TYSON FURY admits he was getting outboxed by former foe Steve Cunningham before brutally knocking him out on his American debut.
The 33-year-old pitted his wits against the former IBF cruiserweight champion in New York in April 2013.
And just like in his first fight against Deontay Wilder, the Gyspy King hit the deck after being floored by a looping right hook in the second round.
Fury was sent crashing to the canvas after being caught flush, but he rose up before delivering a savage hook of his own to end the contest in the seventh round.
It remains Cunningham’s only ever knockout defeat from his 40-fight career.
WBC heavyweight king Fury has compared Cunningham to Oleksandr Usyk after the Ukrainian outpointed Anthony Joshua to win the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.
Speaking to BT Sport about AJ’s rematch against Usyk, Fury offered to train his British compatriot for free.
Before declaring: “I believe every heavyweight can win fights – especially someone as big as him [Joshua] and strong and as powerful as him.
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“He only needs to land a couple good punches on Usyk and he’d knock him spark out. It’d be over.
“Usyk’s a very tricky boxer, I know what it’s like to fight a skinny guy who’s sharp.
“I fought Steve Cunningham, he was a very good cruiserweight world champion, 215lbs, 6ft 3in, chiselled.
“He gave me one of my hardest fights I’ve ever had, but what happened in the end of that fight? It was brutal.
“And I didn’t do it by outboxing him because I was getting outboxed. I had to go to the well to get the job done.
“Knock him spark out, only time he’s ever been knocked out. Not too shabby.”
Fury is currently preparing to defend his WBC strap against Wilder in their trilogy bout in Las Vegas.
And the unbeaten Mancunian has vowed to not let his guard down against the Bronze Bomber after seeing Joshua blow a mega-money Battle of Britain showdown.
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