Despite already mixing it with some of the division’s best, heavyweight contender Hughie Fury is still only 26 years old with perhaps his best days ahead of him.
Father and trainer Peter Fury believes many of the leading heavyweight challengers are choosing to swerve a fight with his 6ft 6ins son.
Hughie (25-3, 14 KOs) has certainly been matched stiffly in his career to date; appearing unfortunate not to earn a decision over then-WBO champion Joseph Parker, battling Kubrat Pulev with a badly cut left eye in an IBF final eliminator in Bulgaria and losing a unanimous verdict to Alexander Povetkin that seemed far closer than the cards.
According to Peter Fury, several highly-ranked heavyweights have passed over the opportunity to face Hughie in his next contest. Hughie was last seen outscoring Mariusz Wach in December while burdened with another cut left eye after a head clash.
“Everybody realises he’s a lot better than what people say he is, so that’s my opinion,” Peter Fury told Sky Sports. “We’ve offered some high-profile people fights with Hughie – and they’ve looked up and said they’ll fight anyone. But when Hughie is mentioned, they don’t want to fight him, so that’s where it’s at.
“I don’t want to mention any names, but that’s where it is. We’ll find him an opponent. He’ll be fighting in September anyway. Boxing is becoming a bit of a soap opera. That real fighting culture, there’s only so many around today. A lot of them, they are more into social media and being a celebrity than a boxer.
“Really a fellow like Hughie, he’s not a world champion, he shouldn’t be struggling for fights like he is. He’s been working on his game. He’s got older, he’s filled out, and he’s got time on his side, so it’s not been a problem for him really.”
Main image: Dave Thompson/Matchroom Boxing.