Tyson Fury insists world heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua in the works

  • 09/05/2017
Tyson Fury (Getty file)
Tyson Fury (Getty file)

Tyson Fury has claimed that Eddie Hearn has already booked London's Wembley Stadium next year in preparation for a fight with world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

The 28-year-old Fury is targeting a comeback fight on July 8, providing he overturns a suspended drugs ban at a UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) hearing that opens on Tuesday (NZ time).

Fury has not fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko for the world heavyweight titles in November 2015, due to a combination of drug issues and mental health concerns.

But in the wake of Joshua's stunning 11th-round win over Klitschko at Wembley last month, Fury has returned to training and his intent on securing an all- British super-fight with the new champion and has revealed that Joshua's promoter Hearn has pencilled in a fight in April 2018.

"Eddie Hearn has already booked Wembley Stadium for next April," Fury told the Daily Telegraph.

"There isn't another stadium where it should take place. I would fight Joshua in October but I believe Klitschko will take the rematch.

"Deep down, I don't think they want to fight me yet. Joshua struggled with Klitschko. And I took Klitschko to school, toyed with him, put my hands behind my back, literally, while he was letting his cannons go, slipping out of the way of them. They are not ready for that.

"A lot of people have picked AJ to beat me, but I've said many times that we are in a sport called "the sweet science" and it's not a body-building contest or a strongman competition. Joshua is an easy fight for me."

Fury is now keen to focus on the future but was deeply affected by suggestions he is a drug cheat and denies ever taking any performance-enhancing substance.

He vacated the WBA and WBO titles he held last October after admitting using cocaine to cope with depression, after which the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) suspended his boxing licence.

That development came after an ankle injury had forced the postponement of his proposed rematch with Klitschko, and after Fury and his younger cousin Hughie were charged by UKAD with "presence of a prohibited substance".

Press Association Sport understands the Fury camp are confident about the outcome for both Tyson and Hughie.

The heavyweight division now boasts four unbeaten champions with Fury, Joshua, New Zealand's Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder.

Fury added: "I've never taken a drug in my life. These people can say what they like but I'm suing them for what they have done to me. If I tested positive then why didn't they ban me then?

"To be honest I didn't want to live. If I had cheated, fine. But I have not cheated. I beat Klitschko on ability. I don't need a drug. I'm a giant already. For them to say that about me, it sent me under. I did not want to live anymore. But I feel differently now."

PA