Ty faces nervous wait after Wlad call
NICK PARKINSON TYSON FURY is sweating on whether he can keep his titles with his rematch against Wladimir Klitschko now set for early next year.
Fury faces being stripped of his WBA and WBO world heavyweight titles after his clash with Klitschko – set for October 29 – was called off for a second time on Friday.
Fury’s promoter, Mick Hennessy, said the Manchester boxer had pulled because he was “medically unfit to fight”.
Mystery surrounded the reasons for his withdrawal with his uncle and trainer, Peter Fury, tweeting: “With Tyson’s condition he cannot be held culpable. Detailed statement coming soon on health.
“He will not and should not be stripped of belts.”
A source close to the fight says it is likely to be rescheduled for January or February, saying: “It’s very rare for a heavyweight champion to be stripped of the titles, but having said that there could be a problem.”
Fury, 28, first pulled out of meeting Klitschko, 40, on July 9 because he injured an ankle while running. Klitschko, who had reigned as world champ for nearly a decade before Fury beat him, said he would wait for him.
But the WBA and WBO governing bodies may decide to strip Fury if the fight does not happen until early 2017.
Fury – who has spoken in the past about his battle with depression – will have to provide sufficient medical evidence to hang on to his belts.
If Fury is stripped IBF champ Anthony Joshua is ready to take on Klitschko later this year.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said: “From our side, if Klitschko against Joshua can be made for the WBA and the IBF belts, for November 26, we are taking that fight, no question.
“But, as always in boxing, it’s a very complicated process and I don’t feel like they’ll strip Tyson Fury just yet.
“I hope they don’t because we want the winner of that fight, Fury against Klitschko.
“Hopefully Fury can get back in the ring soon, fight Wladimir Klitschko, but if not I spoke to AJ last night and said ‘You know, you could jump in and fight Klitschko’, and he said ‘Let’s do it’.”
The Sheffield bank manager’s son has only been a full-time member of the European Tour for a season and a half.
However, McGinley – who captained Europe to their 16.5-11.5 victory over the Americans at Gleneagles two years ago – is convinced he is a star in the making.
“I don’t know what role Matt will have at Hazeltine,” said the Irishman, who will be part of Sky TV’s commentary team next weekend.
“But I would expect to see him at least being partnered with someone more experienced in the foursomes and would not be at all surprised if he does well.
“He has had a meteoric rise since he first turned pro – producing his wire-to-wire win against a strong field at the British Masters a year ago.
“Then he has finish tied for seventh on his debut in The Masters at Augusta and gone on to win one of the automatic places in the European team by winning the Nordea Masters in Sweden.”
But it is not just the two European titles CUP TALK: Faldo