Former contender for the world heavyweight title, American Gerald Washington (20-5-1, 13 KOs) in his life visited the camps of many famous division fighters, such as ex-hegemon heavyweight Ukrainian Vladimir Klitschko, unified champion from Ukraine Oleksandr Usyk ( 20-0, 13 KOs), former US champion Deontay Wilder (42-2-1, 41 KOs), former British unified champion Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs), former Mexican unified champion Andy Ruiz- junior (35-2, 22 KOs).
An American reporter visited him in the hall, where
asked Gerald about who and what is the best.
You sparred and fought with Wilder, you sparred with Usyk, you sparred with Joshua, Andy Ruiz, Klitschko, Jennings. Okay, we’ll compare all the heavyweights you’ve sparred with. Who has the most power?
They all have power.
Who has better defense?
“I think Fury has the best defense.
Have you sparred with Fury?
– Not. Of those with whom I sparred, this is Klitschko. It’s very hard to hit Klitschko.
- Tyson Fury: “I piss on Oleksandr Usyk!”
– Who has the best jab?
— Jeb? Jeb Klitschko.
– Footwork? Who’s really good on their feet?
– Mustache.
– Best phantom punches? Who has the most effective feints?
– The phantom game of Usyk. And he meets you on the approaches. He also has a good small jab to the body. But he is a counterpuncher. I will call him the best counterpuncher.
— Okay, who’s the dirtiest? Who is smart enough to know all the dirty tricks and use them to their advantage?
— Fury. And Joshua is just standing. Standing boxer.
Who has the fastest hands? Of those you’ve sparred with, who’s hand speed was super impressive?
Ruiz has fast hands. He does ta-ta-ta-ta when everyone else is ta-a-a-a!
– Who carries the most trash talk in sparring of those with whom you sparred?
— Deontay was carrying some trash talk. It was just a friendly competition for fun. Look, Klitschko is not, Anthony Joshua is not, Ruiz is not, Usyk is not. Nobody does trash talk. Wilder – a little for fun.
– Who is the smartest? Whose mind and boxing IQ were you most impressed with?
– Of those with whom I was in the ring, it was Klitschko.
- Adam Kownacki: I looked at Klitschko’s footwork and thought – wow!
Why was he so smart?
Because he used everything very cool. He did not enter most of the exchanges. It takes a special fighter to pull him out of his essence and drag him into the wheelhouse. If you try to do it, it will be very strategic. There will be no answer, he will try to deliver his jab and eventually right.
– When you were in the camp with all these guys, you didn’t know most of them before. Which one surprised you? Who turned out to be so cool and different from what you expected?
“Wherever I went, everyone was respectful. They were grateful, appreciated you for your help. They were grateful because I was preparing them for the fight of their lives. There weren’t many assholes in my job.