By Ryan Burton

BIG BEAR, CALIF. - World class trainer Abel Sanchez is very impressed with lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

The former WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO kingpin used Sanchez's gym in Big Bear last year when he trained for his December showdown against Deontay Wilder.

Fury had a two and a half year layoff after defeating Wladimir Klitschko in November, 2015.  The fighter known as the "Gypsy King" dealt with depression and drug and alcohol abuse which greatly contributed to his ring hiatus.

“I like Tyson Fury. I just think he is a good fresh breeze for our sport. He’s a talent. He’s the kind of guy who you went to school with a real smart guy who didn’t study for the test and he aced it every time and you studied and didn’t get a good grade,” Sanchez told BoxingScene.com when asked about Fury.

“He just seems like one of those guys who’s potential hasn’t really been tapped. If he stays focused - he’s seemed to have had some issues with his head psychologically - but if he stays focused I think he’s going to very difficult to beat. A 6’9” mobile man with some great hand speed and great ring IQ. He’s going to be difficult if he stays on his game.”

The fight against Wilder ended in a controversial split draw.  Many observers felt that Fury, despite being knocked down twice, deserved to get the victory on the scorecards.

The two are scheduled to square off again in the first quarter of 2020 provided they prevail in their bouts that are being scheduled for this fall. If the fight happens as has been discussed, Sanchez believes that Fury would come out victorious.

“I thought he beat Wilder the first time. Wilder is a very good fighter too but I thought Tyson just did more. If it wasn’t for the two rounds he got knocked down I thought Tyson won most of the rounds. I think he does it again. I think he has more confidence now. He likes being in front of a camera. He likes the position he is in right now and it is going to be difficult to take it away from him. He is a smart man. He knows that he is going to have to work to stay there. It is going to be extremely to beat him because he loves this attention right now,” said Sanchez.

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