‘I WANT TO FIGHT A BUM A MONTH’
Whoever he fights, Tyson Fury’s comeback will be broadcast exclusively on BT Sport as Warren extends deal with the network, writes John Dennen
Jenman gets huge chance for Commonwealth glory against Cameron on exciting new television platform TYSON FURY’S comeback fight on June 9 at the Manchester Arena will be screened exclusively on BT Sport. It’s part of an extension of promoter Frank Warren’s deal with BT, which will also see the world title fights featuring Lee Selby, Carl Frampton and Billy Joe Saunders on the channel over the coming months.
“We’ve been delivering the goods. There’s no doubt about it,” said Warren. “This is the cream of British boxing.”
“The big man’s back,” he added of Fury. “I think it’s only a matter of time before he gets his title back.” “There is no bigger fight than Tyson Fury against Anthony Joshua in my time in boxing. It’ll be one of the biggest ever sporting events,” the promoter continued. “Our job is to try and make that happen. What we’re trying to do is get that on BT.”
Warren emphasised the significance of this partnership, warning, “BT are launching a pay-per-view platform which will give us more muscle in the market, making sure we can deliver bigger fights for the fights. So it’s onwards and upwards.”
BT Box Office is coming later this year, although Fury’s return in Manchester will not be pay-per-view. “It is a golden era for British boxing and never has the Warren stable of fighters looked more exciting, with a great line up of established names and up-and-coming young fighters,” said Andy Haworth, managing director of strategy and content at BT. “Our customers are loving boxing live on a Saturday night, they’re loving what we’re doing, they’re loving how we’re doing it and they’re asking us to do more. Today is all about doing more.”
“First time round I enjoyed it, I enjoyed every single minute of it. But I needed that much needed rest, which I had. I’ll come rejuvenated ready for round two,” Fury said looking forward to his comeback. “They say once you have it you can never lose it. I have it in abundance. A little bit of puppy fat never hurt anybody. “My aim is to keep it off for a while… The sharpness has always been there. Even at 27-stone I was very, very sharp.”
“My ambition in is boxing is to get back in the boxing ring and have fun again,” he continued in his inimitable style. “My only form of fun, other than getting p***ed up every day, is boxing.”
Fury therefore intends to remain active: “Frank has promised me upteen times, he’s going to keep me busy. So I hope and pray that he’s going to keep me busy and I know he will. I’m going to have four or five fights this year. Maybe six! Who knows?”
As for the quality of his opposition, questions remain.
“[Former world heavyweight champion, Joe Louis] done a bum-amonth campaign, didn’t he?” Tyson said. “That’s exactly what I want to do. All this fighting once or twice a year, I hate that inactivity. I want to fight every week if I can. At least once a month. I think we can do a bum-a-month campaign easy.”
The particular opponent for his June comeback is expected to be announced next week. Even if he returns against someone little known, Fury declared, “I’m an encyclopaedia on opponents, what I don’t know about heavyweight boxing, isn’t worth knowing.”
“He’s going to ease his way back in and get his ring rust out. It’s going to take a few fights to do that,” Warren confirmed.
Fury feels he remains a popular figure in the sport and is looking forward to his first fight in his hometown at the Manchester Arena.
“I think the appeal is I’m just a normal person, one of the lads. Anyone can relate to me. A lot of people can relate to the same problems that I’ve been through. I’m a bit of an inspiration now to people because they know that if I can come through it, then anyone can come through it. And I box for those people. As a motivation for every day, for those people who are feeling down and depressed and sad and giving up on themselves. There’s no need to give up. Help is round the corner and I’m living proof that you can get over it.”
‘MY ONLY FORM OF FUN, OTHER THAN GETTING P***ED UP, IS BOXING’