It’s safe to say that Tony Bellew is not impressed with one of Tyson Fury’s rumoured opponents for a summertime fight.
The WBC Heavyweight Champion recently demanded his promoters get him out in the next few months, and plenty of suitors have popped up.
Apparently taken by Australia during a recent trip to watch his training partner, Joseph Parker, fight, Fury has been exploring doing the same himself – and there are two native undefeated southpaws that he has his eye on.
He has said that heavyweight Demsey McKean is ‘definitely’ in the running to be in the opposite corner, highlighting his stance as a good measuring stick for a potential fight against Oleksandr Usyk at the end of the year.
“McKean’s a top ten heavyweight and definitely one of the frontrunners. If the Oleksandr Usyk fight is happening it’d be great preparation because he’s southpaw also.”
McKean is currently rated number 11 with the WBO and IBF. He doesn’t feature in the WBA or, most importantly, the WBC’s top 15. He’s also never been scheduled for 12 rounds.
Speaking to IFL TV, Bellew said that Fury’s recent resume wasn’t befitting of the heavyweight champion of the world, using McKean – who he took a second to place – as a stark example.
“Who? Who? The heavyweight southpaw? Okay.
Wow, levels. Your last three opponents go Whyte, Chisora, McKean and you’re the heavyweight champion of the world.
I actually like Tyson Fury, I think he’s a brilliant fighter, I just think he doesn’t make the worst decisions. I’d pick a better trio of fights than that.”
The former cruiserweight world champ then discussed the idea of Fury facing a current titleholder in the 200lbs division – Jai Opetaia. Opetaia won his IBF belt from Mairis Breidis last year, fighting through a broken jaw to take it on the cards.
His manager has claimed a fight with Fury is ‘all but sealed.’ Bellew praised him as a fighter, but doesn’t believe moving up is a good idea.
“Really? He’s a really good fighter, really smooth, really slick, but I don’t think he’ll want to face Tyson Fury, I think that would be a mistake on his part.
He’s currently one of the best cruiserweights in the world, recently defeated Mairis Briedis. He’s a really good fighter, I’m impressed with him. I see him staying at cruiserweight, big fights for him, money to be made.”
As with many fans, Bellew believes there’s only one fight out there for Fury – Oleksandr Usyk.
“How has it not been done? Usyk took the lowest end of the stick, it just doesn’t make sense. I just don’t know how it hasn’t been done. Usyk’s team are the easiest team to deal with, they just want to fight.”
As it stands, Fury is expected to fight late summer and then revisit the Usyk talks for December.