Anthony Joshua calls in ‘ideal sparring partner’ Dereck Chisora to prepare for must-win Andy Ruiz Jr rematch

ANTHONY JOSHUA has called in Derek Chisora to help him prepare for his must-win rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.

AJ and Del go way back to their days in the Finchley ABC and have never come close to fighting each other for real.

But 35-year-old Chisora has an October 26 clash with David Price booked and AJ rematches Ruiz on December 7.

So Del Boy has done a deal to travel up to Sheffield to do his best impression of the unified Mexican champion.

The powerhouse nicknamed ‘War’ revealed: “I am going to go and see AJ next week.

"He has asked me to spar a couple of times but I have been too busy lately but next week I will go and see him.

“We will go straight into sparring. He is tall like Price and I am short like Ruiz Jr."

Chisora’s manager David Haye believes the pair will be perfect dance partners in preparation for their big upcoming dates.

AJ, a long-range fighter at 6ft 6in, will be a good stand-in for the 6ft 8in Liverpool veteran.

And Chisora shares physically and fighting similarities with Ruiz, despite looking in far better shape than the shock 19st champ.

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Haye said: "For both of their respective fights they are ideal sparring partners.

"No one could mimic Ruiz’s relentless come-forward presser like Derek.

"And if anyone can reproduce Price’s long-range jab-and-move style, which AJ will need to adopt to win the rematch, it is Del.

"Derek is in shape and blasted 10 rounds of sparring out on Thursday.

"Even if he just gets six to eight rounds with AJ done, it will be good preparation for them both."