Tyson Fury receives big invitation as Oleksandr Usyk fight creeps closer
Boxing news: Tyson Fury is preparing for his upcoming bout with Oleksandr Usyk
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Richard Torrez would love to be Tyson Fury's sparring partner as the heavyweight champion prepares for his upcoming fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
The Gypsy King will step into the ring on February 17 looking to get the better of his Ukrainian opponent.
As for Torrez, the 24-year-old is considered one of boxing's biggest rising stars.
The American won silver at the last Olympics and is set to go up against Curtis Harper this weekend.
Boxing news: Richard Torrez would love to spar with Tyson Fury
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And Torrez would love to be Fury's sparring partner as the Gypsy King prepares for Usyk.
"I would love to," he told Sky Sports when asked about the prospect of being invited into Fury's training camp.
"If he could invite me to do some sparring I'd love that.
"Tyson Fury, please invite me over. I'm more than willing to come out and be a sparring partner.
"I'd love to get some of that work in."
Torrez also says he's been inspired by Fury during the course of his career so far, with a message a few years ago still fondly remembered.
He added: "When I was 18 he reached out to me on Instagram, he wrote to me and said, 'I like your style, keep it going, good stuff'.
"That was so cool. He was already a heavyweight champ.
"He reached out to me and I wasn't even known at all.
"He said, 'good luck in everything you do, I've been watching you in the amateurs'. Oh man, that made my whole entire month.
"It was before the Olympics, before anyone had my name out there.
"It was him watching amateur boxing and reaching out.
"It was quite impressive and I'm really thankful for it."
Torrez says he doesn't model his style on Fury because he isn't as big as the Briton.
But he's inspired by the charisma the 35-year-old possesses and believes he's been a huge asset to boxing so far.
"I don't have [Fury's] size and I don't have his fighting style but he definitely is someone I look up to as how to conduct yourself when you are a champion," he stated.
"Because he's made himself the people's champ and I really commend him for that.
"Tyson Fury has the charisma of one of the best champions.
"The way he's able to talk, the way he's able to banter, the way he's able to just hold himself and conduct himself as the heavyweight champion is amazing.
"I'm thankful for what he's done to the heavyweight game."
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Boxing news: Tyson Fury will fight Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on February 17
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Both Fury and Usyk are unbeaten as their crunch fight creeps closer.
The Briton has won 34 of his 35 career bouts so far, with a draw against Deontay Wilder in 2018 the only blot on his record.
Usyk, meanwhile, has won all 21 of his own fights - with 14 of them coming via knockout.
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