What we know for sure is that Anthony Joshua won’t be fighting Tyson Fury next.
Joshua will almost certainly look towards a unification match-up against either WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder or WBO champ Joseph Parker before the all-British showdown against Fury comes to fruition.
There’s also the little matters of Fury’s lack of a boxing licence and the controversial heavyweight’s current physical condition that have to be redressed in the coming months but there’s no denying that fight fans are keen to see both men’s undefeated records put on the line.
The extent of Fury’s weight issues became jarringly clear on Friday, when he approached former foe Dereck Chisora at his weigh-in in Monte Carlo.
“I’ve got seven stone to lose,” Fury told Chisora.
He's already lost two stone https://t.co/VaE6FyYuO5
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 3, 2017
“I can probably lose it in about seven or eight weeks. You’d think I’d learn after 25 times.
“Preparing for Klitschko, I lost six and a half stone in seven weeks.”
Fury hasn’t fought since 2015 and has struggled with several issues including injury, psychological troubles and traces of cocaine showing up in a blood test.
He will take at least one tune-up fight in the early stages of next year which should coincide with a unification bout between ‘AJ’ and either Parker or Wilder.
But Fury has given a rough timeline for when we can expect his clash with the London 2012 gold medallist to go down.
“I’ve had two years out of the ring. Fat as a pig, hairy as an animal, but still as hungry as a lion,” Fury told Sky Sports. “You have two years out of the ring and it gives you that va-va-voom to get back in there and bust a few heads.
Really??? https://t.co/LyT6hUQC2O
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) November 3, 2017
“Do I need that many warm-ups? I don’t think so. Am I a 40-year-old? No, I’m 29. Still got a long time in boxing. I’m just so happy and excited to potentially be a part of one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
“People say, why do you think it’s that? I’m saying it because two unbeaten heavyweights, one unified champion, one lineal champion, both over six foot six tall, both over 18 stone. One nice guy, one bad man – it is what it is. I think the public are going to relish the thoughts of making this fight happen.
“I think next summer is ideal and realistic. I’m not going to do it in February or March, because obviously I’m not in shape. But I’ll be back in shape by the time March, April comes around. Back ripped, looking sexy as ever. A couple of sun beds, a haircut and a shave, I’ll be back to my old self.”
