WBC Heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, has listed his three potential opponents for 2023, claiming he wants an active year.
Despite a recent – and quick – stint in retirement, the current WBC Heavyweight Champion is back and is looking to keep busy over the next twelve months. In an interview with BT Sport, Fury spoke of his plans after his next fight with Derek Chisora.
“Going into next year I want to be very busy, I want a minimum of three fights next year.”
“A nice active world champion, no messing around, no retiring, no long stints out the ring. Straight to the game, three fights next year and get this man out the way first and then we’ll fight three fighters next year.”
The fighter at the top of ‘The Gypsy King’s’ list is Oleksandr Usyk – the man who beat Anthony Joshua and is now holding the belts that Fury is after. The bout would crown an undisputed champion in the division for the first time since Lennox Lewis.
“Usyk is top of the shopping list, providing I get through this one, and it’s not a rematch with Chisora for the fourth time, then it’ll be Usyk yeah.”
Fury also expressed that a fourth fight with Deontay Wilder could be on the cards if they can both get through their next tests. Wilder is set to face Andy Ruiz after the WBC officially ordered the match up as a final eliminator. A win against Ruiz could place Wilder back in the top spot to challenge Fury.
“Providing he gets through that fight, and I get through mine, and if the Usyk fight can’t be made in Feb then I’ll have a mandatory by April so yeah he’ll have to come to Wembley, April. April. Wembley. Wilder.”
‘The Gypsy King’ also named Joe Joyce as a potential opponent if Oleksandr Usyk is not available to fight in February. With Joyce and Fury both in Frank Warren’s promotional stable, that contest could be an easy one to make.
“If Usyk don’t want no smoke in February, then let’s do Joyce at Wembley. You heard it here first. Joe, get your skates on, get fit mush because if the middleweight don’t want no smoke you’re in because I’m fighting three times next year and you can be one of them.”