Tyson Fury wants a summer fight in the UK no matter what, and has publicly asked his promoter to make it happen.
Fans are used to Fury’s social media ultimatums and demands, but never has he sent one to his own team – at least that was the case until today, when he took to Instagram to ‘challenge’ Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions to find him a dance partner.
“Back in the gym today and here’s my challenge. I challenge Frank Warren to get me a fight in the North West of England any time soon. July, August – whenever you’re ready, Frank, I’ll be ready.”
Of course, just a couple of months ago it was almost locked in that he would be facing the division’s other champion, Oleksandr Usyk. Those talks ended bitterly.
Despite the apparent lack of big names available, ‘The Gypsy King’ is still confident in his ability to sell out a stadium – as he did so twice in 2022.
“Let’s do it at a football stadium. Not a problem. Get me an opponent and I’m knocking him the f**k out, Frank. There you go Frank Warren. Make it happen, Frank. Because the so-called big dogs don’t want no f***ing smoke until December, and I’m ready to fight now! Come on!”
Despite all the talk of Middle Eastern money, Fury wants to please his hometown fans by fighting in the UK.
“Since I’ve been away from boxing, boxing’s gone to a load of s**t. Absolute s**t. I’ve got to give everybody in the country something to look forward to. A proper f***ing event, because we haven’t had one since I last fought in December. Nuff said.”
Tyson Fury calling for Frank Warren to get him a fight in July/August on Instagram today as he says boxing has "gone to s***" since he last fought…
[🎥 @Tyson_Fury] pic.twitter.com/8Q7bim4we3
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) May 18, 2023
With the two previous frontrunners – Andy Ruiz Jr and Zhilei Zhang – apparently out of the race, Warren’s job may indeed be challenging. It’s made even more so by, as Fury says, the top men in the divisions seemingly holding out for showdowns in Saudi Arabia this December.
It’s a strange state of affairs when the Heavyweight Champion of the World needs to go to such lengths to seek out an opponent, but here we are.