Fury has comeback date fixed in his mind

TYSON Fury will target a comeback bout on July 8, provided he overturns a suspended drugs ban at a UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) hearing later today.

Fury has not fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko for the world heavyweight titles in November 2015, due to a combination of drug issues and mental health concerns.

However, in the wake of Anthony Joshua’s stunning Wembley win over Klitschko, Fury has returned to training and is intent on securing an all-British superfight with the new champion.

Fury’s camp are confident they can avoid further sanction from UKAD, which banned him over a positive test for nandrolone in June last year, only to suspend the sanction pending an appeal and further investigations.

However, Fury must also convince the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) he deserves to win back his boxing licence, which was stripped after his admission he had taken a recreational drug, as well as subsequent mental health concerns.

Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, said: “He has been having treatment and the view is that, after nearly 18 months, he is mentally fit to resume training.

“The bottom line is we believe and hope the treatment has been successful and, hopefully, he gets his licence back. It is good for him to earn money as a boxer but, more importantly, it is good for his health and wellbeing he has something going for him in his life.

“Provided Tyson is OK he has said he would like to fight on July 8. There’s no problem arranging that but the most important thing is he’s 100% well.”

If Fury does win his case with UKAD, the return of his licence will be no mere formality, with the BBBC expected to take time to consider a number of factors before deciding to allow him to box again.

Warren added that, ideally, Fury would have warm-up bouts before facing Joshua, despite Fury’s claim he was so unimpressed with Joshua’s win over Klitschko he could fight and beat him without a warm-up.