Tyson Fury in rare praise of Anthony Joshua and Hearn

Tyson Fury in rare praise of Anthony Joshua - and reveals who would win in fight The 30-year-old fighter is preparing for his December bout with current WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder Tyson Fury*has made a rare and unprecedented move - by heaping praise on boxing rival Anthony Joshua. The Gypsy King has previously been critical of the IBF, WBA and WBO Heavyweight champion,*Joshua*, who he once labelled a "bum." But it seems Fury is actually an admirer of the 29-year-old, as he gushed about the star in an interview with the*Fighting Spirits Podcast*. Fury said: "I think he’s awesome. As a fan and as a boxing enthusiast I think he's a very awesome specimen of a man.” The two athletes are yet to face each other in their boxing careers, but a potential fight could be on the horizon should Fury win his next bout. 30-year-old Fury faces off with current WBC Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas on December 1. And Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has previously suggested that the winner could be set for a match-up with his client at Wembley on April 13, 2019. Should the winner and Joshua meet in their next bouts, both fighters would have a chance to unify the Heavyweight division - something not done since Fury was stripped of his IBF title in 2016. Fury has only had two fights since he returned to the ring after his boxing license was suspended following health issues. The Manchester-born star vacated his WBA, WBO and IBO titles in 2016 following a medical investigation and personal issues, but has since made a comeback to beat Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta. Despite admiring his adversary's recent win over Aleksandr Povetkin, Fury went on to reveal who he thought would win a contest between himself and Joshua. He said: “I want to say this, but I don’t want people to think I’m being nasty towards him. “He has the awesome power and the strength and the body and the mass and everything else that goes with that type, but he doesn’t have my boxing ability. “Anybody who knows boxing will tell you. Unless he catches me with a big punch he can’t win really. “Even the worst Tyson Fury there’s ever been would give him a hard night because styles make fights. “Not because I’m so great at what I do, it’s just because I’d be awkward for someone with his style." Fury was also full of praise for Hearn, who has masterminded Joshua's route to the top of the professional game since his Olympic gold in 2012. He said: "I think he’s a decent bloke to be honest. He’s funny, charismatic, young, good-looking, tall – everything a good promoter should be. "He’s British, got good dress sense. “I don’t dislike Eddie, I think he’s a nice fella. "When I’ve been in his company we always have a laugh and a chat. I understand it’s just business… “I could never say Eddie Hearn is a bad promoter or a bad manager because look what he’s done with Joshua. "I don’t believe anybody else could have done the same job in the world.” Source: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/tyson-fury-rare-praise-anthony-13619815.amp