Anthony Joshua claimed he sparred against rival Tyson Fury for a Rolex watch over 10 years ago

ANTHONY JOSHUA called time on rival Tyson Fury last year after months of failed talks for a bumper fight – and revealed they once sparred for a brand new Rolex watch.

AJ returns to the ring on Saturday hoping to relaunch his career against American Jermaine Franklin at the O2 after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

But the former British world heavyweight champ was just an amateur when he first fought the Gypsy King.

And AJ revealed that he read in boxing bible Boxing News that Fury was in London looking for sparring partners – and if anyone knocked him down they would get his expensive Rolex watch.

Joshua previously told Sky Sports: “This was early on when I was an amateur and I didn’t know who Tyson was.

“I was reading in Boxing News he was going around London gyms asking if anyone knocks him out they get to keep his Rolex.

“Me and him had a straight war. We both have heart.

“I didn’t get to knock him out. He said afterwards ‘Watch out for this kid, he will be champion of the world one day’.

“And he got his prediction right.”

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Any talk of a possible fight between AJ and Tyson Fury appears seemingly over, after Joshua was beaten by Usyk for a second time.

Fury disposed of British rival Dillian Whyte back in April and followed that up by beating Derek Chisora.

The WBC champ has now come underfire after his hardball tactics in talks with Usyk for a bumper unification caused the deal to be scuppered.

Boxing fans were counting down the days until April 29 when it appeared Fury and Usyk had managed to strike an agreement.

But it appears the bout will not go ahead after the duo failed to conclude terms over the purse.

And according to Usyk’s agent Egis Klimas, that all falls at the feet of Fury.

Usyk is now plotting a mandatory defence of his belts in either June or July.