With his long delayed, trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder apparently off the table, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is seeking a new opponent.
The Gypsy King now looks likely to fight at the Royal Albert Hall on December 5 as he builds towards an April/May 2021 collision with unified champion Anthony Joshua.
A viable opponent could be Colombian Oscar Rivas (26-1, 18 KOs) who lost a competitive decision to Dillian Whyte in July 2019 after flooring the Londoner in the ninth round.
The Canada-based Rivas shares the same US promoter as Fury in Top Rank and brings credibility plus a world rating, as well as being a known quantity to UK fight fans.
“Oscar is fit, available, ranked No 8 by the WBC and would gladly take the challenge,” Rivas’ Canadian co-promoter Yvon Michel told Sky Sports.
“Now for December, I believe Oscar would be the best and the logical choice for Fury in his first title defence. We know Fury loves challenges and fights for the fans. Fury has written the best story of all for a fighter who became a heavyweight champion of the world and I am sure he is aware of Rivas’ story.
“Rivas would be the best challenge and a fan-friendly fight. Oscar is in training and was supposed to fight on December 19 as co-feature on the Fury vs Wilder fight.
“How ironic it would be to see Rivas fighting for the WBC heavyweight world title before Whyte who is trying to salvage his career in his next fight against Povetkin,” continued Michel. “Rivas proved he belongs with the top heavyweight contenders in the world. He has the skill and he is very dangerous for 12 rounds.
“Not only did he knock down Whyte in the ninth round but he had him hurt in the 12th also. He KO’d Bryant Jennings in the 12th round of their fight, prior to the Whyte contest.
“A Fury vs Rivas fight would be a very intriguing and significant fight that will create awareness and attention everywhere. The selection of Rivas is a logical and the best possible choice, no doubt about it.”
Main image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing.