Tyson Fury’s rematch with Wladimir Klitschko is bound to be a money-spinner for both fighters.
The world heavyweight champion will go toe-to-toe with the man he beat in Dusseldorf when he welcomes the Ukrainian to his home city of Manchester.
Klitschko had been riding a 22-fight unbeaten stream before losing to Fury in Germany, and now the Brit has suggested his veteran opponent may have lost on purpose, just to give himself the chance of being a three-time heavyweight champion.
“I think he might have lost on purpose in Germany,” Fury is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.
‘What happens if he knew I was contracted in for a rematch and I couldn’t fight anybody else? If I retire and don’t fight him, he gets the belts back anyway, that’s in the contract.
‘If I fight him again and he turns it up and knocks me out in 10 seconds – or whatever – then he has won his belts back to become a three-time heavyweight champion. Not many have done that – only people like Muhammad Ali.
Describing Klitschko as “a businessman”, Fury suggested the rematch will make it easier for the 40-year-old to fill more of his current five-fight TV deal with opponents capable of attracting the viewing figures needed.
‘The broadcasters are happy…they’ve got their drama,” he said.
Klitschko has not responded directly to Fury, though he has described the rematch as the “most important” fight of a career which began all the way back in 1996.
“I want my belts. It will be the most important fight of my entire sporting career,” he is quoted as saying by BoxingScene.
“I always come out better when the people are against me. In Manchester I’ll have 90% of the fans against me.”
The Fury v Klitschko rematch will take place at the Manchester Arena on July 9.
