went to Derek Chisora’s camp to spar as a southpaw.”
Bryant Jennings, second from the right, helped Joshua in sparring
Gerald Washington, 20-4-1 (13 KOs)
Washington provides vast experience having fought, but lost, to Deontay Wilder, Jarrell Miller, Adam Kownacki and Charles Martin.
But it took some convincing to get him over to Britain to link up with Joshua.
Ghansa explained: “When AJ fought Wladimir Klitschko, Gerald was one of our main targets for sparring. We reached out, he seemed on board.
“Then he called back and said, ‘Thanks but Klitschko’s team have called me too! And I want to have the experience of his camp!’.
“Then I saw him [before the Andy Ruiz Jr] rematch and asked if he would be interested in sparring. But Gerald said, ‘I don’t want to spar, I want to fight AJ!’.
“He turned us down twice. But, this time, he said yes.”
Gerald Washington was knocked out by Deontay Wilder Credit: (AP Photo/Albert Cesare)
David Adeleye, 4-0 (4 KOs)
Adeleye has enjoyed an explosive start to his professional career, not once going the distance.
But he has gained more experience in the gym, having provided sparring for Tyson Fury – before he beat Deontay Wilder – as well as Joshua.
Ghansa said: “I look for different things in sparring partners – he had balance, body positioning, he is youthful.
“He was here for a week then went to Tyson Fury’s training camp which was prearranged.”
David Adeleye has sparred both Joshua and Tyson Fury
Fabio Wardley, 10-0 (9 KOs)
Wardley is another young, promising heavyweight on the rise, who recently won the English title stopping Simon Vallily.
And he stole the show last month with a compressive KO against Richard Lartey.
Wardley is managed by Joshua’s old rival Dillian Whyte, and he has had to learn on the job.
It comes from a lack of amateur experience, having boxed only on the White Collar scene before turning pro in 2017.
Fabio Wardley is managed by AJ’s old rival Dillian Whyte
Peter Kadiru, 10-0 (5 KOs)
The German heavyweight sparred Joshua for the first time in this training camp.
And it was organised by his manager Bernd Boente, who is famous for representing Klitschko.
Boente said: “It is our honour. I always recommended Peter if Anthony was to fight Pulev.
“They are very happy with Peter and I hope it stays that way. But we are professionals – it is most important that Anthony is prepared.”
German Peter Kadiru is managed by Bernd Boente, who is famous for representing Wladimir Klitschko
Christian Thun, 6-0 (4 KOs)
Another German added to the team was Thun, who AJ sought after due to his height – despite Pulev standing two inches shorter than him.
Ghansa explained: “AJ said to me, ‘Get someone taller than me.
“Even though Pulev is shorter, AJ wanted a wildcard – someone tall with a good jab.
“Thun is very experienced. He was in Klitschko’s camp before the AJ fight and has been in Fury’s camp too.”
Christian Thun was brought into camp due to his height Credit: @christianthun_official
Frazer Clarke, Tokyo Olympics hopeful
Clarke has been one of AJ’s longest serving sparring partners due to their time spent on the Team GB squad.
He hopes to represent his nation in Tokyo next year, having missed out in Rio in 2016 thanks to Joe Joyce.
But Clarke rates himself as a better natural talent than both Joshua and Joyce.
He revealed: “I believe I’m a better boxer than both, more of a natural boxer.
“I think few people around the game who’ve seen us box at the same stages would disagree.”
Frazer Clarke has been one of AJ’s longest serving sparring partners
Hosea Stewart, amateur boxer
Before Joshua beat Ruiz in December, he added trainer Joby Clayton to his team.
And for their upcoming challenge against Pulev, Clayton provided Stewart, one of the amateurs he trains in Wolverhampton, to join AJ in camp.
Clayton said: “Fair play to AJ who saw and recognised the potential of Hosea. He wanted Hosea to experience what camp life is all about.
“He wanted to give Hosea a taste of what his own life could be about if he is willing to do the work that it takes to be a champion.”
One of Joshua’s coaches provided amateur Hosea Stewart for sparring
Delicious Orie, amateur boxer
Orie is another amateur from Wolverhampton, who is currently on the Team GB set up.
He was part of AJ’s camp before beating Ruiz in the Saudi Arabia rematch.
Orie hopes to represent GB at the 2024 Olympics.
Delicious Orie is the 2024 Team GB heavyweight hopeful
George Foreman backs Tyson Fury to beat Anthony Joshua
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
