Tyson Fury has no one to fight! He priced himself out of Usyk, AJ has other plans, he’s already beaten Whyte and Wilder, Zhang and Joyce are tied up and Ruiz Jr wanted £20m. What a mess! Who can he realistically fight now?
- Tyson Fury wants to return to action in September but is low on options
- Mail Sport provides five realistic fights he can have in the limited timeframe
Tyson Fury is running out of options for his next fight after a series of failed attempts to coax several of the best heavyweights in the world into facing him – but there are still a few names that he can realistically box in the summer.
Fury recently made contact with Anthony Joshua to set up an all-British clash in September.
However, AJ already has plans in place for a rematch against Dillian Whyte in August followed by a blockbuster showdown versus Deontay Wilder to close out the year – and so won’t be free.
The Gypsy King also opened talks with Zhang Zhilei and Andy Ruiz Jr although the Chinese puncher is contracted for a second fight with Joe Joyce in September while Fury alleges Ruiz Jr priced himself out of negotiations by demanding a £20million purse.
This comes after Fury and Oleksandr Usyk failed to get the first undisputed heavyweight fight of the four-belt era over the line in April – much to the dismay of boxing fans.
The remaining options pale in comparison to the aforementioned but are all that remain considering the circumstances. Here, Mail Sport takes a look at five names Fury could face next – even if they aren’t the most appealing propositions.
Tyson Fury wants to fight in September but doesn’t have many options available to him
Filip Hrgovic
Filip Hrgovic is one of only two top 10 heavyweights Fury can square off against in three months’ time.
Ranked No10 by Ring Magazine and No1 by the IBF, the Croatian powerhouse is currently awaiting his mandatory shot at Usyk but would no doubt jump at the opportunity to fight Fury for the WBC strap.
Hrgovic’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently came out and declared that he would happily make the fight for September but aired concerns that Fury wouldn’t take up the challenge given the high-risk low-reward nature of fighting his client.
Eddie Hearn has offered Fury a fight with Filip Hrgovic for September
Luis Ortiz
Ortiz is the second heavyweight ranked within the glamour division’s top 10, available to Fury.
At 44 years old he is way past his best but is still the No8 heavyweight in the world according to Ring Magazine.
The Cuban veteran has been without a match-up since losing to Ruiz Jr in September and has always chased a fight with the Mancunian to no avail.
Luis Ortiz is ranked No8 in the world and is without a fight
Jai Opetaia or Demsey McKean
While out in Australia supporting close friend Joseph Parker in his last outing, Fury flirted with the idea of facing either Demsey McKean or Jai Opetaia down under.
Both are undefeated with impressive 22-0 records, however, Opetaia is a natural cruiserweight while McKean has fought no one of note.
Opetaia’s stock recently shot up after dethroning long-reigning IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis and would certainly be the more intriguing fight of the two.
Yet McKean could cause Fury some problems as well especially given his size and awkward herky-jerky style of fighting.
Jai Opetaia is the IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion
Demsey McKean remains undefeated at 22-0
Martin Bakole
Martin Bakole has been on an absolute tear since losing to Michael Hunter back in 2018.
A destructive performance against Tony Yoka in the Frenchman’s back garden last year has done a lot to raise his profile and now with the backing of BOXXER, he looks set to kick on with his career in 2023.
The British connection would certainly help with shifting tickets in the UK while recent stories of Bakole stopping Usyk and Daniel Dubois in sparring have built up a level of intrigue around the Scottish-based Congolese heavyweight that wasn’t there before.
Martin Bakole claims he stopped Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois in sparring
