Tyson Fury has given the ultimate praise to sparring partner, Alen Babic, after their recent sessions in the gym.
‘The Gypsy King’ is the current WBC heavyweight champion – his second stint at the very top of the division – and may soon have a chance to go down in history as undisputed.
With fights like those on the horizon, he needs tough work in the gym, and there’s a relentless Babic (11-0, 10 KOs) seems to be the perfect partner. He’s sparred with Fury in Morecambe, and recently told Boxing Social the praise he received.
“We had four sparring sessions a week, so we really tried each other. He was impressed and he – Tyson Fury – told me I was gonna be the world champ. There is not doubt about that. I like oh god that means so much.
The first man who said it was Dillian Whyte, so there is no comparison to that, but when Tyson Fury tells you what you’re gonna be, that is the second best.”
Babic went onto to say what Fury and Dillian Whyte – his manager and mentor – see in him, giving an insight into his mentality as a fearless fighter.
“They saw me in the ring. I’m not gonna stop. You can knock me the f**k out I’m gonna be back up. I don’t care about being punched in the face. Everybody keeps saying ‘oh you gotta reserve your health!’ F**k you, you’re not me. You reserve your health.
You keep after yourself, don’t look after me. Because nobody looked after me when I was nothing – so I will say where were you then?”
Fury’s prediction could come true this year, as Babic is set to fight for the WBC’s Bridgerweight belt – a weight class the organisation has introduced in between the cruiserweight and heavyweight ranks.
With that ticked off his list, he plans to return to the top division in future.
“I’m the smallest heavyweight alive, and I’m gonna fight for the belt one day. You’re gonna see it. You are all gonna witness it.”
News on the date of Babic’s bridgerweight fight with Lukasz Rozanski for the vacant belt is expected soon, with purse bid winners, KO Promotions, keen to stage it in Poland.