"I bring pain, I bring war" - Anthony Joshua sparred with Derek Chisora in a brutal sparring session before his return fight

DEREK CHISORA was drafted in to help Anthony Joshua in sparring before his return fight with Jermaine Franklin.

AJ returns on April 1 at the O2 Arena against Franklin in a must-win comeback bout.

Joshua took himself to Dallas in training for the fight after linking up with esteemed Texan coach Derrick James.

And Chisora revealed he held nothing back when helping out his old Finchley Amateur Boxing mate in the gym.

He told the Daily Mail: “When I come to spar, I bring pain and I bring war. I like to push him because he is my brother.

“I can’t go in the ring with him and mess around with him because that’s not benefitting him.

“If I go in the ring with him, I go hard and he gives it back.”

The heavyweight pair go way back and Joshua, 33, now manages Chisora, 38, and occasionally help spar each other.

And AJ revealed details on his session with the British fan favourite.

Joshua said: “Fifteen minute sparring sessions could be like, jab and move around. But with Chisora, it’s a lot higher output.

“It was really good. It really helped condition me. It really tested me.

“I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it as it was tough but in a sense, it’s what I wanted so I did enjoy it. It’s a weird one.

“I wanted this and I am getting it but it’s tough.”